Soulmates

I'm not sure how I feel about this word. I usually don't even think about it, but maybe I've just heard it too many times recently. I don't even know that I have that much to say about its concept either, other than it's fleeting. You can have one, or thousands or billions of soulmates with every passing second. I suppose a soulmate is someone you connect with despite appearance, education, style, economic status, relationship status, gender, sexual orientation etc. etc. It's the person who is most present with you in the given moment. It's the person you trust. To whom you can reveal a piece of yourself.

Fleeting though it was, I won't say it didn't make this week that much better.
The Paris nightlife is so fun and I've met some great people.

Who knew so much could go down during the work week.
Be a friend to make a friend. 

Some pics:

Lauren and Vanessa

Lotta other au pairs (it was gay night, you'll notice there are no men)

Musée du Louvre (alone, WITH HISTORY BEHIND ME)

John, moi, Tara, Fernando, and Lauren (again) #mondaycrayday

We hate baseball...

You know that amazing feeling you get when you connect with someone on accident. In one way, you're surprised because you simply didn't think there would be so much overlap but in fact, you're way more alike than you initially anticipated. In another way, it's off putting, like, "Why does it make so much sense that we are the same? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
It's also interesting when you work for that person, ya know? You find things out about each other slowly, over a progressively monotonous amount of time. They're boring things too, like we could have had this conversation when we met, but god forbid you do that! What would you talk about for the next year?

Tonight, was one of those nights.

During dinner I was asked that question we all secretly dread because there isn't an answer to it. Unless you're that guy whose favorite movie is "Home Alone" (both of them) and we all have that friend. It's a compliment, really. They are the lucky ones. ;)
Then you have people who watch far too many TV shows (more than once), have a movie playing on a loop, and happen to have seen more movies than there are stars visible through our atmosphere.

I'm the second.

"Quel est le film que tu prefer, Danielle." He asked me.

Luckily, I told Olympe that I like Indiana Jones a lot and she kindly answered for me (she does that).
"Indiana Jones est ton favorit?"

"Oui?"
"Combien de fois?"
"Dix..."
"Dix!"
"...cette année."
"Cette année!! Oh lala" (which is the correct use of "oh lala" it's exasperation, not romance.)

**SPOILER ALERT**

When dinner was over Antoine, the father, and myself sat at the table talking about movies. He asked if I'd seen the last Indiana Jones movie.
"I didn't like it," he commented.
"Nor did I. I stopped watching it halfway through."
"It sucked."

Stated like a true fan.
I confessed that I watch too many movies and read too many books. He asked what kind. I said thrillers mostly. He asked how many I'd read so far since I got to France. I told him four. He immediately got up and grabbed a book in English that was brand new and gave it to me to read.
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. He said it's a funny book. That it's witty, gripping, and innovative.

"Do you remember when I first got to France, you asked me what I wanted to do?"
"Yes. Be a lawyer."
"Well, I really want to be a writer."
"That's great."
"I just get a lot of bad reactions when I tell people that."
"I don't think it's something to be ashamed of at all."

Somehow the conversation ended with us talking about different authors, styles, and finally how we both hate baseball. He's so cool. Why aren't there more people like us?
I can't decide if I got a little more French, or a little less American.

Je ne m'inquiete pas.
Bon soir.

Gonna go out with my lady, Lauren.

"Shall we preface this outing with some wine, perchance?"

We like to talk like the Oxford English Dictionary.

So, I've been here a month.

Dear Friends,

I've been in Paris for a month, today.
I spent the day on the couch watching Law & Order SVU and snuggling with my boyfriend, you guessed it, the cat.
It's been interesting to say the least. Lots of learning, lots of new people, a lot of new experiences.
I've been going out more, and it really helps feel like I'm alive in another country. My friend Lauren is really great. She took me out last night.

I've been feeling like Lady Marmalade cause I visited the Red Light District the other night.
It was lit primarily by yellow streetlights.
Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Not much happened today but, I might get a real bed soon.
As much as I love this top bunk, I'd rather sleep on a mat of straw.

Love to all. I'm crashing HARD.

P.S. Showed "the children" how to play Plants vs. Zombies this evening on my phone. So, they liked me again for like ten minutes.

Feeling Good.

