France 2006

Eiffel Tipping

2006-04-08T19:03:00.000+02:00

Trippy

2006-04-07T19:05:00.000+02:00

On Thursday, after a beautiful and sunny trip in Provence, the BYU group returned in three or so hours by TGV to Paris without a problem. I spent the rest of the day as a sluth.

Come to find out, that my flight out of Paris was leaving Friday morning at 0730. This meant that I would need to be at the airport around 0545 to do all the preboarding for an international flight. If I were to take public transportation, I would need to allow myself about an hour to get to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, and even the Metro doesn't recognize those ungodly hours. So when I arrived back in Paris on Thursday I went straight to the director's apartment to find a cheap way to get to the airport. Even an airport shuttle wouldn't wake up in time to get me to my flight. So I helped with group luggage and went to the ETAP Hotel where we had stayed the first night. There at the front desk the receptionist informed me that they could call a taxi ten minutes before I needed to leave.

So around 0510 I went down to the lobby and they called a taxi for me Friday morning. The taxi only took about 15 minutes (much faster than I had anticipated) to drive to the airport, and it coast 40 euro to make the trip. Not exactly a Metro ticket... more like 4. Oh well... The funny part is that CDG doesn't start moving until 0600 and even then it isn't awake. So my flight left a little late from Paris, but made it on time to London.

It was an interesting transition coming back to the states from Paris. I spent the first flight speaking in French, only to realize that no one else was. Not even the flight attendants. So when I got on my flight from London to Chicago, I decided that using a British accent might be easier than going to straight American English. That was fun, even though I'm not very good at it. But once I got to Chicago I didn't know where to go linguistically from there. I kept eavesdropping, trying to figure out what language people were speaking, only to realize that it was ghetto Chicago slang that I hadn't heard in three months or maybe ever.

My flight out ofChicago was late due to some tornado warnings? and the airlines did a test on a potential oil leak in the engine. So when I arrived in Seattle, the last flight out to Sitka had already left and the airlines set me up in a hotel for the night and booked me on the first flight for the next morning. Though I really wanted to be home and dump my luggage, I was shocked to enter a very classy Radisson and find that I was in a room with two cushy queen size beds, a really nice bathroom with a bathtub, and CARPETED floors. It was beautiful goodness. (I'll have to attach a picture later of the room and my exhausted self! I'm pretty sure if we had stayed in a room like that on our trips, my director would have put more than 4 girls in each!)

I finally got into Sitka around 1100 Saturday morning. It's nice to be home again, and I think I'm mostly unpacked. Adjusting to the ways of America and the difference of 10 time zones has been a little tricky though. I'm sure it wont take me too long to get back into the swing of things. That's the sad part.

La Fountaine de Vaucluse

2006-04-04T19:00:00.000+02:00

Becky, Jennifer, me, and Melanie at the green source of Fountaine de Vaucluse.

Beach at Cassis

2006-04-03T18:42:00.000+02:00

The vacation in Provence was not nearly as structured as our week trip to the Loire Valley. But finals were over, and so we had an excellent excuse to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sun that we hadn't seen for three months.

With that said, the only scheduled trips on the week long trip were on Friday to Avignon, Monday to the beach, Tuesday we went to Vaucluse and Gorde, and Wednesday to Grasse and Cannes. Beautiful, beautiful areas. All had a very Mediterranian feel with lighter colored stuco like buildings and homes and a scent of a fruit and vegetable market. The country side was a view of vineyards and lavendar fields. I know you're jealous.

Even more so, when you see this picture of Becky, Melanie, Jennifer, and I at the beach in Cassis on Monday.

Mission Kind-of-Impossible

2006-04-03T18:00:00.000+02:00

After a couple hours soaking in the sun and building sand chateaux, Melanie, Becky, and I decided to explore the sea side village a bit. We could see from the beach a grand stone chateau built upon the cliffs and decided that it wasn't too far away to visit. So we climbed up the hill and found a little back door that entered the property. The view was amazing, and we decided that we would inhance our visit by doing a little rock climbing to get to the castle's yard.

