A Joyous Adventure, Joyous Beyond Words
In case you were not aware, Murphy’s Law is universal and the Europeans have adopted it.
But first, the good news. The train ride was pretty uneventful and actually fun. There was a really pretty sunset and I was in a booth thingy with 4 other really cool people (well, I only actually talked to two of them, after the other two got off) but they both live in Paris and talking was a good way to pass the time. We kind of had this weird conversation in French and English, as I started talking to this girl in French, and then there was a Lebanese guy who spoke French, but they both spoke good English, so we’d kind of randomly switch languages and it felt pretty good to be able to use both. Anyways, on to the good stuff.
So my ticket said that I had a direct route to Karlsruhe with no connections, and as on the way back my ticket shows a connection through Strasbourg I didn’t worry about any connections. So we get to the end of the train ride, and although I arrived on time, I arrived in the wrong city. I guess I was supposed to switch in Strasbourg (thanks for the heads up guys) so I was on a train that just went south for an hour and a half to some dumb French city called Mulhouse. Then, I proceeded to wait about an hour for the next train (I just thank God there was a next train) to take me back to Strasbourg (that’s another hour and a half mind you) so I could take the next train to Karlsruhe. I got to Strasbourg at about 1 o’clock, and as 1 AM isn’t exactly the prime takeoff time for trains, I had to wait around till 6:54 for the next train.
As the train man not so kindly informed me, the train station was closing, so I took my backpack and messenger bag and proceeded to embark on an excursion of Strasbourg in the middle of the night. Luckily Turkish restaurants close obscenely late, because I hadn’t eaten really anything since lunch. But alas, the Turkish restaurant wasn’t going to stay open until 6:54, so I had to leave, but the nice man working there let me know there was a Café (aka Bar) that was open till 4 AM. So I went there, grabbed some German beer, and watched the rest of Gangs of New York that I had yet to finish after starting on the train. Again, 4 AM is not 6:54 so I had to figure out what to do after they closed. It was actually a beautiful night, and feeling somewhat supercharged by the presence of my backpacking backpack, I proceeded to sleep for about an hour on the street. Well I guess I laid there for an hour, and probably slept for about half of that. I don’t really understand why it suddenly felt a lot colder when I woke up, but I felt that since the train station was open I should go there (although you can’t lay down at train stations) and try to get some warm sleep. I fell asleep kind of awkwardly on a bench (I’m extremely thankful I can fall asleep pretty much anywhere) until before I had to leave, so that helped the extreme boredom that was beginning to set in.
On the next train (where I am writing this now), the attendant lady tried to tell me that I needed to pay an extra 60 Euros because my train ticket wasn’t valid for the right connection from Karlsruhe to Goettingen (where Tyler is picking me up). Thanks so much to debate and my love of a good argument, I gently informed her (well as gently as can be after the extreme agitation I’ve been feeling about this whole ordeal) of what happened and that I didn’t feel I should have to pay since the reason I missed the right train was because of a screw up on the part of her company. My persuasion (or maybe my exceedingly good looks) succeeded, and she wrote a little note on the back of my ticket so I won’t have to pay when I switch. SCORE! Seriously, if I would have had to pay 60 extra Euros I would have freaked out. But as of right now, I’m watching the sunrise over the German country side and it is beautiful. So I’m content because of that, and also because I’ll be able to make a connection to Goettingen right after I get off this train, so that in total I’ll only be 3 hours late.
It’s Midnight and I’m here, in Hann. Meunden. I didn’t just get here, just haven’t had time yet to post this bad boy. Being reunited with one of my best friends is basically the best thing that could happen at this moment of time. I spent the last 5 minutes of the train ride barely able to control my joy and thus smiling uncontrollably without control. Today was amazing, although slightly uneventful. We walked around Hann. Meunden, which is beautiful and despite all joking, is the European garden of Eden. It’s fall so all the leaves are turning and it was actually really hot today. So Tyler showed me around and we took some pictures (those will come later, as I haven’t loaded them yet). I then took a nap which was supposed to last an hour, but ended up lasting 2 and a half, as either my alarm didn’t go off or I don’t know what. But after 19 hours of travel and maybe 3 hours of sleep, I think a little sleep was warranted. We ate some dinner and had an amazing conversation, then Phillipp (tyler’s host brother) got home from Volleyball and yet another great conversation ensued. I am loving life. More updates later.
Tchuss,
Brent
p.s sorry i tried to post this last night but blogger was down
Friday, October 27, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the
One who makes me who I am”
That verse in Philippians somewhat sums up a lot of what I’ve been thinking about and struggling with. Before that Paul says “I’ve learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,” and my biggest struggle here is trying to find that secret of just being content with where I am. I will expand on this with a few examples.
I’ve realized that not many people are content with where they are. This is represented by a lot of conversations I have with people here that go somewhat like this.
Frenchy-“So have you been to New York?”
Me- “I’ve never been to New York City, but I’ve been to New York state”
Frenchy-“There’s a New York State?”
Me-“Uh..ya, it’s pretty big actually”
Frenchy-“Oh well New York is probably the best place in America, I definitely want to move there someday”
My thoughts-“And everyone in New York thinks Paris is the greatest place on earth and probably wants to move there too, but then when you switched you would both realize that you were happier where you started, and living in a city so draped in legend isn’t so great after all”
I guess that just goes along with what I said in an earlier post, about this exchange being a Christmas present. I spent so much time over the past year thinking about and wishing I was in France, all the while neglecting the fact that I was in the present moment living a perfectly happy life in (what I think is) the greatest place in America, and could die at any moment, so me wasting my time on the future was just that, wasting time. We spend so much time looking for that next stage in life, the next best thing, that we forget that nothing in life is guaranteed, not tomorrow, and definitely not next year. I think in order to really end the habit of always living in the future is to practice living in the present in the smaller things in life. Eating a meal and cherishing it as maybe the last meal you’ll ever eat, savoring every bite and being thankful, instead of simply pounding it down to satiate hunger and simply moving on to the day’s next activity. Or, while reading, simply taking in each page, each sentence, without worrying about when the chapter ends or what page you’re on. Only when we’re content with the little aspects of our life can we move on to be content with the overall. I think Gandalf says it best in the Lord of the Rings, "…All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." Or Dumbledore in Harry Potter says it pretty well too, “It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.”
I said in my last post that I was a little homesick, which was true. Something random that my host mom said really made me think about that though. She was talking about how it gets annoying to always be cleaning, but then added a disclaimer that she wasn’t complaining, as so many people would give so much to have a nice apartment. Sometimes there are those things that people say that stick out in your mind, that they’ll probably never remember saying, but for some reason stick in your mind. I just started thinking that, although it is normal to miss home, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. At least I have a home to miss, a lot of people I see every day on the streets of Paris don’t even have that.
Last night I went to a big party that everyone in my class (the 30ish kids I spend most of the day with) and it was extremely fun. Being around them outside a school setting was relieving, as they are all so nice and fun to be around. There honestly isn’t one I dislike. There was a lot of dancing, which was really fun, as any song with English (in other words every song) I was expected to sing along to (although I knew less words than they did) because, well, I’m the American kid. But I was sitting there, and it suddenly popped into my head that I wouldn’t have rather been anywhere else. Just being with all these people that are so fun to be around, laughing, dancing, speaking French, being in France, and being in Paris on a beautiful night. I felt a little of what it was to be completely content in my circumstances, although I will admit it’s a lot easier to be content having fun than it is to be content going to high school. But you have to start somewhere!
So sorry if this is a little deeper than you may have expected, it’s just something I’ve been thinking about a lot and wanted to share it with you (plural).
Thanks for listening friends
Brent
P.S I am visiting Tyler in 3 days, although for these next three days I’m going to have to work on being content where
I am, and not spend all my time thinking about vacation! 
Friday, October 20, 2006
I Seriously and Honestly Hate Titling These Things
So this week was okay I guess. Paying attention in school is tiring, as evidenced by the fact that I come home and basically fall asleep on my bed while reading most afternoons.
I went to the Sainte-Chapelle on Wednesday which was beautiful. It is the smallish church on Ile de la Cité (the same island as Notre Dame) with the room full of stained glass. It was used in the Middle Ages to hold a ridiculous amount of relics purchased by King Louis IX. I went on a tour with a really funny tour guide so I think that made really interesting, as she explained a lot of the architecture and the hidden meanings behind things. Highly recommended stop for those traveling to Paris, another recommended stop is…
202 Boulevard Malesherbes
Paris, France 75017
…where you can send me some goodies if you feel so led.
The rest of the week was just normal, didn’t do that much. I’m visiting Tyler in 5ish days, can’t wait, as I’m getting a wee bit homesick right about now. This weekend there is this big party that everyone in my class is going to on Saturday night, so that should be fun. I think I’m just gonna make up for all the parties I didn’t go to in high school and see how high I can get my BAC…or actually probably not. But that should be fun to hang out with everyone that I spend all day with outside of class. But tomorrow I have Sport in the morning, so I’ll be signing off right about now, as I’m going to go watch some Arrested Development (aka the greatest show on earth) that some heaven-sent person put on the internet. Thank you putter-of-arrested-development-on-th
e-internet man/woman, you shall be blessed in the after life.
Brent
So this week was okay I guess. Paying attention in school is tiring, as evidenced by the fact that I come home and basically fall asleep on my bed while reading most afternoons.
I went to the Sainte-Chapelle on Wednesday which was beautiful. It is the smallish church on Ile de la Cité (the same island as Notre Dame) with the room full of stained glass. It was used in the Middle Ages to hold a ridiculous amount of relics purchased by King Louis IX. I went on a tour with a really funny tour guide so I think that made really interesting, as she explained a lot of the architecture and the hidden meanings behind things. Highly recommended stop for those traveling to Paris, another recommended stop is…
202 Boulevard Malesherbes
Paris, France 75017
…where you can send me some goodies if you feel so led.