I'm sitting at the table in Paris with my boyfriend, Ulghor, sipping my coffee, eating toast with nutella, listening to Michael Bublé, and for the first time since I got here I feel like a writer. An empty apartment, it's raining outside (classique), I've been making lists of things I want out of life. Travel. Sweaters. A vast cigar collection that I only put on display to impress company. (You guys out there know what I'm talkin' about.) Maybe Bublé sounds unauthentic. Let me correct your understanding. I've been following Michael Bublé since his first album ten years ago. I was in 8th grade when I first heard the perfect voice that would carry me for years to come. Every now and then I rediscover his music, and his songs are more applicable today than when I first heard them.

'naw mean?

Proper respect Bublé.
I don't have much to say the last two days. Maybe cause I've been mildly busy making friends, eating hamburgers, and talking about things that make me happy. Plus, sanity is beginning to return. I feel in control of my emotions.
I'm feeling good.

I just wanted to take this moment in between my glances at the huge raindrops slapping against the window to tell you about my Top Three favorite songs right now and my favorite line of each:

1. "I'm Your Man"-Michael Bublé
• I'll howl at your beauty like a dog in heat
2. "Everything"-Michael Bublé
• And I can't believe that I'm your man, and I get to kiss you baby just because I can
3. "I've Got the World on a String"-Michael Bublé version
• What a world, what a life...I'm in love

You might have noticed a pattern. It's essential that I play them in this order as well. Every time I leave the house I pump myself up, and open myself to love and new experiences with every step I take. I can't explain it as well as I'd like to, but these three songs are probably how I would want to feel when I'm in love. They're probably how I would want the other one to feel too. Ya know, like from the beginning. The entire time we're "in love" not just sometimes. I know, it's cliché to talk about love in Paris, but god dammit, I have needs. 

These three songs are all I need. 

Often I can't decide which mode of communication I like best. 

-written word

-songs

-music on its own

-dance

Right now, it doesn't matter. I look forward to the 15 minutes of everyday that I get to close my eyes, and just let these three songs remind me that I'm alive. There's so much more than what I've experienced thus far in life. Better than anything else, these songs make me feel NEW. They don't remind me of anyone. They don't bring back memories. They carry only the promise of better things to come. 

Interesting that they're all from the same album. 

Perhaps, my favorite Bublé album.

An album I stole from someone. 

I deserve it.

I deserve these songs.

Call me irresponsible. :)

P.S. Michael Bublé is having a show in Paris January 11, 2014. Yeah, I'm going.
Also, iOS 7 comes out today. Well in like 30 minutes for me en France. WOOT!

Older Folk

For those of you who haven't spent a lot of time around children, or haven't been a parent, or just don't like kids, you might not understand the concept of digressing in age when you're around them. One minute you're a confident adult and the next you're in the middle of a...
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes"
"I said NO"
"I said YES"
 ...war. It's exhausting.

So, when I went out today to grab a good old fashioned burger with some new girls I had been talking to and was excited to meet, you can imagine my relief that

1. They are my age (older than the children)
2. I felt as though I'd known them my entire life (it was like being with old friends)
3. We all have experience with "older" people (you're catching on?)

It was a game changer. We all immediately had things in common, and extremely compatible personalities. They made me feel that spark that we all feel when we know we can absolutely be ourselves in front of someone. I didn't need to make a good first impression, I didn't need to put my best foot forward, or lie, or make anything sound cooler or more intense than it actually was. I just got to be me. Old Dani, who is coincidentally New Danielle. 

The name is sticking & I'm a fan.

I don't even have that much to say about it other than I felt as though my entire experience turned around after I met these girls. I'm excited to see them again, and it's as though I acquired this new energy to tackle the rest of my day. The rest of my year. The kids actually started listening to me when I went home. 

Power to the old people.

"je ne suis pas ton amie, je suis un adulte."

They did NOT see that one coming at bath time.

Win-Danielle.

Pompeii

Last night I had a terrible dream that there was going to be a huge storm, a volcanic eruption, and a flood that would massacre all life on earth. The population congregated in parks, dressed up to watch the volcano erupt, barricaded themselves in basements, and fervently did everything they could to find family members to die with.

It was morbid.
And I couldn't wake myself up.

I tend to be a very lucid dreamer, so usually I can wake myself up. Instead, I completely succumbed to the panic of my dream. It was terrible. I hugged my dad goodbye, I ran into an ex and we expressed our regret and said a heartfelt goodbye avec beaucoup de PDA in the street. I held my cousin, Shane, while he cried, I hid in a basement with my mom and sister, my aunt and cousin, Seychelle, while we waited for this to end.

