Remember December

I remembered that it was December and that I finally had to update this again. Then I remembered this is my last month in my study abroad program here in Paris. As of yesterday, there are two weeks before I leave. It won't be forever. In fact, I will be spending and week in Amiens, France with my French family, and then my good friend KATIE LUNDSTROM and I will spend December 26th to January 1st in Paris.

Usually the "last" blog of one's study abroad trip is one of reflection (which I typed in French before erasing because it's a misspelled word in English), but I really don't want to do that right now, reflect on the last four months and how much I've loved my time here in Paris. It'll just probably make me sad to think about all the ridiculous, funny, frustrating and significant moments I've experienced in Paris. De toute façon, I'll still be here in January, traveling back and forth between Paris and other European cities (Budapest, Geneva / Berlin, Amsterdam, and London) before finally going to Portugal for Spring semester. Seriously, can anyone tell me where the time went?

For the most part, I feel like time has moved quickly. It's only when I skyped with my family yesterday that I realized how far away they are! It was about 9:30 at night here in Paris and around 12:30 in sunny San Jose, CA. They were having lunch after church and I just looked at them, eating a giant chocolate coin that my Mom sent me, and realized how much I missed them. Talks about Thanksgiving, hearing about the latest family drama at Vavo's, seeing all the animals and making random jokes made me do that thing with my face that signifies "This is kinda hard. I miss them".

And then on the other side, there's that moment of awakening that you are soon going somewhere else, leaving Paris for another city in a country that you don't really know. This morning on the metro we stopped because of some traffic right over the Seine river. I love crossing over the Seine because I can see the Notre Dame and Eiffel tower right from the metro car. Even though it's a rule not to smile on the metro, I smile everytime. That, and when someone is playing the guitar and singing "Aicha". Yes. I'll be leaving that soon, but for another city, another adventure really, but one in which I honestly have no idea what to expect! I came to France with the ability to communicate easily and with a knowledge of French culture because of my past experiences. And even though I am half Portuguese and grew up around some very Portuguese Portuguese, I still feel like I'm flying into the unknown. Maybe it's the fact I'm taking EasyJet and the ticket was dirt cheap. Another European mystery, I suppose.

Quoi qu'il en soit, I know everything will work out. God has really encouraged me this semester, and obviously all the worries I had before France about classes at the university and meeting people are not worries now. Evidence of His love. I have been blessed this semester. The 17 of us. The professors. The nouveau jour, nouveau parfum group. All the People I met at the Hideout. Le chat orange. Hillsong Church. Teuta. Erica. Mariel. Flo. Laurent. Aicha, of course. The grandma that I live with and her Golden Girls friends. I really don't know if I could have asked for a better study abroad experience here in Paris, my third home.

Next blog: Maybe a final au revoir to Paris, or maybe bemvindo to Coimbra. Or something in between.

Nantes

One of the many protests that changed my transportation plans

Bridge between le Grand Palais and Les Invalides

Musée d'Orsay

Path to Sacré Coeur

"N'importe quoi" ou "C'est nul ça" ?

I cannot decide which phrase is my favorite so I'll use them both. What is "nul" and what is "n'importe quoi" in my life right now in Paris?

"Nul" = "argot" or slang for "dumb"

- That I only have 1 month and 18 days left in Paris
- That I don't update this more often (but I am keeping to my promise of at least once a month ;))
- That Paris, although lovely, is quite expensive. Especially when you are having to buy food and transportation. Note: My pass NaviGo costs me 60.40 euro a month. This allows me to ride the metro, bus, train, etc but it definitely hurts me every month)
- That the sun in slowly disappearing and it is getting even more and more cold (BUT, nothing like Wisconsin)
- That I have not been reimboursed by RyanAir for my trip to Barcelona which was cancelled due to the protests that take place so often in Paris
- That all things considered, I really have nothing to complain about and that I seriously love this city more and more. Maybe it's "nul" that I can't stay longer.