When we got to the castle doors, the yard seemed surprisingly void of tourists or anyone for that matter. "It's almost like this is private property," I said. Unable to find the exit, I climbed my way down to the back exit in my beach attire and walked towards the main entrance. Only then did we discover that it was interdit for the general public to visit the Chateau de Cassis.

TGV

2006-03-30T18:36:00.000+02:00

On Thursday, after dropping off our extra luggage at the directors apartment, the BYU group went to Gare de Lyon to catch a TGV to Aix-en-Provence. We were a little worried that we wouldn't be able to leave Paris for our week vacation in the south because of the rumors we had heard that the student riots were threatening to effect the train systems. But luckily we didn't have any train problems until Avignon, where it was announced that the next train station had incurred a small fire and we would have to travel to Marseille and take a bus back to our hotel in center Aix.

This is a picture of Becky and I on the TGV (the wicked fast train, traveling over 300 km per hour I think...). Boy will I miss those baguette sandwiches.

Family Photo

2006-03-29T18:32:00.000+02:00

Jennifer and I finally got a picture of the two of us with Madame de Boudemange. We took the picture after our last night at dinner and had to set up a timer on the camera, which was placed on top of an antique library ladder she had found at a flea market. Madame thought we were very silly girls, but she told us that she loved having us in her home this semester.

Springtime This Way

2006-03-27T18:28:00.000+02:00

Living in Le Pecq was wonderful, especially since our apartment was located on Rue de Printemps. Unfortunately the name didn't help any during the semester until the last week that we were in Paris.

Last Sunday

2006-03-26T16:52:00.000+02:00

We had our last Sunday with the St. Quentin branch and took a lot of pictures. The members here have all been really nice to us, and we have had greater opportunities to be involved and learn than those students who went to the ward. I will miss attending church in France. I felt like I always learned so much more on Sundays.

This was a picture of Melanie, Becky, and I with the branch Relief Society.

Restitution of PDiddy

2006-03-21T11:17:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday, after a failed attempt to logon to a McDonald’s WiFi (Refreshments of McNuggets and Petite Frite purchased. For future reference, the BBQ sauce here is really good.) we went to Chez Clément for a luncheon payed for by a friend of Jennifer. This friend brought her niece to Paris for a week in her senior year of high school from Tulsa, OK to check out Paris for a potential study abroad opportunity in college, and wanted to know our opinion. This lady is a friend of Jennifer’s aunt, with whom we verified the information with before having the meeting (Don’t worry, mom). I entirely recommend Chez Clément, located just down a side street from the fountaine at Saint Michel, for a fantabulous meal well worth whatever Jennifer’s friend paid for it.

We were served by Clément himself, who surprised by my ability to speak French when surrounded by Oklahomans (except Jennifer of course, who also spoke French), called me “petite fille française” and some other nickname which I only understood to be a synonym that meant something like “the ambassador for the tourist table.” The meal was filling and beautiful prepared. We spent the rest of the afternoon digesting and trying to connect to life as is known on computers.

When we returned to a dark apartment in Le Pecq for our scheduled dinner with Madame, we found a note explaining that she was called away unexpectedly to take care of her grandkids and that dinner was ready for us in the kitchen. A frightening thought, as the last time this happened we ate only peas. There was a similar course waiting for us, but slightly better and with a great surprise. Lentils and hard boiled eggs for the entrée; a pumpkin purée, that was actually quite good, for the main course; bread and goat cheese with raisins, coconut, and mango mixed in; and get this… chocolate éclairs for dessert. Oh it was beautiful, though we had to take a few minutes to process the additional food to an already satisfied stomach before allowing ourselves the time to fully appreciate a French éclair.

The combination of a better plat principal and a heavenly dessert, totally rectify the historic Pdiddy fiasco.

The Crypt

2006-03-20T11:23:00.001+01:00

On Monday, I gave a presentation for my Christian History religion class on Voltaire and Rousseau. Both were deists, meaning in short that they believed that God was like a watchmaker, who made the perfect world clock and then wound it up and let it run. Their philosophical religious ideas played into politics as well and had a great impact on the French Revolution, which in turn destroyed the foundations of church in France at the time and connections between church and state (also a deist view). Anyway… dispensing with the lecture, after my presentation a group of us went to the Pantheon (which you can get in free with a history of art student card) and saw the tombs of both Voltaire and Rousseau.

