Bonne week-end.

Saturday morning.  Quiet metro.  4 girls headed out to catch the sales.  

Okay, so no....we didn't go to Dior, LV, Prada, or Swarovski.  Even the things on sale in those stores we can't afford.  We went to a few small boutiques first, then headed to Forum Les Halles to several stores in a central location.  I guess the closest thing Paris has to a mall.  H & M, Mango, New Look, Starbucks, Bershka, and of course....Zara were on our list.  Found a few cute things....the best luck at H & M and Zara.  There were SO many people everywhere!! It was like Black Friday in the States.  Of course, I like the things that AREN'T on sale, and that are new for summer.  Typical me.  

The mandated government "sale" goes on until February 12th.  It's hard for me to imagine that its this crowded every day but people say it is.  I saw this really fabulous French version of a snuggie.  It is horribly covered in pink and white polka dots.  But only 5 euros-who wouldn't want that lovely piece of flannel?

After shopping and Starbucks, we were wandering around trying to find something to do.  It was a pretty day so I suggested Jardin du Luxembourg...it was free, nice weather, and none of the other girls had seen it.   

Kerry, Cathie, Angelika, and me!

We stumbled upon one of two of the Statue of Liberty's in Paris there.  It's pretty tiny and was quite a let down for us all...but then again, the real thing was kind of a let down for me too.  And this one I didn't have to ride a boat for an hour across the river with 1000 sweaty, nervous, photo-taking Asian people!  And yes, being American, I DID take my photo here.  

We strolled out of there over to Pont des Arts to see the bridge with the locks of love.  It was pretty neat..and some people really thought ahead on their visit to Paris and got their locks engraved.  Names, dates, locations-everything!  After lovers hang their locks on this bridge they throw their keys into the Seine...never to be found again!  

Omphile joined us for a little while.  She was one of the first girls I met here and was glad to see her again!  We walked across the bridge over to the plaza at the Louvre.  Kerry had never seen the pyramids or anything and her enthusiasm about everything was so refreshing!  

As I was on my way home, I received a text from both Ashleigh and Laura saying that they were going to eat Mexican and then go bowling.  I only assumed with the same group of people.  I was tired, grungy, and had two shopping bags with me...but I said yes because I never turn down an opportunity to meet with friends, and they were meeting in 30 minutes so sucked it up and just carried the bags with me because I hardly had time to run them home.   Popped in a McDonald's bathroom to refresh myself and make sure I looked presentable.  We met outside metro Pont Neuf and once everyone gathered we walked to the restaurant.

Pont Neuf

It was actually very good...better than I expected in Paris!  I ordered chicken nachos with a margarita.  I knew most of the girls at the table except for one girl whom I later found out was from Tyler, Texas.  Very close neighbors to my dear friend Laura!

We hopped back on the metro and went to Rue Mouffetard to the bowling "alley."  There were only 5 lanes and it was going to be an hour and a half wait...so we just decided to go elsewhere.  We went to a place called The Fifth Bar which was too tiny for our big group of people, then walked down into Saint Germain to The Long Hop.  We grabbed some tables outside which were nice and roomy.  It didn't start getting cold until around 11, so we moved inside.

When I got home and took off my shoes my whole leg ached.  I had worn my comfy Merrell's, but I guess even 15 hours of comfy shoes can begin to wear on your feet.  My shins were pounding so much it took 20 minutes to go to sleep!! ha...

This morning I really wanted to go to church, but promised Marie-Cesare that I would go to lunch and a movie with her, Franck, and Gaspard today and there just wasn't time to do both.  They picked me up at noon and we went to a little American diner type place near the Musee d'Orsay.  When Marie-Cesare got out of the car I could tell she had been dressed by her dad today.  Jeans, some pair of shoes she never wears, two mis-matching socks, a long ill-fitting t-shirt, and a gap sweatshirt.  Somewhere in her hair was a barrette, but definitely not serving its purpose.  Eating out had been in their cards for every meal as well as lots of movies this weekend.  ha!  For brunch I ordered eggs benedict with hashbrowns and fresh oj.  The menu was in English and it was refreshing to see French's mustard and Heinz ketchup on the table.  I almost swiped the mustard....truly, I wanted to.  Marie-Cesare is a different child when her father is in charge, and I love it.  Franck asked me if I had been to the Jardin du Luxembourg and I told him yes, several times...in fact-just yesterday.  He laughed as we got in the car to head back there.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day here.  Sunny, 50 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  The playground at the park was absolutely packed with families.  Gaspard went to another area to play soccer with some friends and I sat on a bench with Franck.  Marie-Cesare went straight to the sand as expected!  As we were sitting there I recognized one of the little girls on the other side.  I looked a little closer and it was one of the girls in Marie-Cesare's art class.   I took Marie-Cesare by the hand and took her to her friend.  They were so excited to see each other and Franck was impressed that I knew her friends...all the way across Paris at that!

