a day in the life of...

After returning from Madame Desbordes house (described below), my friend “BJ” and I looked around at the sunny blue skies and decided that it was just too nice of a day to waste inside a house, so we set off for the city without much of a plan except that we wanted to walk along the river and see the bridges. So, we did that for a while, trying to ignore that the weather was getting cold...we started by walking down an island in the middle of the river that has a garden containing a replica of the Statue of Liberty. We then took a train to another part of the city to see a garden that we had heard of, but when we came up out of the metro it had begun to rain. So we pulled out the one gimpy umbrella between us, and tried to press on to the park in spite of the weather change. As we walked down, what would have been a picturesque promenade by the river, trying to keep our already broken umbrella from blowing inside out, we finally found an arc in a bridge that we could stand under for some relief, and conveniently could also see the garden from there. I finally saw a snack bar close to the garden, so we made a dash for it because hey, it had a roof. Once there realized it was a waiting dock for those taking a river cruise...so we tried to act cool and stay under the dry place for as long as possible...but once the boat was about to leave it was clear that we were not paying customers so we had to go back into the storm. We then spotted a department store with a sign for a café inside. So, forgetting that we were drenched and disheveled, we made our way to this fancy store. Once inside we realized how terrible we looked as we left a trail of water behind us, oops. We did a little exploring and after about 15 minutes finally found the cafe...which of course had closed 15 minutes earlier. So we made our way back down stairs only to realize that the store had also already closed, and we could not get out the way we had come in...so we kept wandering around looking for a door and finally a man unlocked one to get us out of the store :) We then began the search for a restaurant that fit our price range and appetite (which is a common problem for me here), and after wandering for at about 30 minutes we finally found one and had a, much deserved, delicious dinner. You never know what you will get into in this city, but you always have to consider it an adventure.

Madame Desbordes

Today I spent some time at my neighbor’s house. She is a 91 year old French lady who lives across the street from me. She has lived in Paris her whole life and has some great stories to share. She has lived through a lot of history. Today she told us that her parents are buried in Cimetière Montparnasse, which is a popular tourist site because so many important French people are buried there. Today she sang me a song from La Boehm, tried to interest me in marrying her grandson, and told me about her sister who is 100 that also lives in the neighborhood. It is hard for her to get over to see her on her own, so I offered to take her sometime. She is a great help with conversational French, and it blesses her for people to come by to visit since it is hard for her to get out. So, I think we will become good friends while I live here.

Joyeaux Paques

Happy Easter! Here in France, though the religious holiday is on Sunday, Monday is the day everyone takes off. So, I had a good day of celebration. It started by an hour bus ride so that I could attend a bi-lingual service at the International Church, which featured a gospel chior from Louisianna. Then we headed over to a family's house for some Easter activities and a big meal...which I have narrarated below by pictures for you to see. This morning I went with some friends to a "Brochant". These are usually held on the outskirts of Paris when communities decide to organize an outdoor market...similar to a garage sale, but also including vendors with antiques and pretty much anything else you can imagine for sale :) You have to get an early start, and it really did feel like the day after Thanksgiving sale shopping when I got up so early after a nice relaxing day of good food yesterday. But it was an adventure and I found a couple treasures, good times. Also, thanks for all the great packages from home this past week - they were a timely reminder of love during a trying week.

...we ate a lot of food, and talked with friends... 

...helped some kids decorate, and then hunt, some eggs... 

...I went mountain biking (okay, I realize that I should have taken this one in a more believable location, but at least it is fun!)... 

...I smelled some flowers... 

