Yesterday, after waking up and watching Glee of course, I decided to go to the Louvre. It's next to the Tuileries, so I knew what Metros to take and everything. As I was walking to the Metro, someone in Montrouge asked me for directions. Plus side, apparently I blend in and look like I knot where I'm going; downside, I'm quickly learning that "je ne sais pas" is about as helpful as I can be to anyone (including a lady at the bookstore...fail). On the ride there, at one of the stops, someone boarded and was standing right in front of where I was sitting. I looked up and saw, yup, you guessed it, an accordion player. This situation is getting out of control haha. Also when I got of the subway, some girl, accompanied by a large group of girls, was going down the stairs on crutches, and then got into a wheelchair at the bottom of the stairs. And her entire group had to stop with her, standing like a barricade across the subway exit. I don't understand some people. Anyway, I got to the Louvre and followed the 
signs/masses of people for Carrousel de Louvre, which is like a huge underground mall area that I had no idea even existed. There were so many shops and restaurants all just underground! I hoped I was going the right direction, I'm pretty sure you could easily get lost down there. Then I got to the main area where the inverted pyramid is, and again I just thought of The Da Vinci Code. Then I'm pretty sure I cut the security line, but got through and got in line for my ticket. Which was free because I'm a student under 26! I just had to show my student visa, it was great. The ticketing area is under the big pyramid. It was really cool and beautiful, but so sunny! My eyes were watering it was so bright having just gotten off the underground subway and walking through the underground mall. I thought it would have been weird if I put my sunglasses on, though, since technically we were inside.
signs/masses of people for Carrousel de Louvre, which is like a huge underground mall area that I had no idea even existed. There were so many shops and restaurants all just underground! I hoped I was going the right direction, I'm pretty sure you could easily get lost down there. Then I got to the main area where the inverted pyramid is, and again I just thought of The Da Vinci Code. Then I'm pretty sure I cut the security line, but got through and got in line for my ticket. Which was free because I'm a student under 26! I just had to show my student visa, it was great. The ticketing area is under the big pyramid. It was really cool and beautiful, but so sunny! My eyes were watering it was so bright having just gotten off the underground subway and walking through the underground mall. I thought it would have been weird if I put my sunglasses on, though, since technically we were inside.
The museum is divided into three wings, and I decided to go to the Richelieu wing, because that's where the Code of Hammurabi is, and I've been told (many times) that it's a must-see. The Mona Lisa is in another wing, and I saved that one for another visit because I've been told (many times) that it's less than impressive. I went in through the Cour Marly, with all the Marly horses. The room was beautiful. It was all off-white marble with a huge glass ceiling. But not as bright as under the pyramid. I proceeded to see a lot of 15-17th century sculpture, which was all beautiful. Then I saw the Appartements Napoléon III, which were probably the most beautiful rooms I've ever seen. Everything was so extravagant and 
there were at least 20 chandeliers. I was just in awe the entire time I was wandering through. Then I saw paintings from Northern Europe (mostly Dutch and Flemish I think) including Rembrandt (!) and some French paintings. One of my other favorite rooms was a huge room filled with huge paintings by Rubens. Marie de Medici commissioned them, and it's a series of 21 gigantic works that depict her life. You can read more about them here if you want!
I knew the Louvre was huge before I went, but it's literally so gigantic I'm convinced it's impossible to get through the whole thing ever. There were SO many rooms and so much to see it was extremely overwhelming. I was wandering around for about 2 hours and was exhausted. I went to the Code of Hammurabi on my way out, which is the first written code of law with over 3oo rules engraved on it! After that, I decided that was enough for the day and made my way to the sortie (exit). I'm glad I went by myself, because I can't imaging having to go through at someone else's pace, or having to decide which direction to go, since it seemed there really wasn't a right way to go through. On the way out, I found a bookstore that had English books, so I bought the last HP even though I already have it at home, I couldn't find it before I left, so I'm really excited about that. Then, on rue du Rivoli I found one of the places my abroad company recommended for hot chocolate, but when I saw the hot chocolate cost, like, 8 euro I left without getting any. First of all it was a hot day, second of all, that is an absurd price for hot chocolate. Even though I was starving and dying of thirst.Then on the way home, the Metro stopped for way longer than normal 3 stops away from mine. I got impatient so I just got off and started walking. I'm pretty sure right after I got off it started running again. It was a pretty long walk back to my house, I'm just glad I found it, though. I bought a baguette on the way home and made a delicious turkey and cheese sandwich when I got home. I was so tired from walking in the Louvre and then a lot of the way home. I think my host family thinks I don't do anything all day, because they always find me in the same place when they get home, but I always just tire myself out from walking everywhere.