What We Left in Copenhagen to Return to

2006-03-19T15:27:00.000+01:00

Yes, that's frozen ocean ...

Paris pretending to be warm...

The Baxters

2006-03-19T15:12:00.000+01:00

Back Row: Samuel, Clive, Andreas

Front: Jennifer, Annette, Rebecca

(David 14 year old son not included... in England)

A Temple in Denmark

2006-03-18T15:36:00.000+01:00

The Copenhagen Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

(Sadly, closed for renovations and cleaning the week we were there!)

Vikings are wicked cool!

2006-03-18T15:10:00.000+01:00

We visited a museum that portrayed Viking life in Denmark through the five ruin ships that were found in a blockade on the coast of Denmark. The remnants of the ships were pieced together and displayed with estimated historic value. The best part about the museum, though, (besides the fact that Vikings, despite their pillaging and wild ways, are awesome) was that the museum included a kids portion with dress up clothes and model Viking ships. We took the opportunity to be childish and boorish to pose for a picture.

Hej Sveden

2006-03-17T15:05:00.000+01:00

Yes, I'm waving to Sweden at Hamlet's Castle, just like the Danish Flag!

I’m a Danish Princess too!

2006-03-17T14:00:00.000+01:00

The second day we were in Denmark, Annette drove us around to see the different castles in the outlying areas of Denmark. We say Frederiksburg surrounded by water, with the queen’s chapel containing amazing pictures of Christ’s life; and Hamlet’s castle, where Hamlet of Shakespeare supposedly lived, just across the way from Sweden. I bet you can guess where all the cannon’s were pointing towards at Hamlet’s castle.

To Be Or Not To Be… What was the question again?

2006-03-17T13:02:00.000+01:00

Hamlet's Castle

“Is” Please

2006-03-16T15:03:00.000+01:00

Like I said, Copenhagen was cold! But we did brave the winds in order to see the statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid. Everyone repeated reminded us that she is a LITTLE mermaid. I would venture to add a cold one from the looks of it… Can’t really imagine Ariel sitting comfortably in that environment.

(Is in Danish means Ice Cream, and there actually isn’t any word for please just a long phrase that you have to change depending on what you say. But Andreas said he mixed English and Danish sometimes… and that was a more common team. We actually got to take a Danish class to learn the alphabet, which has several different pronunciations of O and U which can change a word to so many strikingly different meanings. Andreas made sure to teach me how to say Jeg er igge fjourten, but that’s a long story that’s too embarrassing to put on a blog.)

Check... Check

2006-03-16T14:59:00.000+01:00

I had two main goals for the trip to Copenhagen, and that was to eat a Danish pastry and to eat a Danish hotdog (Is anyone surprised that my goals involved food?). Luckily I was able to conquer these gastronomical obstacles the first day! The hot dog was cheap and tasty from a little side stand. The frank was red and had a thick skin. The pastry, though bought at a 7-11 (Yes, to be found everywhere in Denmark), was heavenly.

Amazing Grace

2006-03-16T13:19:00.000+01:00

Our first day in Copenhagen was spent wandering around the inner city with flurries of snow drifting down from the cold blue sky. We were slightly jealous of the other BYU students who had chosen to go to Italy during this break, until we stopped at the Church of Our Lady where we found the original Kristus, twelve apostles, and our own private organ recital (organist on the far right in the photo). With bright walls and peaceful music, I could have stayed in the building all day (especially since it wasn't the Mediterranean waiting outside for us).

Copenhagen

2006-03-15T11:27:00.000+01:00

During this three month semester abroad, the students were given one long weekend with no classes to travel wherever they want. As most students were going to Rome, and we didn’t wish to look like a large group of American tourists; Jennifer, Kerrie, and I decided to go to Denmark to visit family friends of Jennifer’s. The Baxters (Clive, Annette, Andreas, Samuel, David, and Rebecca) live in a village called Herringlose (sounds like hang loose in Danish) about 25 minutes outside of Copenhagen. On our drive to their house, we passed fields with large mounds of dirt, which are actually Viking burial grounds, noted by their stones shaped like a boat. When Vikings buried a nobleman, they would put him in his boat, kill his horses to be buried with him in the boat, add any other jewels or possessions, and cover the grave with a large amount of dirt.

