Spring Updates

Okay I totally failed keeping a blog this semester. I actually wrote a really long post around Spring Break - and then somehow it didn't save and I lost the whole thing and the couple hours of work that went with it. Then I got discouraged, and then I got busy, so I guess that deterred me from writing another post.

I'm still pretty busy - but after this weekend I should be 100% with all the work I need to do this semester. Then just three weeks until graduation and I will have my masters! It feels pretty unreal.

Until then I will be job searching and preparing for my move to San Francisco May 21st! I couldn't be more thrilled to be back on the correct coast and a lot closer to everyone I love. This east coast stint was fun for a year - but it's time to be back where I belong. #westcoastbestcoast

I'm also focusing a lot lately (probably as a distraction from homework) researching different methods and plans to pay back my student loans. I'm not in panic mode yet - actually pretty excited to aggressively pay them back. I'm taking some cues from No More Harvard Debt - this Harvard MBA paid off $90k in loans in SEVEN MONTHS! .... considering I'll have about a third of his take home pay, maybe I can manage to do the same thing in 21 months? more research to come on that. And maybe I'll start my own blog! 

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” - E.B. White

This quote describes my life so perfectly.

Back in business

After telling myself for the past three years (shit is 2014 already?) that I would consistently write in my paper journal, I'm setting aside these absurd aspirations and getting back in the business of blogging. This blog from study abroad 2010-2011 (best year of my life) is too good not to resurrect so I'm gonna just start it up again. Everyone loves a comeback.

While studying abroad was really the best experience I've ever had and choice I have ever made, the past three years have been (okay it's more like two and a half) pretty great too. Shortly after my last blog post I moved back to LA, became a better, more committed feminist, graduated from college, moved back to France, "found myself" somewhere in there, fell in love, moved across the country and started grad school - which has been going quite well. All in all, not too shabby.

Stay tuned for future angsty posts on nonprofit management, charter schools, Philadelphia, looking for a job, moving back across the country.... and anything else exciting that comes up. 

almost there!!!

Loyal Blog Readers!!!!!

Reporting to you from the Nicest place around - Nice... so nice. Nice. nice. nice. Nice. Fill in your own puns as you will.

Brief update of the past.... 3 weeks! Mom got here....
.....toured around Paris, said bye to my friends (Wwwhhhhaaa still in denail) and my host family (even more denial!!), then we set off for Venice, Vernazza, and Nice (it was so Nice)..... plenty of sun and food and mother daughter bonding.

I would write more but I'm obviously avoiding packing and should probs get back to that. We're leaving for the Nice airport in about 40 minutes, flying to Paris Orly, grabbing my bags, heading to the other airport Charles De Gaulle (what up CDG), staying over and then departing for SEATACCCCC (SNACK PACK) and then home home home home home home.

What the heck.

1 day 10 hours 54 minutes of traveling COMMENCE!

Fromage, and other things

"Never go out with a girl that doesn't eat cheese" - my host mother, quoting some famous French person.
She's definitely correct. Another favorite Pascale quote, "When you have too much bread, you have to eat more cheese. When you have too much cheese, you have to eat more bread - That is la vie française." I am so d'accord.

Cheese in France is just a very interesting phenomenon. Did you know there are over 350 different types? "One for every day of the year" - another Pascale-ism. And a type of wine that goes with each one. There is also a correct way - "The French Way", says my dear sister Alice - to cut each cheese and, as I discovered this evening, a correct order to eat all of the different cheese if you are eating more than two in a night. Yes sometimes the French eat more than two cheeses in one night.

It's very odd - the year here in Paris is wrapping up. My mom arrives next Tuesday - and then I will only have a week left here. Trop bizarre. I am constantly in a state of conflict between wanting to stay forever (I honestly could stay another year and not be phased at all) and being thoroughly overjoyed to return home.

I'm having a hard time putting into words how wonderful this year was. We had to write a paper today in my Atelier d'Ecriture on what we will take away from this year. Of course I spoke of how great my host family has been, and how much confidence in traveling I have gained.... but really the main focus was what true friends I have made this year.

Need I say more?

.... more ramblings on reverse culture shock and paris-sickness coming soon!

- Clara

Minuit à Paris

Everyone must must must see this movie. It was a perfectly fantastical representation of Paris, visually stunning, hilarious... I both laughed and felt some tears welling. And the theater I was sitting in was featured in the film. So meta.

Ma Vie

Oh Paris in the springtime.... un petit tour through times spent in Montemartre, le Jardin du Luxembourg, various picnics and strolls through Paris. Enjoy!

Sophie and my band photo

Crowds descend on Luxembourg

New friends

French wine, french fries.... so French

Nora and Katherine, une promenade après nos cours

Snookie in the metro - a rough week for all

Les fraises!

Near La Sorbonne

As you can see, Paris is in full bloom! When not piquenique-ing in a garden, shopping for "essentials" (nude pumps, floral dresses, baked goods), or having way too much fun - I can be found devouring Tina Fey's new book Bossypants. It's too good.

xoxo,

Clara