The rest of the week was just normal, didn’t do that much. I’m visiting Tyler in 5ish days, can’t wait, as I’m getting a wee bit homesick right about now. This weekend there is this big party that everyone in my class is going to on Saturday night, so that should be fun. I think I’m just gonna make up for all the parties I didn’t go to in high school and see how high I can get my BAC…or actually probably not. But that should be fun to hang out with everyone that I spend all day with outside of class. But tomorrow I have Sport in the morning, so I’ll be signing off right about now, as I’m going to go watch some Arrested Development (aka the greatest show on earth) that some heaven-sent person put on the internet. Thank you putter-of-arrested-development-on-th
e-internet man/woman, you shall be blessed in the after life.Brent
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord did do…
These last two days have been a lot better than the last weekend. Yesterday I talked to my principal, told him I was sorry I was lazy, and told him that I was going to work harder. He was nice in talking to me, so that was a relief. That’s basically what I needed to get all that I was worrying off my chest so I was happy to have that over with.
Oh, also yesterday I only had 3 hours of school, so that was also a bonus.
I realized paying attention for an entire day in a foreign language is tiring, as I found out today after school when I fell asleep reading.
Today I scored some points (hopefully) with my head teacher, the one who talked to my host mom. I decided to bring my book to class (actually it was the wrong book I think), and she needed a book, and with my new strategy of not sitting in the back of class, I was able to let her use my book. Score number 1. Second, we started talking about the nucleus of an atom, and right after we started talking about it I looked up the word (it’s noyau in French), and directly after that she was like “let’s see…Brent…what’s in a nucleus.” I felt maybe a little spite in her voice, maybe a little “ha, let’s see if this stupid American knows anything.” My first response would have made the response “no” if that had been here thinking, as I said electron (I was thinking of an atom, I mean how long’s it been since I’ve thought about that stuff) but then I quickly corrected my thinking and answered the question. Therefore, I felt as if I proved a little something to my teacher about my new work ethic (although I honestly understand very little in that class). Score number 2. I think I just need to score a little every day to dig myself out of the hole I started with her.
I also had a quite funny (well, actually it wasn’t that funny) conversation with this kid who asks me constant questions about America, but is actually really nice. He started of (in French, bien sûr) saying “do you have a lot of blacks in your high school” and then in English said “a lot of n******.” I told him he shouldn’t say that, and he said “why, all the rappers say it.” So I was then forced to explain to him the finer aspects of the N-bomb and how being black, you are able to say it, but if you want to keep living, then as a white person you probably shouldn’t say that in the presence of black people.
The other day I met a really nice American on the bus. I was basically on top of him as there were a lot of people, and I heard him speaking English to his friend. Now, I usually don’t do this, but I got up a little courage and said “hey, I couldn’t help but hear you, are you American?” His response was “yeah, are you?” I responded “yes,” and his very genial response was “good for you.” (I think he thought I was just a dumb tourist…but I was still very glad to have become acquainted with him!)
Brent
These last two days have been a lot better than the last weekend. Yesterday I talked to my principal, told him I was sorry I was lazy, and told him that I was going to work harder. He was nice in talking to me, so that was a relief. That’s basically what I needed to get all that I was worrying off my chest so I was happy to have that over with.
Oh, also yesterday I only had 3 hours of school, so that was also a bonus.
I realized paying attention for an entire day in a foreign language is tiring, as I found out today after school when I fell asleep reading.
Today I scored some points (hopefully) with my head teacher, the one who talked to my host mom. I decided to bring my book to class (actually it was the wrong book I think), and she needed a book, and with my new strategy of not sitting in the back of class, I was able to let her use my book. Score number 1. Second, we started talking about the nucleus of an atom, and right after we started talking about it I looked up the word (it’s noyau in French), and directly after that she was like “let’s see…Brent…what’s in a nucleus.” I felt maybe a little spite in her voice, maybe a little “ha, let’s see if this stupid American knows anything.” My first response would have made the response “no” if that had been here thinking, as I said electron (I was thinking of an atom, I mean how long’s it been since I’ve thought about that stuff) but then I quickly corrected my thinking and answered the question. Therefore, I felt as if I proved a little something to my teacher about my new work ethic (although I honestly understand very little in that class). Score number 2. I think I just need to score a little every day to dig myself out of the hole I started with her.
I also had a quite funny (well, actually it wasn’t that funny) conversation with this kid who asks me constant questions about America, but is actually really nice. He started of (in French, bien sûr) saying “do you have a lot of blacks in your high school” and then in English said “a lot of n******.” I told him he shouldn’t say that, and he said “why, all the rappers say it.” So I was then forced to explain to him the finer aspects of the N-bomb and how being black, you are able to say it, but if you want to keep living, then as a white person you probably shouldn’t say that in the presence of black people.
The other day I met a really nice American on the bus. I was basically on top of him as there were a lot of people, and I heard him speaking English to his friend. Now, I usually don’t do this, but I got up a little courage and said “hey, I couldn’t help but hear you, are you American?” His response was “yeah, are you?” I responded “yes,” and his very genial response was “good for you.” (I think he thought I was just a dumb tourist…but I was still very glad to have become acquainted with him!)
Brent
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Blog-ness
Sorry this has been a few days in coming; it may get a little long and bogged down. Feel free to skim through, read a sentence or two, and then comment as if you read the whole thing. I won’t feel bad, I might not even know.
So Thursday was probably one of the funnest (Microsoft Word tells me funnest is not a word…ha, I’ll show them) days I’ve had since I’ve been here. I didn’t have my first two classes so I slept in till 9:25, then got to school at ten and we all found out our Biology teacher was gone. That meant I had four hours till my next class. So my friends and I went to my friend Guillaume’s house, listened to music, played some foosball, and watched some MTV (which was quite entertaining for me). It was extremely fun to just hang out with them. My 3 hours of math after that were not as fun, but I made it through, and then that night I went and had dinner with Rene’s sister Callie, who was in Paris on business, and who I had never met before. She was extremely nice, and I loved the conversation we had. It was great to have someone I actually had some connection with (Camp Elim etc) and that I could have a legitimate conversation with. It also helped that this conversation was over an amazing dinner at an amazing restaurant amazingly paid for by Callie’s company. Thank you expense accounts. This means we both got entrées (we still don’t know what I got), a bottle of wine, some good meat, crème brulée, and coffee. Basically amazing.
Friday, I walked around the Latin Quarter (which, unlike Rick Steve, I enjoy thoroughly), took some mediocre pictures, and had a pint (hey, it was happy hour, can’t pass that up) while reading the Message. Pretty successful night…until I find out that my host mom had talked to my head teacher and I guess she was somewhat unhappy with my performance at school. A large difference between the French and Americans (besides the French being extremely more rigid) is that a French person that you don’t really know (aka a teacher) will never talk to you directly and tell you what you are doing wrong or what you need to change. So, I really would have liked to have simply known from my teacher what her expectations of me were, as I was confused because I am not taking their large test at the end of the year etc. Regardless, I was lazy, so that is going to change on Monday.
Saturday. I had Sport this morning at 8, shot putted around for about 2 hours, came home, napped, ate, and then went and hung out with Victor, my friend Guillaume, and his girlfriend Marine. Guillaume is one of my best French friends and is extremely funny, and his girlfriend is very nice (I believe I say extremely a lot) so it was fun to hang out with them. This weekend is the big “Fête de la Science” (Science Festival) in Paris, so there are a lot of expositions at schools and all the science museums are free, so we went to one at the Palais de la Decouverte. We couldn’t really find it at first, which turned into a fun game of Victor and I asking random people where it was. It was a game because sometimes Victor and I would speak English to French people and pretend like we didn’t understand (you have to remember Victor speaks fluent English), or I would speak English very poorly to English speaking people (as if I didn’t speak any English) and Victor would pretend he knew a little more English than I, or I would speak French to English speaking people and pretend I didn’t speak any English. Sorry if that was kind of confusing, but it was really funny to go up to random people and jack around with them. The museum was interesting, but my friends all kind of went home pretty early so that kind of sucked. It was my host dad’s birthday today (of which I had no knowledge) and I had told my host mom I wouldn’t be home for dinner (as I didn’t know it was his birthday), so I just ended up having dessert and wine with them and their guests, which was good. I had some 1978 wine…I’m telling myself I could taste a difference but I may just be lying.
Oh, one more thing, last night I basically saw the funniest thing ever on the metro. I walk on to the train and hear this ridiculous techno music, see these speakers with a walkman hooked up, and then look around to see this ridiculous (I really don’t know how else to describe it) kid with bleached, short hair with the little shaved designs in it, getting his groove on really close to all the people on the metro while holding out a cup for money. He actually seemingly made a lot, so maybe as a celebration he decided as his grand finale to stand right in front of me (not facing me, but directly in front) and unbutton most of his shirt and dance. I couldn’t help but laugh. It also made me decide that that is one of my goals before I leave, to try to garner some cash on the metro by doing something ridiculous. This will most likely come in June, right before I leave.
I tried to post this yesterday but I guess it didn’t work. Well, I guess I’ll update you on today. Slept 12 hours, ate, walked through the Luxembourg Gardens, came home.
You are all beautiful people
Brent
Sorry this has been a few days in coming; it may get a little long and bogged down. Feel free to skim through, read a sentence or two, and then comment as if you read the whole thing. I won’t feel bad, I might not even know.
