mes amis

old friends. they are a comfort to me. a safety. it is an irreplaceable occasion to sit down with someone and catch up on the time spent apart and reminisce about past shared experiences. relationships with others are what really enrich my life. i am beginning to appreciate this more as i get older. so here's to the people i am lucky enough to consider friends, both old and new.

This Christmas has gone in a different direction than expected and due to a series of unfortunate events, our family is celebrating Christmas on the first day we will all be home together: January 3rd. I was a little angry at first, but am trying to roll with the punches that life unavoidably throws.

To salvage some of the actual Christmas Eve spirit, I am baking. Currently, I've got 2 batches of sugar cookies done, snickerdoodles in the oven, and peanut butter cookie dough chilling in the fridge. Kathleen Battle and Frederica Von Stade are blasting out of the computer their interpretation of "Deck the Halls!" I am happy.

Joyeux Noel!!!!

My Christmas Wish

Linda Cohn, how I wish I had your job....

Anyone have a contact at ESPN who could hook me up with a job?

Happiness = Bookstores

I heart bookstores. I fell in love with them in Paris and as a result, my suitcases coming home were quite a bit heavier. It was one of my favorite things to do on my study abroad. So tonight, when I really needed to get out of the house, I escaped to Borders-- not the coziest bookstore evs, but it will do. I spent a few hours there and read the entirety of The Tales of Beedle the Bard while sitting at a miniature table in the little kids section and exited with The Bread and Bread Machine Bible which I can't wait to crack open and try any/all of the recipes. Bookstores make me happy.

I came across this nugget of wisdom in Albus Dumbledore's commentary on The Warlock's Hairy Heart in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Dumbledore says: "To hurt is as human as to breathe." Who knew a mythical wizard could pack so much punch and give such an insight on human existence. But really, I think this is an interesting point. Pain, whether spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical, is part of mortality and despite the obvious difficulties of this fact, this pain should not be avoided. Somewhat counterintuitive, but an attitude that I need to do a better job of accepting. Thanks Dumbledore.

Completely unrelated (courtesy of Fo):

Read this article from The Onion.

When the Schwestis Write a Family Christmas Letter.

This is produced. Enjoy.

Siebach Skedaddles 2009

Die ganze Familie:

Ralph and Muriel! Seneca Lake, NY. Peppy’s Ice Cream. Dock. Peppy’s. Dock. Redux. Tahannock Falls. Cayuga Lake Creamery. Dance party. Palmyra, NY. Chill and Grill Ice Cream. Brookville, PA. Frosty Freeze Ice Cream.

Diggs (the prime of his life):

Plow. Deere. Farmall. Massey. Ford. Garden. Teach. Harvest. Mater sauce. Peach butter. Charlie Weis. St. Bonaventure. Harvard. Audit. Charlie Weis.

Chuls (the prime of her life):

Williamsburg. Boston. Lexington. Concord. DC. Girls Camp. Time at home. Classroom. Applesauce. Jam. Mater soup. Apple butter. Students. Time at home.

Sars (28):

Libes. Bryce Canyon. Indiana. Corn. Soy. Yard sale. Nirvana. Mennonites. Larry Yoder. Larry Yoder. Horse. Plow. Blubes. Toodle toot. Yellow Square.

Ferik (27,29):

Touchdown. Jesus. Ph.D. Ph.D. New house. Bemidji. Wall Drug. Utah. Mr. Finnegan. Salmon River. Hagiography. Kafka. Paleography. Derrida. Latin. German. Gummies. Pizza. Caffeine. Constantine. Reign of Fire. Sunbeams. Rigdonites. Mr. Finnegan. Christmas Tree Farm. Bliss.

Chiggy (24):

Boston. Schoolies. Kirkegaard. Chicago. Utah. Chuls’ kitchen. Apple pie. Strawberry pie. Blueberry pie. Peach pie. Berry tart. Chuls’ kitchen. Quincy House Cafeteria.

Kee (22):

Rugby. Sweet 16. Europe. Paris. Le Vesinet. London. Dingle. Normandy. Bruges. Brussels. Bern. Guggisberg. Marseilles. Aix- en- Provence. Rome. Florence. USA. Europe. Triste. Wanderlust.

Peeps (17):

Preference. Swim. AP. Sweethearts. AP. Prom. AP. Sleep. Lifeguard. Homecoming. AP. Sadies. AP. Swim. Winter Ball. Sleep.

