Figure on Eiffel

On Monday after classes, Jennifer and I went to the Eiffel Tower to ice skate. The monument had set up an ice skating rink at the terrace on the first étage, and Monday was the last day of it's opening. So we mounted the 328 steps (I think that's how many) for 3 euros to break out my best figure skating moves, which consist of me holding on to the side of the rink and pushing myself into a gracefully fast turn. It was quite amusing, and I would have liked to stay when the tower is lit up at night, but we had to get back to Le Vesinet for FHE.

I Saw the Sign

Metro by the Louvre... I like those signs. What stop is that?

Chocolat!

This is a picture of Me, Rubi, and Jessica drooling over the window of a Chocolatier. Notice the beautiful bon bons and the chocolate fountain in the upper left. We found this shop on one of our Paris walks.

I Scream!

On Saturday, Jennifer (left), Kerri, and I decided to search for this little Italian ice cream shop that we had once found on a walk. We stopped off at the Odeon Metro stop and spent an hour or so trying to follow the three differing view points we had of where it was. When we finally got there it was beautiful goodness! I had Nutella and Caffe ice cream. Mmm mmm... this is a picture of Jennifer and I in the shop after the trek.

Champs Elysées

Me, Jennifer, Rubi, and Courtney in the middle of the Champs Elysees in front of the Arc de Triomphe. We went shopping since Champs Elysees is home of some of the swankiest stores in Paris. Most stores had a line in front because when you walk in you have your own tour guide/ personal shopping assistant. Don't worry, we are standing at a meridian in the street. Notice the great speed of French drivers. They can get pretty scary, but have some sort of skill because I've only seen one accident. Imagine the bus drivers!

Primiere Amie

This is Kerrie Green... my first friend in France. She lives in Le Vesinet also, with her roommate Rubi. They live just on the other side of the RER train station.

Blah...

Courtney and I are on the chairs taking a French magazine quiz, Jennifer my roommate is lying down, and Kerrie is imaged in the mirror. We're lounging at Kerrie and Rubi's house after one of our Paris walks.

Random Picture #2

My Seine

This is the view of the Seine from our apartment in Le Pecq.
C'est jolie, non?

Did someone say shopping?

Guess what all you shopping maniacs?! It's time for the Soldes. Les Soldes happen twice a year in France, once in January and once in July. Madame Boudemange explained that it's because after major shopping sprees for Christmas and summer, the stores in France want to maintain sales by having... sales. Anyway, stores buy all new stuff in every color and size, and then prices on most items are cut 30 - 70% off. It's pretty amazing and extremely crowded.

Same Eiffel

In 2000 I stood in this exact spot and had a picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower. Of course then, I had just arrived from my delayed and cancled flights and had no baggage. So I wore the same clothes for a week. This time I smell and look much better. Just kidding about the smell part. I always smell great.

Super Model

Not only am I a Metro star and street performer, but with the wind blowing through my hair at le petit palais during one of our walks, I've decided I must become a super model as well. When in Paris...

Random Alaskans

I was on my Paris Walk today with a group of girls from school, when we passed through the outside halls of the Louvre to view the Pyramides. There in front of me taking family photos were Lexi Fish and her family (for those of you who don't know, Lexi graduated a year after me from Sitka High School). At first, I thought they were just the average American family. But I sat down to watch them and I heard someone say Lexi's name. So I walked down and asked if it was her, and of course it was. We talked about how her year abroad was going and what she had done with her family while on vacation. She sounds like she's having a great study abroad in international studies.

What an odd Alaskan coincidence!

Metro Star

I am officially a Metro Star! Walking around the corridors of the Metro stations in Paris, one often hears the alluring sounds of accordians, saxophones, or other random instruments with their accompanying CD players. After telling a group of friends in my class that I sang jazz, they suggested that I sing a little in the acoustic halls of the ever popular Metro.

So yesterday I went to Chatelet- Les Halles and stood in front of a meridian near the ticket machines and sang whatever jazz songs I could remember. Blue Skies, On The Street Where you Live, Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Aint Misbehavin', and of course Take the A Train. I had a little paper bag from someone's lunch that I rolled up and stuck a euro coin into. After about a half an hour of singing and many stares, I walked away with 4 extra euros in my pocket from the performance. I thought it would be very intimidating, but it was actually REALLY fun because I could look at people and smile while entertaining. (Not something you should normally do when walking in the Metro.)