So Thursday was probably one of the funnest (Microsoft Word tells me funnest is not a word…ha, I’ll show them) days I’ve had since I’ve been here. I didn’t have my first two classes so I slept in till 9:25, then got to school at ten and we all found out our Biology teacher was gone. That meant I had four hours till my next class. So my friends and I went to my friend Guillaume’s house, listened to music, played some foosball, and watched some MTV (which was quite entertaining for me). It was extremely fun to just hang out with them. My 3 hours of math after that were not as fun, but I made it through, and then that night I went and had dinner with Rene’s sister Callie, who was in Paris on business, and who I had never met before. She was extremely nice, and I loved the conversation we had. It was great to have someone I actually had some connection with (Camp Elim etc) and that I could have a legitimate conversation with. It also helped that this conversation was over an amazing dinner at an amazing restaurant amazingly paid for by Callie’s company. Thank you expense accounts. This means we both got entrées (we still don’t know what I got), a bottle of wine, some good meat, crème brulée, and coffee. Basically amazing.
Friday, I walked around the Latin Quarter (which, unlike Rick Steve, I enjoy thoroughly), took some mediocre pictures, and had a pint (hey, it was happy hour, can’t pass that up) while reading the Message. Pretty successful night…until I find out that my host mom had talked to my head teacher and I guess she was somewhat unhappy with my performance at school. A large difference between the French and Americans (besides the French being extremely more rigid) is that a French person that you don’t really know (aka a teacher) will never talk to you directly and tell you what you are doing wrong or what you need to change. So, I really would have liked to have simply known from my teacher what her expectations of me were, as I was confused because I am not taking their large test at the end of the year etc. Regardless, I was lazy, so that is going to change on Monday.
Saturday. I had Sport this morning at 8, shot putted around for about 2 hours, came home, napped, ate, and then went and hung out with Victor, my friend Guillaume, and his girlfriend Marine. Guillaume is one of my best French friends and is extremely funny, and his girlfriend is very nice (I believe I say extremely a lot) so it was fun to hang out with them. This weekend is the big “Fête de la Science” (Science Festival) in Paris, so there are a lot of expositions at schools and all the science museums are free, so we went to one at the Palais de la Decouverte. We couldn’t really find it at first, which turned into a fun game of Victor and I asking random people where it was. It was a game because sometimes Victor and I would speak English to French people and pretend like we didn’t understand (you have to remember Victor speaks fluent English), or I would speak English very poorly to English speaking people (as if I didn’t speak any English) and Victor would pretend he knew a little more English than I, or I would speak French to English speaking people and pretend I didn’t speak any English. Sorry if that was kind of confusing, but it was really funny to go up to random people and jack around with them. The museum was interesting, but my friends all kind of went home pretty early so that kind of sucked. It was my host dad’s birthday today (of which I had no knowledge) and I had told my host mom I wouldn’t be home for dinner (as I didn’t know it was his birthday), so I just ended up having dessert and wine with them and their guests, which was good. I had some 1978 wine…I’m telling myself I could taste a difference but I may just be lying.
Oh, one more thing, last night I basically saw the funniest thing ever on the metro. I walk on to the train and hear this ridiculous techno music, see these speakers with a walkman hooked up, and then look around to see this ridiculous (I really don’t know how else to describe it) kid with bleached, short hair with the little shaved designs in it, getting his groove on really close to all the people on the metro while holding out a cup for money. He actually seemingly made a lot, so maybe as a celebration he decided as his grand finale to stand right in front of me (not facing me, but directly in front) and unbutton most of his shirt and dance. I couldn’t help but laugh. It also made me decide that that is one of my goals before I leave, to try to garner some cash on the metro by doing something ridiculous. This will most likely come in June, right before I leave.
I tried to post this yesterday but I guess it didn’t work. Well, I guess I’ll update you on today. Slept 12 hours, ate, walked through the Luxembourg Gardens, came home.
You are all beautiful people
Brent
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Some things I’ve noticed…
I’m still really bad at introducing myself, turns out I haven’t heard anyone besides me say “je m’appelle” so unless someone introduces me it can get semi awkward.
I still can’t drink wine without leaving residue on the glass, on my lips, or on my teeth.
Sudoku is an amazing way to pass time in class.
I don’t have to go to Spanish anymore, WOOT WOOT.
Unless I take everyday as it comes and stop worrying about tomorrow (or stop getting uber excited for my vacations) then this year is going to go by way too quickly.
There’s just something about drinking a glass of wine at a Parisian café…
This exchange is kind of like a Christmas present. I wished and hoped for it for so long, and now that I got it I want to move on to something else.
I need to not want to move on to something else.
I am truly blessed with a few good friends (I just wish they had more time to hang out, or spent less time with their girlfriends).
I hate seeing something that I find very funny, and that my friends would also find very funny, but not being able to share that with them and thus being forced to laugh awkwardly by myself.
I still hate shaving.
If I didn’t have my MP3 player I would be in an awful mood every morning.
Normandy is beautiful (just not every weekend).
I <3 Wine, Cheese, and Bread.
There are ignorant people everywhere, not just in America.
Responding to the questions “So do you like George Bush?” and “What do you think about Iraq?” gets pretty annoying.
It’s probably not a good idea to try to read a book that, when every French student who sees it says, “oooh, I couldn’t even understand half of that book”
The greatest thing about being an exchange student is the universally applicable excuse of “oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t understand.”
I have awful table manners.
My awful table manners are often corrected by my host mom.
It is difficult to explain what a Cornucopia is in French...very difficult. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that as I tried to draw it the kid I was explaining it to thought I was drawing a picture of Cartman from South Park, obviously my drawing prowess hasn't improved despite all my doodling during class. Well, Practice makes Perfect.
I am done writing this, because I emptied my brain of imaginative thinking.
Bisous,
Brent
I’m still really bad at introducing myself, turns out I haven’t heard anyone besides me say “je m’appelle” so unless someone introduces me it can get semi awkward.
I still can’t drink wine without leaving residue on the glass, on my lips, or on my teeth.
Sudoku is an amazing way to pass time in class.
I don’t have to go to Spanish anymore, WOOT WOOT.
Unless I take everyday as it comes and stop worrying about tomorrow (or stop getting uber excited for my vacations) then this year is going to go by way too quickly.
There’s just something about drinking a glass of wine at a Parisian café…
This exchange is kind of like a Christmas present. I wished and hoped for it for so long, and now that I got it I want to move on to something else.
I need to not want to move on to something else.
I am truly blessed with a few good friends (I just wish they had more time to hang out, or spent less time with their girlfriends).
I hate seeing something that I find very funny, and that my friends would also find very funny, but not being able to share that with them and thus being forced to laugh awkwardly by myself.
I still hate shaving.
If I didn’t have my MP3 player I would be in an awful mood every morning.
Normandy is beautiful (just not every weekend).
I <3 Wine, Cheese, and Bread.
There are ignorant people everywhere, not just in America.
Responding to the questions “So do you like George Bush?” and “What do you think about Iraq?” gets pretty annoying.
It’s probably not a good idea to try to read a book that, when every French student who sees it says, “oooh, I couldn’t even understand half of that book”
The greatest thing about being an exchange student is the universally applicable excuse of “oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t understand.”
I have awful table manners.
My awful table manners are often corrected by my host mom.
It is difficult to explain what a Cornucopia is in French...very difficult. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that as I tried to draw it the kid I was explaining it to thought I was drawing a picture of Cartman from South Park, obviously my drawing prowess hasn't improved despite all my doodling during class. Well, Practice makes Perfect.
I am done writing this, because I emptied my brain of imaginative thinking.
Bisous,
Brent
Monday, October 09, 2006
This Little Weekend of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine
So basically my weekend consisted of this. I got up to go to Sport at an unholy hour on Saturday morning, showed my shot put who was boss and launched her 9.5 meters (I hope you’re all proud of me, it was the longest in the class, and for any of you who thought I had totally atrophied after I stopped playing hockey, I leave that fact as proof against your assumption). Anyways, on to my weekend. So turns out (as I have no prior knowledge of anything that happens in this apartment) my host brother’s girlfriend was over for the weekend (she lives in Brussels), and we were having lunch with her and her parents. So, champagne and wine ensued (as always), as well as semi awkward conversation (well I guess it wasn’t really an awkward conversation, more like as always I sit and don’t say much, because whenever I realize I can say something and figure out how to say it, then they are really far past that subject and it would be ridiculous for me to bring it up). I then proceeded to nap for about an hour, then my host parents and I headed off to Normandy…again. I don’t really get why we left, as the parents were staying in a hotel (and I figured if they got along at least half way decently they would hang out together over the weekend), and the host brother/host girlfriend were staying in the same room in the apartment…kinda awkward.
The weekend in Normandy, although beautiful weather wise, was nothing to write home about (although I guess that’s what I’m doing now). Although there was a pretty funny conversation that took place as we were driving there. Keep in mind this is at about 6:40 at night, and roughly translated from French.
Host Dad: “So we’re going to go to mass at 7, would you like to come”
Me: (Thinking he means in the morning) “ya, sure, I’d love to”
…Silence…
Me: (rethinking) “umm, maybe not, I think I want to sleep, you know, I only get one day out of the week to sleep in”
Host Mom: “So you want us to leave you in the car?”
Me: “uhhh?? Oh, it’s tonight, like in 20 minutes, alright, ya sure.”
Okay maybe that’s not as funny as I thought it was, but my favorite part is when my host mom asked me if I wanted them to leave me in the car.
Anyways we went to mass (extremely boring, but in a really pretty church), I ate, I slept for 12 hours, I read a ton, and then we drove home.
I was supposed to meet Rene’s sister for dinner last night, as she is in Paris on business, but her phone didn’t work so it didn’t work out. I, not wanting to sit around with my host family any more, decided to go search for her at her hotel. No luck. Then I went to Notre Dame, because Rene said she might have gone there, so I decided there was an off chance I’d see her, and it was also a beautifully perfect night. Notre Dame is beautiful at night, and I walked around the Latin Quarter and ate some probably not fully cooked Greek, but overall it was a success, except of course, for finding Rene’s sister.
Basically every Sunday night I want to kill myself thinking about waking up for school in the morning, but today wasn’t that bad. I only had 4 hours of classes, because my Spanish teacher was gone and it turns out it’s pointless for me to go to English (who knew?), so I no longer have to attend that awful, awful class, but I will probably have another, hopefully more useful class like French, during those hours.
