Nous avons fini!

Yes, it's true! Finals. They are over. I have FIVE WEEKS of complete freedom. FIVE WEEKS of complete freedom.... IN PARIS! WHATTT??????

Rewind:

This is me studying for my Systemes Internationaux final, circa 1 am this morning...

Okay it's not actually me, but it's my brain deposited on the fake white board i made. Zoom in for details.... at this point I'm just trying to forget it.

These are the snacks I ate:

Sooooo finals went fairly successfully. And immediately after Nora, Katherine and I went to the Monoprix and bought: nutella, baguette, chocolate ice cream, 3 avocados, guacamole, salt and vinegar chips, corn chips, pasta salad, two bottles of wine.

And devoured it all in the span of 10 minutes. It's true this happened.

Then some West Wing was watched. Duh.

Meanwhile back at Chez-nous....... IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!! Seriously..... my host mom went to London this past weekend - and returned in the full Christmas spirit. It's 12:30 am right now.... and she is still decorating. I don't know when it's going to stop.

Pascale decorating the tree:

Alice - she really does love me

The completed masterpiece

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!

Love, Madame Ouchka

Le Week-end

The weekend commenced with me heading over to the Monoprix across the street and purchasing a baguette, brie, nutella, salt and vinegar chips, and pickles. Now most people might think this is rather French of me.... it's not. Yes - these 5 basic food groups are rather Clara of me, actually; though I am quite pleased to habitate a country where my bird-like, salt/carb heavy diet is more culturally accepted. They have, bien sur, since been entirely consumed (sans nutella) ... though my homework has not. Yes it's that time of the year, folks, homework lockdown. Besides Katherine's 21st (which shall be celebrated all out next weekend, tiara included) the next few weeks are going to involve me pouring over French literature from the 1500's, wikipediaing conflict in Yugoslavia of the last century, and avoiding said mountain of devoirs by watching The West Wing (comme d'habitude) and trying not to freak out too much.

And I did take a slight break yesterday to go to a satelite Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, hosted by a Scottish Pub filled to the brim by middle-aged, liberal expats.... some to the point of tears with excitement.

Nora and I were indeed the youngest attendees, but were quite happy to get our America-fix accompanied by her lovely New-England-version-of-my-parents parents who are here in Paris for the next two weeks. We were a tad disturbed when one lady informed us that she came to Paris 30 years ago as a junior in college.... and never left.

Maybe it's the mile high pile of homework, or the fact that it's Halloweekend at USC, or that Katherine is in Ecuador until Tuesday..... but I'm starting to realize how much I miss home (wherever that home may be? Washington? California? the jury is out on that one) and how terrifying the idea of staying here 30 years is. These next 7 months will be handled, and enjoyed, but I really am looking forward to getting back to something familiar. Sunshine, English, football games, frat parties, eating straight up lemons with Jordan, Friday morning recaps of Thursday evenings, understanding what exactly is expected of me and what exactly it is I'm supposed to be learning about, clothes fresh from the dryer (instead of this air dried, crunchy business), ice, the ability to wear something colorful and not feel like a clown, instant netflix.... this is only the beginning of the list of things I miss.

And I know that 7 months from now I'll be missing all of the things I have begun to take for granted here (cheese, bread, mes chats, etc) but at this point I'm very much in France and very much removed from what 7 months from now is going to feel like.

Just some thoughts. Happy Halloween!

Clara

A Typical Day with Katherine and Clara

Hello Readers!

I haven't written in a few days. I was attempting to update on somewhat of a schedule, but when wanderlust sets in it's difficult to have the time to just sit down and write. And who really wants to hear about me wandering the streets of paris, eating baguettes and taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower? oh... you do? Well in that case.....

To understand my life here in Paris you must first be introduced to my dear friend, and fellow Trojan, Katherine. This is she:

(smoking can cause a slow and painful death, by the way.)

Katherine and I spend practically every day together wandering the streets of Paris. We usually start out the morning with "so... let's not walk very much today...."...... 6 kilometers later and we're both left wondering where the day went, how we managed to take so many pictures, visit so many landmarks and spend so much money on coffee/sandwiches/perrier (Paris is très cher!!!) ,and when we're going to find the next comfortable place to sit down.

View What we did today in a larger map

However with so much to do in Paris and so many incredible monuments, museums and parks around every corner.... we often get so distracted we forget to rest. Nothing a spoonful of Nutella (now a permanent fixture in my purse) can't solve!

Katherine is the perfect tour guide of Paris (she has been here three times prior). As a French History major she knows who built what, who died where, and how many hundreds of years ago it was. I can merely point at something old and ask "what's that?" and promptly be given a riveting and informative narrative in return. It's like having a personalized Wikipedia in my pocket.... really who needs an iPhone anyways?

Now for a string of pictures with me and various monuments in the background... get ready.

Me and some tower

Me and a crèpe and the Moulin Rouge

Me and Sacre Couer

Me and one of Napoleon's mini arcs that was not the Arc de Triomphe (he had three built, according to History-Major-Katherine) on the way to the Louvre.

Another important monument, per se, in my life is my new sister Alice.

Alice (pronounced Aleeeeese) is 14 and very much obsessed with Gossip Girl, Glee, and getting on my nerves. Okay that might sound like a bad thing but in actuality I'm loving it. It's been awhile since I've had an adoring punk kid following me around repeating every word I say in a sing-songy voice. Also helps that she's a sucker for grammar and correcting my every mistake. Okay... maybe I'm starting to miss my little brother (way to nevvver be online Gabriel). I've also never had a sister before which is a wonderful thing to get used to. A few nights ago I was getting ready to go out and she came into my room. "Clara, that purse does not match your outfit. Here take mine. It's my favorite purse in the entire world, but you may borrow it. If you lose it you're kicked out of the family." After defying my protests of not being the most responsible person on the planet she promptly added herself into my cell phone as Alice La Plus Belle (Alice The Prettiest) and kissed me on both cheeks. I'm basically obsessed with her.

Well this is my life so far. My French is horrible, I'm spending too much money, and I miss California and Washington terribly.... but besides that I do indeed aime Paris.

Bonjournée!

Clara