Bibiane made a delicious dinner last night (even though the chicken was just thawing out on the counter all day...I haven't died yet so that's good), and I watched The Mentalist with her and Antoine. In French. I was très confused. I stayed up until midnight so I could "set" my clock after changing it to an hour later somehow, and unplugging it at midnight is the only way I can figure out how to set it right.
Today I had no idea what I wanted to do. I want to go to Montmarte, but there was a national strike and I wanted to avoid taking more than one Metro/going very far. First I had to wait around for my phone to be delivered, which finally came around 11:30. It's the smallest phone I've ever seen and has the least features of anything I've ever used. I can't even figure out how to make it stop beeping every time I push a button. And I have no idea what the ringtone is so it'll be interesting the first time it rings. After that, I ended up going back to Notre Dame and just reading (HP7!) in the little garden outside for a bit. Then it started raining so I ran into a bunch of the gift shops looking for an umbrella (parapluie) and the instant I bought one it stopped raining, of course. At least I have one now haha. Then I walked over to Ile St. Louis because an ice cream shop over there was recommended by a few people. I found it, but the line was super long, and the girls behind the counter seemed extremely flustered (the group was not making their job any easier by trying to be polite or anything). So I went to another shop that was also recommended (filled with another tour group, clearly I picked the wrong time, but they were almost done) and I got strawberry and vanilla. They shaped it into a flower on the cone and it was delicious. The Bastille is really close to where I was, and I thought about going, but then I remembered 
that's where the big strike protest was happening. I guess they raised the retirement age here and people are mad. I could here the chanting and music coming from that direction, and I decided it would probably be a good move to steer clear of that area. I walked back over to Notre Dame and read some more, and then decided to head home. (HP7 SPOILER ALERT COMING UP SO IF YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK AND HAVEN'T READ IT AND WANT TO SKIP A LITTLE BIT) On the subway I was reading more, and literally almost burst into tears when Hedwig died and then when George lost his ear. I knew that happened but it was all I could do not to cry for some reason. I also got all geeked out over HP at lunch with my resident director the other day haha. (I HAVE to get to this premiere!) Then I read some more on the cute little outside patio at the house, and now I'm watching more French TV that I don't understand. And praying that MegaVideo comes through for me tomorrow because BONES FINALLY STARTS TONIGHT! (Yes, I do care, even though I'm in Paris.)À bientot!
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So I didn't want to start a new post so this is Saturday morning. Yesterday, since my family thinks I don't go anywhere all day, I just walked over to the mall, went and sat in the Starbucks, and read HP haha. It was raining so I didn't really want to go exploring. I was there for a while, debating the entire time if I actually wanted to get a drink (because a tall is over 4 euro...). I ended up sucking it up because I didn't have lunch in preparation for our welcome dinner since it was already like 3pm and I didn't want to show up not hungry for a free dinner. After that, I went to the Monoprix to get my school supplies since I didn't bring notebooks or anything over here with me. When I walked in, the security guy was like staring at me and came up and said something (of course I had no idea what--people here need to speak louder I feel like everyone mumbles quietly) so I kind of just smiled and tried to convey my French is very bad. He took a step back and then after a few more seconds stepped towards me again and was like "you are very beautiful" and I was like, um...thanks. And he proceeded to watch me try and find nail clippers that weren't 8 euro. My search ended before I was successful because he was like staring at me so I snaked through the aisles trying to avoid him a little bit. In the process, I found hand sanitizer! Score! So I guess it all worked out. Then, in the notebook section, I quickly realized that lined paper does not exist. It's all graph paper, or what looks like wide ruled with like 4 more faded lines breaking up each main line (if that made any sense). Also paper is a different size. It's thinner and longer than regular US notebook paper. As I'm typing this, I'm thinking that you are all finding this less than interesting...sorry haha. I also got more yogurt since I ran out and had cereal yesterday with the milk that is not refrigerated (you refrigerate it after opening which I guess is comforting). The milk is like whole milk (like more whole than US whole milk somehow--Stephania you would looovveee it haha), which I love but I'm definitely not going to drink every day. I came back and just hung out until I had to leave for the program welcome dinner.