Today I I officially became European. I walked through Montmartre, took artsy pictures, went to a Café, drank a beer, smoked a cigar, and read Victor Hugo. I believe I have fulfilled my duty of becoming fully immersed in a culture, and I am coming home tomorrow.
Brent
Actually, I am not coming home, sorry to falsely excite you all.
Translation of Picture:
Sign—The Portrait of my Master
Below, still on sign—Author/Anonymous Work
So basically my weekend consisted of this. I got up to go to Sport at an unholy hour on Saturday morning, showed my shot put who was boss and launched her 9.5 meters (I hope you’re all proud of me, it was the longest in the class, and for any of you who thought I had totally atrophied after I stopped playing hockey, I leave that fact as proof against your assumption). Anyways, on to my weekend. So turns out (as I have no prior knowledge of anything that happens in this apartment) my host brother’s girlfriend was over for the weekend (she lives in Brussels), and we were having lunch with her and her parents. So, champagne and wine ensued (as always), as well as semi awkward conversation (well I guess it wasn’t really an awkward conversation, more like as always I sit and don’t say much, because whenever I realize I can say something and figure out how to say it, then they are really far past that subject and it would be ridiculous for me to bring it up). I then proceeded to nap for about an hour, then my host parents and I headed off to Normandy…again. I don’t really get why we left, as the parents were staying in a hotel (and I figured if they got along at least half way decently they would hang out together over the weekend), and the host brother/host girlfriend were staying in the same room in the apartment…kinda awkward.
The weekend in Normandy, although beautiful weather wise, was nothing to write home about (although I guess that’s what I’m doing now). Although there was a pretty funny conversation that took place as we were driving there. Keep in mind this is at about 6:40 at night, and roughly translated from French.
Host Dad: “So we’re going to go to mass at 7, would you like to come”
Me: (Thinking he means in the morning) “ya, sure, I’d love to”
…Silence…
Me: (rethinking) “umm, maybe not, I think I want to sleep, you know, I only get one day out of the week to sleep in”
Host Mom: “So you want us to leave you in the car?”
Me: “uhhh?? Oh, it’s tonight, like in 20 minutes, alright, ya sure.”
Okay maybe that’s not as funny as I thought it was, but my favorite part is when my host mom asked me if I wanted them to leave me in the car.
Anyways we went to mass (extremely boring, but in a really pretty church), I ate, I slept for 12 hours, I read a ton, and then we drove home.
I was supposed to meet Rene’s sister for dinner last night, as she is in Paris on business, but her phone didn’t work so it didn’t work out. I, not wanting to sit around with my host family any more, decided to go search for her at her hotel. No luck. Then I went to Notre Dame, because Rene said she might have gone there, so I decided there was an off chance I’d see her, and it was also a beautifully perfect night. Notre Dame is beautiful at night, and I walked around the Latin Quarter and ate some probably not fully cooked Greek, but overall it was a success, except of course, for finding Rene’s sister.
Basically every Sunday night I want to kill myself thinking about waking up for school in the morning, but today wasn’t that bad. I only had 4 hours of classes, because my Spanish teacher was gone and it turns out it’s pointless for me to go to English (who knew?), so I no longer have to attend that awful, awful class, but I will probably have another, hopefully more useful class like French, during those hours.
Today I I officially became European. I walked through Montmartre, took artsy pictures, went to a Café, drank a beer, smoked a cigar, and read Victor Hugo. I believe I have fulfilled my duty of becoming fully immersed in a culture, and I am coming home tomorrow.
Brent
Actually, I am not coming home, sorry to falsely excite you all.
Translation of Picture:
Sign—The Portrait of my Master
Below, still on sign—Author/Anonymous Work
This Little Weekend of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine
So basically my weekend consisted of this. I got up to go to Sport at an unholy hour on Saturday morning, showed my shot put who was boss and launched her 9.5 meters (I hope you’re all proud of me, it was the longest in the class, and for any of you who thought I had totally atrophied after I stopped playing hockey, I leave that fact as proof against your assumption). Anyways, on to my weekend. So turns out (as I have no prior knowledge of anything that happens in this apartment) my host brother’s girlfriend was over for the weekend (she lives in Brussels), and we were having lunch with her and her parents. So, champagne and wine ensued (as always), as well as semi awkward conversation (well I guess it wasn’t really an awkward conversation, more like as always I sit and don’t say much, because whenever I realize I can say something and figure out how to say it, then they are really far past that subject and it would be ridiculous for me to bring it up). I then proceeded to nap for about an hour, then my host parents and I headed off to Normandy…again. I don’t really get why we left, as the parents were staying in a hotel (and I figured if they got along at least half way decently they would hang out together over the weekend), and the host brother/host girlfriend were staying in the same room in the apartment…kinda awkward.
The weekend in Normandy, although beautiful weather wise, was nothing to write home about (although I guess that’s what I’m doing now). Although there was a pretty funny conversation that took place as we were driving there. Keep in mind this is at about 6:40 at night, and roughly translated from French.
Host Dad: “So we’re going to go to mass at 7, would you like to come”
Me: (Thinking he means in the morning) “ya, sure, I’d love to”
…Silence…
Me: (rethinking) “umm, maybe not, I think I want to sleep, you know, I only get one day out of the week to sleep in”
Host Mom: “So you want us to leave you in the car?”
Me: “uhhh?? Oh, it’s tonight, like in 20 minutes, alright, ya sure.”
Okay maybe that’s not as funny as I thought it was, but my favorite part is when my host mom asked me if I wanted them to leave me in the car.
Anyways we went to mass (extremely boring, but in a really pretty church), I ate, I slept for 12 hours, I read a ton, and then we drove home.
I was supposed to meet Rene’s sister for dinner last night, as she is in Paris on business, but her phone didn’t work so it didn’t work out. I, not wanting to sit around with my host family any more, decided to go search for her at her hotel. No luck. Then I went to Notre Dame, because Rene said she might have gone there, so I decided there was an off chance I’d see her, and it was also a beautifully perfect night. Notre Dame is beautiful at night, and I walked around the Latin Quarter and ate some probably not fully cooked Greek, but overall it was a success, except of course, for finding Rene’s sister.
Basically every Sunday night I want to kill myself thinking about waking up for school in the morning, but today wasn’t that bad. I only had 4 hours of classes, because my Spanish teacher was gone and it turns out it’s pointless for me to go to English (who knew?), so I no longer have to attend that awful, awful class, but I will probably have another, hopefully more useful class like French, during those hours.
Today I I officially became European. I walked through Montmartre, took artsy pictures, went to a Café, drank a beer, smoked a cigar, and read Victor Hugo. I believe I have fulfilled my duty of becoming fully immersed in a culture, and I am coming home tomorrow.
Brent
Actually, I am not coming home, sorry to falsely excite you all.
Translation of Picture:
Sign—The Portrait of my Master
Below, still on sign—Author/Anonymous Work
So basically my weekend consisted of this. I got up to go to Sport at an unholy hour on Saturday morning, showed my shot put who was boss and launched her 9.5 meters (I hope you’re all proud of me, it was the longest in the class, and for any of you who thought I had totally atrophied after I stopped playing hockey, I leave that fact as proof against your assumption). Anyways, on to my weekend. So turns out (as I have no prior knowledge of anything that happens in this apartment) my host brother’s girlfriend was over for the weekend (she lives in Brussels), and we were having lunch with her and her parents. So, champagne and wine ensued (as always), as well as semi awkward conversation (well I guess it wasn’t really an awkward conversation, more like as always I sit and don’t say much, because whenever I realize I can say something and figure out how to say it, then they are really far past that subject and it would be ridiculous for me to bring it up). I then proceeded to nap for about an hour, then my host parents and I headed off to Normandy…again. I don’t really get why we left, as the parents were staying in a hotel (and I figured if they got along at least half way decently they would hang out together over the weekend), and the host brother/host girlfriend were staying in the same room in the apartment…kinda awkward.
The weekend in Normandy, although beautiful weather wise, was nothing to write home about (although I guess that’s what I’m doing now). Although there was a pretty funny conversation that took place as we were driving there. Keep in mind this is at about 6:40 at night, and roughly translated from French.
Host Dad: “So we’re going to go to mass at 7, would you like to come”
Me: (Thinking he means in the morning) “ya, sure, I’d love to”
…Silence…
Me: (rethinking) “umm, maybe not, I think I want to sleep, you know, I only get one day out of the week to sleep in”
Host Mom: “So you want us to leave you in the car?”
Me: “uhhh?? Oh, it’s tonight, like in 20 minutes, alright, ya sure.”
Okay maybe that’s not as funny as I thought it was, but my favorite part is when my host mom asked me if I wanted them to leave me in the car.
Anyways we went to mass (extremely boring, but in a really pretty church), I ate, I slept for 12 hours, I read a ton, and then we drove home.
I was supposed to meet Rene’s sister for dinner last night, as she is in Paris on business, but her phone didn’t work so it didn’t work out. I, not wanting to sit around with my host family any more, decided to go search for her at her hotel. No luck. Then I went to Notre Dame, because Rene said she might have gone there, so I decided there was an off chance I’d see her, and it was also a beautifully perfect night. Notre Dame is beautiful at night, and I walked around the Latin Quarter and ate some probably not fully cooked Greek, but overall it was a success, except of course, for finding Rene’s sister.
Basically every Sunday night I want to kill myself thinking about waking up for school in the morning, but today wasn’t that bad. I only had 4 hours of classes, because my Spanish teacher was gone and it turns out it’s pointless for me to go to English (who knew?), so I no longer have to attend that awful, awful class, but I will probably have another, hopefully more useful class like French, during those hours.
Today I I officially became European. I walked through Montmartre, took artsy pictures, went to a Café, drank a beer, smoked a cigar, and read Victor Hugo. I believe I have fulfilled my duty of becoming fully immersed in a culture, and I am coming home tomorrow.
