Thoughts of the moment

Just sitting here at a Starbucks enjoying a cup of good old 'real' 
coffee. Believe it or not, going to Starbucks is my home away from 
Paris. Starbucks Co. has done a good job at preserving the atmosphere 
even in a foreign country. Lately I have been going to Paris alone 
just to walk around, hit up a Starbucks, a nice park, or just simply to 
do nothing. I find it quite relaxing. 

It is really weird thinking about how much time has past since I arrived here in France. It is really scary actually; my time here is almost to its halfway point. What a bizarre thought. Next semester is going to be a great new 
semester of all new experiences, friends, and all that jazz. Again, 
it feels strange knowing that all of the amazing friends and people
I have met here this fall won't be here in the spring. Next semester though 
will definitely be a new one for me, one of new beginnings, continued 
pursuits of learning about Europe, and just living life in the moment. 
 

For the past I don't know how many years, my life has been about 
planning for the future, but coming abroad, I have decided, well re-
decided actually, that this year abroad is about living in the moment. 
I absolutely loved my first semester here, but I can't say I have used 
everyday to its fullest; I have to admit, some days were spent in bed, 
doing nothing in my room, instead of being out and about in the city. 
I was talking to Lauren about it and we thought about what everyone is 
trying to do here: see and experience everything Paris has to offer, 
all of it...in merely a semester. What a feat! Next semester I want 
to slow it down a bit. I've realized I might not be able to see and do 
absolutely everything in Paris, but the undiscovered wonders of this 
amazing city will, in years to come, give me so many reasons to come 
back. Imagine going to New York City or LA for an academic year... I 
really doubt I could do it all. Why do I think I can in Paris? I mean, 
I've lived in San Diego for 3 years and I still don't totally know it 
well! Haha. Just this past year I discovered new parts I never knew 
existed! I'm so optimistic I guess ;)
 

On the bright side, at least Paris feels like home now :) and every 
time I get on the metro, I just love the feeling of living the big 
city life. 

Written on my iPod Touch...please excuse any errors or the weird format ;)

Never too early for Christmas...

It isn't quite December yet, but it is already Christmas in Paris! The city has turned into a winter wonderland of lights, window displays, Christmas markets, and most of all, the great Christmas spirit that makes this time of year the best.

Today Lauren and I headed to Paris to explore the Christmas market on the Champs-Elysées. We wandered around Paris before sunset so we could enjoy the avenue at its best...at night when all the trees are lit! We went to the Starbucks to enjoy a huge cup of coffee and some munchies we brought from home in big comfy chairs inside the mall. So nice to get out of the cold and have a cup of coffee, just warms you to the core! It was quite cold today.



Come nightfall, the Paris is turned into a city decked out in Christmas lights, trees, and all that fun stuff. Wandered the Christmas markets, saw so many fun craft booths, food places (MUST go back and have these German sausage sandwiches I saw there...omg, to die for), and tons of other fun things to look at. All with the great feel of Christmas. At the end of the avenue they constructed a GIANT bright white ferris wheel, gleeming in the dark backdrop of the Jardin des Tuileries of the Louvre. So magical!



We strolled, met up with another friend, took more pictures and the best part of the Christmas markets, enjoyed a few cups of Vin Chaud, or hot mulled wine. SO GOOD! I really love the drink. Just the epitome of Christmas in a cup. Such a wonderful night out in Paris.



Tomorrow is Thanksgiving back home in The States, I will miss spending time at home with my family in Irvine or at my Uncle's house and helping out in the kitchen. I love cooking, especially helping out my mom who makes GREAT holiday feasts. Though, being here in France with 8 other friends from SDSU, we are hosting our own Thanksgiving feast at a friend who has a house, complete with an oven and a real stove! Thanksgiving wouldnt really workout here in the dorms haha. But we are all really excited. A full menu of all the classics is ready to be prepared. I am going over early to help with the cooking and when others get out of class, they will start trickling over to the house. I am making Vin Chaud and can't wait to enjoy it with everyone! We have become quite the family over here and it will be so nice to spend it together under one roof on a holiday like Thanksgiving.

Take care everyone and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Much love from Paris and a Happy Thanksgiving to you!

A Stroll With The Dead

Ever have one of those days when you just want to head out for a day with me, myself, and I? I woke up on Wednesday and thought to myself, I want a day out and about in Paris alone. I always have nice relaxing days when I go exploring with just me and my curiosities guiding me. So I decided to get dressed and all bundled up in scarf and coat and head to Père Lachaise, one of Paris' most famous cemeteries, buried there include so many great people from the past centuries. For me, it was like going to meet a celebrity, though having to search for her grave. My main motivation in going there was to visit the grave of Edith Piaf, probably France's greatest voices this century, to me, if not ever. I grabbed my map of the place that my friend had given me back in September when he went, and I was off, to spend a day with the dead.

Short little tangent from my day at Père Lachaise, on the RER to the cemetery, I finished reading New Moon! hahaha. FINALLY. Now I give myself permission to see the movie, which I will probably go see later this evening.

Anywho, back to my day...

I arrived at the cemetery, in a very normal, average area of Paris, but in the middle lies a huge cemetery! I walked through the huge gates and entered a mini-city with streets lined with graves and beautifully morbid mausoleums. I tried to capture the vastness of the cemetery and the countless tombstones, graves, and mausoleums, but you have to visit if ever in Paris, it is really a breathtaking place.

On the map I have, it plots out where a lot of the more 'well known' people are buried, including Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and for me, most important of all, Edith Piaf!





I wandered for what only seemed like an hour, but turned out I spent about four hours there. I found it very peaceful and relaxing, the perfect place to take a stroll and get lost in your thoughts.



I pulled out my iPod and put on some of Edith Piaf's music and walked through the cemetery as I looked for her. I thought it quite appropriate to be listening to her when I found her grave. Wandering and wandering, marveling in all the other beautiful graves, of people I know nothing about, but where obviously cared about.

So all in all I had a really wonderful day just wandering around Paris just relaxing, enjoying my own company.

Ciao from Italia

Ciao everyone! Writing from Firenze (Florence) having some Italian wine and hanging out with Alana and Caitlin, Canadian friends I am traveling with here. I am really loving Italy. I feel like I could retire here and come visit every year. AND I am really loving the Italian language. I have been thinking about learning another language for about a year and cant decide. Perhaps Italian. I am very fond of it now that I hear it spoken everywhere. Italy is such a magical place, much like im sure all of Europe, but it feels like I am walking through the Renaissace each city I visit here. Italy really does have the trophy for Renaissance everything. Sorry France haha. Oh, and the men are sooooooooooooooooooooooo cute. Enough said. Much love from Firenze!

Anywho, just wanted to check in and say, CIAO!