...and finally, I spent some time thinking about home :) 

One of my favorite families, the Speers, with their precious kids on Easter...wish I could have been there to help celebrate :) 

Congratulations to Vanessa!! Here we were getting ready to attend a wedding in September...and now she is the one gettin' hitched! I love you sista :) 

“Still” by Watermark

The more I get alone the more I see I need to get alone, more. Cause just when I think that I'm alone Your Spirit calls out to me. And even silence has a song.
Cause that's when you come sing over me. Still, let me be still. Let me be OK with the quiet in my heart. Still, I want to be still. I'm so quick to move instead of listening to you. Shut my mouth. Crush my pride. Give me the tears. Of a broken life. Still. Oh this world, it falls around me and flutters all it's beauty in my eyes. But let me choose the solitude, simplicity has always simply changed my life. Cause even stillness makes me move. Cause that's when my heart learns to dance with you. Hold me, Cleanse me, Change me, Oh God. Change me while I am Still, let me be still, And know that you are God and you are always enough. Still, I want to be still, to take all that I am and simply lift it up. Still.

Spring has arrived and I love it! I feel like the whole city has come alive and there are people out everywhere walking and sitting in parks...it makes me very happy. This is a pic of our window in the living room which we try to leave open on days like today when it is nice..also in this pic you see a dog. No, he is not ours, we are dog sitting for a friend this week. See comments on a below story for updates on his stay :) 

I had dinner last weekend in Monmatre with some ladies I have met here...we tried to go to this famous fondue place, but missed our reservation...so we ate at this other place, which was good, but very very very slow. Not uncommon here to spend 2 1/2 hours eating dinner :) 

Newsweek

This article is on the current cover of Newsweek magazine, and is actually a good read in support of Christianity. Enjoy, and Happy Easter as you celebrate the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

that one is wet...

Every monday night I go to a bible study on the other side of Paris that takes almost 2 get there by public transit. We change trains twice and one of the lines decided to only run two train per hour...during rush hour, so this means it is going to be crowded. We tried to find a train with relatively few people on it since we still had about 20 min. until the train left...once on a car I spotted 4 open seats, so I quickly pushed my way through and told my friends to follow. After sitting down and claiming my prize...I begin to realize in fact why those particular seats were still empty on such a full train-- THEY WERE WET...and upon further inspection the liquid had not only soaked through the cloth seats, but there was a puddle on the floor in front with a yellow tint. Yikes. I had sat just long enough for it to soak all the way through. Needless to say at this point we returned to stand in the open area. The train continued to fill up and there was a couple, literally right beside me, that was making out like they are the only people around...it was so hot and stuffy that at this point I broke out in a sweat and had no access to fresh air...and when trains get this full you are literally pressed up against everyone and this man next to me decided that this would be a fun time to test his limits by getting closer than necessary and doing everything he could to let me know he was interested...let's just say that by the time we arrived at our destintion I was almost in tears. We met up with another friend on the next train and after I told her about the strange liquid I had sat in, she offered to smell it for me just so I would know if for sure if it had been urine...so in the train station we tried to be discreet as she bend down to sniff my behind, yes, it was very awkward, and no, we did not fool anyone. She confirmed my suspicions...at which point I almost cried again as I though about how groos that is to sit in...anyway, thankfully when we finally arrived at the house I was able to borrow some pants and get mine washed before starting the trek home. Needless to say it was quite an eventful evening and quite a few other things happened but I am too tired to write now. But really, who are these people who would think it is okay to pee on a train seat?! Somedays I just can't take any more "cultural" adjustments.

...humor in translation...

Today after school I went with a friend to a Bricolage ("do-it-yourself") store to help her get some hardware items she needs for her new apartment. We had just paid for our stuff and were looking for the exit that leads directly to the metro (which means it is possible, in many places, to go underground near your home, then travel across the city, do all your shopping, and not see the light day again until you return home)...as we rounded a corner there were two French girls jousting with these long skinny pieces of foam and just as we passed one covered her mouth to distort her voice as she said "Luke, je suis ton pere"...translated it is the infamous line "Luke, I am your father" from Star Wars...hilarious. It always makes me laugh when I hear famous American things translated...like this week I heard the song "December '63 (Oh, what a night)" in French and I was thinking, "hey I know this song... but what the heck is he saying?"...maybe it is odd because I hear mostly English music when I am out in the city and the movies we get are usually in English with French subtitles...and there are always the random people attempting to sing English songs in the metro...anyway, that is all I have to say about that...welp, see ya later :)

and coming into third...it's Starbucks!!

