Well, it’s official, I had my first breakdown last night. I was working on an assignment (a 20 page article analysis of a theater piece we’re reading) and I just couldn’t do it. Maybe it was my lack of sleep this past weekend, or my inability to switch over to French after a weekend away, but I felt as if I had hit a wall. I’m just really really tired. French for 3 months straight is not easy, and I’m getting to the point where all I want to hear and read and see is ENGLISH. It’s only 19 days away (yeah, that soon), and I’m ready for that. It’s frustrating not understanding everything all the time, and takes mostly all my concentration and brain-power to do so. I doubt that I will ever be fluent (as I would like to be), but that’s okay. I’m American, I speak English, and I do what I can with French. These past few months have taught me so much, but I know that my finals for classes here don’t matter in the long-run and I just want to take advantage of the time I have left here.

Speaking of time left in Paris, I went away last weekend and I’m going away this weekend! So much for absorbing the last bits of Paris while I still can! I went to Barcelona with 4 girlfriends this past weekend, and luckily we got to stay at one of their friend’s apartments who is also studying in IES. That saved us money on room and board (and left more money for alcohol…) The nightlife WAS a blast, and definitely a new experience. 2 all-nighters in a row is definitely not my thing, but it was fun for a weekend. I’m also not a big fan of starting our days off at 3pm, but we still managed to do a bit of sight-seeing. Barcelona was different than I had expected. First off, it was COLD. It was about 39-50 degrees all weekend (when the sun was directly hitting you). I imagined Barcelona a bit like summer all year long, which is ridiculous. But it was still beautiful seeing the water and a lot of greenery around the city. We ate very well – lots of sangria, wine, tapas one night, and Italian the next. I’m glad I went, but I definitely would rather go back in the warmer season next time. We were all very much lusting for Paris after being there for 1 day – the metro there makes zero sense, it’s expensive, and slightly inefficient. I didn’t feel as unsafe as other people had made the city out to be, but I will surely return to the United States as a complete pick-pocketer paranoiac.

Next weekend is Vienna, Austria, primarily for their legendary Christmas markets. A Jew spending her first weekend of Hannukah in Dutch country? No need to comment, I know I’m a disgrace.

We also had a re-entry meeting with the IES staff tonight and it just made me really sad… I feel old now that my study abroad is nearly over. For any of you reading this who have not gone abroad (yet), DO IT. It was the best decision I ever made. Even if you come home with $0 in your pocket, you will not regret it.

Thanks to everyone for keeping up with me this semester. I’ll definitely have 1 or 2 more posts before I go, but for now, enjoy some pictures from Barcelona and try to stay warm!

The title of this post is one of my favorite French songs that’s super jazzy and just sounds like a cliche love story movie that takes place in Paris. Probably why I love it so much. I spent the majority of yesterday afternoon walking around the city by myself, a date with me and my favorite companion, Pair-ee. I mention this song because I brought my iPod with me, listening to some of my favorite French and jazz music. I pretty much had my own soundtrack to my afternoon. Where’s Woody Allen when you need him?

I started out at Sainte Chapelle on l’Ile de la Cite, which is right next to Notre Dame. I chose yesterday to go see this super famous church because it is known for its breathtaking stained-glass windows. The entire church’s walls are made out of them, and each specific window contains different images that can be “read” like a story. I didn’t bother to spend the time there to try and decipher each one with my neck careened back looking up at them, but I could easily look all of them up online and find out what they mean. I was so taken aback by this little hidden gem of a place that not very many people talk about. But it is pretty old (1200s, by Paris standards), and is one of the most-restored places of the 19th Century. I have uploaded my favorite picture I took from my outing onto my page.

From there, I walked past les marches aux fleurs on l’Ile de la Cite, which were swamped with people crowded around the cages on cages of birds. I continued along and went to Pont de l’Archeveque, which is one of the bridges in Paris completely taken over by “lover’s locks.” People have started to put locks on bridges all around the city now, due to the popularity of Pont des Arts, which is famous for that reason. Since I don’t have a “lover,” I’m putting the one lock I have, one that I have been using for my hostel trips, on the bridge with one my friends right before we leave. How romantic…

From there, I walked along the other side of the Seine, the right bank. I walked pretty far down, until I saw signs for la Bastille, where I turned and walked up to le Bassin de l’Arsenal, a port. I stayed there for awhile and took a ton of pictures, while listening to people playing guitar or sitting on their boat decks enjoying the afternoon.