About a month ago, I was browsing in Shakespeare and Company, an English bookstore in Paris, and picked up this lovely book.


I read the back cover, sat down and read the first few pages, and was hooked. I finally was able to finish it tonight and in short:

This book changed my life.

I now want a garden, chickens, bees, and a dog more than ever before. AND, I am sold on buying as local as possible.

If you, like me, have always liked the idea of having your own produce and buying local but didn't know exactly how to do it, you should read this book. OR if you aren't convinced on why buying local is important and ultimately better for you and the country as a whole, you should read this book. I will be happy to lend you my copy.

Adjustments.

I have yet to blog since I've been home so here I am... because I'm sure you're all incredibly interested in how I'm adjusting. Since being home, I've decided the following:

1. The church is more true in French than in English. Okay, not REALLY, but I really missed listening to church in French on Sunday.

2. It is a good thing I don't drink alcohol because if I did, I would be drinking myself to death in order to escape the reality of my situation.

3. I really need to get over this not really liking being in Utah business and try and discover the coolies things that are around me. So I can't go to the Louvre every day... there's always the MOA. Hm... not helping.

4. I missed my friends and family a lot. I am excited to start school again, even if BYU campus happens to be in Provo.

5. I need to go back to Europe.

I know, I know. You are all probably sick of me complaining about Utah. But in all honestly, I am trying here. I've decided I'm going to discover Salt Lake in the coming months. I think that will be a good assignment for me in order to keep me occupied and appreciate the things around me. So if any of you know of coolies places to discover, let me know!

Song of the day.

I know the video is weird. Just listen to the song.

i am sitting in the seattle airport. i have found a reason to be okay with being back in america...


it finally tastes right. i'm already on my second bottle. and i'm trying to stay awake.

other glaring differences between france and the US i've noticed in the few hours i've been back in the country:
1. american toilets are amazing.
2. airport workers smile at you and ask you how you're doing. i'm thinking: "wait? i don't have to be afraid to talk to you? i'm not going to feel like an idiot?"
3. drinking fountains!
4. everyone isn't wearing BLACK.

things i already miss:
1. europe
2. france
3. paris
4. hearing french everywhere
5. boulangeries.

and i could continue.... but i shant. it's good to be home. but sad at the same time. i'm already planning a return trip. and am taking donations starting... now.

in less than 12 hours, i will be on a plane back to the USA. i don't really know how i feel about it....

A tout a l'heure

Three months ago, this night seemed an eternity away. But here it is: my last night with my homestay and my last night in Le Vesinet. Tomorrow I head into Paris to stay with Sara at a hotel until I leave for Utah on Saturday. The sun came out this afternoon, just for me. I couldn't have asked for a better place to live. Tonight at dinner, Nannick said she hoped we would come back and visit. I can't promise that I will, but I would love to. And for my emotions' sake, I'm not going to say goodbye. Just a tout a l'heure.

This lamppost was precisely in the middle of my house and the Boissy's house where Sara and Emma resided. It was the ideal meeting point for many a late nights. And as you can see, I like it very much.

Reasons why.

I finished my last final exam this afternoon and besides my final photography project that is due Saturday night, I am done with school for this semester. I have to say, this was the least stressful finals week I have EVER enjoyed and I ever will enjoy. The prospect of going back to real school scares me. Let's not think about it, shall we?

I return to the good 'ol US of A in 10 days. I am excited to go home. I honest to goodness never thought I would last the entire 3 months. I remember within the first week of the program, I was looking for plane tickets home, but the 4,000 dollar price tag made staying the only option. And praise the heavens I did. I wouldn't give up what I have discovered and learned about the world and myself during this time for anything. As my stay here winds down and I reflect on the overall experience, I have been trying to think about why I have taken to Europe as I have, besides the obvious answer that Europe is straight up fantastic. I think I may have come up with a possible answer-- let me share. I will try to be brief.

I suppose the main reason I love Europe is because this continent has given me a chance at discovery- of many things. But most importantly self-discovery. I have been forced to prove to myself that I am capable of being happy in a place where, frankly, I don't really fit in, even though I would like to. I have learned a lot about the kind of person I am in the past 3 months and for the most part I've liked what I have found. Being put in a vulnerable, ridiculously scary situation such as this forced me to choose to sink or swim. My head is still above water. I have been able to stretch my ideas about the world and cultures and languages and see that yes, America is great, and I'm grateful to live there, but other places have their advantages too.