This awful dream all because I read the kids (the ones from Church) a book for children about the "Library under the Volcano" before they went to bed and I came back to Paris. It took place in Ancient Pompeii. Morbid.

However, when I finally awoke I read the quote somewhere, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

"Well," I thought to myself, "I suppose I'd go out and make some friends."

And that's precisely what I did today.
Three girls, three new friends, and one of them I played basketball with in High School. I feel like I almost remember her on the opposing team. Small, small world.

Sunday Funday

After a night of restless sleep I awoke at 7:45 to start getting ready for church.

Today, we went to Second Church which is actually very close to me. I could easily walk there. It's beautiful. Small, compact, GREAT chairs to sit in and I don't know that I've ever remembered church seating. I will remember this church's.

The service was beautiful, en Français. I like hearing it in French because I know so many of the stories and phrases anyway, and it's fun picking them up in another language. That, and this lesson was really great this week.

After the service, Carolyn and I met up with Carrie who sat separate from us, and this dear woman, Anne, who invited us to lunch. It was quite the reception.

Anne has been in Paris for 30 years. She and her sister were born in Paris during their parents 4-year-honeymoon, but when she was very young they moved back to the states. The French culture, language, and style permeated her childhood and she and her siblings grew up speaking French and ultimately became teachers. She lived in California for a long time, and then one day decided she didn't need ANYTHING that she had acquired over the years. So she packed up and moved back to Paris. She's lived here ever since. It's so cool that an American feels so at home here. I feel like I do for the most part. I love the city, I love the layout, the walking, the sights. The language.

Lunch was great. Anne treated me-cause I'm poor-and the other two French people who accompanied us were very pleasant. It was the most French I've spoken since I got here because I wasn't afraid to, and because they were genuinely interested in what I had to say. Their kindness drew me out. I felt at home and confident in my abilities to speak and comprehend. It was great. Anne talked a lot about hospitality and how she ALWAYS invites new people to lunch to make them feel loved and secure. It's a good way to express Christianity and to help people get acquainted with others. I really appreciated this invitation, and I think when I have a steady church place I'll want to do the same thing one day.

This evening I went into the countryside to visit a family I know from camp and saw at church that morning too. The kids are great, and I loved them beforehand but I love them even more now. The kids explained to me that au pairs are supposed to be respected, treated nicely, and listened to. We talked and laughed and I remembered that I'm really good with kids.
"You were like famous at camp" one of the girls said.
"I mean, I guess."
"Even in the kitchen you always had girls hugging you."

It's nice when someone reminds you that you're actually good at what you do.
The parents were very reassuring as well and told me that I was welcome any time and to feel at home in their home. It was really amazing. The parents, Alex and Marie, also told me that my situation sounded a little "meh" not right and that I needed to have an honest conversation with my host parents and let them know that if I'm to be an employee ça va but I need to be paid, and listened to by the kids. Also, they are supposed to help with my metro apparently.

It felt great to be supported and to finally eat some ice cream.

Then I got to skype with my best, who is a goon. He lost his phone like two weeks ago so we haven't talked at all and were going through withdrawals. So, this needed to happen. I was going to take a screenshot, but he was nude so I refrained. Miss. That. Fool. It was so good to see his face and hear his voice while he demanded that I come to Florida.
Right. Let me just uproot myself from PARIS to spend a few days in Florida. That was about how much we talked cause then the internet crashed hardcore.
C'est la vie.
I will provide a visual from the past.

This describes our relationship perfectly.
And it's great when nothing can change that.

Indentured Servant

The more I joke and talk about my experience here as an au pair the words "indentured servant" come to mind. Lucky for me, I have a sense of humor unparalleled by anyone I've yet met on this planet, and I find the circumstances, while grim, to be side-achingly satirical.

People back home keep asking me, have you met any French men? Is the city romantic? Do you think you'll just stay there with your lover when the year is up?

I mentioned that Olympe freaked out at me about the cookie yesterday?

Whilst I carried Dimitri and she screamed at me for two blocks, Dimitri had my back (literally as well, it was a piggy back ride) and was screaming back at her that I was nice, and fun, and a good au pair. He also kissed the back of my neck a lot.

And that ladies and gentlemen is the extent of romance I have experienced à Paris.
Besides, ya know, the cat but I hope that doesn't count.