It was great finally getting to meet everyone else. Some people had just arrived that day! I can't imagine flying in and trying to find this place for dinner having never used the Métro or anything. I'm glad I had been here and knew(ish) where I was going. Dinner was comforting with regards to my French level. Besides the Sorbonne students, there is only one other girl who is in intermediate with me. Ordering was pretty entertaining. Dinner was delicious, and it was fun getting to know everyone and hear stories from the Sorbonne kids who have been here and started classes already. One of the girls also goes to UCLA, and we know a lot of the same people but not each other. There were also two other pairs of people who go to the same schools. And people outside those pairs who had mutual friends. I never cease to be amazed at how small the world is. After dinner, a group of us went to a place someone knew called Chez Georges. It is a REALLY small wine bar with glasses for 2.5 euro. We got bottles though, so it was more expensive, and I was kind of mad because I drank literally half of a baby glass because it was gross rosé. Also we were like awkwardly standing in the middle of the room for a long time because it was so crowded. We finally left that place and some of the group were going to go find another bar, but me and one other girl decided to leave. The dorm where a lot of people are staying is pretty close to me, and we're meeting there today so I went with the other girl to see where it was. It's only 2 tram stops away, which would be nice if the tram didn't only come ever 2o minutes. On the Métro on the way back, this guy was holding the handrail I was standing next to, and he kept trying to talk to me (again, very quietly and mumbly) and he was SOOO drunk. I told him (in French) that I speak very little French and that I speak English. It seemed like he kept trying to start a sentence in English, and then he would just start laughing and give up. Me and the other girl were like get us out of here this is so uncomfortable. We got off a few stops before his anyway, and I was really glad he didn't stumble out after us. As we were heading for the exit another girl turned to us and was like "'ee eez very drunk." It looked like they had a similar experience before we got on haha. After I got home, it started pouring (again, I was glad I didn't go out to the other place) and it was super windy. There's a huge tree outside my window that kept hitting it and it was so loud. Plus all the rain, it's crazy and kind of freaks me out. Thanks for the earplugs, Dad! haha. Today we have a little orientation, and then we're supposed to go on a boat tour on the Seine, so it better get a little warmer and not rain!
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I really need to get better about actually posting before I leave my computer. Usually I want to add a photo I haven't taken off my camera yet, so I hope you enjoy the novellas I've been posting. Today we all met up at the dorms (at Cité Universaire--called Cité for short) which is 2 tram stops away from me. Not everyone made it, but the group that came was solid. Since the group going to my school is all girls (one boy, who didn't make it today) we talked a lot about being safe, how the men are more forward here, etc. Then we went to St. Michel and went and got lunch. Right as we were leaving, we saw two people climb into the fountain, climb up a few levels, and start throwing around a frisbee (thought all my BLU friends!). It was the weirdest thing. Also it must have been freezing cold. After, we were able to take the boat tour, even though it was freezing. Thank goodness there was an "inside" of the boat that wasn't below deck or anything so that was nice.
It was cool to see the city from the Seine and here the history behind a lot of the stuff. I had no idea that the Obelisk is the oldest monument in Paris. It's 3,3oo years old and used to stand at the entrance to the Luxor Temple in Egypt. How cool is that?! Place de la Concorde (where the Obelisk is) was also the site of guillotine during the French Revolution. I had no idea! It's where Marie Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and Charlotte Corday (murderer of Jean-Paul Marat--the guy in the bathtub in David's "The Death of Marat," one of my faves) were all executed. Crazy time in history.... Anyway, after that, we took the Métro to our school, which is an annex of the actual Catho. Ours is for all international students who want to learn French, etc. I'm excited to see who is in my classes (starting Monday!)! We had planned to go back to two of the girls' apartment to make dinner, but after getting to the store (and having split up from half the group) we decided it would be too complicated for tonight and it was already getting late, so I went grocery shopping with them (I got to be the one doing the translating for a nice change haha) and then we went back to their apartment to hang out for a bit. We were all just sitting at the table talking and then all of a sudden (one of my biggest fears) A GIANT BIRD FLEW INTO THE SLIDING GLASS WINDOW. Me and Mado saw it coming, but we both screamed anyway. It didn't die, but left a gross smear on the glass. I will most likely have nightmares about that tonight. Then we started to watch Gladiator, but it was getting increasingly cold outside and I had to go back by myself, so, being the super party soul sister I am, I left around 9pm haha. Michal let me borrow her jacket, which I was SOOOO grateful for because I was still freezing anyway and definitely would have succumbed to hypothermia or something without it. I got back around 9:30-10ish and showered to warm up and then made pasta which was delicious. We're saving cooking night for Monday (even though we all know the real cooking night is Wednesday night).