Above all, I am eternally indebted to Europe for somehow making previously discarded dreams seem possible again. It has given life to ideas I killed long ago with my supposedly realistic take on things. Throughout my life, I have been in a constant battle between what I want to think is possible (the idealistic side of me) and what actually is. Right now, I feel like I can do just about whatever I want. I don't know if it's the European air, the escape from Utah, or what, but I like this feeling. Like why can't I have some land when I grow up? And why can't I teach English in Africa? Thanks to Europe, I'm trying to get rid of my self-imposed barriers that have stunted my growth in the past.

And that friends is why I love this place and am going to miss it like a motherless child.

The result of my impulsiveness.

Sweet mother of lust....

Sigh....

I want to be able to flat pick like Dave, strum like Gillian, and sing like the both of them. Pretty please?

Returned...

I am home from Italy but too tired to blog about it right now. I was not tired enough, however, to take a pair of scissors to my hair and chop off a few inches at 11:30 at night. It is quite a liberating feeling. Everyone should try it.

In brief, Italy was indescribably magnificent. It still seems surreal that I went at all and saw so many incredible art works and ate so much incredible food. I want a return trip PRONTO. I will blog about it as soon as I recover a little bit.

I leave Europe in 12 days. Wow. I expect these last days to pass far too quickly. But I will confess that I am excited to be in my home again and to see the Familie Siebach and friends. I want to come back after Christmas break. Can that be arranged?

Happy Thanksgiving!

And to celebrate, I'm going to Italy! This Thanksgiving, I am espesh grateful that Italy is close enough to Paris that I can spend a weekend there. Roma and Firenze, here I come!

Marseilles/Aix-en-Provence

On Saturday I headed down to southern France. Thankfully I have been to southern France because if this had been my only exposure to the lovely landscape this region of France has to offer, I would have been very sad. Kylie, Sara, Camille, and I did a very superficial visit of Marseilles and Aix en Provence. Between school work, trying to maximize our time in Paris, and other trips, one day was all we could afford. But it sure was a lovely day. I saw Chateau d'If, the Mediterranean Sea, and Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseilles, and walked around Aix for a few hours. The weather was warm enough that I was able to give my pastey arms a bit of exposure to sunlight. Yes, that's right, it was warm enough for me to wear a short sleeved shirt. I like southern France. The people are more friendly and much easier to understand. I wish I could have spent more time there. But such is the nature of the beast, I suppose.

My time here is running uncomfortably short. I am constantly thinking about how little time I have and approaching end with both dread and excitement. I try not to focus on the finish line but rather choose to focus on upcoming events-- like ITALY! I head there on Wednesday and return Sunday night. Bongiorno Italia! Another country, another culture, another language, and more potential discoveries.... I COEUR Europe.

Mediterranean Sea!

Chateau d'If

Notre Dame de la Garde

Incredible mosaics in the church

Marseilles

Discoveries

1. Butte Chaumont. Kylie, Sara, and I like to call it Charming Butt (or if you're a Siebach, Charming PLEASE). Kylie discovered this wonderful park up in the boonies of Paris and I finally got around to visiting it today. The weather was beautiful. 60's and sunny. Yum. The park is great because it doesn't feel so symmetrical and planned like the other parks in Paris. And there's a waterfall. And a butte. Here are some pics:

Bottoms up!

He was running really fast.

Waterfall! And cute kid trying to run from his pops.

2. Michael Kenna. I went to a photography exhibit of Michael Kenna's work at the Bibliotheque Nationale and was inspired. I really like photography and wish I was better at it. Have a gander HERE.

3. With 1 Starbucks Chai Tea, 3 napkins, and 2 hours of creativity in the upstairs of a Starbucks on Avenue de l'Opera, Sara and I can write an incredible story. Just call us the next J.K. Rowling.

4. Um, who forgot to tell me that humans don't have poseable thumbs, they have opposable thumbs? I missed that boat. I feel like my life has been a complete and total lie. Thanks you Sara for setting my life down the correct path.

5. I love Europe. Okay, that's not really something I discovered today, but it was reiterated today. Don't make me come home. Good news though. I changed my plane ticket so I'm now coming home 5 days later. Whoopie!