"N'importe quoi": How do I explain this phrase. I say it a lot and I know when to say it, but I don't have a direct translation in mind other than "Whatever"... We can do "n'importe quoi" or just say to someone "n'importe quoi" when they are being ridiculous. What is n'importe quoi in my life? I am just going to say random things that have been going on.

- Since we couldn't go to Barcelona, I took a trip to the south of France. The cities of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille are gorgeous. Aix is smaller than Paris but super lively with lots of students. We walked everywhere pretty much and our hotel was not far from the center of town, which was super convenient. The hotel was sweet. 20 euro a night per person is not a bad deal. But beware, apparently when you order "4 beds" that means "enough room to sleep four people" as in you are sharing a bed. We fought a got a room with "three beds".. That is a fold out couch, and two twins smashed together to make a big bed. Haha. N'importe quoi.
- Homework : School is very different here. I don't know if I would describe it as harder because even though classes at the university are generally a challenge I still feel like I'm on vacation. Talking to professors at the university (which I will refer to as the "Fac") and working out the paper work wasn't easy (I am two weeks late on sending papers to my university), and the work is structured differently. We have specific assignments that French students have learned how to do since I don't know how long ago, but it's been a learning curve for me. Also, I have about four books I need to read. N'importe quoi...
 - Social life? Making French friends, practicing my French. Got mistaken for a Frenchie :), that was encouraging. Amourette might exist. N'importe quoi...

What's coming up?
- School and getting back in the groove from vacation
- Tomorrow I will be going all around Paris and taking pictures of the fall / winter. I will also be taking care of school work and paper work
- Traveling more hopefully when prices to Amsterdam, London, and anywhere in Germany go down
- Starting things for Portugal... This includes paper / visa work, brushing up on my Português, and finding a flight there in January :)

Thanks for reading my blog! I hope to talk to you guys soon - feel free to ask me questions and contact me!

Teuta, Alex and Tati in Marseille. Photo taken by Laurent Box.

We're halfway there... Already?

Well I didn't promise weekly updates so I guess I wasn't doing anything wrong by waiting almost a month to update this blog.

"Studying" Abroad has felt like a vacation. I realized yesterday that I have been in France for approximately two months and I am about halfway through the semester. To think about that makes me sad. If I weren't going to Portugal next semester I would be staying here in Paris for the year, there is no doubt in my mind.

This past month our group visited Nantes, a port city historically known for it's participation in the Triangular Trade and transportation of slaves. All of my classes have officially began - two at the CIEE center (for exchange students) and two at the Sorbonne Nouvelle. I'm currently taking a Writing Workshop and a class called Theory and Method of Critical Studies at the center, and at the university a class about Marguerite Duras and one called Writing and Anthropology of Violence, a class concerning genocide and international human rights. The university classes are intense. I'm going to have to get out of my vacation mode a bit because I have some hard work ahead.

"Toota and Tati" in Nantes

I have grown really close to a lot of people in the program. I hang out with three girls most of the time - Erica Freding, Teuta Jonuzi, and Mariel Dupont. We have met some great people from other universities and around the city. Nothing "louche" or sketchy, but it's been good to spend time with people our age that know the city. I would highly recommend it. Just make sure to not fall in love with them! And I'll leave you with that... Check out Facebook for more pictures :)

Nouveau jour, nouveau parfum

Finally updating this. It's been a crazy time since moving out of temporary housing. Our group got split up into all different arrondissments, or districts, but for the most part everyone is pleased.

I am living in the 13th district. That probably doesn't mean anything to most of you, but for me it means a non-touristy, non-expensive quiet neighborhood. The grocery store is right by my apartment building, as is the metro and the outdoor marché every Wednesday and Saturday. I can walk to these amazing gardens which is also close to my university, Sorbonne Nouvelle, and even though it's far from the study abroad center it's nothing the metro can't handle - expect on September 7 during the general transportation stikes. Oh, the French :)

I just finished my Intensive Language class that lasted 3 weeks. My professor was amazing and we studied Montmartre and Montparnasse, two historically intellectual and artistic areas key to understanding Paris. We visited these places, and that is only the beginning of how much I've learned so far in class. Tomorrow, I start two of my classes - a Writing Workshop and a Theory and Method class. University classes don't start till the end of the month, and it's definitely not as organized as my university back home so that will be an interesting experience...