It was very surreal because yesterday I was sitting, watching all the French families play in the park...and then today, I was one of those French families playing in the park.  Very cool.  

After the park we went to a small, hole-in-the-wall theater to what Franck thought was a Marx Brothers film.  We found our seats, finished eating our ice-cream, and settled in.  The movie began and it was definitely not Harpo Marx.  The first scene was a glittery stage full of gold and feather costumes.  It was the 1958 movie "Party Girl."  Quickly realizing that the film was in English and there was no animation, Marie-Cesare curled up in my lap to take a nap.  Franck looked at me and I looked at him, he asked if this film was okay and I said sure....but Gaspard was really the only person he should have asked.  I could tell about halfway through he was getting pretty bored but there was no turning back.  My legs and arms were asleep for most of the time, but it was a pretty good movie.  I always enjoy reading the French subtitles to see how everything translates.

Was glad to come back to my apartment....alone!  I enjoyed dinner by myself and Skyping with all of my parents tonight!

Sales!

Yes, I needed a change so I change my background on the blog.  I won't do much more than that because I have no idea how, and barely figured out how to change that.  I slept in today (am beginning to love Fridays because of that...) and did some homework.  Picked Marie-Cesare up from school planning to go to the park, but she met a friend from school instead.  There is this fairly large concrete area just down the street from her school.... outside there a few cafe's, with a newspaper stand and benches.  Her friend Leonardo and his au pair are always there so the past few days we have stopped to play.  It usually goes well for about 20 minutes or so, then they start beating up on each other and calling each other names.  So....both of us "au pairs" play along and have figured out when things are beginning to get too rowdy and we need to head home.  I am pretty sure she only speaks French, because when I ask Marie-Cesare to say please and thank you in English, she looks at me funny.  And I talk to Marie-Cesare sometimes in English too and she hasn't attempted a conversation.  Maybe I'll try and talk to her in French on Monday and see how that goes!? ha!  

The next few weeks here in France are the sales at all the stores.  They only have designated periods when this can happen and everything is on sale anywhere from 15%-80%.  I am going with a few friends tomorrow to do a little shopping, but nothing serious as my budget doesn't really allow to squeeze in extra purchases for the month!!

Chloe is out of town again for the next week... so next week will be a long one.  Franck is usually 8:30 getting home at night, and promised him I would babysit Monday and Thursday nights as well.  He invited me to go to lunch and to see a movie with them on Sunday afternoon, and quite frankly I'm excited to go!  Now that Marie-Cesare is use to having me around, its much easier to want to do things with them.  

Didou showing me up...

After an eventful weekend, I have laid fairly low this week.  Tuesday Marie-Cesare and I went on a walk around the streets for a little while.  She didn't want to go to the library or the park, and it was getting too late to do much else.  

That night Franck had ordered sushi to be delivered to the house at 8, which was great except for he didn't get home until 8:15.  It was 50 euros worth of sushi and I only had 20 euros on me.  So...I had to explain to the guy the situation (he only spoke French) and then phone Franck and tell him to get his you know what home....depeche-toi!  I kept telling the guy over and over again that I was sorry but he didn't seem to mind thank goodness.  When Franck got home he was so apologetic and yet so funny about everything.  Franck really is like the "funny man."  Always lighthearted and cracking me up.  Except when it comes to disciplining Marie-Cesare, which I can respect.    

This week's collection of flowers from Marc, the florist.  