THIS...

is what greeted me as I finished up doing an assignment for my Paris Walks class. I took this photo by the Jardin des Tuileries right by the Louvre. No complaints here.

L'amour

I can honestly say that I have never been in love.... until now. Ladies and gentlemen, I have fallen in love with Europe. Not Paris. Europe. It has been a few months coming, but slowly and surely, I have come to absolutely adore this place. Who knew I would ever say that? But here I am, saying it. I love being surrounded by the sense of history. I love the old churches. I love the culture, the train systems, the bus systems that get you out into rural places, the hiking trails, the landscapes, the languages... I could go continue for hours. But I don't want to leave this place. I don't want to go back to a more subdued way of life without the adventures that I am having here. I am discovering so many new things about this world and I don't want it to stop. Can my friends and family just come here so I don't have to ever leave? Thaaaaanks!

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

I went to Switzerland this weekend and it was incredible. It looked exactly like I pictured. Think alpine scenery dotted with red-roofed Swiss chalets and you'll be in Switzerland. Sara, Kylie, and I headed to Bern Friday morning and returned Sunday afternoon. The days in between were spent walking around Bern, trying not to look too shocked when people spoke to us in Swiss German, finding the Bern Switzerland temple, and traveling via train and bus to Guggisberg, a town of MAYBE 1,000 in the middle of no-where. It was perfect. Out of all the small towns in Switzerland, we chose to go to Guggisberg (aka Gberg) because Sara's last name is Guggisberg (and yes, her family does come from the town). It just happened to be Sara's 21st birthday yesterday when we were there which was quite fitting. While I didn't have any familial connection to Gberg, it was definitely my favorite part of the trip. Am I allowed to say it was better than the temple? In Gberg, we climbed Guggishorn and the view from the top was indescribable. I feel so much more comfortable in nature than I do anywhere else. Gimme some chacos, a path, and I'm a happy person.

Here are some things I learned in Switzerland:
1. Switzerland is EXPENSIVE. You'd think with all the banking it would be pretty cheap, but nope. We're talking 9 dollars for a sandwhich expensive. Ridiculous really.

2. I want to learn/re-learn German. Bern is in the German-speaking section of Switzerland so most of the signs were in Deutsch and most of the people spoke Deutsch. I took German for 2 years in junior high but when faced with a situation involving German, I remembered pathetically little of what I've learned. "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" was about the best I could muster. Kylie and Sara nominated me the German translator of the trip and I can't count the number of times they asked me "Hey Kirsten, how do you say ________ in German?" or "Hey Kirsten, what does _____ mean?" All of it was in jest, of course, but I still wish I could remember more!!! However, I was able to teach Sara how do say "Today is my birthday," "I am 21 years old," and "I come from Guggisberg." You occasionally heard French in Bern, and when I did, I was put at ease, which was somewhat of an odd feeling. Instead of looking for my native English, I was looking for French and felt comfortable when I found it. I still want to study some German though. My last name, afterall, is Siebach.

3. I want to go back to Switzerland and rent a car and hike EVERYWHERE.

Here are some pictures from the trip.

Munster Cathedral

Inside Munster

Bern

Temple

Bus Ride to Gberg


Church in Gberg


View from Guggishorn

Outfits and Outings.

I can claim to be many things, but fashionable is not one of them. I know I am not. I recognize it and accept it. I choose to be that way. My jeans aren't skinny, my jacket isn't leather, the vans I'm wearing have holes in them, and my hair is always up. I would rather wear a t-shirt and an under-30$ pair of jeans then anything else in my wardrobe. I own a Kelty bag rather than a Coach purse. For those of you who are fashionable, more power to you. I am not dissing you, but merely giving examples of how I don't fit into the trendy category. So with this in mind, I proceed....

The French (especially the Parisians) put an incredible amount of emphasis on appearance. Men, women, boys, girls, grandparents-- I rarely see anyone on the street who is not well put together. Paris also happens to be one of the fashion capitals of the world- awesome for me, right? I still get pretty uncomfortable going into nice stores and looking around because I can tell that the works don't approve of my attire. But I've decided to take the following attitude: I will never dress like the Parisians. But I can still appreciate the beauty of the clothing they wear. I can appreciate fashion even though I don't choose to wear it. So dress as you will Parisians! I just wish you wouldn't scoff at the way I do.