Today was alright. I met a new girl, Carrie, who will be staying here for a year. She also, finds my situation to be hilarious and was the one who brainstormed the concept of me being an indentured servant, except sans d'argent. Carolyn bought me new boots because my Madden's had the soles ripped off and I desperately need boots in Paris. You're an idiot if you don't have some. But, as I've mentioned, I have no money and my card from America didn't work. So now Carolyn is keeping a tab going for me. We also split dinner.

I always imagined that I'd live the life of the struggling artist after college. Settle down in a small apartment, drink coffee, brood out my window, draw a lot, write when I had something to say. I romanticized it. That's kind of what I'm doing I guess. But my apartment is a closet, coffee is scarce when you're poor in Paris, and I might take up smoking just so I have something to do in my room cause the internet sucks and I can't take Ulghor upstairs.

I should probably talk to them soon.
I did start writing my comedy bit though :)

An American Werewoman in Paris

It sounded catchy. I'm testing out new titles for my one woman stand up show about the struggles of a jeune fille au pair.

Tonight was cool.

Let me rephrase.

Tonight after the family left and took their children à la campagne was pretty cool.
(Olympe screamed at me for the five minute walk home from the boulangerie because I told her she could have her cookie at the house. I was carrying, her bag, her jacket, Dimitri's jacket, wheeling Dimitri's scooter, carrying a baguette, and CARRYING DIMITRI cause he fell. It wasn't even physically possible to give her the cookie.)

I digress.

Luckily, I had a fun evening planned with Carolyn to go see an American comedian who's been living in Paris for nine years do stand-up. I love laughter. It was hilarious. He talked about how French people are the only people in the world who will walk into the metro "sortie" doors and stand there even if they don't open. Also, that when you ask someone "Comment ça va?" "Ça va." is the appropriate response. If they don't respond "Ça va" or they get to a fourth "Ça va" they MIGHT be suicidal.

It was hilarious in general. Then there was open mic night, and this kind Italian man named Antonello, asked me to record his bit. He was pretty funny. It felt good to laugh a lot.

It also only solidified my desire to be a comedian. Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, this job is giving me PLENTY of material.

For instance...I've been here almost a month and I haven't gotten paid yet. When I asked for some money for the weekend I was given 20 euro. Which, bought me my entry fee for the comedy show, and a drink. I had just enough for a 3 Euro baguette sandwich the next day.

Viva la France.

I ALMOST FORGOT: There was this really cool girl, Laura, who came up to us after the show tonight to ask Carolyn if she was working for the family she had worked for. Carolyn wasn't but the girl gave us her info and told her to stay in touch with her and that she'd love to hang out, grab coffee, show us around, or whatever. She understands the struggle. She also had on cool tights and great shoes.

Note to self: get some printed tights, it's autumn in Europe for Christ's sake.

Snapped this from the Metro. I'm not disappointed.

"Tu es un bon garçon"

These were the words that I quietly spoke to Dimitri after a bath time from hell.

I'm slowly realizing, that these children don't respond to yelling, punishment, threats, or anger.

"Dimitri. I'm going to wash your hair now."
*crying*
"Dimitri, I'm going to wash your hair now, very quickly, then you can get out."
*yelling and crying*
"Dimitri, I'm going to wash your hair."
*kicking and yelling and crying*

Then quiet. He played.

After thirty minutes of nearly killing myself, I came to the conclusion that I will kill them with kindness. I've been reading a lot about deciding what reality we want to live in. I can either agree with the misery, OR I can disagree with it and fill in the blank with my own uplifted and positive lens.  Plus, it's the cheapest lens to have to look at the world because you can use it at any time, in any place.

When I took him out of the bath all hell broke loose. I carried him to his room as he screamed in my arms. I put him on his bed, and shut the door behind me. I could hear his cries from across the apartment. Five minutes later as I prepared Olympe's bath, a naked Dimitri confronted me in the living you.

"I'm upset" he yelled at me shivering.
"What can I do to make you not upset?" I asked calmly.
"Tu me habillé."

We walked quietly to his room. I helped him put on his pajamas and I left.
As I walked across the apartment, I heard very affirmatively in my thought to return to his room. He still sat on his bed.
I kneeled next to the bed and took his hands in mine. He stared at me blankly.

"Je veux tu savoir que je pense tu es un bon garçon. Je n'aime pas quand nous nous disputons."

I've never seen the type of smile that radiated off of his adorable five-year-old face.
"Tu pense que je suis un bon garçon?"
"Vraiment."
"Pourquoi?"

