I realized as I was about to write a blog entry about my recent trips to Belgium and Switzerland that I really only write about my adventures as a tourist (both inside and outside of France), so in addition to writing about my Belgium and Swiss adventures I am also going to provide an everyday look into my life as an American living in Paris. But first...
I took a quick day trip to Belgium (yes you can go to Belgium in a day, actually its only about 1 hour and 20 minutes on the train to Brussels). I went with Ellen (a friend from my time in Ireland) and her boyfriend, Justin, who were doing a quick trip through Paris. In Brussels we saw the infamous Manneken Pis (a statue of a young boy urinating), had some wonderful Belgium beer and chocolate, ate waffles and french fries, and mostly wandered the city. It was a wonderful little day trip and well worth a visit!
(Manneken Pis) (Brussels, Belgium)
I also went to Switzerland for 4 days during the last week of January. During my senior year at Holy Cross I got to know Linda who is from Switzerland (she was living in the US studying English and spent a lot of time at Holy Cross). So when I had a few days off between semesters I decided to take a quick trip to Switzerland and visit Linda. I was in Switzerland almost 6 years ago during my first backpacking trip across Europe (during my time in Ireland), I was only in the country for a day or two during that trip and most of what I remembered was the beauty of Zurich, the wonderful chocolate, and how unbelievably expensive the country was. Six years later, and my impressions remain the same. Linda grew up and lives just outside of Zurich so we spent a good bit of time in the city, as well as a day trip to the capital Bern. Both cities are grand, elegant and imposing. The architecture is stunning, the small cobblestone streets intriguing, and the surrounding mountains majestic. Zurich sits on the shores of an enormous lake and within 20 minutes of my arrival I was sitting on a bench, enjoying the site and some local pastries. Very rough. It was wonderful to catch up with an old friend in such a wonderful site.
(Bern, Switzerland) (Zurich, Switzerland)
Everyday Parisian Living...
The last time I wrote about daily Parisian living was at the beginning of my stay, now over a year in I barely notice how different (and similar) my life here is to the States. On days that I have classes or need/want to go to school I either walk the approximately 2/3 of a mile to school or if the weather is bad I get on the metro for 2 stops. If I walk I go past my local boulangerie and patisserie (bakery with breads and pastries), which I am convinced makes the best baguettes (long french bread) in Paris. Each baguette costs a euro and ten cents and probably about once a week I treat myself to one. I also have a fairly decent view of the Eiffel Tower along my walk, I am only about a mile from the Tower and while you can't see it from my apartment (unless you stand on a chair in a certain spot in the apartment in which case I am fairly convinced I can see the very tippy top) you get decent views if you only walk a block or two in any of three directions. I also get to walk past a high school which inevitably (it seems no matter what time of day I go past) has obnoxious teens outside blowing smoke in my face as I walk by. Not the best part of the my walk, but this is France and second hand smoke is a part of life here.
(Escargot) (Treats at the Christmas Market)
When I say school I might be giving the wrong impression. My school has no amenities normally associated with a school - there is no gym, no dorms, no student lounges. AGS rents space from Alliance Francais, a major French language institution, so the school literally contained on one hallway. It has one classroom, one conference room, a library (with 2 conference tables and about 100 books), a computer room and some administrative offices. Since AGS rents space the school is also not open on Saturdays and Sundays so any studying, printing, etc. at the school has to get accomplished during the week. I generally am at school at least 3 days a week but do the majority of my studying and school work in my apartment (less distractions).
(Taken during a (Close up on the Eiffel)
picnic near the Eiffel)
Aside from school, I spend some time babysitting - two very cute American/French boys. I always babysit for them on Thursdays but sometimes on other days as needed. Their mom in American and their dad French so they boys are bilingual (well the 2 year old understands both languages but barely speaks at all) and I speak to them in English. I am working on my French still (sometimes I will pick up a couple of words from the boys), I have completed the original 24 weeks of classes I paid for - which puts me at a very basic but functioning level, and I am supplementing my classes with a French-English exchange with a French friend (something that I hope will propel my comprehension and speaking abilities).
(Christmas decorations (Christmas in Paris)
on the Champs-Elysee)
Other than school, babysitting, and attempting to master the French language I spend my days pretty much the same way I would in the States - hanging out with friends, watching movies, going shopping, etc. For the most part Paris is not that different than any other modern western city and some days it doesn't even feel like I am living in a different country. Aside from the fact that beer is ridiculous expensive and should never ever be brewed by a French person, the wine and cheese are abundant and delicious, and people are mostly speaking French - my Parisian life isn't all together that much different than my life in the States (that being said, I am looking forward to being back home for baseball and summer ale).