 

Was at their house by 7:30 Wednesday morning.  Since Chloe was in Dubai and Franck leaves a little earlier than she does...it was the only option.  Again, didn't mind.  Marie-Cesare did NOT, I repeat, did NOT cry when her dad left so now I knowwwww this is a mom thing.  Instead of watching a movie like we usually do before art school, we played, painted, and played hide and seek.  That's her new favorite game.  'Maggie-se cache!' is what she always says even if its just under the counter.  To my surprise that morning I got word that Padi and Didou were going to pick her up from art school so I had the afternoon off!  I had to return a couple of books I bought at BHV and after I did that, I went to the Louvre for the afternoon.  I still think it is so cool that I can just drop by the Louvre in the afternoon.  Browsed through some random art, and tried to be at least a little cultural.  

The crowd around the Mona Lisa.  Not so bad on a Wednesday.  

I had just gotten off the metro to go back to their house when I received a text from Chloe saying that there wasn't any need for me to come back to their house tonight.  I had to take some things Franck asked me to pick up to their house so unfortunately I couldn't just head home.  Didou had made a galette with Marie-Cesare and boy did she show me up.  It looked exactly like the ones that are in all the boulangerie windows.  I'm sure she has been making them for years....but it made mine look like a rubbery McDonald's pancake.

Not to mention I could have eaten the whole thing by myself.  It was buttery, flaky, and had a creamy almond paste filling.  Like a croissant, it was one of those things after you ate it you had to get up and dust the flakes off of you.  But definitely worth it.  Marie-Cesare of course had the piece with the ceramic trinket, and she got to wear the crown for the night!  We had waited on Chloe to get home to share it and soon after I jetted out of there, so glad to have the night off!  

This morning one of the girls in my class and I discovered that we live pretty close and starting chatting on our walk to the metro.  She is from Norway, and has been here since last summer.  We had a lot of information thrown at us in class today so we were still trying to process everything!  Feeling very French this morning and practically skipping on my way home from class I stopped to buy a wedge of brie and a baguette.  This afternoon I watched the new episodes of Modern Family and Parenthood (not so French) and am getting ready to pick up Marie-Cesare!  

Again, if anyone knows how I can put accents and things in my blog for the French language...pleassseee tell me!! It's driving me crazy!  

Funday Monday!!

Another excellent day today!! I was pumped after such a fabulous weekend and glad Monday didn't let me down!! School was fun today.  Even though 8 am comes early for most of us, we cut up a lot in class and are beginning to get familiar with each other.  Listening to some of the other girls in the class talk about their au pair experiences... families, activities, children, daily tasks, hours they have to work, etc. I 100% realized that I hit the au pair jackpot.  Most au pairs get the children ready for school in the mornings, some do quite a bit of housework, some even pick the kids up from school at noon and take them home to fix lunch, and others are working all day with infants.  And they have 2 or 3 kids.  I will take the 3 1/2 hours I spend with Marie-Cesare a day over any of that!  

As my French film class began at 10:30, a girl walked in a little late whom I recognized from last Wednesday night!  I said hello and we were both surprised to see each other.  It was Kaitlyn, from Australia (yes, another) and I was glad to see a friendly face.  We were able to grab lunch after class...just a sandwich... at a place near our school.  She was meeting some other Australian girls to play netball at 1:30 and I was meeting Ashleigh and her friend for ice-skating!  I was super excited that the weather was good and we were able to go!  

We met outside metro Hotel de Ville at 1:30 and headed across the street to the outdoor rink.  I have been wanting to go for several weeks now and was ecstatic when Ashleigh asked me to go.  I am certainly not good, and the last time I went was in Nashville with Hannah and her friends last winter I believe?!  We got our skates (5 euros) and headed onto the ice.  Luckily, there weren't that many people on the ice today.  I didn't have time to run home after class so I had my purse full of books which definitely threw my balance off at first.  I hung on to the edge for the first lap, and after that regained confidence enough to make it around on my own.  Ashleigh had been a couple of weeks ago so to us, she was a pro.  We slowly but surely made it around, and by the end I was making long strides like a normal person!  :)

Anneliese et moi

Ashleigh et moi

The three of us together!

