Hmm, I’m pretty sure Isabelle’s lover just left. The hall smells of smoke. Ok, I don’t really know if it’s her lover, but all of the sudden during dinner she got a phone call that he was paying a visit, so she quickly got herself ready and told me he was just dropping by for a minute and wasn’t staying long at all. I got the feeling though that she wasn’t going to introduce me, so I went into my room. Once he came, I went to the café next door to do homework. I came back at 930, and was greeted by the smell of tobacco. It wasn’t too bad, I don’t know if it was just him smoking or what, cause that was the first time it smelled. Anyway, my room smells fine. He just left though (1130), and they were just in her room the whole time. But to be fair, there is nowhere else to go but the kitchen. Amusing.
So, on Sunday I came back to the apartment and tried to open the door. Although I had the code to the building, I couldn’t open it. I could tell it was correct because it would make the unlock noise but I’d tug and tug as hard as I could on both doors and neither would budge. It was during the day so I didn’t freak out too much, but still! Finally a man came up to me and told me to push the door inward. Smart Katie. But they look like you have to pull them! Anyway, to recap Fete de la Musique, a group of around 6 of us met at the park and just perused different artists. They are playing at nearly every street corner, but none interested us too much. (Interjection: I think this might be a sleepover, he’s still here!) So it was nice to do something, but the event itself wasn’t too special. I came back at 1130, and got the door open, but didn’t know where the hall light was so I felt my way up three flights of stairs, gripping the skeleton key for dear life that no one was lurking in the corner. Reset my alarm from 1030 am to what you would think was 715 am…
Woke up Monday morning and looked at my watch. 858. Class starts at 9. I’m no rocket scientist, but I’m fairly certain that is something to fear. I was in shock for about 10 seconds, immovable, and then I went to it. Contacts, brush teeth, throw clothes on, grab backpack. Out the door in 3 minutes, a new PR to be sure (usually takes me an hour to get ready). Ran to the tram (luckily close), luckily came right away, but it still takes a few minutes to get over there. Luckily Isabelle had told me which tram to take and which stop to get off (Thanks, CUEF for giving us that info….), and luckily I remembered it without writing it down. Got into the building at 930, half hour late. They never told us our room number, so I was stuck. I then ran into Mike, who was also a few minutes late. We wandered around, listening at classroom doors, unsuccessfully. We went to the cafeteria and I asked for a public telephone. We got there, and luckily Mike had his calling card with him, and I had the profs’ phone numbers. It took us about 10 dials to get it right, and when we did, we got their voicemails. That really helps, huh? Anyway, that’s when Alex (different than earlier) ran into us. She had been on time, but didn’t know where to go. So the three of us, an hour later, “found” the group in the lobby. The other prof was really nice about it, but our prof wasn’t. Too bad it’s her opinion that counts—she’s pretty strict, and not necessarily mean but I don’t think I like her. I’m not totally outraged that she included the first day as being tardy, but I thought it was a little ridiculous. Anyway, we were just in time for the scavenger hunt, which I guess was a little helpful in finding where some things were (however, Isabelle, who used to work for CUEF, said she used to run it and it was much more helpful). Then we came back, only to be dismissed….
Four of us went to the Creperie which is a block away from my place. Good stuff! Although Mike gave away our American-ness, so the waiter spoke English the whole time. Oh well. We then went to Monoprix and I bought a notebook so that Julie (prof) wouldn’t think I was out of my mind for not having paper the first day. Je m’excuse. Then went to buy an alarm at Galleries Lafayette (huge French chain). I asked for them, and we followed where he pointed, which was leading toward lingerie? I was like, “Did I ask for this?!?!”. But alas, they were just before the lingerie. Anyway, Mike and I were then offered extra alarms by the other two with us, so we didn’t buy them.
Sidenote: I seem to be the one in many public places asking for directions, etc. I kind of like it.
We then parted ways, and I grabbed my computer and went to the park for a bit. After that, came back and I had dinner with Isabelle. We (meaning I had while she watched, per usual) had noodles and olive oil, tomatoes with cheese, and some kind of boca-burger like substance? With soy sauce no bun? It was good though. We actually talked for 2 hours. She doesn’t necessarily interrupt me, but many times I try to say something, and she just keeps talking. Sometimes I have to talk over her (which I know is rude) to communicate something. Anyway, it was good conversation, about the way technology has so rapidly changed life. But I also learned about her divorce…that’s she’s somewhat depressed…that she left the city she loved to live in Grenoble with her husband and now they’re divorced… she doesn’t have much money…all things that you are taught the French are really discrete about. She’s really nice, she’s not psycho, but still. I also find that she will ask how my day was, etc., but I have to ask her the conversation topics.