It broke my heart that this little boy, who can be such a little turd had to ask me why I thought he was a good boy. It's as though no one has told him exactly what makes him unique, what makes him loveable. He is loved, and they are great parents who provide a bounty of affection.
It was just a very humbling and moving experience to have.

We finished the pep talk with him kissing my hands, my cheeks, and us hugging like we actually liked each other.

As I left the room I turned around one more time.
"By the way, Dimitri?"
"Oui?"
"I know you have your dad's iPad under the covers."

9/11

It's very strange waking up in another country on such an important day in your home country. Upon opening my eyes this morning, my first thought was, "Today is September 11th." My second thought was one of prayer and gratitude. Prayer for all of the people and families affected by the tragedy twelve years ago. Gratitude for my own friends and family and the country I come from that triumphed over the horrors of 2001. 

I'm proud to be an American.

I wonder if anyone here even thinks about our World Trade Centers or the monumental weariness that exists in America today. It's interesting. They probably don't.

But today, I am thinking about it. I'm right back home, bowing my head in silence and thanking God we've progressed over these years. I pray that those affected found peace. 

In a weird way, I'm also so grateful for all the literature that was written as a result of this travesty. Through words we'll never forget and never take advantage of the freedoms we have each and every day...

-an excerpt from my personal journal this day, September 11, 2013.

le spectacle

Today was different.

I woke up with encouraging text messages from my sister and Christina A. Great things to wake up to. I got some positive reenforcement in an email from Tina. Great. And I ended up keeping up a friend WAY too late even though it was the morning for me. Thorry not thorry.

After taking the kids to school I walked around for an hour. You see, it's not that I'm getting fat. I'm definitely losing weight over here, it's just that my body is really soft because I've done almost zero physical activity in almost a month...so, I've been walking more than necessary to "exercise." I've also resorted back to one room, body-weight, Pinterest workouts. Don't knock it til you try it.

Then I got dressed up. Like my booties on, tight jeans (that look even better cause, like I said, I've lost weight) and a blazer, scarf, clean hair blah blah to pick up the kids at 11:30am. They have half days on Wednesday. We bought a baguette and the rest of the day was super relaxed. It wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing. We did arts and crafts (Eléonore too, she's funny. I like getting to know her better even though it's still mostly by observation) and then went to a park where I could actually go running. Such an interesting theme for the day: exercise.

Then I got an email from my mom.

Hi honey, bless you! I love you!  
Are you keeping your thoughts and mind in blessing mode and knowing all is well.  Or are you complaining and giving matter or bad days precedence.  It is a practice.  Can notice for reflection and improvement but not attach it to you or your experience.
If things are difficult.... Notice.... then ask intelligence Mind for directions...... Not keep suffering in same old story......."it came to pass"   There is infinite possibilities available for every moment. Be open and listen..... ASK and ye shall receive?

SH 325  " A false sense of life, substance and mind hides the divine possibilities, and conceals scientific demonstration."  Be the change you want to see....I love you

It's not that I had even been having a bad day-like I said-but after reading this email everything changed. Here is what I sent back:

Hi Mom!
It's actually kind of funny…
Today was pretty good. I was just about to start playing with Olympe when I read your email. I wasn't in a bad mood. I wasn't even sad, or complaining in my head that much today. But when I read your email everything seemed to turn around. Olympe and I had a lot of fun playing Princesses go buy puppies and whatnot. There was a sorcerer at some point-I still don't speak French haha-then we ended up talking a little bit and I asked her if she thought that I was doing a good job as an au pair. She told me I was. That made me feel so much better because 98% of the time I think she hates me. I thought that was really cool. Afterwards, Olympe decided she was tired and so she fell asleep on the couch next to me and I read for about 30 minutes before Eléonore and Dimitri got back from wherever they were. It was nice.  Dimitri also took a bath and wasn't CRAZY. He got out at a normal time and we played until dinner. It was so fun. We made shadow puppets (he didn't know what those were) and we danced around a lot. 
After dinner he made me show the rest of the family. So he and I out on a spectacle or a SHOW.
It was fun. I'm working on it :)

It's really true though. Little moments of inspiration have the capacity to turn your whole day around in a BIG way. I'm so grateful.

Now, I'm going to go to sleep, and hopefully have a plan for tomorrow. I need a Paris City Moleskine.

P.S. Does anyone want to start sending me things I forgot? I've got a list that is getting énorme (huge).

I call it "le petit jardin du canards"

Anywhere is everywhere

Everyone knows that one person who has never been out of the country. Never been on a real vacation. Doesn't have any interesting stories, and really doesn't care that they are as flat as a burnt crêpe.
I sympathize with this person for one reason and one reason only.

