Yeah, I don't know.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Shall I Tell You A Story?
It's really not much. There aren't even pictures to go with it! It's funny though, just go with it.
In Paris, my mom wanted to go to a specific restaurant, so for lunch we walked across town to find it and waited in line - for a long while. It had lots of stars next to it's name though, and the wait was expected, so we suffered on. Once seated, the waitress came - no menus were given, and thinking like an American I ordered our drinks (in French because I just felt like the fanciest thing in town). The waitress didn't leave though. Instead she said, how do you want your steak? I obviously didn't understand because I thought I had just ordered drinks - was my accent really that horrible that she mistook water for steak? I tried to explain, no, no, I didn't order steak! I just ordered drinks! To which she replied that everyone got steak. You don't pick what you eat, they do! So steak and fries it was, for lunch. And it was good. The end.
P.S. The restaurant was called Le Relais de l'Entrecôte. I believe if you look past the shiny stars next to it's name and read a couple of reviews, someone is bound to mention the itty bitty fact that it only serves steak and fries.
In Paris, my mom wanted to go to a specific restaurant, so for lunch we walked across town to find it and waited in line - for a long while. It had lots of stars next to it's name though, and the wait was expected, so we suffered on. Once seated, the waitress came - no menus were given, and thinking like an American I ordered our drinks (in French because I just felt like the fanciest thing in town). The waitress didn't leave though. Instead she said, how do you want your steak? I obviously didn't understand because I thought I had just ordered drinks - was my accent really that horrible that she mistook water for steak? I tried to explain, no, no, I didn't order steak! I just ordered drinks! To which she replied that everyone got steak. You don't pick what you eat, they do! So steak and fries it was, for lunch. And it was good. The end.
P.S. The restaurant was called Le Relais de l'Entrecôte. I believe if you look past the shiny stars next to it's name and read a couple of reviews, someone is bound to mention the itty bitty fact that it only serves steak and fries.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
New Year's Eve and All That Jazz
So my writing has been in the toilet lately. And by lately I mean in the past month. So I'm sorry. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's (this phrase always gets me. New Year's? New Year? But the year, although new, isn't over, so how do you know if it was wonderful? New Year's Eve? But that was last year, and we're in the New Year!). Anyway. That night where the clock hit 12:00 or maybe 00:00 depending on your location, how was it? And your holidays before that? Great. :)
My darling mother and sister came to visit me for New Year's (the eve and the first day, not the full year - just clarifying). Straight off the train from Italy, I went to their hotel and was greeted by Emily, joyfully using the free wifi, and my mother who was tearing up because she "got dust in her eye". I wish I had some pictures of our reuniting, but unfortunately my camera man was on vacation so you'll just have to deal with this image: Girl, 17, gross looking because she'd been traveling since 4am, big sweatshirt, holding bags, a little bit wary because she knows the waterworks that will greet her. She walks into the hotel, prepared to ask the clerk at the desk which room was "Ollero", but is surprised to see that both mother and sister are sitting in the - what is it? lounge? - waiting for her. Mother, xx years young (I've got your back, ma), leaps from her chair to embrace daughter after being tragically separated for four months. Sister, almost 14, sitting in the background using the computer, "Hey Goose!". Enthusiasm at it's greatest, ladies and gentlemen. Girl, 17, is taller than mother. Cue applause, mother has been doubting it would happen since forever - ha. Girl looks around, sees 500 suitcases for mother and daughter, sighs (oh Americans - they change their outfits daily?), smiles, grabs some bags, and heads for Host Family's apartment (a short walk for the avid Rennais, apparently 50 blocks for the sister).
Well, that was random and grammatically incorrect. Enjoy deciphering that! We stayed at my host family's apartment, as they were out of town for Christmas. We stayed in Rennes for 2 nights, and bright and early on the 29th we departed for Paris!
My darling mother and sister came to visit me for New Year's (the eve and the first day, not the full year - just clarifying). Straight off the train from Italy, I went to their hotel and was greeted by Emily, joyfully using the free wifi, and my mother who was tearing up because she "got dust in her eye". I wish I had some pictures of our reuniting, but unfortunately my camera man was on vacation so you'll just have to deal with this image: Girl, 17, gross looking because she'd been traveling since 4am, big sweatshirt, holding bags, a little bit wary because she knows the waterworks that will greet her. She walks into the hotel, prepared to ask the clerk at the desk which room was "Ollero", but is surprised to see that both mother and sister are sitting in the - what is it? lounge? - waiting for her. Mother, xx years young (I've got your back, ma), leaps from her chair to embrace daughter after being tragically separated for four months. Sister, almost 14, sitting in the background using the computer, "Hey Goose!". Enthusiasm at it's greatest, ladies and gentlemen. Girl, 17, is taller than mother. Cue applause, mother has been doubting it would happen since forever - ha. Girl looks around, sees 500 suitcases for mother and daughter, sighs (oh Americans - they change their outfits daily?), smiles, grabs some bags, and heads for Host Family's apartment (a short walk for the avid Rennais, apparently 50 blocks for the sister).
Well, that was random and grammatically incorrect. Enjoy deciphering that! We stayed at my host family's apartment, as they were out of town for Christmas. We stayed in Rennes for 2 nights, and bright and early on the 29th we departed for Paris!
Because this blog is a depiction of my life, yours truly has decided that even the roughest photos must be included at some times, because that's me, and that's my mom, and we're in France together!
Rough.
We took the fancy metro (or train, or subway, according to my New Yorker of a mother) to our apartment where we were going to be staying, just a few blocks from the Champs-Élysées!
I had already visited Paris before with my mom (and Em has too but don't bother asking her about what she thinks of it ;) ), so we took this trip to walk around leisurely in an attempt to do what real Parisians do. Result: Fail, we were still so touristy. Oops! We walked along the Champs-Élysées, visited the Eiffel Tower, Sacré Coeur, Arc de Triomphe, you know the drill. And if you don't, that's basically the drill.
Arc de Triomphe - and it rained! What a surprise, France, really switching things up (Note: this is sarcasm. The purest of sarcasm).
And our umbrella broke! Woo! Party!
Em, Jim Hayne and I!
We went to this really awesome dinner at Jim Hayne's (an author) house. Every Sunday he has up to fifty random people from all over the world come to dine at his house, and you walk around, eat food, meet a ton of interesting people and have a really great time. I met some really cool people, ate some really good food, and had a blast. If you find yourself in Paris anytime in the year, you should check it out. Sign up in advance, because this guy is popular. I highly recommend it!
We did end up finding ourselves in a part of Paris that wasn't touristy. It was like a breath of fresh air. I found myself falling in love with the city again - if I could, I think I would live there.
We happened upon le Village Montmartre at Sacré Coeur, with little booths selling food and knick knacks surrounding the church.
After we did the rounds at Sacré Coeur, we walked over to this square right next door that is my absolute favorite. It's filled to the brim with artists, and I love looking at the paintings. It's just so cute!
J t'adore, Paris!
We spent the magical night of New Year's Eve in our apartment (France was being cranky as usual and raining, yuck), cracked open a bottle of champagne and skyped my dad as the clock struck 00:00. It was only 6:00 his time; it's kind of weird thinking that our grand celebrations were simply dinner time in another place. But hey, he was talking to the future! 2012 to 2013, aren't we the coolest? We said goodbye to Paris the next day, and my mom and sister said goodbye to France the day after. My mom had some dust in her eye again, and Em was just weird (as usual, love you baby!); it's weird thinking that the next time I'll be seeing them, I'll be coming home to stay. Here's to the next five months!
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