Onto a different topic: yesterday Nannick took my roommates and me on an outing into the country side. We all piled into her little Peugeot (it feels weird to ride in a car after riding the metro all the time) and headed towards north-east for about 70 kilometers (I wish I could remember the name of the place!). We saw some cool churches, one built right into the side of the mountain, and a castle from the 11th century. To top things off, Nannick packed a picnic which we ate on the edge of the Seine. Life is pretty h-ing great.

First off: I can't believe the Yankees decided to go back to their winning ways when I was out of the country! That was just inconsiderate. But way to go Yanks!!! At least I'll have some college football to look forward to when I get back.

Thanks to the striking of 3 transportation unions, I will not be able to go to class tomorrow. Their protesting is going to affect the trains into Paris. At least they were considerate enough to warn us about it! But how could I live in Paris without being affected by a strike? As their history shows, the French take great pride in their right to voice their opinions. And if the government is going to be as centralized as the French government is, they better have a way for their citizens to let out their emotions unless they want another 1789, 1830, AND 1848 on their hands. I can't complain about not being able to get into Paris tomorrow... we were supposed to have a test. :)

I am scheduled to go home one month from yesterday. December 7th. I feel like I am finally getting the hang of this whole living in Europe thing. Maybe I'll just have to move back here sometime. Perhaps not Paris, but France certainly. I can honestly say I love Europe. I can't wait to come back and discover more. But what am I saying? I've still got a month here and adventures are waiting. This week's adventure: Switzerland. Did anyone else just start singing the Sound of Music? (I know that takes place in Austria, but the whole Alps thing...) We're going to spend a few days in Bern. It should be pretty h-ing fantastic.

Here are some pictures from the week. Hope you enjoy.

Sacre Coeur

View from Montmartre

It has been great living in a place with a real, discernible autumnal season.


Sara, Kylie, and I found a teeter-totter.


Sunset.

Belgium Pics

As promised....

Where are you from?

Today in class we were talking about regionalism in France-- a very interesting topic of conversation. The discussion evolved into regionalism in the United States and why people identify with certain places. I made the comment that while I was born in and spent a mere 3 years of my life in Texas, I feel a greater connection to that state then I do to Utah. I say I "grew up" in Utah, not that I am "from" Utah. I also identify heavily with Pennsylvania because of the many summers I have spent there and the fantastic memories I have at my grandparents farm, located in western PA. My friend Sara leaned over to me and suggested the next time someone asks "Where are you from?" I respond with this:

"I was born in Texas, grew up in Utah, but am FROM Pennsylvania because my grandparents have a kick-ass farm there."

Amen.

Metro Moment #2

This happened last week, but I thought I should still blog about it. So I'm sitting in the metro with my ipod in like normal, just minding my own business, when a very attractive man sits across from me. He's got dark features, a little bit of scruff, and great eyes. He is dressed very well, like most of the men in Paris, but he certainly looks like a man's man. I see him put his ipod in, but was very surprised to hear what was coming out of his headphones. Let me remind you that I heard this over the music that I was listening to, so he was playing it very loudly. I recognized the beat the minute I heard it... and here are the lyrics:

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A man after midnight!
Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day

Yes, that's right. ABBA. But lets be serious-- who isn't fond of a little ABBA once in a while, right?

Belgium Anyone?

I was planning on going to Switzerland this past weekend but when the train tickets ended up being more expensive, we decided on Friday to go to Belgium on Saturday and Sunday. Call Emma, Kylie, Sara, and me spontaneity. We had no ticket reservations, no hostel reservations, but decided to see how far we could get on desire to go to Belgium. It turns out you can make it pretty far-- to Bruges and Brussels, in fact. All I have to say is we are pretty damn lucky. Case(s) in point:

1. We got to Gare du Nord at 7 AM on Friday to try and get on a train. The first man we talked to said the earliest we would be able to leave is 3:30 PM. No bueno. We decided to talk to another lady who just happened to be one of the few nice people in Paris (exaggeration... sort of) and she found us a train out of a different station at 10. We would get to Bruges at 1:30. Parfait. But the ONLY way we would have known that a train was leaving at that time and there happened to be four open seats is because we talked to this specific lady. Emilie was her name. I will forever remember her for making it possible for us to go to Belgium.