I walked a bit further up, with my goal to reach Pere Lachaise, a cemetery, but I got tired and took the metro back home, since I had to cook dinner for Madame.

For “Diner a la Sasha” I made risotto with marscepone and porcini mushrooms, salmon, and a mache salad. She made the apple tart dessert, and both of us together had a fabulous meal. I wanted to cook for my host mom after going to Le Cordon Bleu, and she said she would be happy to buy all the ingredients as long as I cooked! I was more than happy to do it. But last night she came into the kitchen about 30 minutes in, and decided to instruct me on how to do it,  just like my dad enjoys doing in our kitchen… I felt like I was right at home!

Someone from my program who is spending the year here asked me about my host mom because she wants to change families next semester. Today, I found out she got placed with my host granny, and I have to say, it made me feel bittersweet knowing that I will soon be replaced by another student and that I am, in fact, leaving. I will miss my host mom a lot, I know. She is so kind and easy-going and I feel truly blessed that I got so lucky to stay with her.

After my first Thanksgiving away from home, I was feeling a little homesick, but I know that the next 3 weeks or so will fly by. I still have so much to do before then!

Happy monday, ya’ll!

Last night I had a long conversation with a school friend, telling me how homesick she has started to feel. It’s not even wanting to go back to Santa Clara, where we haven’t been for almost 6 months now, but more of America-sick. I have started to feel that vibe from a lot of people now, and I have mixed feelings about homesickness myself.

I normally don’t see my family or go home for months at a time. I normally squeeze every last opportunity I can to do something crazy or go somewhere or see old friends, and often times, I don’t see my home for more than 3 months. So being here hasn’t been all that out of the ordinary for me; I can’t fly home any chance I want anyways, so being halfway across the world isn’t that different, is it?

Only, I forgot how much time difference sucks. WiFi makes for communication a lot simpler and comforting, but that doesn’t always fix things. When I go to bed at night, it’s still afternoon at home. When I wake up in the morning, everyone I know is going to sleep. The 9-hour time difference is a lot harder over a 4-month period of time, and that, I have come to understand well, doesn’t stop being difficult.

I don’t want to leave Paris, but I also wish my family could come here. I want the best of both worlds, and I know it’s impossible. I know the honeymoon stage of my abroad experience is rapidly ending, but I still discover new things I love about this city every day. I feel like 3 months is only just enough time to dip your toe in the water and figure a place out, and now I feel like this is my home, and I’m not ready to part ways.

After the first time I went to New York with my sister, I always said I would end up living there. But once I got back home to Seattle, I could never imagine living in a big city. Paris is like a smaller version of New York, except this time, I KNOW I could live there.

Being in Paris for Thanksgiving this year is going to be bittersweet, but I have a friend from home coming in town to join our little IES dinner, and I have to say, I’m excited. We’ll have to see how the French live up to a proper Turkey Day meal. I have high expectations. As most families do, we normally go around the table and say one thing we’re thankful for, which is one of my favorite things about this glorious national obesity holiday. This year, I’m most thankful for my parents, who are not the most traditional of sorts, never being ones to make extravagant days out of birthdays or give lots of presents at holidays, but one of the best gifts they ever gave me was letting me follow my heart. They never (really) told me “no” and always told me that as long as I found a way, I could do whatever I wanted. Their support has carried me to places across the world, that only some people could ever dream of visiting. I’m here in Paris, my real-life dream come true, and I am so very very happy. So, mom and dad, I know you’re not with me, but I’m thankful for you this week, Thanksgiving day, and (mostly) all other days.

I hope everyone has a very (ful)filling Thanksgiving day, don’t forget your stretchy pants, and let your food babies shine. Love to all!

le grand roue de Paris, a photo by sashalsommer on Flickr.

Go to the flickr page to see all the rest!