My Trip to Denmark

2006-03-15T10:30:00.000+01:00

If you look really close, you can see that the Danish Kroner is about 7 Kroner per Euro, making a large bag of Snickers 28,00.

Double Takes

2006-03-14T15:47:00.000+01:00

Our running joke is that our second glances go not to the Metrosexual Frenchmen, but rather to the window panes of Patiseries. It's no wonder the French call window shopping lèche vitrine.

Yet Another Beauty of Paris

2006-03-13T11:33:00.000+01:00

I give all the credit to the new tie I bought myself... that and the wind machine

On The Street Where I'ld Live

2006-03-11T11:30:00.000+01:00

Hey hey! That's the street for me... actually it was really small and didn't look at all like where I would imagine a booming Paris party would be taking place.

Workin' the Quai

2006-03-10T11:21:00.001+01:00

Jennifer and I workin' the quai on a Paris ghetto walk. Pretty sure we got a couple car honks that day, and we're betting that it had something to do with our beautiful pores...

Paris Workout is More Like it!

2006-03-09T11:38:00.000+01:00

On Friday Melanie, Jennifer, and I did yet another Paris Walk entitled "Topography of Paris." We started out visiting one of the ghetto-est looking areas of the city, but with some beautiful bridges and quais, but the rest of the walk was uphill. We walked through the Muslim block, then straight to the Chinatown like block seperated only by a crosswalk. After having possible the workout of all Paris walks, we ended in a sort of Central Park in Paris. What an amazing, awe inspiring view! The park is composed of cliffs and this lake with pertruding rock mountain. Not sure what the gazebo like structure is, but the whole thing reminded me of Lord of the Rings. In the distance, to the left side of the lake mountain, you can see Sacre Coeur.

French Facials

2006-03-09T11:09:00.000+01:00

Hmmm... mimes, I think not. H&M had some self-warming facials on sale, which our pores enjoyed Thursday evening.

Group Picture

2006-03-08T11:14:00.000+01:00

Actually taken on our bus trip, but I thought I would include it now... a picture of the BYU Winter Semester Paris Study Abroad Group. Jeff (the only guy student in the group, center) is one very lucky young man to be with such beautiful ladies for three months!

Typical Postcard

2006-03-06T11:05:00.000+01:00

Probably the most taken picture on the towers of Notre Dame... a typical postcard taken by me.

My Ascension atop Notre Dame

2006-03-06T10:49:00.000+01:00

Monday after our Christian History class, a group of us decided to go up the towers of Notre Dame. As students in Europe, we are very fortunate to have cards that give free access to most museums and as we heard rumor, the towers of Notre Dame as well. One of the girls noticed a sign that said to buy tickets inside. Thinking that meant inside the cathedral, and not wanting to get in line and up to the ticket counter only to realize that our cards didn’t work, Melanie and I went inside to verify.

I walked up to the little booth inside the cathedral where crosses, candles, and souvenirs are sold and before posing the question, I turned to Melanie and asked if the verb for going up the towers is ascendre (Descendre would be the opposite, to go down the towers or get off a train). Anyway… Melanie nodded and I proceeded to the counter to pose my question, Excusez-moi, Madame. Nous voudrions ascendre les tours, et nous avons ces cartes d’étudiant…Before I could pass on, the lady kindly pointed out that ascendre is not a word, the verb does not exist, but rather one would monter les tours. Thanks, French 101, that was silly. Either way, I took a picture of my ascension as it were at the top of the towers at Notre Dame that sunny Monday afternoon.

Souviens-Toi

2006-03-03T16:57:00.000+01:00

The final stop of our week long bus trip was to the memorial site of Oradour-Sur-Glane, a village destroyed by Nazi massacre. June 1944, the small village was surrounded by Nazi troops, villagers were gathered in the center of town, and separated by gender and age to be executed. The town was then ransacked and demolished, and later another troop came in to ensure that none of the bodies could be identifiable. Over 640 people were killed that day without reason, a third of which were children. The town left in desolation, was unable to mourn properly as nothing remained to complete the grieving process. The ruins of the village were left relatively untouched as a memorial to the tragedy, and today in 2006 groups of university students can walk through the rain and hail to mourn with the French.