2. We rolled into Brussels at 12:03 and our connection to Bruges left at 12:05. The train to Bruges just happened to be about 5 minutes late, so we made our connection.

3. We had no plan of a place to stay but figured we would just be able to find something. The first hostel we went to said they were all full, and most of the others would be full too. BUT, the nice hostel man directed us to Charley Rocket's bar/hostel and said they would probably have spots. They did. We slept well after an exhausting day of discovering Bruges. What a great town.

4. After a LOVELY time in Bruges, we headed to Brussels around noon on Sunday. Our first order of business was to try and get a train home that night. When we first approached the worker and told him our situation, he said the earliest we would be able to get back would be the next day. NOT good. After trying two other searches with no luck, I was getting ready to ask him if he knew of any hostels in Brussels to stay in. BUT, it just so happened that there were spots on a train leaving later at night going to CDG instead of Gare du Nord that were available. He even said we were incredibly lucky to get them. So now I'm home, back in Le Vesinet, with a great trip to Belgium under my belt.

And really, how could a trip not be good when belgian chocolate, frites, belgian waffles, moules, medieval town, and great friends are invovled? I submit it can not. I'm tired... it's time for bed. I will post pictures later. All I have to say is 3 cheers for spontaneous trips to Belgium!

Yes PLEASE.

Along with one of the greatest scenes in the history of film:

Thank you Aretha!

Metro Moment

I think pretty highly of the Paris Metro/Train system. Even though it's not very clean and generally smells disgusting, it is overall very reliable and on time. Today, however, the train that goes from my stop into the city was 30 minutes late. Consequently, there were a lot of people on the train. As we stopped at a station closer to the city, the conductor of our train came over the loud speaker and told us that the train across the platform would be leaving before ours. So naturally, quite a few people in a hurry ran over to that train in order to get into Paris faster. I didn't really have anywhere to go, so I just stayed put rather than put up with being shoved around. Not 30 seconds after about 25% of the people emptied out, the same conductor came onto the loud speaker once again and said that actually OUR train would be leaving first. All the riders on our train burst into laughter as many of the people who left came running back. For the first time, I felt kind of a connection with the people on the train. Even though the French are generally pretty expressionless in public, they do know when to laugh, and I laughed right along with them. I also learned that sometimes it is just good to stay where you are.

Normandy

Yesterday a group of us, seven in all, headed up to the region of Normandy, specifically to Bayeux and to see the American Military Cemetery and Omaha Beach. The train left at 7 AM from Paris, so I had to get up at 5 in order to catch it. I can't say I've missed that time of day. After arriving in Bayeux around 9:30, we found out the bus to the cemetery didn't come until 12:00. Luckily Bayeux provided some things to do. The town is pretty small and quite picturesque, especially the old part of the village. There is a cathedral there dating back to the 11th century as well as the Bayeux Tapestry dating from the same time. The tapestry was fascinating! I didn't really know much about it, but thankfully another girl in our group did gave us a little history lesson before going to see it.

After grabbing lunch we headed to the Cemetery. Immediately after stepping off the bus, you could feel something different there. Almost a sacredness. The visitor's center was great-- not too big, but still gave a lot of information. The cemetery was beautiful, and Omaha Beach was fantastic. Not in the way that Disneyland is fantastic, but in a way that makes you think and reflect. I thought a lot about my grandpa who served in WWII. Even though he didn't participate in the D-day invasion, to me he still represents the same values of courage, honor, and love of country that those men buried in the cemetery do. If you ever get the chance to go to this place, TAKE IT!

Lazy (er) day.

Paris mode is so exhausting. Every day it is constant movement, constant stress about trains, making sure your wallet doesn't get stolen, avoiding the people who come up to you and ask for money... Some people thrive on that movement. My professor and director of this program is one of those people. Last week in class he said this in reference to the great outdoors: "The more cement the better." He also described how he is lulled to sleep by the sirens, rumbling metro, car horns, and yelling in the city streets. What?! No thank you. I would much rather be lulled to sleep by the sound of a river or the crickets outside. But hey, everyone has their own preferences.

Anyway, I digress. Today I decided to not spend my time in the city. I decided to relax here in Le Vesinet. I did have to go into Paris to check on train tickets to Normandy tomorrow, but other than that, I had a lovely day. The sun came out today and it was beautiful. I went on a run in it and was actually HOT. I haven't been hot in a while. I love the sun...After my run, I proceeded to shower, do my laundry, clean my room, and do some homework while watching rugby on TV. Fantastic. Just what I needed.

