Tour Guidin’

This is going to be as short as I can make it.

For the last week and a half I’ve been playing tour guide in Paris, first for my best friends Evan and Kyle who came Friday before last (March 16th) and then for some Rotary kids who are studying in Poland (Spencer and Alyssa).

And the recap.

Evan got in on Friday at 6:30 AM, so I called in sick to my school (oh the perks being “majeur” in France can bring), and picked him up. If you know Evan and I, you know we haven’t been away from each other for probably more than 2 or 3 weeks in the past 9 years, so after almost 7 months apart I can easily say it was amazing to see him. We went for a beastly walk around the city, taking pictures of a random Romanian Orthodox man that I still need to send him (at this real address in Romania, as he had no email), meeting Andrew for falafel (a very appropriate cheap and fast food option in Paris), then going to Montmartre, then planning on going to the Louvre but then after searching for a place to eat, and having Evan be constantly drifting into sleep, we called it a night and went home. Evan slept for 15 hours.

Andrew and I went to an awesome market by his house and made lunch for sleepy Evan, after which we picked up Kyle from the airport (YAY KYLE!), walked, and then celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day with Andrew and some of his teaching assistant friends. Let’s just say we got home at 4 in the morning after an adventurous time trying to find night buses but then bowing out and taking a taxi.

Sunday consisted of the Père Lachaise cemetery, waiting for Kyle to take pictures, walking, searching for an Indian restaurant on Montmartre with Nikki but settling for Tibetan (crazy ethnic food lovers).

Monday I unfortunately had to wake up and go to school. But Kyle and Evan met me for lunch, where we had scrumptious döner right by my school, and got served free tea, which officially made me a lifetime customer. Tyler was on his bus trip with his Rotary, and they were in Paris from Monday till Thursday, and as their chaperones consist of 4 ex-exchange students, we got to see a lot of him. 3 of my best friends, all in Paris at the same time, who would have thought!? Monday, Tyler’s group decided to take forever and a half to get to the Eiffel tower, so Evan, Kyle and I had to bear the cold while waiting for the incompetent Germans to find their way there. Then I went to sleep cause I had school in the morning L

I had my interview with SPU Tuesday for the full tuition scholarship, which went really well, and I find out April 17th so now comes the wait! But I met my friend-os after school, then we went with all the exchange students to this Brazilian bar, where much fun was had.

Sadly that was Evan and Kyle’s last night, so Wed I met up with them after school and we ate and said our goodbyes. I know it may sound like we didn’t do that much, but just seeing these boys made me so unbelievably happy that anything we did together was amazing. I was so happy they could come. Such a great time. But I met Tyler and exchange student co. at a café, then I went to Taro’s house and had this delicious Japanese dish that he made because his house was conveniently located right next to Tyler’s hostel. Then I remet up with Tyler and we went with the other exchange students to a Salsa Bar, where much fun was had, a sad goodbye was said, and I had to catch a night bus home and go to school the next day. Freaking school.

Thursday was my day off, aka day in between company leaving and company coming.

Friday Spencer (who is from Douglas, Wyoming, in my district from back home, and in Poland) and Alyssa (from Connecticut, also in Poland) came and I commenced my second tour guiding adventure. We went for a walk (I honestly walked more this last week then I ever have before in my life), got falafel, accidentally went into a gay bar, stayed in the gay bar, and walked around.

Brittney (from Connecticut, exchange student in Beauvais) came in for the day Saturday. We had a sweet picnic under the Eiffel tower, where I tried to throw a wine bottle at a pigeon and it exploded. (the wine bottle was empty, by the way). We then spent four amazing hours in a Hookah bar, filled with amazing and honest exchange student conversation and Spencer surpassing his master in blowing smoke rings. Brittney sadly had to leave, but we made the most of it by going to the Eiffel tower and pretending we were Polish while befriending Polish people.

Feeling French Sunday, we decided to get Mcdonald’s take out and eat at the Jardins de Luxembourg. We then walked. It was beautiful out. The first real day of Spring. I love Paris in the springtime! Then we went and ate curry at Paul’s house with my home group. I got to share my friends with my other friends. Yay!

