Familiar Faces and New Places

Just finished a slightly crazy/wonderful weekend, which was preceded by a busy week of socializing and school, which explains why my blog updates have been non-existent for a good while. One of my favorite friends from Berkeley, Mohit, who is studying in Berlin this semester, was in town which gave myself and a few other Berkeley friends here the job of showing him a good time :)

Friday night, one of my friends had a small get together before we heading out to a party organized by our school at a club. We got into the club around 1:00 and ended up not leaving the area until the metro, which closes at 2:00, started running again at 5:30 am. Failing to catch a cab at 4:30am and proceeding to sit in a warm crepe place until transportation home is feasible may not be the ideal way to spend time, but I'm glad I got my first ridiculous night out experience haha. The next day, we got up around 1 pm--I had stayed the night at a friend's were our visitor was also staying mainly to avoid taking the metro home alone at 6 am, but also so that Mohit could make me French toast as promised.



We proceeded to go to the grocery store for the supplies, found some awesome cinnamon bread, and made a super delicious breakfast. I didn't get home until 4pm, even though it felt like noon. After a few hours at home, I met Mohit and some others at a bar for the Manchester United game and a beer before heading off to dinner in Montmarte--which has to be one of my favorite areas of Paris. It's in the hills of northern Paris, has an amazing view from Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Catholic Church, and amazing food! It is the same neighborhood where I went to fondue with girlfriends for Valentines Day.

Side note about the fondue place, Refuge des fondues--it is super famous for its tourist appeal. Crazy tiny place where they packed our group of seven into one back table. They start you off with sweet wine, followed by appetizers (sausage, olives, pickles, cheese), and then you choose either cheese or meat and potatoes fondue. Since there were so many of us, we got both and shared. The most famous, and fun part, is that you are also given a baby bottle with either white or red wine for your drink. The meal is followed by a dessert of canned fruit, which sounds lame, but after fondue it is pretty much the perfect thing. The food wasn't AMAZING, but it was good and plenty, and I definitely would pay the 18euros for the experience again. The walls are covered with money from all over the world as well as writing. I found a few "go Bears" and, my personal favorite, Cal>UCLA>USC.



Anywho, not sure what the restaurant we ended up in with Mohit on Saturday night was called, but it was definitely delicious! For 15euro, I got a salad appetizer, beef bourguignon, and super delicious pistachio and coffee ice cream for dessert.



I did take pictures of the rest of the food, but with a friend's camera--I'm going to attempt to remember to add it later haha. We then went up to the church to see the view and headed home.



Mind you, I just got over a cold towards the end of last week, so this weekend's craziness probably wasn't the best idea. I definitely felt my body yelling at me Sunday when I embarked on another long day. After working for a few hours in the morning, Mohit and I met at the Louvre. I am embarrassed to say that I had, as of Sunday, not made it inside yet. Definitely one of the attractions you take for granted since you can tell yourself you are in Paris for a semester, I can go next week sort of thing :) I found the Louvre just as massive and beautiful as I had been told to expect. Saw the Mona Lisa, which I actually thought was impressive in person even though I had been told I would be disappointed haha. Admission for European students is free, so my new plan is to try and go in for at least an hour a week so I might see a good majority of the place before I leave.

After the Louvre, we met up with other friends for the "buddy walk" organized by my school every week, which is basically just a tour of one of the 20 Paris neighborhoods. However, this week was the Champs-Élysées. While the area is gorgeous, my exhausted self wasn't really interested in listening to the history of fashion designers whose stores take up the majority of the streets.

Luckily, Mohit wasn't down either haha. We came back to my place where I proceeded to take an hour nap while he started to plan out the rest of his trip here. I then ate a hurried dinner and left for a concert with my "buddy" Hannah at the Champs-Élysées Theatre. Originally my plan was to go straight from the buddy walk to the theatre, since they are in the same area, but I was thankful to get the quick nap and home cooked meal which coming home in between enabled.

