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Hey yo out there! :) hehe I had a pretty eventful day in Paris today :) I woke up around 8:30 and went to class at 10:30...I have been getting a lot of walking in around here so for now that is my form of exercise...let's hope it works :)
Class was good but today I was not in the mood to listen and pay attention to everything...I tried and it was fine.
After class I went to the administration office and got a letter for proof of registration and a receipt of payment. Then I went to a Halloween store with a girl in my class and it was near Le Grand Avenue I think or something like that...I really do not remember things and places a lot :) I kind of just go where I go...that is probably why I am horrible with directions.
So I am such a dork and have a GIANT map of Paris that I carry around and, yes, I am guilty of stopping to open it up and look at it...in public too! It is horrible I know, but I get really sick of getting lost!
Today, Sarah (the girl from class) and I got out in the right area from the metro and then went to stand by a tree and opened up my map. We were looking for our road with the Halloween store on it and of course we looked like tourists and this really nice man came up and helped us find our street and it was the nicest thing that has happened to me out of the blue so far :)
We find the store very quickly...luckily it was right near the metro and on our way to the store we got something to eat...of course I got a sandwich because that seems to be what I always eat for lunch and Sarah got a chocolate eclair...yum! After we ate we were walking to the store and you will never guess what I saw....A Subway!! How crazy is that...don't worry I got a picture with it to prove it :)
Oh and I have been meaning to tell you guys that I always go to La Defense, it is huge there, and inside there is a Mcdonald's but right next to it is a Mccafe....it's own separate entity lol...it has breakfast pastries and coffee drinks and smoothies and such...I just thought it was strange that they were 2 separate places but right next to each other.
After we walked around for awhile we headed back home and I had to buy some nail polish remover so I did that at one of the metro stations...
Now, those of you who take the subway or metro can back me on this that there are some very strange people on there....some of which I would prefer not to acknowledge...lol I know it sounds mean but protection is important! haha
Today there was a man, whom I believe to be homeless, and he was shouting random things the entire time I was headed back to La Defense and usually in America people do not even understand what the heck these people are talking about...but in France...imagine what that was like...I was trying not to look at him because I swear underneath those dark shades his glance was directed at me a lot....I felt bad for the guy but I was also kind of worried for my life..not gonna lie :)
So there are always homeless people along the streets and everywhere and so many of them have dogs on a leash...I think it is so true that when animals are homeless with the person it makes people more sad...at least it makes me more sad because these little animals are so helpless :(....Well anyway I happened to see a homeless man with a cat on a leash hahahahahaha it really made me laugh...not that being homeless with a cat is a laughing matter....just that cats on leashes make me giggle...and he had a cat carrier on wheels for it...that's what I never understand...these homeless people with animals have such neat contraptions for their pets and it looks so cool and I don't know anyone else with such things...
Once I made it back to La Defense my next destination was the bank because I had to go set up my account...I thought everything was supposed to be taken care of and all I had to do was take my passport and some documents that Germain gave me, so I was prepared to say some things in French when I got there but hoping they would know English. I found the bank...another nice little stroll through Colombes this time...
Which by the way...I can never tell what the weather will be like and for me I walk so much and usually quickly that I get really hot and I sweat and it is just gross...i know you were all interested to know that....but it is like if i'm cold in the morning I should just tough it out because I hate getting all hot with a coat on and walking and sweating..you know what i mean?
So anyways I got to the bank and I was not sure about how to get in...once again...haha every door around here has a button...but at the bank I think it is for safety because there are 2 doors and you have to have the first door close all the way before the second will be unlocked...it is very complex and it reminds me of a time when Kaylie and I went to Diamond jewelers or somewhere looking for a graduation ring and we had no idea what to do....and we felt like idiots hahahaha remember boo? but yea so it was like that plus a little more difficult because they did not speak English. I must look very innocent because the lady at the front desk allowed me in without questions and probably realized I would not rob the bank because I didn't even know how to get into the bank...but I say that because a man behind me came in and he was questioned...i dont know what was asked though :)
So I asked her if she knew English and she said no but then I got excited because I could try to put together some sentences stating what I needed and I had to do in French to help me practice! Eventually, a man came out who spoke some English and he even apologized for his English and I was like WOAH....monsieur pardon me for my French...you know? Because I am at a bank, in France, where they do speak French...I don't think he should have been apologizing to me :)
So we got to the point and he told me that I had to come back for an appointment next Tuesday at 3 PM...so I still do not have a bank account or money....