Monday they met me for lunch, where we picnicked at the beautiful Parc Monceau right near my school. Bread and Cheese. What else is needed in life? The sun was shining, it was gorgeous. Perfect day. After school we went and sat by the banks of the Seine and talked, met some more Polish people, ate some more McDonalds, met a Polish guy there, walked, fell asleep on the grass near Notre Dame, then went home.

Tuesday they left, but that didn’t stop them from bring bread, cheese and wine for lunch! We ate. It was fantastic. Then I saw them off. It was sad to have friends leave again, but I was ready for the rest. Today and yesterday I’ve taken much needed naps. I ate a hamburger with Andrew on Montmartre today and got awful service. But it was on Montmartre, and with Andrew, so I couldn’t complain.

And that’s my life in a box.

Brent

A Blog Concerning the Happenings and Circumstances during the interval of [Return from Bus Trip; Return to School]

The reason I haven’t written in so long is twofold: first to give all of you who dared to read my epic (concerning it’s length, not exactly it’s amazing content) recantation of my week in Spain, and second because my internet chez moi has not been working L. I’ll keep this recap of what I’ve been up to since getting back from Spain as short as I can. In fact, I am going to take the format of Tyler’s blog and give it to you in easy, numbered points.

1. Got home, then directly had to pack back up and leave as my host parents were leaving for the weekend and I was staying at a friend’s then going to Brussels from Monday to Wednesday.

2. Stayed at Paul from my church’s house Friday night, wanted to sleep, but it was a bit difficult with the party that his roommates threw going on at full boar.

3. Saturday an exchange student Colleen who I met on the aeroplane coming here was in Paris with her host parents before she went on her bus trip, so I got my second of three free meals provided by the (host) parents of exchange student friends visiting Paris. Although it was weird talking to Colleen in French through lunch (I have an aversion to speaking to people who’s first language is English in French), we got our English time in on the walk to the Louvre. It was so great to talk to her, as it is to all exchange students. Thanks Colleen! Lets hope this trend continues. Love it. Stayed at Victor’s house Sat night. We went to a club on a boat with some friends. We did speed dating. Let’s just say I never thought I’d ever go speed dating, let alone in French. Although I didn’t find my true love and soul mate, it did provide a good laugh and good story (it’s all about the story).

4. Sunday caught up on some needed rest, then met Victor and co. for a Chinese dinner. Went to bed, and got up at 5ish to catch my train for Brussels.

5. Brussels does not have the best weather, but is a beautiful city. Kelsey (an exchange student from Vermont) kindly showed me around town and let me stay at his house. It was great to have some more exchange student contact. Exchange students=my favorite people. Thanks for a great time Kelsey!

6. Came home Wednesday to the sweet present of candy brought by Aunt Esther, Uncle Bruce, and cousin Lyndzi, who were visiting me, and were a present in themselves. It was so great to see family again, I forgot how comforting it feels to be around those that are related to you. We went on a bike tour with Bike About Tours provided by Christian, a guy at the church who started the company with Paul. Paris by bike is such an escape after spending so much time walking. If you come to Paris, go on their bike tours, I promise you’ll love it.

7. This week I’ve had the Bac Blancs at school (equivalent of massive mid terms) so I’ve been spending my nights semi studying and finding other ways besides the internet to procrastinate (Solitaire, listening to Rob Bell sermons, etc). But today (Wednesday) was awesome because I went out to lunch with an exchange student Katherine who I met on the bus trip, who is in Paris with her mom. Basically the statement by exchange student friends “Hey Brent, me and my (host) parents are going to be in Paris, and they want to take you out to lunch” has become one of my cherished treasures (as mentioned earlier, really hope that continues). As I get to 1. Hang out with exchange students. 2. Get to meet new people and have great conversation. And last but not least 3. I get a free meal. We were extremely loud at lunch to the enjoyment of the semi-creepy guy eating alone next to us and listening to our entire conversation. We laughed a lot. Merriment ensued. Thanks Becky and Katherine, I had an amazing time!

All I have to say is…life is good.

Oh, and Evan comes in a week. After spending 9 years together without being away from each other for more than a couple weeks apart, I could say I’m excited but that would be a vast understatement.

And to share a quote that randomly caught my attention from C.S Lewis, “Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow-travelers.”

I hope you all have something and are going somewhere.

Brent