The concert was so lovely! It was a Swedish symphony highlighted by a world-famous cellist and pianist.




What I found probably most entertaining, was how many times the two world renowned musicians came on and off the stage after each piece for applause--definitely upwards of 8 times. I definitely couldn't help laughing to myself a little. The girls I was with joined me in my amusement. Both are from Germany, but have spent time in the states and knew that, while normal in Europe, it definitely appears excessive to an outsider.

Mohit left on Monday night, but we made time to grab some pastries during the day--he couldn't leave without having a proper pasty.






I spent most the rest of Monday, and now am spending my Tuesday, meeting with partners for projects and trying to get work done before I take off to Spain on Saturday! I am so excited for the trip. Our basic itinerary is as follows: Fly out Saturday around 7 am to Barcelona. Take an overnight train Monday night to Grenada. After two days there, a fairly quick train to Madrid where we will stay until we fly out Sunday March 6. So excited for the tapas and sangria that awaits me!

On another digression, and boring one which I am only documenting for myself so please ignore if you'd like haha, is the slight drama I am having with courses here. One of my classes, which I was actually looking most forward to with the professor from Columbia, was canceled due to an unexpected illness of an immediate family member. The Sciences Po administration hasn't handled the situation...at all. It is now over a week since we were contacted by the professor about the termination, and we have learned nothing more than "we will be getting back to you soon." So I shall wait, but not without anxiety. It is one of the courses I was hoping to get credit for towards my major back home. I still have two other lectures (which should combine to count for one class at Cal--the credit system here is different and requires really crazy conversions), but if one of those lectures is rejected by my major, I may be in for a much more hectic senior year than I was anticipating. However, for now I wait and can at least enjoy a much more free Friday. Instead of class straight from 10-7, this termination has given me a welcomed two hour break. I would, of course, rather suffer through a few long Fridays than to be screwed with course requirements back home, but there is always a bright side to these things!

I refuse to be sick...

For the last week or so, my housemates have been battling sore throats and head colds, but I have remained healthy. It wasn't until I got in late last night that I became worried--definitely woke up with an abnormal throat. Thankfully, I don't have class Monday or Tuesday. Even though I have a bunch of things I need/want to do, I will also be able to rest and make sure I get better!

It's been a little while since my last update--basically I've been working on school and making friends (feels like freshmen year of college again haha). Overall, I am still having a really lovely time! I am attempting NOT to let myself stress out over all the little projects/papers/presentations coming up, but it is hard not to. The semester here is only 12 weeks, and mind you each class only meets once a week for 2 hours. It is VERY little contact time, but there is still so much work.

It also feels strange to be at an "elitist" institution. I'm not saying that Berkeley completely lacks that sort of "academic" mentality, I just feel it much more at my host university. I also feel like class discussions simply lack a lot of the passion and perspective that I find at Cal--this experience is really making me appreciate what I have back home. However, I also know that I am learning tons from exposure to a different notion of academia. My professors are all incredibly impressive people, the subject matters (for the most part) are very interesting, I just wish I have fewer classes and more time in each of them--I think it would be even more valuable :)

A twelve week semester feels like it is going to be a quick bright and scary flash. Looking at my schedule, I really don't have as much time to travel as I hoped between friends visiting me here and my workload. I am SO happy that I decided to keep my summer free for European exploration--it makes it easier to come to terms with the fact that I will not be jet-setting every weekend.

I'm also really trying to get a head start on my work so that when I do travel, I can actually enjoy myself. A partner for one of my presentations is coming over today around one and I'm meeting up with another tomorrow. SO MUCH GROUP WORK HERE. I'm not really opposed, it just makes life a little more complicated trying to figure out schedules.

I've had really fun evenings since last Wednesday, making dinner with friends, apartment parties, etc. Tonight, my housemates and I are doing a small V-day celebration. Julia and I hit the supermarket last night (since they are closed on Sundays) and picked up wine, cheese, chocolates, and crackers--oh ya :)

A Taste of Spring

Today was absolutely gorgeous--warm(ish), blue sky, sun radiating. I knew I had to soak in some rays while the sun graced us with its presence! After doing some grocery shopping and some reading, I went on a two hour walk with two destinations--the French National Library and the Jardin des Plants.