I have gotten really close with some people in my program, and it's been fun to go to coffee shops, hit up the Bastille, and having the weirdest experiences on the metro. We just celebrated Erica Freding's 22 birthday Friday and Saturday night. Some of us found a new church, the Hillsong Church, and it has been so cool to go to. The music is contemporary and the services in English and French.

I've had some great adventures so far, but I won't bore you with those other stories ;). Hopefully this gives you an idea of how much I've loved studying abroad so far and actually, how I could see myself living here.

A la prochaine fois! - I'll try to update this more frequently.

Write Me!

During my semester in Paris my address is:
CIEE
37 bis rue du Sentier
Paris 75002 France

I'd love to hear from you and send you a post card or letter back!


Au revoir!

Sumol anyone?

I have finally arrived in Paris - to stay, at least. Wednesday afternoon Jean-Claude and Claudie dropped me off at the FIAP Jean-Monnet (a student hotel / center type place) in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. I was greeted by one of my best friends, Erica, and was given information and meal cards from my study abroad directors. It felt a little like the first day of school but with all the excitement.

It hasn't even been a week and our group has already done and seen so much. There are 18 of us and so we've been able to do a lot of things together as well as separately. Here's a quick list of what I've tasted so far in Paris:

Wednesday: arrival, visiting and dining in the Latin Quarter

Thursday: CIEE Study Center, 2nd arrondissement exploration, bateaux mouches, hanging out on a bridge overlooking the Seine to end the night

Friday: CIEE, exploring Boboland and surrounding districts, exploring Parisien nightlife

Saturday: Chez Jean coffee shop in the 11th arrondissement (definitely returning), a biiiit of shopping near the FIAP, free outdoor movie "La vie du chateau"

Sunday: American Church in Paris visit, then wandering around the church only to see le Grand Palais, le Petit Palais, and of course the Eiffel Tower. By chance found a Franco-Portuguese restaurant, which of course I loved.

Today, Sunday, was by far my favorite day. Erica and I took the metro to the American Church in Paris for the 11:00 service. I expected a place that was more modern...not modern as in a stylish modern. "Modern" as in wood paneling and and ugly brown felt on the pews. The exact opposite. It looked like a refurbished cathedral, full of stained glass windows and a gorgeous organ. The sermon was great, and I was able to heard the pastor's testimony. I was so happy to see diversity. People from all over - United States, Australia, Senegal, UK, Canada - filled the church. I loved it. 

After service, Erica and I  walked around to see some sites around the Church. The Seine was across the street from the church so we started there a went to a few more places. Gardens. Three museums. Les Invalides. Oh, right, and the Eiffel Tower. After we had our share of walking we met up with two girls from our program for lunch. We didn’t really know where to go around the Eiffel Tower so we just kept our eyes open for a nice restaurant without a huge snobby price tag. First thing we find? Le Bistro de Longchamps, a Franco-Portuguese restaurant. Of course that would happen. And, of course, it would be family-owned (you could tell by the father daughter, very passionate convo going on). Sumol Ananas. Chicken. And um garato. Yum. I’ve been craving my dad’s coffee ever since I’ve been here, and after explaining what I wanted, he spoke to me in Portuguese and brought me an excellent coffee. Will I be returning? Of course. Obrigado.

Well, that is a quick update of my time so far. Placement test tomorrow for French, better get the desire to speak more Portuguese out of my head soon. Maybe some crepes will help!

play the game

Sitting in "ma chambre" in Moreuil and thinking about tomorrow. I will finally be going to Paris to stay... for a while at least. I'm packed, know what I'm wearing tomorrow and I have the address of where I need to be by 2 P.M., but I am I ready?

Moreuil, Amiens, Fort-Mahon are all cities I've visited multiple times. I've returned, slept in the same beds, looked out the same windows, and talked to the same people. They've all become, in some way or another, second homes for me. Jean-Claude and Claudie have been like grandparents to me, as even my friend Leah noticed, and I couldn't have asked better circumstances to start off my study-abroad experience.