Castle Valley

2006-03-02T16:55:00.000+01:00

The Loire Valley slightly resembles my former temporary home of Southeast Idaho, except its heck of a lot cooler with random castles spotting the green hills. My favorite valley of this trip and probably of all France is the Dordogne Valley, with castles stemming out of cliffs and purposely placed mansions cascading towards the river at the base of the valley. There was a stunning view from one particular castle which we took a break to park next to, take a group picture, and do some gymnastics on the grass.

Homo Sapious Sapiens

2006-03-01T16:52:00.000+01:00

The prehistoric part of our tour included a tour of Lascaux II caves and cave paintings, a museum tour in Les Eyzies, and cave tour en français at Perl-Meche with awe inspiring stalactites and cave paintings. We talked about the theories on evolution and the artistic effort that went into the cave paintings. The artists had to have been really good, as the paintings were done by sculpting into the cavernous rock for a three dimensional effect, and then painting. On rock you only get one shot, there’s no erasing or painting over colors.

Back to the Future

2006-02-28T16:51:00.000+01:00

Our second day in Southwest France included a trip to Futuroscope, a modern themed theme park. There were simulator rides, 3D adventures, and exposes on the cosmos. Two of my favorite “rides” of the park were Star du Futur and Percussions du Monde. Future Star was fun, as you went through three different acting games that were taped and then sat in a moving car to watch a movie from your scenes. It was funny. Percussions du Monde was a IMAX video by STOMP with music and sounds from all over the world. It rocked my socks off. I didn’t really enjoy the simulator rides, as they made me dizzy; but a plus is that some provide sexy goggles to protect the eyes and give 3D effects. This is Jennifer and I buggin’ it at Futuroscope.

Cheap Shakes

2006-02-27T16:49:00.000+01:00

The first hotel stay of the trip was in Poitiers in a Hôtel Comfort near Casino, a supermarket and cafeteria. For dinner a lot of the girls went over to the Casino cafeteria and stopped at the grocery store for weekday snacks. Jennifer and I found ice cream, demi-créme, and spoons for less than 1,50 euro to make shakes. They were heavenly!

Princess of Chenanceau

2006-02-27T16:47:00.000+01:00

One of the most beautiful of châteaux in the Loire Valley is Chenanceau, floating atop the Cher River with its gardens and labyrinth (not on top of the water). This is a picture of me, rightfully posing as royalty next to the stunning building.

Blois

2006-02-27T16:44:00.000+01:00

After an hour and half bus ride from Paris, our BYU group arrived in the Loire Valley. Our first visit was to the Blois Chateau, once home to Catherine de Medici and Henri III and the site of the assassination of the Duke of Guise. We walked through their rooms and viewed the courtyard with four different periods of architecture; early gothic, late gothic ornamental, renaissance, and classical architecture wings.

Bus Trip Ahoy!

2006-02-26T18:19:00.000+01:00

Hello friends and family! Sorry for my lack of blogging, I've had limited access this week. Exciting news though, I'm getting ready for our first group bus trip. The BYU Paris study abroad group is leaving at 8 am from Paris on Monday to the Loire Valley to visit chateaux, ancient caves, and Futuroscope (modern technology themepark). I sure am excited for this week long adventure and promise that when I get a chance I will update on the past few weeks with pictures. Love you all!

Sabaath

2006-02-26T16:37:00.000+01:00

This is a picture of the Versailles chapelle where I go to church every Sunday. To get there we have to take the RER A ligne to La Defense and the SNCF to Versailles Rive Droit and then walk or take the bus up the hill to the church building.

On this particular Sunday in the branch, I played the piano for Saint-Cene; Melanie, Becky, and I did a musical number "Plus Pres de Toi"; I taught the Old Testament Sunday School lesson in French on Abraham and Isaac; and I played the piano for Relief Society.