On my way back to the house I went into Monoprix...a marketplace which is the equivalent to something like Walmart but not as big. It is the biggest market here though I believe. They have clothing and pharmacy products and food and school supplies...and so on you know what I mean....I wanted to buy a hair straightener and so I went to look for that but I could not find it for a while and I found the beauty aisle but it was not down there so I picked up some mouth wash which was good...but anyway I really do not know how to say "hair straightener" in French so I was planning on asking someone by saying something like "Avez-vous quelque chose que fait le cheveux pas frise, ici?" Which I think translates to "do you have something that makes your hair not curly, here?" haha which is obviously not very correct but you do what you gotta do...luckily I found it in the back so that was good....The only thing was it was 24,99 euros...ok does not sound too bad and then you realize it is $40 american....well not the best price on a hair straightener but what can you do....and I do not have many euros left so I used my American credit card for my bank which means it will charge me more to do the conversions and all of that good stuff. BUT I don't care bc I really needed one!
So while we are on the topic of buying things, my friend Heath in Chicago was telling me he wants to send some money here and have me buy something for him to send back...what a great idea!!! Heath is always a smart one...he is the one who helped Kaylie and I (our poor souls) when we thought that the John Hancock building was the Sears tower not to long ago in the great windy city hahahaha....oh man the things that we do.....but anyways just to let you know, Heath...I don't think I will have such problems here in France....so far I do know the difference between the Eiffel Tower and L'Arc de Triumph...but if I need any help in the future you are definitely the first person I will ask ;)
So thanks to Heath I thought if any of you would like me to do the same please let me know because it would be really easy!
Tonight I am going out with Germain's brother and friends and i hope it is fun...it will be I just hope I can talk to people....but i do need to keep hanging out with French people...that is why I am here.
I was talking to the other Au Pair in my class, Sarah, today about that and she hangs out with a lot of other Au Pairs whom are not French and she really wants to start meeting French people...I am lucky that I already have some good contacts here in Paris with people who are French and I can hang out with to learn more about the culture and be forced to speak the language!
I think I previously mentioned my intentions of joining a cooking class and/or roller blading every Friday night with Germain's brother around Paris...how cool would that be! I love roller blading but if we will be going through the streets of the city I will require that someone be near me at all times to grab on to in case I fall or cannot stop....I usually only roller blade in secluded areas like parks such as Antrim or on the bike path by campus...areas where there is even, smooth ground...and im not sure it is quite so nice throughout the city!
I am planning on going shopping soon with a girl from class...she is from Australia and she lives out more toward Versailles in the country area...she said it is beautiful and I plan to go visit out there soon because I can imagine the seclusion and peacefulness that the city cannot provide.
the city is a great place to meet people, engage in many activities, and really explore...however, it is also nice to have some peace and quiet and explore more desolate destinations!
I am also thinking about looking into joining a gym because I really love to work out and I cannot run outside in the cold...I hate it! That would always keep me busy and in shape which I love!
Lat night Jean-Francois came over and hung out for a bit and he was here when we ate dinner....so you might want to know what I ate for dinner...actually I know that you want to know....ok...we had rice and scallops....and you are thinking yea scallops are pretty common back home....but these scallops were interesting with an orange thing coming off of one end....I did not think I was supposed to eat it but they told me it was the best part so I ate it and they were not lying! It was really good...like the taste of the scallop but sweeter and really delicious....they waited until after I tried it to tell me what it was...the genitals of the scallop!!! WHAT!!! I just ate scallop pee pee??? haha but I was over it because I had already tasted it and it was good...They said we don't have that in the states because since it is the best part they keep it for themselves....Something has happened to me since I have moved here...I am not afraid to try to eat many things that I typically would have gagged at the sight of....I think it is good because I cannot fully understand the delicacies of the culture and food if I do not have an open mind....Now, I would NEVER go on that show that is on the travel channel with that bald guy...exotic foods or something? I can assure you that you will never see this face on there..hahaha
After dinner I skyped with Amy, Kaylie, and Sara and they all got to meet Germain..it was funny! I miss you guys!!!
I was trying to think of some good meals to make for the family that are completely American and I was thinking meat loaf or something haha...French food is much more elegant than our hunk of meat in a clump..but I happen to love meat loaf and it is very comforting!!! If anyone has any ideas please let me know and try to send me a fool proof recipe since I am not the best cook around ;)
I am currently sitting here writing this blog and about to paint my nails so I am going to go because I need to get ready for tonight...I will let you know how it goes...
A Bientot!
Jess