Life always seems better after a dance party

Just finished an hour long dance party to GirlTalk and couldn't be better! Do you ever have one of those days when nothing goes the way you want or expect it to go? Well, that was my day yesterday and part of my day today. Yesterday, I walked into the city (a whopping 6 miles) so I could check out a shoe store that specializes in people with ginormous feet like mine. Paris is a shoe capital with really inexpensive funky shoes but finding shoes in my size is like a treasure hunt. I was really excited to find out about a store in the city that carries my size since I wanted to pick up a pair of boots (every woman and child here has a stylish pair) and shoes that are comfortable to walk in.

I arrived at the first location of the store, Sagone, but their selection wasn't very big. They told me to check out their other store which was about a mile away so onward I went with the hunt for fabulous French footwear. The second store had a huge selection and I found great boots but decided not to get them - I couldn't really justify spending 95 euros on boots that weren't even leather. However, I did find a funky pair of Mary Jane's with a comfortable heel that I was ready to buy, until they told me they only had the one shoe I had tried on for size. Apparently, someone stole the right foot of the shoe from their store and I was out of luck. Needless to say, I was disappointed about making the trek only to go home empty handed.

Who steals one shoe?

When I got home I thought, OK, I didn't end up with awesome shoes today but at least I'm going out dancing tonight with Laura. Not so much. The place we were going to samba dance had advertised the times of the event incorrectly and instead of starting at 8:30 like we thought, the dancing didn't start until 10:30. Laura and I just went to a bar down the street to catch up and discussed dating in France (never a dull topic), careers (she's looking for a new one) and money (my loans finally got approved!) We made our way back to the samba place at 10:30 only to find out that some of nights events had been canceled. The dance teacher was stuck where she was because of the impending transportation strike. The strike was supposed to start today, but apparently, it started early. Laura and I decided it was better to make sure we made it home than stay out. Luckily, we didn't have any problems getting home.

The fun continued this afternoon when I went to the library and was reading while charging by computer battery when the girl at my table accidentally kicked the outlet and broke my converter. I was thinking to myself...Are you serious?

When I called my mom to recount everything , she said I was sending out negative energy which was why things kept happening. I decided to have a dance party to "change my energy." Nothing beats jamming to GirlTalk in your Parisian apartment and doing dance moves that you wouldn't dare showcase to the public ;)

The bedroom - my bed that sleeps 1.5 people

Bedroom window - so much natural light

Desk/Armoir

Finally...an update

It's been way to long since I posted and life in Paris is starting to get interesting...

A lot of people have been asking me about the inauguration and how I celebrated as well as what the reaction of people here was. Well...It was Amazing! Almost every anglophone bar/library/church/etc. was showing the inauguration live. The first place I tried to watch it was an American bar called Harry’s. I got there about an hour before the inauguration started and the bar was so full that they stopped letting people in. There were a ton of us standing outside and everyone started to discuss where they would go to watch the inauguration now that they couldn’t get in to Harry’s. I felt kind of bad for the people who had friends inside that they couldn’t get to. 

Anyways...I turned around and saw a Belgian bar that had huge television broadcasting the inauguration - jackpot. The bar was packed with Americans, English speakers and French people. We were all shouting and clapping and celebrating the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. People were screaming and shouting and celebrating in the street and there were reporters and journalists taking pictures and doing interviews- it was kind of crazy! It was amazing to be with Americans celebrating abroad and also to see how enthusiastic the French and everyone else were and are about our new President.

"Captain America" - A Parisian headline on inauguration day 

Obama cookies Courtney sent me in my birthday package - So fun! 

I’m incredibly grateful to have met people in Paris who have kept my life interesting and occupied while I wait for classes to start. Laura is an American I met on inauguration day who recently moved to Paris after living in Milan for two years. We have an amazing amount of stuff(I hate to use that word, but it works) in common such as a ridiculous and insatiable passion for good food, dancing and music. Both of us are also vegetarians and very familiar with the fabulous falafel at L’As de Falafel - we made our way there shortly after the inauguration. Last Friday, we went to an energetic North African concert at a bar/restaurant/lounge called Le French Kwa.  They have free musical performances all the time and the ambience is very chaleureux as the French would say. We’re going Samba dancing tomorrow and salsa dancing this weekend - can’t wait! I figure I better take full advantage of my free time while I’m not in school. 

I’ve also met two French women with whom(that sounds so proper) I’m doing a French/English exchange. Anne-Hélène is very artsy, works in communication and speaks very well already. She wants someone to speak with so she doesn’t lose her English which I totally understand; I don’t want to lose my French. Anita is a television presenter who wants to break into movies. She’s super cute, funny and wants to improve her English for her job - she’s looking at working for a more prominent television channel which requires her to do interviews in English. 