However, tomorrow is another place. More people, more views, and probably more work for me to communicate. I've grown so accustomed to Claudie's strong Picard accent (She's my favorite) that it will be weird to listen to Parisians all the time. Will I love it like I've always dreamed? Will I consider it a second home, or rather third?

Today, Claudie gave me some advice. She said, "Tatiana, I don't say this to make you angry, but you're too serious.. you need to smile more... your face doesn't always reflect joy". This made me laugh. Oh, the French. I understood what she was saying, but to me it didn't make much sense. She was telling me what she saw, but to me, it wasn't the same as what I know. What do I know? That I love to laugh and smile and joke, but sure, sometimes I am serious. I told her to ask my family and friends, the people that see me all the time.
So what do you do when foreigners tell you how you are? Do you change for them or just flat out get angry? Neither. You, as my mom would say, "play the game".

I don't want to compartmentalize the French, but from my experience I have noticed they are less open than Americans with a lot of things. Notably, their private problems and their feelings. They probably would never blog about things like this ;) . Oh well, je m'en fiche. When someone reveals more than happiness on their face, even if they're not sad, there could be a problem. They tell you what they think, and it's weird if you're upset about it. You kind of just have to take it. It's a weird and new thing I haven't quite understood, but I'm learning how to more and more each time I come here. Does that mean I want to be like that? No, but nobody's perfect, including me, and it's hard to change some things.

Rules of The Game:
1. Know who you are and what you want.
2. Listen to the opinions and advice of others, and take what you need to accomplish and improve your goal(s).
3. Need to vent? Go to someone who cares (Seriously, I'm not trying to be sarcastic).
4. Last, but not least... Smile.

So to answer my first question, I don't know if I'm "ready" for Paris, but who really is ever ready for the unexpected? I have my things packed, but as for everything else, I'll figure it out. Classes. Apartment. Professors. And so much more. I'll take some of Claudie's advice and smile, but for the most part I'll focus on what I want out of this trip and make it happen. Take the good, leave the bad, and move forward.

Bon voyage!

I'm writing you from Aristo Cafe in Boston. I have an all-day layover here before I fly out to Paris, so I decided to see the city a bit and grab some breakfast.

I had to say goodbye to my family last night. That was probably (prolly) the best definition of "bittersweet" I could come up with. I enjoyed spending time with them this summer so I think it will just take a moment for me to miss them a little less ;)

I wanted to write you all from Boston because I am not sure how much internet access I will have when I first arrive in France. I do not have to be at my study abroad orientation until August 18th so I will spend my last couple of weeks of summer with some friends of the family, Jean-Claude and Claudie. They are basically like grandparents, and I have stayed with them before so it doesn't seems too foreign yet. I arrive tomorrow morning and that afternoon one of my good friends Leah will come and visit for a few days. She's in London, but is making that train trip so we can hang out. So excited!

Some other things on the list before orientation: World War I exposition with Jean-Claude (be jealous), visiting the city of Amiens, and spending some time in Fort-Mahon (where Jean-Claude and Claudie have their beach house).

Well, I'm going to finish my iced caramel latte... It's humid here in Boston but hopefully I can enjoy my last day in the States :)

PERISS, PHRANSE

One week from tomorrow I will get on a plane and head 5,500 miles away. I've bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and I don't know when I'll be back. As you can probably guess from the title, I'll be studying in Paris, France for the fall semester and then moving on to Coimbra, Portugal for the spring semester. For those of you who know me, you know that I've been planning and dreaming about this experience for years. It's finally here, and to be honest I cannot believe it. My family has been extremely supportive, and I guess it helps that they are all internationally minded. My dad is from Portugal, has moved 31 times between three countries. My mom speaks five languages, and has done quite a bit of traveling abroad herself. My brother is Canadian, and grew up in Toronto. And Katya will be coming home soon from her summer at Cambridge, England. I will miss them all so so much, but we're all on the same page when it comes to understanding what an invaluable experience this is.

First step, Paris. I'll let you know what happens. A bientôt mes amis!