Dancing the Night Away

2006-02-25T16:35:00.000+01:00

On Saturday there was a Valentine’s Ball for the Paris LDS Institute. I went with Melanie and Becky, as Becky had a date and wanted Melanie to go, but Melanie didn’t want to go by herself. I heard that there would be free food, so I volunteered to be her “cavalier.” It is French tradition to begin dances and balls with a waltz. So my actual cavalier, as they found it necessary for me to have one, was named Christophe. Christophe didn’t know how to waltz, but he was a nice guy. The rest of the night we enjoyed dancing to the Macarena, YMCA, and to random French reggae tunes. Plus there was chocolate cake!

Flirting at Fountainebleau

2006-02-25T16:22:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time, in the year two thousand, a group of Alaskan tourists went to visit the chateau at Fountainebleau. One particular 16 year old girl wasn’t feeling well and asked if she could sit outside in the summer weather to rest. Taking her friend’s walkman in hand, this young lady sat in the peaceful gardens until fully reposed; at which point the music mix became spastic and exciting, and this young lady started to dance and skip around the gardens. Twirling up and down walkways and tap dancing up the stairs was quite exhausting, and the girl sat to take a breather on a small cement bench.
Seeing the escapade of this obviously ecstatic young female tourist, the French gardener on his John Deere mower drove up to the bench to have a little chat, IN FRENCH. “Bonjour! Ca va? Are you a tourist from Sweden,” he flattered the girl. “Plan on staying at the castle long? Oh, that’s too bad because this little town can be quite the party in the evenings. Au Revoir.” Satisfied with her flirtatious French conversation and the minutes of sitting, the girl returned to dancing in the summer wind.
In honor of this petite histoire, here is an arabesque picture of me on THE very bench. No flirting with gardeners occurred on this blustery winter day. Instead I discovered the local teen hang out in Avon where I bought myself the best French Bacon Cheeseburger ever and cheap too!

Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

2006-02-24T16:07:00.000+01:00

In high school, as part of a competition, couples were asked to perform scenes from the French play Bourgeois Gentilhomme. So when I noticed this advert on the street for the play, I knew I had to go. Friday night, at 2030 I found myself at the Theatre de Paris to watch a modern version of the old school French play, fit with a scene of break dancing and “Gothic” music. Though parts were difficult to understand, I caught a majority of lines and laughed loudly at appropriate times. It was an excellent version and still contained some of my favorite lines.

Random Picture #5

2006-02-24T16:01:00.000+01:00

Invalides and Eiffel

Those Boots Were Made For Walkin'

2006-02-24T15:54:00.000+01:00

On Friday Jennifer, Melanie, and I went on one of our assigned Paris walks that was approximately 7 miles long. We visited the Montparnasse Cemetery, Le Bon Marché, Luxemburg Gardens, and Les Invalides. I asked a palace guard to take this picture and he replied, <> I told him we would pay him a fortune, but he was just kidding.

A Chocolate Night!

2006-02-24T14:03:00.000+01:00

On Friday night Jennifer, Kerrie, and I went to Hägen Daaz at Place de Victor Hugo to celebrate the anniversary of his (Hugo’s) birth. Or at least, that was the justification we gave for devouring the glorious fondue platter. Chunks of brownie and cookies, bananas, kiwi, and little scoops of six different kinds of ice cream to dip in the melted milk chocolate and hot chocolate to top it all off; all served to us by a very beautiful, chocolate, Frenchman (unfortunately no one had the guts to ask for a picture of him). My favorite was the raspberry sorbet drizzled with chocolate.

Hopefully this recount has made you all drool with jealous hunger. I enjoyed it immensely.

Random Picture #4

2006-02-20T11:14:00.000+01:00

Taken by Jennifer of Saint-Sulpice and birds flying.

Down the Lane

2006-02-20T11:10:00.000+01:00

This is a picture from one of our walks quite awhile ago. We were walking on the opposite side of the Eiffel Tower from the American Library and happened across this side alley. I especially liked the random wooden door and lamp at the end.

Saturday's Adventures

2006-02-19T10:57:00.000+01:00

On Saturday, me and my roomie went to Sacre Coeur again to prepare for a panorama paper we have to do for class. While in the area we decided to stop by the Moulin Rouge, which wasn't as spectacular spectacular as I thought it would be. But still fun to pole pose with. Then after volunteering at the library, we stopped by the Grande Arche de la Defense. This is a picture from it's steps. You can see the Arc de Triomphe in the far distance, almost parallel with the Grande Arche. The A d T is a monument to War and the Conquering hero, while the G A is a modern representation of humanitarian works and peace.