The BNF (Biblioteque Nationale de France) was super modern, huge, and very confusing. There are a bunch of different building, above and below ground, which housed everything from the actually library to a movie theater. I've been told it is a great place to study, but in the short time I was there I definitely didn't figure out where to go haha. Next time when I have study material with me I'll have to put in more effort to figure it out :)

BNF was semi-on the way to my more desired destination of one of the many, many gardens in Paris I have yet to discover. It was really a beautiful park, but I know it will be amazing in the spring. As the name Jardin des Plants suggests, it literally has huge garden space where all different types of lovelyness are grown. Still being the beginning of February, like every other park in Paris, it was not yet in bloom.



HOWEVER, there were tons of people out in the gardens planting--definitely made me excited for the months to come!



I definitely opted to take the metro back to my apartment after the excursion haha. I then spent a good while catching up on the superbowl commercials I missed yesterday and after have continued doing a bit of work for classes. I have the day off again tomorrow, so I may leave the rest of my work for then and treat myself to some tea and a movie :)

One month and counting

As of tomorrow, I will have been in Paris for four weeks. So far, I am pretty proud of myself. No breakdowns, not even minor ones, and I feel like I have been able to assimilate fairly well :) I'm prepared for this next month to be a bit more difficult. I'm sure the dazzle of Paris will have to wear off eventually, making it tougher to be away from loved ones and Berkeley--especially with the introduction of the stress of school into my schedule.

However, though I do have a bunch of work for the semester, (don't know how I couldn't with seven classes) I'm actually NOT feeling overwhelmed-at least at this point. I'm pretty sure its going to be a very manageable workload. It also helps that I am a native English speaker, already gives me a leg up! I have three major papers, 3 mini papers, 3 oral group presentations, and 3 finals (still waiting to add the work to the list for the class I haven't had yet). Sounds like a lot, but I am kind of excited haha. I have a sticky note on my desktop with everything so I can delete one by one as it gets accomplished :)

I had a really lovely weekend--particularly today. Went with my housemates to Chinese New Year celebration in Paris' Chinatown, which is only about a 20 minute walk down the main road outside my building. One of my housemates shares a love for Chinese pastries, so we grabbed pork buns for lunch...sigh so good.

Definitely is going to be tempting to go back since it is so close--the 20 minute walk can be cut more than in half by using public transport...just saying.

I next went for a walk around the first arrondisment of Paris organized by my university (they do a walk in a different area every Sunday).





Perfect pretty day for perusing the city, but it is more importantly a good way to meet people--went with some other ladies to a cafe.

Afterward, I headed of for dinner at my "Buddy's" apartment. (If you haven't been reading the other posts--which I expect is the case for many haha--my university gives every international student a mentor which they call a "buddy," mine is named Hannah haha)

Dinner was absolutely lovely. I really lucked out with my Buddy--she grew up in Germany, but I swear she belongs in Berkeley. Vegetarian, chill, intelligent, activisty, so awesome haha. We had delicious crepes filled with spinach and cheese followed by equally delicious dessert crepes with some yogurt and maple syrup. I'm really excited to get to know her better. She already has offered to keep my suitcase at her place while I travel this summer which is AMAZING.

Now I am home. Just got to skype with the familia before they took off for Super Bowl watching :) There are tons of international students going to bars to watch the game (which begins at midnight here), but I think I will choose to sleep instead--definitely not the hardest decision of my life. Tomorrow is Monday, but thankfully no class till Wednesday as I haven't really gotten any work done this weekend.

On another note, just wanted to say how much I love all the musicians in Paris. They are everywhere...outside the metro stations, inside the metro stations, in the metro trains, on the street BAH it is awesome. For example, these guys were waiting for me when I got off the metro today for my walk...