Brent
Actually, I am not coming home, sorry to falsely excite you all.
Translation of Picture:
Sign—The Portrait of my Master
Below, still on sign—Author/Anonymous Work
Friday, October 06, 2006
I Hate Making Titles for These
Let’s see. Yesterday we had dinner with the really funny speaking people from Quebec that we met randomly in a café in Bayeux and saw again randomly and had lunch with at Mont St. Michel. They came over and I had fun listening to their RIDICULOUS accent, drinking champagne and wine, and eating some good food/cheese/bread. Probably one of my highlights every night is eating my host mother’s amazing cooking, as well as eating amazing French cheese on amazing French bread. Other than that, I didn’t do very much yesterday. Actually, I did go to a Café for two hours, had a glass of wine (which I wouldn’t have had if I knew we were having company, but I’m pretty out of the loop here, as in they don’t tell me anything that’s going on, so it’s not my fault), listened to a Rob Bell sermon, read, and worked on my little report for the French Rotary people I have to write.
Today…today. Friday’s are usually pretty good because I just have labs in Bio and Physics then one or two hours of Math. But today my teeth were really hurting me for some reason, so I came home, took a nap, and have pretty much just been rocking out in my room since 1. We are going to the country home again this weekend (kind of over going there every weekend, especially when my host brother stays at home), but what can you do? I also have Sport tomorrow at 10 (AWESOME, YES, AMAZING!). This was probably extremely boring to read, but I really don’t have any funny anecdotes or stories to put in. I’m going to go watch a movie my host parents gave me to watch, Amadeus, about Mozart. Hopefully it’s good. Well, I’ll let you know Sunday how the weekend/my movie was.
A Bientôt
Brent
Let’s see. Yesterday we had dinner with the really funny speaking people from Quebec that we met randomly in a café in Bayeux and saw again randomly and had lunch with at Mont St. Michel. They came over and I had fun listening to their RIDICULOUS accent, drinking champagne and wine, and eating some good food/cheese/bread. Probably one of my highlights every night is eating my host mother’s amazing cooking, as well as eating amazing French cheese on amazing French bread. Other than that, I didn’t do very much yesterday. Actually, I did go to a Café for two hours, had a glass of wine (which I wouldn’t have had if I knew we were having company, but I’m pretty out of the loop here, as in they don’t tell me anything that’s going on, so it’s not my fault), listened to a Rob Bell sermon, read, and worked on my little report for the French Rotary people I have to write.
Today…today. Friday’s are usually pretty good because I just have labs in Bio and Physics then one or two hours of Math. But today my teeth were really hurting me for some reason, so I came home, took a nap, and have pretty much just been rocking out in my room since 1. We are going to the country home again this weekend (kind of over going there every weekend, especially when my host brother stays at home), but what can you do? I also have Sport tomorrow at 10 (AWESOME, YES, AMAZING!). This was probably extremely boring to read, but I really don’t have any funny anecdotes or stories to put in. I’m going to go watch a movie my host parents gave me to watch, Amadeus, about Mozart. Hopefully it’s good. Well, I’ll let you know Sunday how the weekend/my movie was.
A Bientôt
Brent
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
That quote pretty much explains today.“Why count the days, when one is enough for a man to know all of
happiness?
-Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brother’s Karamazov
-I only had 4 hours of school
-I ate an amazing 60 Euro lunch at Rotary (don’t worry, it was on Rotary)
-Rotary gave me 80 Euros
-I FINALLY got everything worked out for my Visa, hooray! (my medical visit is Nov 9th)
-I now have no need to worry about my Visa situation
-It was unexpectedly sunny and nice
-It was very sunny and nice
-I went on a walk in this beautiful park, Parc Montsouris (guided by my friend Rene’s amazing present of 50 City Walks: Paris, which is my new favorite pastime)
-I got to take pictures that I now share with you (although I did edit them a tad)
-I fell asleep in the grass, in the sunlight
-I read, in the grass, in the sunlight
-I had a legitimate conversation with my host parents at dinner, that did not simply consist of me preemptively nodding my head to what they were saying, and then getting caught having no idea what they said
-I don’t have school till 9 tomorrow
-Oh ya, and I live in Paris
Brent!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The Confession Of An Ardent Heart, In Verse
The Yom Kippur Party I did not attend.
T’was a party of a friend’s friend
And if friend One can go not
Joyful, it can be not
So to Montmartre I traveled
At Sacré Coeur I marveled
As I sat on the Terrace
A Café, and Victor Hugo, took away the coldness
The clouds let out their rain
Sitting in Sacré Coeur, I felt sane
In the quiet, in the still
My joy, fulfilled
Today,
Was Today,
Nothing significant,
To say
The Yom Kippur Party I did not attend.T’was a party of a friend’s friend
And if friend One can go not
Joyful, it can be not
So to Montmartre I traveled
At Sacré Coeur I marveled
As I sat on the Terrace
A Café, and Victor Hugo, took away the coldness
The clouds let out their rain
Sitting in Sacré Coeur, I felt sane
In the quiet, in the still
My joy, fulfilled
Today,
Was Today,
Nothing significant,
To say
Sunday, October 01, 2006
The Weekend I Live for the Weekend
In my humble opinion, I’d say this weekend was a success. Had P.E Saturday morning. I’m throwing shot put which is kind of funny. Then me, Victor, and Gabriel (the one’s in the pictures from a little while ago) went to Gabriel’s apartment (close to the Eiffel Tower) and made lunch. Gabriel got sick, so then Victor and I headed out into the Latin Quarter to hang out. We visited the Pantheon, where all the old, famous Frenchmen are buried. It was beautiful, but kind of a letdown inside. I mean, you can only look at Voltaire’s grave for so long before it becomes a little boring. Good thing I got in for free because I’m “under 18.” Then we walked through the Luxembourg Gardens, which are beautiful, and even more so with the falling leaves. Basically we walked a lot. We looked in a bunch of stores (books, cds, clothes) and I actually bought some clothes! I found a store where not everything in the display was over 100 Euros, so I went in and bought a 2 track jackets (1 for 7 euros…ridiculous! And the other for 20) so I’m pretty content with my first clothing purchases in Paris. Basically we walked a lot, but it was really fun. It was great to talk to him, as he is extremely nice, and I can feel my French improving daily.
I figured since this was my first Sunday since I arrived that I was in Paris, I would try to go to church, so I went to the American Church of Paris. It was in a really pretty building, and there were lots of people there. It felt weird having so many people speak English around me. The Pastor-ess kind of annoyed me. She pretty much spoke to us like we were a group of 4 year olds at story time, so it was a little hard for me to get into the message, as in I can’t even really recall what it was about, except I do remember her talking about some Anime movie she watched with her daughter. But we had communion so that was good. Not sure if I’ll be going back, wasn’t exactly the greatest experience I’ve had at a church, but it was still good to go. I went back home for lunch (wasn’t planning on it as I was pretty far away but then my host dad called), th
en went back out again to visit the Picasso Museum. Most of the museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, so that’s why I went. I was lucky and missed the line, and walked around there for a while. Some things I noticed: Picasso really liked guitars, like really liked them. All his naked pictures look the same (not naked pictures of him, like the one’s he drew, you get the point). His cubism is really cool (although sometimes I’d stand in front of a picture, read the title, and spend the next 5 minutes trying to figure out what the crap was happening without success). And Museums aren’t my favorite thing ever (I’d much rather walk around the streets and take pictures). Then I went to this awesome Café that’s set up like a living room, had myself a gl
ass of really good wine, and read and worked on my SPU essay for 2 hours. It was amazing. I then walked around some more, and was basically pretty content with life. I still am basically content with life because I don’t have school till 2 tomorrow (because it’s Yom Kippur and I have 2 Jewish teachers) and because I got invited to a Yom Kippur party tomorrow night (lots of food). So I’ll be getting back to you about that. Thanks for reading friends.
Brent
P.S. The pictures are from today (Sunday) because I used Victor’s camera yesterday and don’t have the pictures yet
In my humble opinion, I’d say this weekend was a success. Had P.E Saturday morning. I’m throwing shot put which is kind of funny. Then me, Victor, and Gabriel (the one’s in the pictures from a little while ago) went to Gabriel’s apartment (close to the Eiffel Tower) and made lunch. Gabriel got sick, so then Victor and I headed out into the Latin Quarter to hang out. We visited the Pantheon, where all the old, famous Frenchmen are buried. It was beautiful, but kind of a letdown inside. I mean, you can only look at Voltaire’s grave for so long before it becomes a little boring. Good thing I got in for free because I’m “under 18.” Then we walked through the Luxembourg Gardens, which are beautiful, and even more so with the falling leaves. Basically we walked a lot. We looked in a bunch of stores (books, cds, clothes) and I actually bought some clothes! I found a store where not everything in the display was over 100 Euros, so I went in and bought a 2 track jackets (1 for 7 euros…ridiculous! And the other for 20) so I’m pretty content with my first clothing purchases in Paris. Basically we walked a lot, but it was really fun. It was great to talk to him, as he is extremely nice, and I can feel my French improving daily.