Got back to my room at 9. Whoaa!!! Started homework, finished at 1230. It was in English, and really philosophical in a ‘making something out of nothing’ way that I despise. Today woke up on time woohoo! (Oh, apparently the other day my watch reset to pm when I changed the time—why would it reset to pm? Who makes a watch like that??). Got to class on time—it was looonnnggg. Four hours for one class is difficult, especially considering the dull subject matter, “Illness”. Got out, got a sandwich with Mike, Alex (I’ll call her Alex A for now), and the other other Alex (not Alex M, I’ll call her Alex B for now). –3 Alex’s and all girls!! Anyway, I ordered a café au lait, which in this case came out of a machine. The hot milk came out, and then nothing happened….I stared at it, then removed the cup, at which point the coffee dumped all over the machine. Cool. Enjoyed my sandwich and hot milk, then came back and computered in the park again. I look like a fool skyping because it basically looks like I’m talking to myself with a computer in my lap.
Got some chocolat ice cream (finally!!!) Was so good. Walked around the block with it, and there are lots of restaurants around. Got back, and did half my homework. Ate dinner (omelet and pasta), then the lover situation happened, and you know the rest….
Ok, but really I think he did leave now. Oh! And the glacial river showers I’ve been taking should be a thing of the past now because I asked Isabelle about it, and she realized she neglected to tell me that in the shower, the hot and cold knobs are reserved, so the red one means cold. Good to know.
Other things: I think my accent may be good enough to fool these French for a bit, but then I make a grammatical mistake and they correct me and know. I told Isabelle to correct me, and she has started to a little, but not often. She says I make few mistakes, and am the most fluent student (at the beginning) she’s had (out of 5-6). Alright, long enough entry, a bientot! (with inserted correct accents)
24 June 2009
22 June 2009
Soon to come...
Stay tuned for future postings of La Fete de La Musique, not being able to open my apartment door, and waking up two minutes before class starts.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Woke up at 9:30. Despite the incredibly loud group of French college kids who live across the way and blast Britney Spears, I slept like a rock. Isabelle had already left for the market, but left me a table full of breakfast foods. I had some cereal because it had oats so I figured it would be good for me, and a banana. Apparently she’s really into organic and local foods, so she has raw sugar, etc. I showered, then got ready to go to our group’s picnic in a park about 5 minutes walk from my place. Isabelle gave me the key to our place—skeleton key!!! It’s so sweet. I bought a drink from the café next door, and made my way to the park (super easy to get to). We made our introductions, and then ate lunch. I mainly talked with Alex M. and a girl named Lara. Everyone’s really nice. We spoke French for the entire lunch, but after that things sort of went downhill. We took a tram to the university, but weren’t shown inside at all. That’s where the professors left us, so a huge group of us (all but 4-5) took the tram back to the old (historic) part of downtown and sat at an outdoor café and drank some wine. Then we meandered around, and split off- I went back with some girls, it was almost time for supper for me, and I wanted to see if Isabelle had wifi, or if I could get it somewhere. Another group of around 5 went to a bar. Isabelle unfortunately does not have wifi, which is a shame because apparently most everyone in our group does. However, we have 5 hours free at the internet café NEXT DOOR. The park across the street has free wifi, and in two weeks we’ll have access to wifi at the university, so it’s not a huge deal. I went to the park just now, and connected for free, but it started to rain so I couldn’t do much. Also, I took a picture of the mountain down the street, and I’m pretty sure that a French man opened his car door and yelled at me because he thought I took the picture of him??? OOOOKKKKK. Also, apparently a lot of the other students have a ton of chocolate in their house and at meals (including breakfast), so I was kind of jealous of that. But I don’t know if the chocolate is worth the 30 minute tram ride into town.
After dinner tonight, a group of us is meeting at 9 in the park for Fete de la Musique, a free music festival. I don’t plan on being out too too late though, because our class starts at 9 tomorrow morning, so I’ll have to tram it over earlier than that.
My apartment is super tiny. Bathroom and kitchen are really small, and then there are just two bedrooms- one’s hers and the other mine. However, my room is really big, so I’m not complaining. It’s strange though how there’s no common space. Isabelle has a 20 year old daughter, Liza, but she lives with her boyfriend (or maybe just a friend? I’m not quite sure). I have her old room. Haven’t met her yet, but I probably will. Quoi d’autre, I think that’s all for now. Missing everyone!
After dinner tonight, a group of us is meeting at 9 in the park for Fete de la Musique, a free music festival. I don’t plan on being out too too late though, because our class starts at 9 tomorrow morning, so I’ll have to tram it over earlier than that.