Volunteering at the American Library

2006-02-18T00:08:00.000+01:00

Every Saturday I go to the American Library, located near the Eiffel Tower, to volunteer for a couple hours. Usually I spend two hours shelving the non-fiction and mystery books, or finding some new author or book to stare at...

Voyage to Chartres

2006-02-17T00:00:00.000+01:00

On Friday, the BYU group went on an hour train trip to a little town called Chartres, where we visited the Cathedral and Vitraux (stained glass workshop). It was an amazingly fun trip. The pictures are of a group of us in a Harry Potter like train compartment.

Poof of Wind

2006-02-16T23:53:00.000+01:00

On Thursday, puffy hair day, I left the apartment on a rainy/windy day in Le Vesinet with an Idaho puff. Unfortunately, my puff fell with a small gust of wind. Where's Maura when you need bigger poof and more product?! After classes, Jennifer and I went on a Paris walk in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. The cemetery is gigantic, and in two and a half hours we only walked around one third. We found Heloise and Abalard, as well as Jim Morrison and Chopin. Mostly we just walked around on this gloomy day sharing stories, while walking through eerie monuments.

Une echarpe chouette

2006-02-15T23:43:00.000+01:00

On Wednesday I went to the Louvre to join the art class and watch Jennifer's presentation on Boucher. My favorite paintings that we looked at that day were by an artist named Poussin.

The pictures kind of blurry, but I took it to prove that this echarpe that I bought for a certain special mother has now been truly dubbed French. (The scarf design is really popular in France right now, you'll like it...)

Sulking with Claude

2006-02-15T11:00:00.000+01:00

This is me, sulking with Jennifer's teddy bear Claude on Wednesday. I was definitely in need of a blankie, cuddly teddy, and a sugar crepe...

Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T23:34:00.000+01:00

I'm such a hottie! This is my favorite picture from this trip, which Jennifer so kindly took. For Valentine's Day we had "Stupid Cupids," meaning we bought secret Valentine gifts for someone else. My Stupid Cupid got me body wash... that wasn't even French. But it was pink and came with a pretty satin red ribbon. Needless to say, the ribbon was my favorite part :0)

Crepe Man!

2006-02-14T23:20:00.000+01:00

On Valentine's Day Jennifer and I treated ourselves to the best cheese crepe to be found in Paris. This is our favorite crepe vendor in Paris, just down the street from the Institute and Centre Pompidou. His name is Gus le meillure vendeur des crepes... okay that's not true. I don't actually know his name, but doesn't he look like a Gus?! He's the one on the left. Monsieur Gus is half Greek half French (he says the top half is the Greek half). He is really nice and speaks to us in French. His crepes are amazing; we had cheese crepes, to which he added two types of cheese on a large crepe AND salt and pepper. So nice, funny, and always asks how classes are going. In this Kodak moment, Jennifer is waiting for hers, I'm eating mine and taking the picture, and Monsieur Gus is talking to one of his Greek friends who doesn't speak French.

What cute Twinners!

2006-02-13T23:16:00.000+01:00

Ahhh... What a cute hug. You'ld almost think we were cousins or something. Okay, maybe not; but having bought the same shirt at Le Redoute definetly helps. That and our hair is practically the same color in this picture.

Hurray for Twin Day and shopping!

Crepe Soiree

2006-02-13T23:00:00.000+01:00

On Monday Melanie, Becky, Jeff, and I (BYU students that are members of the Versailles LDS branch) went to a Crepe Soiree/ Family Home Evening in La Verrier. I ate so many crepes, as I especially liked the kiwi jam! Above is a picture of me, Becky, Melanie, and Mattieu from the branch. I think he's 18 and is studying at a University before going on his mission. The picture below is of the Branch President. He's a very funny guy; more funny because he threatens to have the BYU students all give talks within the next few weeks... I think I have an excuse for a little while because I'm teaching the young adult class next week (Abraham and Isaac story).

Prepare yourselves!