I figured since this was my first Sunday since I arrived that I was in Paris, I would try to go to church, so I went to the American Church of Paris. It was in a really pretty building, and there were lots of people there. It felt weird having so many people speak English around me. The Pastor-ess kind of annoyed me. She pretty much spoke to us like we were a group of 4 year olds at story time, so it was a little hard for me to get into the message, as in I can’t even really recall what it was about, except I do remember her talking about some Anime movie she watched with her daughter. But we had communion so that was good. Not sure if I’ll be going back, wasn’t exactly the greatest experience I’ve had at a church, but it was still good to go. I went back home for lunch (wasn’t planning on it as I was pretty far away but then my host dad called), th
en went back out again to visit the Picasso Museum. Most of the museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, so that’s why I went. I was lucky and missed the line, and walked around there for a while. Some things I noticed: Picasso really liked guitars, like really liked them. All his naked pictures look the same (not naked pictures of him, like the one’s he drew, you get the point). His cubism is really cool (although sometimes I’d stand in front of a picture, read the title, and spend the next 5 minutes trying to figure out what the crap was happening without success). And Museums aren’t my favorite thing ever (I’d much rather walk around the streets and take pictures). Then I went to this awesome Café that’s set up like a living room, had myself a gl
ass of really good wine, and read and worked on my SPU essay for 2 hours. It was amazing. I then walked around some more, and was basically pretty content with life. I still am basically content with life because I don’t have school till 2 tomorrow (because it’s Yom Kippur and I have 2 Jewish teachers) and because I got invited to a Yom Kippur party tomorrow night (lots of food). So I’ll be getting back to you about that. Thanks for reading friends.Brent
P.S. The pictures are from today (Sunday) because I used Victor’s camera yesterday and don’t have the pictures yet
Friday, September 29, 2006
Don’t Correct Your English Teacher
So yesterday, just chilling in my English class (which I always feel awkward in, because if my teacher is wrong, or I think she’s wrong, I never really know if I should correct her, but I learned that it should be never yesterday), when my English teacher starts saying “to legitimate” (which really no one says, I didn’t even think it was right, turns out it was) so I raise my hand and say (politely keep in mind) “I think it’s to legitimize” and her response is this “well, I was right yesterday (I thought ice floes was spelt ice flows), so that means I’m right today.” I really wanted to say something about how impeccable her logic was, or ask her if she wanted a cookie, but I kept those thoughts to myself. So I thought everything was cool, but the rest of class was kind of awkward. Then, right before my next class, I get told I need to go see the Proviseur (aka principal). Turns out my teacher had told him what happened, so he freaked out and yelled at me and this was basically the extent of what he said (which was in French, so I didn’t understand all of it) “it’s not your place to correct your teacher, you speak American and she speaks English. If our school system doesn’t convenience you, I can show you the door.” So I kind of tried to explain that I was just trying to help, but basically I just said sorry. I really wouldn’t have cared if she had just come and talked to me and been like “hey, don’t correct me” (especially because at the beginning she said “oh you’ll be a great help this year”). So anyways, I went to her later and said sorry, so everything should be fine.
But overall yesterday wasn’t all bad. I played volleyball at lunch with some kids so that was fun (they are all really good), and today I went to try to visit St. Chapelle (a cathedral by Notre Dame) but I missed the last entrance by seriously a minute. I then walked around Notre Dame (which I hadn’t before) and found that there’s a really sweet park around back of it, with extremely pretty views of both the cathedral and the Seine). I walked around there for a while, took pictures, got a baguette, and sat and read The Brother’s Karamazov. It started raining so I just under a tree sat and listened to some music, and it was pretty relaxing. Oh, I also visited the Deportation Memorial (for those deported to concentration camps by the Nazis) and it was really well put together and powerful. That is all.
Brent
So yesterday, just chilling in my English class (which I always feel awkward in, because if my teacher is wrong, or I think she’s wrong, I never really know if I should correct her, but I learned that it should be never yesterday), when my English teacher starts saying “to legitimate” (which really no one says, I didn’t even think it was right, turns out it was) so I raise my hand and say (politely keep in mind) “I think it’s to legitimize” and her response is this “well, I was right yesterday (I thought ice floes was spelt ice flows), so that means I’m right today.” I really wanted to say something about how impeccable her logic was, or ask her if she wanted a cookie, but I kept those thoughts to myself. So I thought everything was cool, but the rest of class was kind of awkward. Then, right before my next class, I get told I need to go see the Proviseur (aka principal). Turns out my teacher had told him what happened, so he freaked out and yelled at me and this was basically the extent of what he said (which was in French, so I didn’t understand all of it) “it’s not your place to correct your teacher, you speak American and she speaks English. If our school system doesn’t convenience you, I can show you the door.” So I kind of tried to explain that I was just trying to help, but basically I just said sorry. I really wouldn’t have cared if she had just come and talked to me and been like “hey, don’t correct me” (especially because at the beginning she said “oh you’ll be a great help this year”). So anyways, I went to her later and said sorry, so everything should be fine.
But overall yesterday wasn’t all bad. I played volleyball at lunch with some kids so that was fun (they are all really good), and today I went to try to visit St. Chapelle (a cathedral by Notre Dame) but I missed the last entrance by seriously a minute. I then walked around Notre Dame (which I hadn’t before) and found that there’s a really sweet park around back of it, with extremely pretty views of both the cathedral and the Seine). I walked around there for a while, took pictures, got a baguette, and sat and read The Brother’s Karamazov. It started raining so I just under a tree sat and listened to some music, and it was pretty relaxing. Oh, I also visited the Deportation Memorial (for those deported to concentration camps by the Nazis) and it was really well put together and powerful. That is all.
Brent
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Rollercoaster
The title of my blog is how my friend Tyler and I have chosen to describe an exchange. A roller coaster of emotion. This blog is evidence of that.
Yesterday was fun. In my Physics class we had “class elections” and I somehow (and by somehow I mean I raised my hand as a joke) got entered into the vote. All the other candidates got up and talked about how they would be a good attaché between the students in our class and the teachers, and then it got to me. I didn’t really think it was necessary to give a speech, but the masses started chanting for me to do one in English. So I got up and rattled off something about how they shouldn’t vote for me because I wouldn’t really have any idea what to do and that I wouldn’t be able to communicate their wants to the teachers. I don’t really know how much they understood, but someone asked me if I’d be able to organize a Ski trip to Colorado, and I said I probably could (psss…I lied) so that probably tilted a couple more votes my way. Turns out I tied for last in the election, but I guess the fact that I tied for last means that the kid I tied with needs to work harder at his electioneering or I have a God-given ability to charm (like my friend Evan). I’m leaning towards the first.
Today sucked. After school I went to the extreme south of the city (takes about 30 minutes of travel) for the 3rd week in a row to renew my visa. Everything was going great, not too much waiting, all my paperwork was fine (3rd times a charm…well, not always), and then I was finishing up and got told to go make my medical appointment. I guess just by luck of the draw (or God likes do throw me curve balls or something) the only 3 dates for the medical visit are during my trip to Germany. I asked probably 30 times if they were the only dates available, and I guess they are. I tried calling my host dad (because he is a doctor for the prefecture of police, who does the medical checks) but he didn’t answer, and they really didn’t care that my host dad was the doctor for the prefecture of police. I told them I couldn’t change my dates (which really I can’t because my host parents are going to be somewhere else when I’m gone and I can’t just stay at home). And they were like “do you want the appointment or not” and I was like “it’s not a matter of wanting, I can’t” (and this is in French remember, and my voice is raising continually because of the intense frustration mounting in my body). So I called my host mom and she said that I should just not take an appointment and my host dad would call and figure everything out. So I did that, but basically all my time there was lost, as I’ll either have to go back after my vacation or next week with some type of document saying I have a medical visit. My host dad emailed some high up person today so he should get back to him tomorrow. So everything should work out, but if you could just pray that it does in fact work out that would be FAN-TASTIC!
Hopefully tomorrow is the really relaxing part of the roller coaster where they bring you refreshments and a nice water bed to sleep on. I don’t know on which roller coaster they do that, but I hope it’s the one I’m on tomorrow.
Brent
The title of my blog is how my friend Tyler and I have chosen to describe an exchange. A roller coaster of emotion. This blog is evidence of that.
Yesterday was fun. In my Physics class we had “class elections” and I somehow (and by somehow I mean I raised my hand as a joke) got entered into the vote. All the other candidates got up and talked about how they would be a good attaché between the students in our class and the teachers, and then it got to me. I didn’t really think it was necessary to give a speech, but the masses started chanting for me to do one in English. So I got up and rattled off something about how they shouldn’t vote for me because I wouldn’t really have any idea what to do and that I wouldn’t be able to communicate their wants to the teachers. I don’t really know how much they understood, but someone asked me if I’d be able to organize a Ski trip to Colorado, and I said I probably could (psss…I lied) so that probably tilted a couple more votes my way. Turns out I tied for last in the election, but I guess the fact that I tied for last means that the kid I tied with needs to work harder at his electioneering or I have a God-given ability to charm (like my friend Evan). I’m leaning towards the first.
Today sucked. After school I went to the extreme south of the city (takes about 30 minutes of travel) for the 3rd week in a row to renew my visa. Everything was going great, not too much waiting, all my paperwork was fine (3rd times a charm…well, not always), and then I was finishing up and got told to go make my medical appointment. I guess just by luck of the draw (or God likes do throw me curve balls or something) the only 3 dates for the medical visit are during my trip to Germany. I asked probably 30 times if they were the only dates available, and I guess they are. I tried calling my host dad (because he is a doctor for the prefecture of police, who does the medical checks) but he didn’t answer, and they really didn’t care that my host dad was the doctor for the prefecture of police. I told them I couldn’t change my dates (which really I can’t because my host parents are going to be somewhere else when I’m gone and I can’t just stay at home). And they were like “do you want the appointment or not” and I was like “it’s not a matter of wanting, I can’t” (and this is in French remember, and my voice is raising continually because of the intense frustration mounting in my body). So I called my host mom and she said that I should just not take an appointment and my host dad would call and figure everything out. So I did that, but basically all my time there was lost, as I’ll either have to go back after my vacation or next week with some type of document saying I have a medical visit. My host dad emailed some high up person today so he should get back to him tomorrow. So everything should work out, but if you could just pray that it does in fact work out that would be FAN-TASTIC!
Hopefully tomorrow is the really relaxing part of the roller coaster where they bring you refreshments and a nice water bed to sleep on. I don’t know on which roller coaster they do that, but I hope it’s the one I’m on tomorrow.