I always thought that I would want to live for just a year in a big city like New York or Boston. After 6 weeks in and around Paris, I am reconsidering those thoughts. I think I am much more inclined towards a calmer, more peaceful existence. Like an existence with 15 acres and a dog.

Once upon a time...

I went to Ireland. And once upon a time it was the highlight of my trip to Europe so far. Festivities included:

• 1: exquisite bike ride around the Dingle Peninsula. 30 miles later my butt was sore, but the rest of me couldn't have been happier.
• 1: ride in the trunk of the hostel manager's VW Golf to get us to the drop-off point at the top of a mountain.
• 1: hike with Emma up the ridge and down the face of aforementioned mountain through marsh, bog, sheep dung, and farmers' fields.
  
• 6: different buses that got us where we wanted to go and back. (airport to limerick, limerick to tralee, tralee to dingle. repeat in reverse order) I can't really complain, however. The countryside was breathtaking.
  
• 2: packs of Fruit Pastilles (thanks for the suggestion Whit. Delicious)
• Countless number of cookies/chocolates
• 3: different fantastic hostels. 1 above a pub, 1 with a kitchen and lovely sitting room, and 1 B&B run by a great old Irish lady who was hard of hearing and liked to pinch your cheek like a grandma.
• Hundreds of SHEEPIES!!!!
• A few shepherds, all with great dogs. Which I wanted.
• 0: times I was required to put on my raincoat. (Incredible, right?)
  
• 4: fantastic days with 5 friends spent in one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.
  

I am now back in Paris and kind of depressed about it. I know, I'm spoiled. Depressed about being in Paris? How is that possible? Now you know that Ireland was just that great. Here are some pictures. They don't even come close to conveying the beauty of it. There is no possible way to capture it.

Luck o' the Irish

Tomorrow I head to Ireland. While I still am disappointed about not being able to Germany, I have a feeling that Ireland will be a great replacement trip. I mean really, I can't really complain much, can I? Ireland or Germany? Is there really a bad option here? I am excited to go to a new place. Thankfully someone with whom I am going has been there before so she can give us the lay of the land. We're planning a bike ride on Friday along the coast. And hopefully watching some rugby in some pubs. I really want to find a shepherd with his sheepdog right next to him, herding his sheep on his farm that had stone fences. And I want to find a leprechaun, of course. I'll let you know how successful my plans are. I think I am the most excited about getting out of a really big city. Paris is great, London was wonderful, but it's time to see some countryside-- which I much prefer anyway. Should be a blast!

This is where I'm going.... Dingle, Ireland

Not too h-ing shabby.

Ups and Downs

but usually more ups than downs. It has been raining the past week or so and been very cloudy, but today was absolutely beautiful here in Le Vesinet. I just returned from a little grocery shopping run and instead of going to the store that is a 5 minute walk, I went to one a little further away--almost 2 miles away--so I could enjoy the evening. Don't worry, I didn't go alone. I had Bob, Gillian, Amos, and Damian come along for the ride. (That of course means Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, Amos Lee, and Damian Rice.) I am so glad that I live in Le Vesinet rather than the city. Someone knew what they were doing when they assigned me to live here. There is grass-- grass you can actually walk on. And run on. And there are ducks. I love ducks. Le Vesinet = a definite up.

I bought train tickets a few days ago to go to Germany. My parents were supposed to visit some family friends and I was going to meet them there and stay next Wednesday through Sunday. Well, someone failed to mention to them that you can't travel to Germany if your passport expires within then next 3 months. Which they do. So... I have train tickets to Germany, but no parents to meet. Very VERY sad day. I can't decide if I should still go or if I should get my tickets refunded. Germany tickets = up. Parents not there = down.

I have been sick the past few days. I am feeling much better today, but two days ago I was miserable. No, not swine flue. Simply a cold. I've been drinking lots of tea. Thank the heavens for tea. And I finally felt good enough to go running today for the first time since Monday. Being sick = definite down.

Study abroad in Paris is lonely. I knew this when I signed up for it. I'm pretty okay with being alone. It has its benefits, certainly. But people are great too. Being alone = up and down.