Oh, one last thing I keep forgetting to post on here. So on the walk to the Métro (which has somewhat lost it's original appeal since I walk it at least twice a day...), there is a little Greek restaurant stand type thing. You can buy a plate of food, and the word for plate in French is "assiette." They choose to abbreviate assiette (does anyone see where this is going?) Basically, their menu (giant words on the outside of the shop) advertises "ASS POULET" and "ASS BROCHE," etc. I wonder if I should tell them. Anyway, that's pretty much it for now. Until next time, when I write the next book in this series.
Bisou bisou!
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So I didn't want to start a new post so this is Saturday morning. Yesterday, since my family thinks I don't go anywhere all day, I just walked over to the mall, went and sat in the Starbucks, and read HP haha. It was raining so I didn't really want to go exploring. I was there for a while, debating the entire time if I actually wanted to get a drink (because a tall is over 4 euro...). I ended up sucking it up because I didn't have lunch in preparation for our welcome dinner since it was already like 3pm and I didn't want to show up not hungry for a free dinner. After that, I went to the Monoprix to get my school supplies since I didn't bring notebooks or anything over here with me. When I walked in, the security guy was like staring at me and came up and said something (of course I had no idea what--people here need to speak louder I feel like everyone mumbles quietly) so I kind of just smiled and tried to convey my French is very bad. He took a step back and then after a few more seconds stepped towards me again and was like "you are very beautiful" and I was like, um...thanks. And he proceeded to watch me try and find nail clippers that weren't 8 euro. My search ended before I was successful because he was like staring at me so I snaked through the aisles trying to avoid him a little bit. In the process, I found hand sanitizer! Score! So I guess it all worked out. Then, in the notebook section, I quickly realized that lined paper does not exist. It's all graph paper, or what looks like wide ruled with like 4 more faded lines breaking up each main line (if that made any sense). Also paper is a different size. It's thinner and longer than regular US notebook paper. As I'm typing this, I'm thinking that you are all finding this less than interesting...sorry haha. I also got more yogurt since I ran out and had cereal yesterday with the milk that is not refrigerated (you refrigerate it after opening which I guess is comforting). The milk is like whole milk (like more whole than US whole milk somehow--Stephania you would looovveee it haha), which I love but I'm definitely not going to drink every day. I came back and just hung out until I had to leave for the program welcome dinner.