My apartment is super tiny. Bathroom and kitchen are really small, and then there are just two bedrooms- one’s hers and the other mine. However, my room is really big, so I’m not complaining. It’s strange though how there’s no common space. Isabelle has a 20 year old daughter, Liza, but she lives with her boyfriend (or maybe just a friend? I’m not quite sure). I have her old room. Haven’t met her yet, but I probably will. Quoi d’autre, I think that’s all for now. Missing everyone!
The Tale of Friday, June 20th
Just under an hour left on my flight into Paris- Charles de Gaulle from O’Hare. I should be lucky that I’m even this far by now, considering that ORD was closed in the morning. All the same, I’m nearly certain I’ll miss my train from Gare de Lyon to Lyon and on to Grenoble. Tant pis. I’m not panicking too much over it, but I don’t know when the next train is, and would prefer not to pay for another ticket.
Leaving Chicago was delayed by 25 minutes… at first. If not for that, I would’ve arrived by now. Instead, due to storms, we did not take off until around 9:40 p.m., over 3 hours later. Moreover, 2.5 hours were spent on the grounded plane since we’d already boarded and all ground crew were ordered inside due to lightning. Oh well, I just have to remember that I’m flying through the air at 550 mph. That’s cool. People forget how cool it is.
Flight itself has been fine- served dinner and breakfast. Quite a bit of turbulence as one flight attendant was flung across the back of the plane, and she screamed while doing so, which obviously settled everyone’s nerves. I watched The Reader—steamy! Then slept quite successfully, although for a short period of time.
Feelings: I’m still not realizing what I’m doing, mainly because I’m preoccupied with getting myself there in one piece. I’m excited for after that though.
Sidenote: Bad idea to show Taken as an in-flight movie to Paris, non?
LATER IN THE DAY…
I am normally not a very lucky person, but I never would’ve imagined THIS.
So I definitely missed the train at Gare de Lyon; therefore, I decided it was useless to bus out there for an hour for a train that wasn’t there, and I had no idea when the next would be. Also, CDG has its own station. Alors, I got my luggage and took a shuttle to the terminal with the station. I had not panicked (yet). I then bought a new ticket to Grenoble. I called mom, my host, and the program director to inform them of the change, and then checked the board to see what platform to go to. Since it wasn’t there, I checked with information, where I was informed that it would appear a little closer to the departure time. (You would think that they’d put seats in view of the board, but they don’t). I then waited… and very close to my scheduled departure three things happened.
1. The train was still nowhere to be found on the boards.
2. A suspicious briefcase was noticed and the French Army forced everyone out of the station to remove it.
3. I missed the train.
Not even aware of number 3, I went to information again, where she broke the news. I started getting upset because I really feel it was never on the board, and how unlucky is a suspicious briefcase!!!
Emotions starting to well up, I proceeded to exchange my ticket for a later time—successfully, albeit 3 hours later.
In a nutshell, I went from arriving in Grenoble at 5 to arriving at 11. Not the end of the world- I’m safe and have my luggage, but definitely not desirable, especially being alone and running on little sleep.
I kept it together well enough for the exchange and second set of phone calls to my host (Isabelle) and program director, but started having trouble with mom and Tanner.
I will sleep WELL tonight.
EVEN LATER…
Have mercy!
I’m on the last leg to Grenoble- a 2 hour bus ride, which I nearly missed due to really unclear directions and a gaggle of French cheerleaders. So, the TGV (fast train) was really nice- super fast and super quiet, I just dozed off and on, paranoid of my stuff being stolen. Then it ended and I had 15 minutes to find where this “autocar” was- it was on my train ticket, so I thought it was a smaller kind of train- after all, American trains have cars? Well, it took 6 people to get me to the right place, and just in time. We got off and I had no idea where to go, so I asked a conductor, and he directed me downstairs. I then found the connections board, where Grenoble was listed, but no platform. Even though it left soon, there were others before it, so I stood there for a minute or two waiting for it to appear. When it didn’t, I asked a woman nearby (didn’t need another gare-like situation). She said something like “those with platforms aren’t autocars” and pointed me to the right. So I started walking that way, looking for a sign (none), and asked a woman working at the food counter. She directed me the opposite direction. I then passed an official-looking man so I asked him, he pointed in the same direction, but outside and then turn left. I did but didn’t see anything but some buses, and they weren’t even to the left. So I started to go back inside and stopped a random girl who pointed me back outside, toward the buses. As I walked toward them though, I passed over some sort of train/tram tracks and people were waiting there. I only had minutes to figure out which it was- the bus or the tracks. Since the buses were there I swiftly went over and asked another official-looking woman who told me I was in the right place...Halleluiah! There were tons of people clamoring to get on though, and these are open-seating, no reservations. All that was stopping me was a hoard of French cheerleaders. I managed to squeeze by some of them- at this point I was ready to get ugly if need be.