I’m getting kind of nervous about classes starting because I have no idea what to expect. Some of my classmates are coming in with previous pastry experience which makes me even more nervous. The one thing I do have going for me is that I already speak French. We’re not required to speak French when we start, but seeing that our exams are in French and we’ll be working with other French students in our school restaurant and French chefs when we do our internships, it definitely becomes an advantage if not a necessity. Only 12 more days until a fabulous year of French pastry! 

* By the way...finally posted pictures from my birthday on my first post - Thanks Amanda!

My camera went in for repair right before I left the US (perfect timing) but we're going to be reunited this weekend and I'll have tons of pictures to post. 

Excited about the inauguration

Tomorrow is the inauguration of President Barack Obama and I can't wait! This election has been a long time in the making and seems kind of surreal to me. It would be amazing to be in the US to feel the excitement and see the inauguration live, but I will be watching every moment in Paris. Almost every English speaking bar/establishment in Paris is showing the inauguration live tomorrow and I'll be finding my way to one of them to join in the festivities. It's crazy to think that Barack Obama has had such a worldwide effect that people everywhere are tuning in to see him become the 44th President of the United States. It's going to be a fabulous day...more details to come

It doesn't take me 40 minutes to open my door anymore!

When I first arrived at my apartment, it took the woman I'm renting it from, S., 1 hour to open the door. In the time it took her to open the door, I dragged all four of my 50-70 pound suitcases up to my "fifth" floor apartment. *A little note about French buildings...Older buildings don't have elevators and the French consider the ground floor as floor zero (rez de chaussée), not the first floor. So, technically, I live on the 6th floor with no elevator - very French. My legs better be in the best shape ever after this year!

So, I manage to lug all of my suitcases up to the "5th" floor and S. still hasn't gotten the door open. That might have something to do with the fact that the door has 4 locks, a different key for every lock, and a certain series of steps to open each lock. Welcome to France, land of the simple. Eventually, she gets the door open and informs me that I should practice locking and unlocking the door before I decide to leave so I don't get locked out. I'm thinking to myself, "Are you serious? I have to practice to get into my own apartment?" Well, I guess I should have practiced more because each time I left, it took me 40 minutes to get back in...not acceptable.

The lock problem solved itself unconventionally on Saturday...The key got stuck in the lock that was causing me the most problems. The neighbor came over and removed part of the lock so that I wouldn't get locked out...Woohoo! I did a little dance; I could finally get into my apartment in 30 seconds instead of 40 minutes.

S. wasn't too thrilled about me getting the key stuck because locksmiths charge a small fortune in France. Luckily, she removed the lock, took it home, fixed it and brought it back last night. Honestly, I'm glad the key got stuck. Now, the lock opens easily and it doesn't take forever to unlock the door. Maybe all of the practicing S. made me do before she left last night actually helped ;)

Always wanted to hold the Eiffel Tower in the palm of my hand ;)

Amanda and I on top of the Tour Montparnasse

The start of my adventure...

Wow! It's been a whirlwind of craziness since I landed in Paris on January 9th. Thankfully, I arrived with all 4 of my bags (traveling light is not in my vocabulary) and was whisked away to my apartment in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a southwest suburb of Paris. The apartment is just what I was looking for and I can't believe I found it on craigslist! I even have a pull out couch for guests so if you're ever in the neighborhood, you have a place to stay, fresh pastry included. 

I celebrated my 26th birthday exploring Paris and eating amazing food with my friend Amanda (she was an English assistant with me in Nantes). We started off at L'As du Falafel, (32, rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris) where you can eat the best falafel in the world - even Lenny Kravitz agrees. For dessert, we went across the street to La Boutique Jaune de Sacha Finkelsztajn (27, rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris) and Amanda had amazing cheesecake. In the US, you can find cheesecake almost everywhere, in France, not so much. When you mention "gâteau du fromage," people look at you like you're crazy. 

Amanda's first falafel from L'As du Falafel 

My tomato, onion, and goat cheese galette

Our third and most exciting stop of the day was Pierre Hermé (72, rue Bonaparte) - a gourmet chocolate and pastry shop in the very chic 6th arrondissement. Amanda had an Ispahan - fresh raspberries and rose cream suspended between two rose flavored macarons. I had the Pléntitude - a chocolate macaron topped with dark chocolate mousse and ganache, pieces of dark chocolate made with sea salt and caramel - best birthday cake of my life! 

Best birthday cake EVER

Amanda and her Ispahan 

Pierre Herme birthday treats - Plentitude and Ispahan 

Our last stop of the night was a Breton crêperie. I've been craving real galettes and crêpes for months and finally had my favorite, a crêpe with salted caramel sauce..absolutely delicious! It was a fabulous birthday and I'm so glad I was able to celebrate it with Amanda, especially since she's moving back to the States after being in France for 5 years. 

The dining area 

The kitchen corner 

The living room

My apartment building. Guess what's on the first floor...McDonalds!