Brent
Monday, September 25, 2006
A Day of Wonder and Excitement
Today was great. Me, Victor (Asian), and Gabriel (puffy cheeks, got his wisdom teeth taken out this weekend) went to McDonald’s (second time since Saturday…yay for globalization), then went to Parc Monceau (this sweet Park we go to) and hung out in the grass for an hour. It was a really nice day, and I tried to retan my feet (I wore my Chacos for the first time today and realized how quickly you can lose a tan). It was very relaxing, and also very fun to hang out with my friends.
So I told myself this week I was not just going to come home and sit in my room because, well, I live in Paris and there’s a lot to do. So I decided to visit a Museum with paintings of Paris and stuff about Paris. I rode the Métro for about 40 minutes to get there, because it was kind of far away, then I got there and realized that all the city museums are closed on Monday, awesome forethought Brent. So then I took out my trusty map and found my way to the National Archives of France, which I figured would be open, which it was, but only for 20 more minutes. So I used their bathroom and kindly left. I then decided to walk to Ile de la Cité (the island where Notre Dame is located) to visit the other cathedral on the island (St. Chapelle), which I found out was also closed. So great day of walking around aimlessly, but walking around Paris and taking pictures definitely beats sitting in my room, so I’d say I’m going to continue to do that.
That was my day, I bought tickets to visit Tyler today. Lovely. Can’t wait.
Brent
(oh, the 3rd picture is my school, if you’re wondering)
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Weekend
School on Saturday should be banned, especially P.E. that is located no where near the place you go to school. Actually it wasn’t that bad. We did shot put for a little bit, did some weird long jump stuff, and I guess I have to decide which one I want to specialize in or something, because they choose what their best at because their grades count for their big end of the year test. So I don’t know which one I’ll choose (I think I can also choose running 500 meters 3 times), but it kind of hurts my feet to run because I only have my Pumas (no I told you so’s Mom!).
After me and 2 guys went to get some McDonald’s, which was amazing. Grease is good every once in a while, and it reminds me of the U.S (although they lack a dollar menu, or even a Euro menu for that matter).
We left for the country home at around 3, and nothing too exciting happened but I do have a pretty funny event to recount. So I love going to the grocery store and following my host dad around picking out cheese/wine, because he just has some innate knowledge about those 2 subjects that I’d like to acquire. Right now in France they are having this big wine sale called “Foire aux Vins” which is during the grape harvest where they have sales on all last year’s wine to get ready for the new stuff. So they had some bottles open, so my host dad showed me the finer points of some different wines, and I guess he hasn’t bought a lot of wine in a while, so in perfect Miles fashion (“ooh, it’s on sale, I’ll get 7”…kind of like that time at Sam’s Club where my Dad bought a golf club set for my brother, who, as a rule, only plays golf when Haley’s comet is flying overhead, which is to say not often…but who am I to complain, I get to use them…wow this was a long, unstructured tangent) we left with 5 cases of wine (6 bottles each) and the guy helping us gave us two pretty much full bottles of 15 Euro wine. Let’s just say the grocery bill was almost 400 euros…kind of intense. But I did get to drink some good wine this weekend, sleep and read a lot…but that’s pretty much it.
Thanks for tuning in friends,
Brent
School on Saturday should be banned, especially P.E. that is located no where near the place you go to school. Actually it wasn’t that bad. We did shot put for a little bit, did some weird long jump stuff, and I guess I have to decide which one I want to specialize in or something, because they choose what their best at because their grades count for their big end of the year test. So I don’t know which one I’ll choose (I think I can also choose running 500 meters 3 times), but it kind of hurts my feet to run because I only have my Pumas (no I told you so’s Mom!).
After me and 2 guys went to get some McDonald’s, which was amazing. Grease is good every once in a while, and it reminds me of the U.S (although they lack a dollar menu, or even a Euro menu for that matter).
We left for the country home at around 3, and nothing too exciting happened but I do have a pretty funny event to recount. So I love going to the grocery store and following my host dad around picking out cheese/wine, because he just has some innate knowledge about those 2 subjects that I’d like to acquire. Right now in France they are having this big wine sale called “Foire aux Vins” which is during the grape harvest where they have sales on all last year’s wine to get ready for the new stuff. So they had some bottles open, so my host dad showed me the finer points of some different wines, and I guess he hasn’t bought a lot of wine in a while, so in perfect Miles fashion (“ooh, it’s on sale, I’ll get 7”…kind of like that time at Sam’s Club where my Dad bought a golf club set for my brother, who, as a rule, only plays golf when Haley’s comet is flying overhead, which is to say not often…but who am I to complain, I get to use them…wow this was a long, unstructured tangent) we left with 5 cases of wine (6 bottles each) and the guy helping us gave us two pretty much full bottles of 15 Euro wine. Let’s just say the grocery bill was almost 400 euros…kind of intense. But I did get to drink some good wine this weekend, sleep and read a lot…but that’s pretty much it.
Thanks for tuning in friends,
Brent
Friday, September 22, 2006
Almost One Month
Tomorrow will mark one month after I left home. Kind of crazy. It feels like it’s gone by pretty fast, but everyday goes by kind of slow…but I think that’s how life is in general.
I’ve been doing great lately, the guys I’ve been hanging out with are awesome, and I haven’t been sitting in school slitting my wrists. I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll be here for the next 9 months whether I like it or not, so I might as well make the most of it.
Today I spent about 3 and a half hours in 2 different cafés (one at lunch, one after school) with my friends. I think I’m going to die of second-hand smoke…so I think I might as well start smoking so at least I can control my own destiny. Completely kidding, I have no desire to start smoking…don’t worry.
I’m going to the country home again this weekend. I’m kind of sick of it to be honest, because the last 2 weekends I’ve been invited to do things, and I never can because we are always in Normandy. Although it is relaxing and I get to read a lot, I’d like to hang out with my friends more than just at school and a little bit after. But I guess we aren’t going up next weekend so that’s good.
Signing off,
Brent
Tomorrow will mark one month after I left home. Kind of crazy. It feels like it’s gone by pretty fast, but everyday goes by kind of slow…but I think that’s how life is in general.
I’ve been doing great lately, the guys I’ve been hanging out with are awesome, and I haven’t been sitting in school slitting my wrists. I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll be here for the next 9 months whether I like it or not, so I might as well make the most of it.
Today I spent about 3 and a half hours in 2 different cafés (one at lunch, one after school) with my friends. I think I’m going to die of second-hand smoke…so I think I might as well start smoking so at least I can control my own destiny. Completely kidding, I have no desire to start smoking…don’t worry.
I’m going to the country home again this weekend. I’m kind of sick of it to be honest, because the last 2 weekends I’ve been invited to do things, and I never can because we are always in Normandy. Although it is relaxing and I get to read a lot, I’d like to hang out with my friends more than just at school and a little bit after. But I guess we aren’t going up next weekend so that’s good.
Signing off,
Brent
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Four Weeks
Let’s just say today was…interesting. I got up in a good mood, as I found out last night that I am able to travel during my break in October to visit my good friend Tyler who is living in Deutschland (aka Germany). Otherwise I would have been sitting with my host parents as they renovate this barn thing they just bought…not my idea of fun. So I was pretty happy to be alive and pretty happy to have made it to the milestone of 4 weeks. My happiness would change later in the day.
I was also happy because I only had 4 hours of class today, as I got out an hour early to go have lunch with my rotary club. This is when my trouble’s started. I had been planning to go to Porte Dauphine (a metro stop, and where Rotary actually meets), but I thought I remembered my rotary guy saying Place Dauphine. So during my philosophy class, I was looking at the map, just to make sure I was going to the right place. Turns out there’s a Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cité (where Notre Dame is, middle of the city) and Porte Dauphine (very west end of the city, again, the place I was planning on going to before I decided to check). So I, at the last moment, decided that it was Place Dauphine. So I traveled for probably 20 minutes on the Métro to get there, only to find that there was no Rotary Club, as the Rotary Club was at Porte Dauphine. I had walked a good way to get the Place Dauphine, so I had to walk back and navigate through one of the biggest Métro stops in Paris to get on the right line and go to Porte Dauphine. Once I got there, I realized I actually didn’t really know where they met, I just knew to get off at that Métro. So I decided to try the Pavillion Dauphine (kinda sounds like Place right?), but started going the wrong way, stepping in dog crap, said some bad words, and turned around. Pavillion Dauphine was the place I was searching for, and I entered 40 minutes late sweating profusely. Luckily I was the youngest person there by probably 30 years, so the welcome people knew exactly who I was.
Rotary in Europe is a little different than in Fort Collins. Basically it’s the rich, old man’s club. There were maybe 5 women, every man was in a suit, and I seriously thought the guy next to me was going to die sometime during the day’s presentation. The sign at the welcome table said lunch was 57.50 Euros (around 70 dollars), so I felt pretty good about eating for free. Except it seems somewhat ironic that, in order to receive my monthly stipend, I have to come to a monthly meeting and eat their expensive food. Maybe next time I’ll just forgo eating and ask for 57.50 in cash or check. Or maybe not. I felt extremely awkward eating (as my table manner’s aren’t exactly up to par with upper class Paris as of yet), but the food was great. It wasn’t the most exciting time of my life, but it was good to eat expensive food for free and get to meet and talk to my rotary guy. I also came home 80 euros richer, which isn’t something to complain about.
Next adventure. I went, again, to renew my visa. I was sure I had everything this time, as I went through and checked everything. So I traveled for probably another 40 minutes to the extreme south end of the city. This time there was no line, so things were looking up…that is until the lady told me I needed some more originals that I didn’t have with me. Awesome, you know what lady, I’ll just come back next week. I LOVE SPENDING MY WEDNESDAYS TRAVELING ACROSS TOWN FOR NOTHING…MAYBE I’LL MAKE A FREAKING CLUB FOR IT. So that made me kind of angry (I didn’t really yell that though, it might be hard to translate into French), but the day didn’t end too bad. Leo (the brazilian exchange student) and I hung out again, so it was good to see him and talk to him.