On my way home from Hannah's house, a guy also serenaded my metro train with his violin. This happens a lot..and, for the most part, they are REALLY good (not like the saxophone player on Shattuck Ave in Berkeley--though I have seen some of those here haha). I would say I am definitely more happy about it than the locals. I had to hide my giggles after realizing I was the only one smiling brightly on the metro when the man started playing :)

Classes commence...reality sets in (at least a little)

First week of classes = done. Normally, I will have 8 hours of classes straight on Fridays. However today, thanks to a visit by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to Sciences Po, one of my afternoon classes was canceled. Unfortunately, it was a class I am looking quite forward to, Covert Operations of the US, but I must wait in anticipation for it to begin next week :)

I think I am in for a good semester! All of my professors have been very engaging and interesting. I particularly enjoyed a course today on the Ideology and Theory of American Conservatism--the course I was actually looking least forward too (I only ended up in it because my other choices filled up). The professor seems super awesome--grew up in NY and studied at Columbia and believes that grades are a joke. I'm especially looking forward to the final exam which will consist of an hour 1 on 1 meeting the prof in a cafe to talk about the course--I've always said this is how I think finals should be!

I'm also excited to report that I finally have a native French speaker teaching me French--makes a world of difference! I already had to prepare a 5 minute presentation on someone from my country to deliver to the class. I didn't end up going today, but I'm sure I will sometime next week. It is definitely intimidating because she corrects ALL your mispronunciation and grammar errors, but that is the only way I will actually improve. (On a side note, I wrote my presentation on Geoffrey Canada, the founder of Harlem Children's Zone. There are a bunch of American's in the class, and I figured I should choose something non-mainstream, ie: not Obama. Turns out I was write since the first American to go had chosen Obama haha.)

What else? Had a delicious dinner with my housemates today. A friend of the house, who is crashing with us for a couple weeks, wanted to treat us to dinner as a thank you. Definitely was nice to get a big delicious meal in after a semi-stressful week of beginning classes!

Being dinner in Paris, we didn't make it back to the apartment until nearly 11. Stuffed with good food, wine, and dessert I think the next plan of action is pjs and a movie :)

Standing Out

After finishing pilates this morning, I had a slight dilemma. Since I was gone the whole weekend, I was completely out of food. I particularly wanted cereal and I didn't want to borrow any of my flatmate's goods.

Instead, I decided that I was going to ignore the social norms of Paris. I was going to throw a sweatshirt on and go grocery shopping in my soccer shorts and sneakers, even though it was 30 degrees outside. And I did.

Couldn't even count the number of stares I received on my way to the store. When I arrived at Carrefour, the grocery store I now frequent, five minutes before it was to open at nine, the wait in the cold almost made me regret my decision, almost. I felt completely scandalous walking around my neighborhood and couldn't help but let out some giggles as people gawked as I passed.

After my morning display, I went to my school to use the library and some printing (which is free!). Today, being February 1, marked my first full month in Paris and the first day I got to use my snazzy Navigo Metro pass. Basically, instead of using individual tickets like a tourist, I now have a magnetic card with my face on it to get onto the train :) Best part about it is that for a flat monthly fee, you can ride the metro as many times as you want.

After the library, I met up with Sophia, a friend from Cal, and we went to the Mussee d'Orsay--awesome museum. I love spending my afternoons in museums, it's super relaxing and stimulating.

I then headed home to eat a late lunch and quickly get ready for my first day of rock climbing class. I didn't know what the locker room situation would be, so I decided to just wear my leggings, tennis shoes, and sweatshirt, all topped off with a peacoat because it was FREEZING today. Again, I was entertained by all the odd expressions of those observing my outfit haha.

Rock climbing was really fun! I'm definitely looking forward to actually learning more about how to climb properly. The other students in the class are really friendly--it should be a great way to make some new friends :) Also, no problems with the knees so far!

Tomorrow is my first official day of classes. French in the morning and "Great Liberal Thinkers" in the afternoon. I am excited!