Made it on, though, and I guess I’m relieved. That was far, FAR too complicated. I can’t even imagine the students in our group with 3-4 less French classes than me figuring it all out, because I had a lot of trouble speaking to people.
p.s. I didn’t go through customs at the airport. Hopefully I won’t be thrown in jail.
Leaving Chicago was delayed by 25 minutes… at first. If not for that, I would’ve arrived by now. Instead, due to storms, we did not take off until around 9:40 p.m., over 3 hours later. Moreover, 2.5 hours were spent on the grounded plane since we’d already boarded and all ground crew were ordered inside due to lightning. Oh well, I just have to remember that I’m flying through the air at 550 mph. That’s cool. People forget how cool it is.
Flight itself has been fine- served dinner and breakfast. Quite a bit of turbulence as one flight attendant was flung across the back of the plane, and she screamed while doing so, which obviously settled everyone’s nerves. I watched The Reader—steamy! Then slept quite successfully, although for a short period of time.
Feelings: I’m still not realizing what I’m doing, mainly because I’m preoccupied with getting myself there in one piece. I’m excited for after that though.
Sidenote: Bad idea to show Taken as an in-flight movie to Paris, non?
LATER IN THE DAY…
I am normally not a very lucky person, but I never would’ve imagined THIS.
So I definitely missed the train at Gare de Lyon; therefore, I decided it was useless to bus out there for an hour for a train that wasn’t there, and I had no idea when the next would be. Also, CDG has its own station. Alors, I got my luggage and took a shuttle to the terminal with the station. I had not panicked (yet). I then bought a new ticket to Grenoble. I called mom, my host, and the program director to inform them of the change, and then checked the board to see what platform to go to. Since it wasn’t there, I checked with information, where I was informed that it would appear a little closer to the departure time. (You would think that they’d put seats in view of the board, but they don’t). I then waited… and very close to my scheduled departure three things happened.
1. The train was still nowhere to be found on the boards.
2. A suspicious briefcase was noticed and the French Army forced everyone out of the station to remove it.
3. I missed the train.
Not even aware of number 3, I went to information again, where she broke the news. I started getting upset because I really feel it was never on the board, and how unlucky is a suspicious briefcase!!!
Emotions starting to well up, I proceeded to exchange my ticket for a later time—successfully, albeit 3 hours later.
In a nutshell, I went from arriving in Grenoble at 5 to arriving at 11. Not the end of the world- I’m safe and have my luggage, but definitely not desirable, especially being alone and running on little sleep.
I kept it together well enough for the exchange and second set of phone calls to my host (Isabelle) and program director, but started having trouble with mom and Tanner.
I will sleep WELL tonight.
EVEN LATER…
Have mercy!
I’m on the last leg to Grenoble- a 2 hour bus ride, which I nearly missed due to really unclear directions and a gaggle of French cheerleaders. So, the TGV (fast train) was really nice- super fast and super quiet, I just dozed off and on, paranoid of my stuff being stolen. Then it ended and I had 15 minutes to find where this “autocar” was- it was on my train ticket, so I thought it was a smaller kind of train- after all, American trains have cars? Well, it took 6 people to get me to the right place, and just in time. We got off and I had no idea where to go, so I asked a conductor, and he directed me downstairs. I then found the connections board, where Grenoble was listed, but no platform. Even though it left soon, there were others before it, so I stood there for a minute or two waiting for it to appear. When it didn’t, I asked a woman nearby (didn’t need another gare-like situation). She said something like “those with platforms aren’t autocars” and pointed me to the right. So I started walking that way, looking for a sign (none), and asked a woman working at the food counter. She directed me the opposite direction. I then passed an official-looking man so I asked him, he pointed in the same direction, but outside and then turn left. I did but didn’t see anything but some buses, and they weren’t even to the left. So I started to go back inside and stopped a random girl who pointed me back outside, toward the buses. As I walked toward them though, I passed over some sort of train/tram tracks and people were waiting there. I only had minutes to figure out which it was- the bus or the tracks. Since the buses were there I swiftly went over and asked another official-looking woman who told me I was in the right place...Halleluiah! There were tons of people clamoring to get on though, and these are open-seating, no reservations. All that was stopping me was a hoard of French cheerleaders. I managed to squeeze by some of them- at this point I was ready to get ugly if need be.
Made it on, though, and I guess I’m relieved. That was far, FAR too complicated. I can’t even imagine the students in our group with 3-4 less French classes than me figuring it all out, because I had a lot of trouble speaking to people.
p.s. I didn’t go through customs at the airport. Hopefully I won’t be thrown in jail.
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