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.