Let’s hope tomorrow will be a little more mellow.
Brent
Let’s just say today was…interesting. I got up in a good mood, as I found out last night that I am able to travel during my break in October to visit my good friend Tyler who is living in Deutschland (aka Germany). Otherwise I would have been sitting with my host parents as they renovate this barn thing they just bought…not my idea of fun. So I was pretty happy to be alive and pretty happy to have made it to the milestone of 4 weeks. My happiness would change later in the day.
I was also happy because I only had 4 hours of class today, as I got out an hour early to go have lunch with my rotary club. This is when my trouble’s started. I had been planning to go to Porte Dauphine (a metro stop, and where Rotary actually meets), but I thought I remembered my rotary guy saying Place Dauphine. So during my philosophy class, I was looking at the map, just to make sure I was going to the right place. Turns out there’s a Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cité (where Notre Dame is, middle of the city) and Porte Dauphine (very west end of the city, again, the place I was planning on going to before I decided to check). So I, at the last moment, decided that it was Place Dauphine. So I traveled for probably 20 minutes on the Métro to get there, only to find that there was no Rotary Club, as the Rotary Club was at Porte Dauphine. I had walked a good way to get the Place Dauphine, so I had to walk back and navigate through one of the biggest Métro stops in Paris to get on the right line and go to Porte Dauphine. Once I got there, I realized I actually didn’t really know where they met, I just knew to get off at that Métro. So I decided to try the Pavillion Dauphine (kinda sounds like Place right?), but started going the wrong way, stepping in dog crap, said some bad words, and turned around. Pavillion Dauphine was the place I was searching for, and I entered 40 minutes late sweating profusely. Luckily I was the youngest person there by probably 30 years, so the welcome people knew exactly who I was.
Rotary in Europe is a little different than in Fort Collins. Basically it’s the rich, old man’s club. There were maybe 5 women, every man was in a suit, and I seriously thought the guy next to me was going to die sometime during the day’s presentation. The sign at the welcome table said lunch was 57.50 Euros (around 70 dollars), so I felt pretty good about eating for free. Except it seems somewhat ironic that, in order to receive my monthly stipend, I have to come to a monthly meeting and eat their expensive food. Maybe next time I’ll just forgo eating and ask for 57.50 in cash or check. Or maybe not. I felt extremely awkward eating (as my table manner’s aren’t exactly up to par with upper class Paris as of yet), but the food was great. It wasn’t the most exciting time of my life, but it was good to eat expensive food for free and get to meet and talk to my rotary guy. I also came home 80 euros richer, which isn’t something to complain about.
Next adventure. I went, again, to renew my visa. I was sure I had everything this time, as I went through and checked everything. So I traveled for probably another 40 minutes to the extreme south end of the city. This time there was no line, so things were looking up…that is until the lady told me I needed some more originals that I didn’t have with me. Awesome, you know what lady, I’ll just come back next week. I LOVE SPENDING MY WEDNESDAYS TRAVELING ACROSS TOWN FOR NOTHING…MAYBE I’LL MAKE A FREAKING CLUB FOR IT. So that made me kind of angry (I didn’t really yell that though, it might be hard to translate into French), but the day didn’t end too bad. Leo (the brazilian exchange student) and I hung out again, so it was good to see him and talk to him.
Let’s hope tomorrow will be a little more mellow.
Brent
Four Weeks
Let’s just say today was…interesting. I got up in a good mood, as I found out last night that I am able to travel during my break in October to visit my good friend Tyler who is living in Deutschland (aka Germany). Otherwise I would have been sitting with my host parents as they renovate this barn thing they just bought…not my idea of fun. So I was pretty happy to be alive and pretty happy to have made it to the milestone of 4 weeks. My happiness would change later in the day.
I was also happy because I only had 4 hours of class today, as I got out an hour early to go have lunch with my rotary club. This is when my trouble’s started. I had been planning to go to Porte Dauphine (a metro stop, and where Rotary actually meets), but I thought I remembered my rotary guy saying Place Dauphine. So during my philosophy class, I was looking at the map, just to make sure I was going to the right place. Turns out there’s a Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cité (where Notre Dame is, middle of the city) and Porte Dauphine (very west end of the city, again, the place I was planning on going to before I decided to check). So I, at the last moment, decided that it was Place Dauphine. So I traveled for probably 20 minutes on the Métro to get there, only to find that there was no Rotary Club, as the Rotary Club was at Porte Dauphine. I had walked a good way to get the Place Dauphine, so I had to walk back and navigate through one of the biggest Métro stops in Paris to get on the right line and go to Porte Dauphine. Once I got there, I realized I actually didn’t really know where they met, I just knew to get off at that Métro. So I decided to try the Pavillion Dauphine (kinda sounds like Place right?), but started going the wrong way, stepping in dog crap, said some bad words, and turned around. Pavillion Dauphine was the place I was searching for, and I entered 40 minutes late sweating profusely. Luckily I was the youngest person there by probably 30 years, so the welcome people knew exactly who I was.
Rotary in Europe is a little different than in Fort Collins. Basically it’s the rich, old man’s club. There were maybe 5 women, every man was in a suit, and I seriously thought the guy next to me was going to die sometime during the day’s presentation. The sign at the welcome table said lunch was 57.50 Euros (around 70 dollars), so I felt pretty good about eating for free. Except it seems somewhat ironic that, in order to receive my monthly stipend, I have to come to a monthly meeting and eat their expensive food. Maybe next time I’ll just forgo eating and ask for 57.50 in cash or check. Or maybe not. I felt extremely awkward eating (as my table manner’s aren’t exactly up to par with upper class Paris as of yet), but the food was great. It wasn’t the most exciting time of my life, but it was good to eat expensive food for free and get to meet and talk to my rotary guy. I also came home 80 euros richer, which isn’t something to complain about.
Next adventure. I went, again, to renew my visa. I was sure I had everything this time, as I went through and checked everything. So I traveled for probably another 40 minutes to the extreme south end of the city. This time there was no line, so things were looking up…that is until the lady told me I needed some more originals that I didn’t have with me. Awesome, you know what lady, I’ll just come back next week. I LOVE SPENDING MY WEDNESDAYS TRAVELING ACROSS TOWN FOR NOTHING…MAYBE I’LL MAKE A FREAKING CLUB FOR IT. So that made me kind of angry (I didn’t really yell that though, it might be hard to translate into French), but the day didn’t end too bad. Leo (the brazilian exchange student) and I hung out again, so it was good to see him and talk to him.
Let’s hope tomorrow will be a little more mellow.
Brent
Let’s just say today was…interesting. I got up in a good mood, as I found out last night that I am able to travel during my break in October to visit my good friend Tyler who is living in Deutschland (aka Germany). Otherwise I would have been sitting with my host parents as they renovate this barn thing they just bought…not my idea of fun. So I was pretty happy to be alive and pretty happy to have made it to the milestone of 4 weeks. My happiness would change later in the day.
I was also happy because I only had 4 hours of class today, as I got out an hour early to go have lunch with my rotary club. This is when my trouble’s started. I had been planning to go to Porte Dauphine (a metro stop, and where Rotary actually meets), but I thought I remembered my rotary guy saying Place Dauphine. So during my philosophy class, I was looking at the map, just to make sure I was going to the right place. Turns out there’s a Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cité (where Notre Dame is, middle of the city) and Porte Dauphine (very west end of the city, again, the place I was planning on going to before I decided to check). So I, at the last moment, decided that it was Place Dauphine. So I traveled for probably 20 minutes on the Métro to get there, only to find that there was no Rotary Club, as the Rotary Club was at Porte Dauphine. I had walked a good way to get the Place Dauphine, so I had to walk back and navigate through one of the biggest Métro stops in Paris to get on the right line and go to Porte Dauphine. Once I got there, I realized I actually didn’t really know where they met, I just knew to get off at that Métro. So I decided to try the Pavillion Dauphine (kinda sounds like Place right?), but started going the wrong way, stepping in dog crap, said some bad words, and turned around. Pavillion Dauphine was the place I was searching for, and I entered 40 minutes late sweating profusely. Luckily I was the youngest person there by probably 30 years, so the welcome people knew exactly who I was.
Rotary in Europe is a little different than in Fort Collins. Basically it’s the rich, old man’s club. There were maybe 5 women, every man was in a suit, and I seriously thought the guy next to me was going to die sometime during the day’s presentation. The sign at the welcome table said lunch was 57.50 Euros (around 70 dollars), so I felt pretty good about eating for free. Except it seems somewhat ironic that, in order to receive my monthly stipend, I have to come to a monthly meeting and eat their expensive food. Maybe next time I’ll just forgo eating and ask for 57.50 in cash or check. Or maybe not. I felt extremely awkward eating (as my table manner’s aren’t exactly up to par with upper class Paris as of yet), but the food was great. It wasn’t the most exciting time of my life, but it was good to eat expensive food for free and get to meet and talk to my rotary guy. I also came home 80 euros richer, which isn’t something to complain about.
Next adventure. I went, again, to renew my visa. I was sure I had everything this time, as I went through and checked everything. So I traveled for probably another 40 minutes to the extreme south end of the city. This time there was no line, so things were looking up…that is until the lady told me I needed some more originals that I didn’t have with me. Awesome, you know what lady, I’ll just come back next week. I LOVE SPENDING MY WEDNESDAYS TRAVELING ACROSS TOWN FOR NOTHING…MAYBE I’LL MAKE A FREAKING CLUB FOR IT. So that made me kind of angry (I didn’t really yell that though, it might be hard to translate into French), but the day didn’t end too bad. Leo (the brazilian exchange student) and I hung out again, so it was good to see him and talk to him.
Let’s hope tomorrow will be a little more mellow.
Brent
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