I found out today, though, that you have to have a verification card to sing in the Metro. So I guess I wont do that again. I'll just sing on a bridge in the future.

O&P

This one is a not so random photo...

Banania

Probably the best way to start the morning is with a beautiful cup of Banania! The typical French breakfast consists of bread (often baguettes), fruit, maybe yogurt, and some tea or hot chocolate. In our case we have the joy of drinking a hot chocolate that has a very mild banana taste, and the box has some French cartoon of "Far West" to keep us entertained in the wee hours of the morning. I also have some juice and usually a banana or apple along with my piece of bread.

Street Performer

This is a photo taken in front of the Centre Pompidou, when I was chosen to help with one of the street performances. I have some serious stick holding skills, as evident. I think the man dressed in black in the back was going to put the kid in the box, and then poke the sticks through the box as a joke. I didn't stay to find out.

Say Cheese?

On Saturday, Jennifer and I went to the grocery store in Le Vesinet. Just to make sure we're all on the same page, the train we take from Paris stops in Le Vesinet- Le Pecq. We walk from the station which is technically in Le Vesinet about 10 blocks or so to the apartment complex where Madame Boudemange resides in Le Pecq. So Le Pecq borders Le Vesinet. The grocery store is only two blocks from our apartment, so that's about how close we are to the city borders. Anyway... Leader Price is the name of the store and it's pretty well stocked with typical French grocery items: fresh fruits and legumes, a myriad of jams and wines, crackers, bread, and too many types of cheese to know which ones are eatable.

Did you see that S Car Go?

Today I went on an assigned walk around the streets of Paris and we took a little detour to get escargot. My first ever! It was actually very tasty. THe little fork has the herb covered snail and I'm holding the shell in my other hand.

Random Picture #1

I call this one "Reflections on the Seine."

Crepes first, please!

Of course on my first day in Paris I had to have a crepe! After our short orientation on the program this semester, we had a lunch break before going on the Seine tour. A group of us walked to the Latin Quarter and were going to sit down to eat but didn't have enough time. So I bought a ham and cheese crepe from a street vendor and at it in front of the Notre Dame where we were meeting the group. It was so big! I couldn't eat it all by myself.

Le Pecq

My plane arrived in Paris on Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday we had a short orientation, a boat tour on the Seine, and we met our host families. I live with another student named Jennifer Wadsworth with Madame Boudemange in Le Pecq, which is a city just outside of Paris. Madame Boudemange has two older boys who are married with children and one daughter who lives and works in Paris. She lives in a very modern apartment in Le Pecq. To get to Le Pecq from Paris, we take the A train to Le Vesinet from Chatelet- Les Halles.

Above are pictures of Madame Boudemange's apartment in Le Pecq: My little bedroom with the TV, a view of the kitchen and to the right is the hallway where Jennifer and my rooms are aw well as our own bathroom, and then a shot of her living room.

Take the A Train

My flights from Alaska to Paris were quite amazing, especially since for a graduation present my parents used milleage to upgrade my seats to first class on Alaska Airlines and business class on British Airways (fitting for a graduation present!). My flight from London to Paris was slightly late, which at the time was great because I was meeting another student's flight (Kerri) at the airport an hour later than my scheduled arrival. Of course, as chance would have it, Kerri's flight was two hours late because of a "deranged passenger." Kerri arrived at the airport at 8:00 pm Paris time and the shuttle that we had reserved never arrived to pick us up.

What to do, what to do? We walked outside to ask a Parisian taxi driver how much it would cost to drive us to the hotel that the students were staying at the first night. He replied that it would cost 50 euros per person (over US$60). Or not! So then we tried to call our professor, but he was out with all the students at a late dinner. So we decided to take the public transportation system.

With my one rolling bag, a small Adidas duffel, carrier backpack, and print; and Kerri's large rolling suitcase, small suitcase with all her texbooks, and backpack; we mounted the RER B train from Charles de Gualle Airport. We took the B train to Chatelet, the A train to Nation, and the Metro to Porte de Montreuil (the Metro often doesn't have elevators or escalators for the convience of suitcases). Then we walked almost seven blocks with all our luggage to the ETAP hotel. We arrived at the hotel at midnight tres fatigue and with blisters. I'll have to add the picture later that Kerri took of me on the train.

Franch Toast, Franch Bread, Franch Dressing

In order to fully prepare for the excursion, Mom, Dad, and I all had French Toast for dinner before I left for Paris.

T minus 72 horus and counting!

P.S. That weird reddish aura around my head must be one of excitement.