It was great finally getting to meet everyone else. Some people had just arrived that day! I can't imagine flying in and trying to find this place for dinner having never used the Métro or anything. I'm glad I had been here and knew(ish) where I was going. Dinner was comforting with regards to my French level. Besides the Sorbonne students, there is only one other girl who is in intermediate with me. Ordering was pretty entertaining. Dinner was delicious, and it was fun getting to know everyone and hear stories from the Sorbonne kids who have been here and started classes already. One of the girls also goes to UCLA, and we know a lot of the same people but not each other. There were also two other pairs of people who go to the same schools. And people outside those pairs who had mutual friends. I never cease to be amazed at how small the world is. After dinner, a group of us went to a place someone knew called Chez Georges. It is a REALLY small wine bar with glasses for 2.5 euro. We got bottles though, so it was more expensive, and I was kind of mad because I drank literally half of a baby glass because it was gross rosé. Also we were like awkwardly standing in the middle of the room for a long time because it was so crowded. We finally left that place and some of the group were going to go find another bar, but me and one other girl decided to leave. The dorm where a lot of people are staying is pretty close to me, and we're meeting there today so I went with the other girl to see where it was. It's only 2 tram stops away, which would be nice if the tram didn't only come ever 2o minutes. On the Métro on the way back, this guy was holding the handrail I was standing next to, and he kept trying to talk to me (again, very quietly and mumbly) and he was SOOO drunk. I told him (in French) that I speak very little French and that I speak English. It seemed like he kept trying to start a sentence in English, and then he would just start laughing and give up. Me and the other girl were like get us out of here this is so uncomfortable. We got off a few stops before his anyway, and I was really glad he didn't stumble out after us. As we were heading for the exit another girl turned to us and was like "'ee eez very drunk." It looked like they had a similar experience before we got on haha. After I got home, it started pouring (again, I was glad I didn't go out to the other place) and it was super windy. There's a huge tree outside my window that kept hitting it and it was so loud. Plus all the rain, it's crazy and kind of freaks me out. Thanks for the earplugs, Dad! haha. Today we have a little orientation, and then we're supposed to go on a boat tour on the Seine, so it better get a little warmer and not rain!
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I really need to get better about actually posting before I leave my computer. Usually I want to add a photo I haven't taken off my camera yet, so I hope you enjoy the novellas I've been posting. Today we all met up at the dorms (at Cité Universaire--called Cité for short) which is 2 tram stops away from me. Not everyone made it, but the group that came was solid. Since the group going to my school is all girls (one boy, who didn't make it today) we talked a lot about being safe, how the men are more forward here, etc. Then we went to St. Michel and went and got lunch. Right as we were leaving, we saw two people climb into the fountain, climb up a few levels, and start throwing around a frisbee (thought all my BLU friends!). It was the weirdest thing. Also it must have been freezing cold. After, we were able to take the boat tour, even though it was freezing. Thank goodness there was an "inside" of the boat that wasn't below deck or anything so that was nice.
It was cool to see the city from the Seine and here the history behind a lot of the stuff. I had no idea that the Obelisk is the oldest monument in Paris. It's 3,3oo years old and used to stand at the entrance to the Luxor Temple in Egypt. How cool is that?! Place de la Concorde (where the Obelisk is) was also the site of guillotine during the French Revolution. I had no idea! It's where Marie Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and Charlotte Corday (murderer of Jean-Paul Marat--the guy in the bathtub in David's "The Death of Marat," one of my faves) were all executed. Crazy time in history.... Anyway, after that, we took the Métro to our school, which is an annex of the actual Catho. Ours is for all international students who want to learn French, etc. I'm excited to see who is in my classes (starting Monday!)! We had planned to go back to two of the girls' apartment to make dinner, but after getting to the store (and having split up from half the group) we decided it would be too complicated for tonight and it was already getting late, so I went grocery shopping with them (I got to be the one doing the translating for a nice change haha) and then we went back to their apartment to hang out for a bit. We were all just sitting at the table talking and then all of a sudden (one of my biggest fears) A GIANT BIRD FLEW INTO THE SLIDING GLASS WINDOW. Me and Mado saw it coming, but we both screamed anyway. It didn't die, but left a gross smear on the glass. I will most likely have nightmares about that tonight. Then we started to watch Gladiator, but it was getting increasingly cold outside and I had to go back by myself, so, being the super party soul sister I am, I left around 9pm haha. Michal let me borrow her jacket, which I was SOOOO grateful for because I was still freezing anyway and definitely would have succumbed to hypothermia or something without it. I got back around 9:30-10ish and showered to warm up and then made pasta which was delicious. We're saving cooking night for Monday (even though we all know the real cooking night is Wednesday night).Oh, one last thing I keep forgetting to post on here. So on the walk to the Métro (which has somewhat lost it's original appeal since I walk it at least twice a day...), there is a little Greek restaurant stand type thing. You can buy a plate of food, and the word for plate in French is "assiette." They choose to abbreviate assiette (does anyone see where this is going?) Basically, their menu (giant words on the outside of the shop) advertises "ASS POULET" and "ASS BROCHE," etc. I wonder if I should tell them. Anyway, that's pretty much it for now. Until next time, when I write the next book in this series.
Bisou bisou!
I was hoping you would share the ASSiettes with everyone...
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