It was SO MUCH FUN!! I like ice skating in general, but in the midst of Paris...its like a million times better.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get to go next weekend on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower...how awesome is that?! 

Marie-Cesare was super good today which was only icing on the cake.  We went on a walk, looking for the "manege" but they put it up for winter so we headed home.  She wasn't too disappointed, I bought a baguette and she munched on it until we arrived home.  

We painted and colored until it was time for her shower, which I didn't have to pull toooooo many teeth to get her to do.  She ate all of her dinner and when Franck came home we were watching Little House on the Prairie and eating apples.  I taught her to say "I want" and "I love you."  Two very important phrases I think!  She still hasn't quite mastered I love you yet....but we're getting there.  Chloe is in Dubai for work until Wednesday, so I will work a little late tonight and tomorrow night....and a little earlier Wednesday morning.   Franck doesn't get home until 8:15 or so....but again, if that's the least I can do, I really don't mind.  

Beautiful day in Paris!

The color of the sky today in Paris was INCREDIBLE.  I haven't seen a more beautiful day in Paris thus far.  Luckily, I got to go to church this morning and be thankful for the beautiful weather.  I actually knew a few faces from last time which is a good feeling, and one of Ashleigh's friends who is always so welcoming was there as well.  The service was MUCH easier to sit through this time...and the songs easier to sing!  I could actually listen to the sermon in French and only occasionally revert back to the English interpreter.  I could understand the inside jokes!  Wahoo!!! The speaker was from Quebec, so he had a bit of an accent...but for me it was easier to understand.  The "church," which is actually a theater was packed and people standing in the back.  It's very inspiring to attend a church in another language.  It makes me feel small and realize that there are SO many people in this world.  I most of all reflect on my surroundings, and am so thankful for friends that bring me to these places, that I have this incredible opportunity to be here in Paris...for a year!  Sometimes in the "daily grind" I forget how lucky I truly am.  

Ashleigh went home that afternoon and I met up with a couple of new girls.  Cathie was from South Africa, and Kerry from the UK.  Both super sweet bubbly girls who were ready to explore anything and everything today.  Cathie has been here a month, and Kerry only a week.  They visited Notre Dame before I met them at the Arc de Triomphe.  We walked under and were going to go up...but the stairs plus the money to get to the top were discouraging.  Plus, I had forgotten my camera today and that's something I want to do when I have my good lens!  So all photos today are on the Iphone....they are okay, but not perfect!  

Kerry in the middle and Cathie on the left.  And me wearing my hair as if it were a scarf.  

I wanted to go back up to Montmartre today, it was close, and my friends were in...so that's where we headed next.  They don't have their metro passes yet, so we took the stairs to avoid yet one more ticket that they have to pay for to use the furniculaire.  I certainly know how expensive metro tickets are after using them the past 2 months.  

Montmartre and the Sacre-Coeur were absolutely stunning with the sky so blue.  

  

You could see the city for miles with the air so clear!!! So much better than the snowy day I was there last.  

And this really good musician on the steps of the Sacre-Coeur who had gathered quite the crowd!!!

Kerry had not been to the Sacre-Coeur yet, so we went in to let her have a look around.  Cathie knew of this great place for gelato (Italian, I know), so we headed back towards the main square to find it.  Along the way we got crepes..nutella and banana again for me.  

And after, gelato.  Fraise and framboises.  C'est delicieux!  We felt it was warm enough today to justify having something cold.   

Stopped back by the gorgeous view one last time and passed by an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower.  I was literally kicking myself for not having my camera.  I guess the wonderful thing about living here is I can come back anytime I want with a beautiful sunset!  

My friends saying hello!  

Stopped at "Les murs des je t'aime" on the way back where "I love you" is written in over 300 languages.

English...

French...(sorry kinda cut off the je)

And for my mom....

GREAT day spent with really good friends!! Some of whom I already knew, and new friends who I am getting to know!  It is days like today that I am grateful that I have this opportunity.  Off to do some homework before class tomorrow...I have been a procrastinator this weekend!  Maybe ice skating at Hotel de Ville with Ashleigh and another new friend tomorrow after school?  Hopefully!