Here's a link to my photo essay this week: Photo Essay The theme was either storefronts or jobs, and I chose storefronts. Our professor wanted us to get creative for the essay portion of this week's post, so I chose to use the names of the stores to make the text of my essay. The text is just one sentence: "La joie de vivre et beaux livres sont la cle au bonheur du jour." For those non-French speakers out there, here's a translation: "The joie de vivre and beatufiul books are the key to daily happiness." I like this essay. I hope my professor does too.

London Town

The past week spent in London was really fantastic. I feel much more of a connection to England, and the UK in general. Maybe it's because it's the place of my ancestors or because the Tube smells way better than the metro. Maybe it's because I HEART all the dogs in Hyde Park and I don't feel so weird running around the streets because everyone else is doing it too. Maybe it's because I love the bagpipes and people play them outside the Tube. Maybe it's because I can understand more of what is coming out of people's mouths.... But whatever the reason, London is great. I didn't do everything that I wanted to. 5 days really was just not enough. But I wet my UK palette so a return trip will definitely be in order someday.

Some highlights:

• Borough Market: Um... incredible. I can't really put it into words. and the veggie burger I had there was other-worldly. Who knew you could say that about a veggie burger? You're just going to have to take my word for it.
• Temple Church: built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar. What isn't cool about that? And less touristy than the other famous churches in London.
• The National Gallery: just enough art in a museum so that you get your fill but don't get overwhelmed like at the Louvre and British Museum. And the building itself is gorgeous.
  
• The ethnic foods. Indian food especially.
• Running in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park. Makes me want to acquire a dog.
• Theater: Between Wicked, Les Mis, and As You Like It at the Globe, I saw some really fantastic productions.
• Free concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
  
• Celebrating my b-diddy in London.

There's just a quick review. Enjoy the pictures.

Things I learned this week....

1) Don't trust the automatic ticket machines at the train station. Talk to a person. We were supposed to go to Monet's House on Thursday but didn't because the machine said that the train left too late for it to be worth our while... Liars. There was a train that left when we thought it did. A group of people went the next day, but I needed to do homework :( I will return though.

2) The Jardiin du Luxembourg is probably my favorite place in Paris so far. I spent all of Friday there doing homework and basking in the incredible weather.

3) The Chateau at Versailles is huge. Enormous. Opulent. Grandiose. And very very gold.

4) Louis XIV had one hell of an ego.

5) Marie Antoinette's little village was SWEET! Better than the chateau. Kinda creepy though. It felt like I was in some sort of blownup play-land. But the animals were fantastic. (Sorry I don't have pictures. My camera died right after we went through the chateau. I will post some when I get the pictures from my friend.)

6) Stake institute dances in France are pretty much the same as in the United States, but with a little bit more techno in the playlist. Thankfully the initial awkwardness in the room that started out the evening left by the end. For a minute there, I was taken back to the memories of youth stake dances where all the girls stand in one group in one corner and the group of boys in the other. I almost ran away... but stayed. It was pretty fun.

7) Sitting in a the Jardin des Tuileries with friends and a baguette is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I am heading to London tomorrow for the week. I am really excited. And it's my birthday on Friday. I hope it to be a very memorable day.

And now for a slide show of Versailles....

happenings

I've been in France now for a week and half now. I have to say, it has been one of the shortest/longest weeks of my life. It seems like the days go by quickly but the week seemed to be never ending!!!! Bad news though: the different voltage fried my camera charger. Good news: another girl in my program has a charger that works with my battery so more pictures will be coming soon. Some of the highlights of the past week include:

1) Getting lost in Paris... for an assignment.
2) Walking into a random church during mass. I sat down for about 45 minutes and right before I left, I got to hear the organ.
3) Stake conference this past Sunday in Versailles.
4) Taking a nap in the gardens of Versailles after stake conference.
5) Visiting the Jardin du Luxembourg and watching old men play Petanque (boules).
6) People watching
7) Speaking with my homestay, Nanique. She is a 70 year old bombshell.

On the docket for this week:
1) Trip to Normandy
2) Doing another themed walk around Paris
3) Class
4) Researching things to do in London when we head there next week.
5) A little homework should be done, I suppose.

And here are some pictures before my charger broke.

Arche de Triomphe from Place de la Concorde

View from l'Eglise de la Madeleine

Cluny

Chateau de St. Germain.

Eglise St. Severin