2006-02-13T12:32:00.000+01:00

Starting Monday is Spirit Week for Paris Study Abroad students... so prepare your eyes for spectacular images. There were a few changes, since we only have classes together as a group on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday...

Monday = Twinner Roommate Day
Tuesday = Valentine's Day Day
Wednesday = Parisian Day
Thursday = Utah/ Idaho Hair Day

Elevators are good...

2006-02-09T12:27:00.000+01:00

Let it be known, that if you get off the Metro at Abbesses near Sacre Coeur, instead of taking the mile long spiral staircase to rez de chausser of earth, take the available elevator that the smarter, more accustomed French use. Saves time and legs!

Bird's Eye View

2006-02-09T12:02:00.000+01:00

My new favorite view in Paris, of course the sun shining and providing warmth for the first time in awhile did help the ambiance of the moment.

Sacre Coeur

2006-02-09T12:00:00.000+01:00

A large group of us students visited Sacre Coeur on Thursday, reuiring us to walk up a thousand steps at least, up a steep hill. But the view and the sunshine was well worth it. Plus, the workout was a nice way to burn off the falafel and cookies I had eaten just before. Darn patisseries ! Above is a frontal view of Sacre Coeur and below is Charlemange with his victorious pose pointing towards the specks of blue sky.

Notre Dame's Derrier

2006-02-08T11:57:00.000+01:00

Voici the backside of Notre Dame. Valerie and I walked past this view on one of our Paris walks. It was in the garden behind Notre Dame that I had my first French conversation way back in 2000. It was with an older woman who was feeding the birds. I thought she might still be there... but she wasn't.

Twisted

2006-02-06T12:20:00.000+01:00

Jennifer and I went to the Musee d'Orsay on Monday, where I reinnacted (okay, just posed like) the most dramatic event of my previous Paris life: twisting my ankle on the steps in 2000. Back in the day, with my twisted ankle, I had the high school group piggy back my around Paris for a couple days. I tried to convince Jennifer that this would be a good idea, in effort to truly recreate the drama. She declined, thus no picture of piggyback Katie. We went inside the Museum instead to view pieces of some of the most amazing artists known to man!

École d'église

2006-02-06T11:18:00.000+01:00

The picture on the right is of the institute complex where I have all of my classes. It is located in the heart of Paris, just down the street from the ile of Paris with Notre Dame, and is directly across the street from the Centre Pompidou (fountains of Pompidou imaged left).

Ceremony for Unknown Soldiers

2006-02-04T18:00:00.000+01:00

It may be difficult to see, but this is a photo taken at the Arc de Triomphe at an evening ceremony for the unknown soldiers. I asked one of the Arc employees, and he said these ceremonies happen every evening but aren't always this important with a band and larger crowd.

Random Picture #3

2006-02-03T11:35:00.000+01:00

Kids playing in the park next to the Eiffel Tower.

View from on Top

2006-02-01T11:30:00.000+01:00

These are two similar views from the primier étage on the Eiffel Tower. It was amazing for me to see how huge Paris is, and the photos kind of give you an idea of the architecture and immensity of the city. When walking around the city, it doesn't seem so dense as the picture portrays. Architects have done a decent job of adding space and presenting facades. I usually walk past the Eiffel Tower several times each week to get to the American Library.

Figure on Eiffel

2006-01-30T18:30:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-30T13:34:00.000+01:00

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

Chocolat!

2006-01-30T13:16:00.000+01:00

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!

2006-01-28T13:21:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-27T13:26:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-26T13:37:00.000+01:00

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...

2006-01-23T11:51:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-23T11:47:00.000+01:00

My Seine

2006-01-21T19:55:00.000+01:00

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

Did someone say shopping?

2006-01-21T19:52:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-21T19:49:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-20T20:04:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-20T17:27:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-19T17:22:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-18T20:00:00.000+01:00

This one is a not so random photo...

Banania

2006-01-17T16:43:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-16T20:07:00.000+01:00

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?

2006-01-14T16:37:00.000+01:00

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?

2006-01-13T16:54:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-11T19:59:00.000+01:00

I call this one "Reflections on the Seine."

Crepes first, please!

2006-01-11T17:00:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-11T15:38:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-10T15:28:00.000+01:00

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

2006-01-07T06:54:00.000+01:00

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.