...what a great place. When I found out I was moving to Paris I took the liberty of logging onto their corporate website to see if perhaps there were any located in Paris and to my delight found 5 locations. When I arrived I noted the popularity of Starbucks (as the French love the coffee this was not a suprise)...and will have you know that as of today when I again looked at the site there are now 10 locations in the Paris areas. Anyway, I digress. Those of you who frequent Starbucks, or other popular coffee chains, knows the bit of pressure that one feels when ordering, it is very important to know all the words and order in a way that you look like you know what you are doing (I always feel like I am posing as an adult)...grande, venti, non-fat, decaf, machiatto...I have pretty much got this down when ordering in English, but discovered a whole new challenge when I got here of ordering it in French. But don't you worry, I am making progress. Though it has happened only a few times, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment to order, pay, and recieve the exact drink that I want without them breaking into English because they feel sorry for me and my unskilled coffee ordering. Today was one of those good days and I ended up spending about 3 hours studying and reading there in a big comfy chair. This reminds me of something I read about recently...someone has a theory that everyone needs 3 places: work, home, and a third that you frequent and feel a comfortable in. The theory poses that Starbucks has become this 3rd place for a lot of people...and I have to agree that for me it has become that place of comfort and a little taste of "home".

who are these people?

Last night I was walking down a pedestrian street with some friends and saw two guys transporting a queen sized mattress by laying it across a grocery cart...watching them try to reach the handle and steer this down the street was amusing to say the least...if only I had my camera with me. I can't help but think of the Seinfeld bit where he talks about how men are always trying to be like superheros...transporting mattresses on top of tiny cars and imagining that by sticking their hand out the window it will hold the huge mattress secure while they drive on the highway. There must be a better way...

Christin came to Paris!!! This is a self portrait taken at the airport just moments after she arrived (ending our 13 month seperation). Traveling with her was her boyfriend Mike and his friend Alan. What a blessing to have such a precious sister, who makes me laugh like few others, come and visit me on her way home from Egypt. The trek home from the airport was quite interesting as we had 9 bags, plus backpacks, and only 2 rolled...all I can say is that we stopped to laugh often because hey, what else can you do!? :) 

Christin and Mike trying to keep warm as we walked home one night...these kids are so in love, it really was cute to see them make a scene on the street...haha 

I finally got a chance to visit this British bookstore that I have heard about since moving here...the inside, though not that big, has a book in literally every inch of available space...very interesting and most importantly the majority of the books are in English!!!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JARROD!!! March 6 is my brother's birthday and he is turning 26. This is a picture of us from Christmas 2003. Wish I could be there to help celebrate :)  

Things to note...the first is that it continues to snow on almost a daily basis! Yesterday when walking with a friend she commented that the snow was like the kind you see in a snow globe- huge flakes that don't even look real and just lay on things making them pretty. I am starting to feel like I live in Moscow or something. The second is that last night I had some authentic Mexican food from Texas!! A friend's parents came to visit and brought and entire suitcase filled with food from El Chico that they had frozen, and let me just say that it was an honor just to smell. We had chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce, cheese enchiladas with chili sauce, Texas beef fajita meat, real tortillas, American tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole...mmmmmmmmm, it was so good! The third note is that one of my favorite people is coming to visit tomorrow on her way home from Egypt, yep it's the infamous Christin Williams! It has been over a year since I last got to see her and in my opinion that is way too long. The fourth event of note is that this week we had a Super Bowl party. I know most of you viewed it over a month ago, but a guy on my team has the game sent every year and his family works hard to make sure he does not hear the results until he watches it. The party was complete with chili, though I must confess that us ladies took in only a few commercials and then decided to watch Legally Blonde 2 :)