8 posts tagged “paris”
Okkkkayy, as my friends probably know by now...I'm just not very good at taking photos when I go on trips, or just in general. I do go places, and I do see things, but I have no proof (other than the amazing souvenirs that I've got stored in my memory!). (click the link to see photos from Strasbourg's Winter Market that I went to...from someone that actually manages to photograph things..: http://bonjourfeuilles.vox.com/library/post/marches-de-noel-a-strasbourg-12807.html )
But anyway, for 2008, I'm going to try to improve that. I've been keeping my camera on me more often than not, and I will try to 'capture the moment' a bit more often. I don't have anything planned for January, besides taking my exams, so this month might be a bit light. But, don't despair, lots of adventures are planned for February, and I plan to photo-log it all!! (haha, we'll see..).
In any case, it's time to post some of the random photos left over from 2007.
Ahhh...Thanksgiving. We had a massive 18 pound turkey..and it was divine. My first turkey, guys!
Sooo, that's all I've got for now. Looking through all of my photos was nice, and I really did have a great year. If 2008 is any better, I can only consider myself very lucky. Much love from Paris to all of my friends out there :-)
I've had the bug to get out of Paris for a while now. So, in order to calm the itch a bit (and before act irrationally...and quit my job, drop out of school, and start an around-the-world adventure..), I've decided to take a few months this summer and travel through spain and north africa. I'm young.. why not ?? :-)
So, no more wild spending..all of my savings are going towards that. I'm still in stage 1 of planning, so we'll see if I can save enough money to actually make it to Africa.
As of right now, I'd like to start in Barcelona, go down the eastern coast of Spain, and finish somewhere around Morocco..then fly back to Paris from there. In any case, I'll keep you posted.
Though the forecast is cloudy and rainy for the next few weeks, I have decided that I will not buy a metro pass for the month of December (save about 75 dollars in the process) and exclusively use my bike. So far, so good ! Today was the first day that I actually had to ride in the rain, and I must say...it was actually nice. I rode along the Seine, because I had a few stops to make before I went home....nothing like being in Paris...for every season of the year.
Anyway, I'm going to my Synagogue's "Hannukka Party" this coming Saturday, so I wanted to pick up a few supplies in the Marais. The first item was this lovely challah from my favorite bakery in Paris (for me to eat..has nothing to do with this saturday...this Party is an excuse for everything!!).
It was just too delicious-looking and I devoured a big part of the top of it before I took the picture...but mmmm...is it good :-)
The second thing I got was a delicious almond cake, that I'm going to share at work tomorrow. I usually get the same two things from this bakery...and they're equally as delightful each time.
Synagogue:
Bakery:
Murciano-Benguigui Boulangerie Patisserie
14-16, rue des Rosiers
Paris 75004
tel.: 01 48 87 48 88
Jew Shop:
http://www.diasporama.com/
Diasporama
20, rue des Rosiers
Paris 75004
tel.: 01 42 78 30 50
You haven't lived until you've experienced a nation-wide transit strike, and got to ride your bike down the Champs-Elysees/Etoile (Aka, the most dangerous roundabout in the world...) in the middle of the road.
This morning was an experience, to say the least. I'll try to get pictures on my way home :-)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/17/french.strikes/index.html
I've decided that it's time to start taking advantage of life here in Paris. I've spent too many days/evenings in my apartment, and not enough time out enjoying things. Granted, I don't like to walk, and I detest the cold...but I know in the end, it's worth it.
So, I'm starting small (if you can call enjoying the beauty of Paris on a typical french tuesday afternoon "small"..), and I'm going to start exploring my neighborhood. I actually live in a pretty cool area, and I'm excited to go check out some of the things that it has to offer. The 2nd arrondissement, my quartier, is a fairly lively district.
No, I'm not right next door to the Eiffel Tower, nor am I in the rich 17th. But I do have an eclectic mix of shops, cafes, textile stores, the Stock Exchange, passages, theatres, museums, and monuments. I'm a few steps from Place de la republique, a few steps from the Louvre, and a few steps (too few steps, perhaps..) of the district which offers up members of the "world's oldest profession."
So, in a few hours, I'm setting out to discover something. What, I'm not quite sure yet... but I'll be sure to post back with photos. :-)
(I love Paris)
All is well in Paris (and aux Mureaux, for the most part). I worked all day Thursday, all day Friday, and today (Saturday) until noon. So, between lesson planning, commuting, and teaching, I haven't had much time to do anything else. It's a bit weird because when I first arrived, going to the university was the most exciting part of my week, but now, it's definitely the other way around. Well, not entirely. University is certainly a challenge, both intellectually and linguistically. But teaching is completely different. I must say, everyone that's told me that I should be a teacher in the past....I think you were right :-)
Here's a picture of Christina and me at our new favorite local Irish pub:
It has now been around a week since I've returned to Paris, following a fabulous 10-day sejour in Okemos with Levi. It's hard to believe that it's already been several months since we decided that we were going to take on this massive adventure. I'm quite pleased to say that it's going well so far, on every level. Well, I should say, it's going as expected. I really miss home (and everything that goes along with being home), and I'm finding it a bit challenging to balance the fact that I know I'm doing is the right thing to do with the fact that I wish I could either A) do these same things in the US or B) Have everyone that I love here in Paris.
Being home definitely was a much-need break from the general chaos/disorder that is my life in Paris. Luckily, things have settled down a bit. I now have a stable/safe/clean (and Small!!) place to live, Duke the Dog has settled into the apartment nicely, and I'm getting used to my new neighborhood.
My university experience is unlike anything I had really imagined. Here is a photo of my school:
I don't really know if it's because it's a new subject for me, or because it's in a foreign language, but I feel like I'm learning more than I ever have before. My class assignments are thought provoking, but not in the way that I'm used to. What that means, of course, is that I spend a ridiculous amount of time on my homework, and the rest of the time is spent on planning lessons for the classes I teach.
Speaking of which..... they're going extremely well. I say this, however, having just finished my first week of teaching. I'm teaching in Les Mureaux, which is about an hour journey from my apartment to my school.
Background on the town that I’m teaching in: Whenever I mention to someone where I work, they give the “Oh, that’s too bad..” look. After a deeper look into the situation, I have realized that there is some merit to these responses, but for the most part, this is just another poor area that just happens to be heavily populated with (mostly) African immigrants. People: I’m teaching 8-year olds! The sad thing: some of the reasons that the social problems exist in this town are so *ridiculously* obvious, that the shocking part is that nothing is done to change them. For example, I was explaining to the principal of one of the schools where I teach that the students seemed particularly motivated to learn English, and they were quite well behaved. It was almost as if she hadn’t heard the fact that I was actually praising the students, and she followed my statements with “Well, I’m sure at the next school, things will be better.” How can these kids ever expect anything of themselves when the people that should be there to encourage them, don’t seem to have any faith in them? Point of this story: Veronica is out to change the world by teaching English, starting with one little French town at a time.
Well, the point of this post was *really* to post-pone finishing a paper that I’ve been working on, so, I better get back to that. I hope to take some pictures of Les Mureaux when I go back to work next week…