Anywhere is everywhere.

Today, it rained. Just a little bit. For like an hour. BUT I used this as my excuse to do absolutely nothing. Wait, I lied. I watched Twilight (not my proudest moment but I'm done pretending that I don't like Robert Pattinson. Cedric Diggory for life.) Then I watched all of the special features from Pitch Perfect and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. A redeeming moment for my shattered pride after watching Twilight. Just don't even get me started on my literary views of the books. Let's move on from this.

Then I took a nap. A NAP! I'm in f*ing Paris and I'm taking naps.

Then all I did for the rest of the day, was read and play indoors with the kids. I spent the evening disappointed in my attic crawlspace because I couldn't connect to internet, then I read until I fell asleep at 10pm.
No matter where you are, there are days that are exactly like anywhere else.
But you know what...I am in Paris soooo.....I'm allowed.

In the wise words of Aldous Snow:
"Don't let them grind you down"

NEWS: I did get in touch with another au pair who is from CA where my cousins live. That's a plus. We're going to meet up next week. Thanks Tina!!
Tina is my aunt. We actually emailed a bit last night and today. She's awesome. Hands down top 5 favorite people I've actually spent time with in real life. But she's a double black belt...so like, she's basically a celebrity and I doubt you'd want to argue that fact with her. :)

Perched

She sat quietly, perched on her heightened throne. He saw her every time he walked to work. Every morning, there she sat, balanced on her perch. Most of the time she was smoking. Sometimes she'd be drinking coffee. Other times, she'd be listening to music, writing in a black book, or staring. He was especially interested by her staring. She was either thinking of everything or nothing at all, he couldn't decide. He didn't think she noticed him as he walked below her each day around seven o'clock. He would try to peer up at her, though only for a second because the sun rose above her building and burned his eyes if he looked too long. Perhaps she liked watching the city light up. He imagined that she enjoyed the sun on her shoulders, and the way light reflected off of adjacent windows and back into her face. Then again, maybe she didn't give a shit about the sun and she just liked to sit there. He didn't know. He didn't know anything about her. He didn't know anything about her other than the fact that he could count on her. He could count on her every morning at seven when he walked by. Every evening, when business hours were over, there she would be on her perch. He didn't know if she came down throughout the day or if she just sat and stared. He didn't know if she had a job, and if she did where it could be. He didn't even know if she lived there alone.

One thing he knew was that he was going to walk by her every day and never stop wondering if she perched because she enjoyed it, or because she was tempting her urge to jump.

First Sunday à Paris

Maybe even my favorite day (besides the day I spent with Blandine).

Carolyn and I rose at the painful hour of 7:45 and prepared ourselves for the Sunday Service at Second Church. I was clashing, but we discussed that it wasn't necessarily a fashion faux pas anymore, and that the woman sitting next to us at the Metro station was way worse off than I.

We went to the French service at 10am and the English service at 11:20. Blandine is the First Reader so we know I was stoked to be there for 2 hours. I actually got more out of the French service. Maybe because I had to concentrate harder to understand, but it was really amazing to hear the lesson read in French. I realized halfway through that it was the first time I'd ever been to a service in a Foreign language. Oh wait, maybe we did go to one tiny, tiny service in Prague. I can't remember if the woman read in Czech though...oh well. FRENCH was beautiful, and it made me feel like less of a failure of language to have some idea of what was going on while Blandine read from Science and Health (in French) en Français.

After mingling a very little bit, Carolyn and I had a quick lunch of eggs and coffee-I showed her my attic crawl space-I changed my clothes into something a little more fancy and we headed over to the Champs Élysées for the first time ensemble. For those of you that don't know what that is, open a God damn magazine.

ANYWAY, it's a long strip of street with the biggest name brand, and fashion shops in Paris. Lotta nice cars, nice food, crazy shopping, and an infinite amount of tourists. After the Champs Élysées, and accidentally going around the Arc de Triomphe like six-thousand times, we finally made it to the Eiffel Tower.

Only our photos can explain what words cannot, and reveal what an amazing day we truly had.

Disclaimer:
All photos by me were taken with my Canon Rebel T3 with the standard 18-55mm lens.
I will give Carolyn credit for the ones she took.

Arc de Triomphe from the Champs Élysées.
Yes, I'm in the middle of the street.

Brownie Explosion.
Also, Bradley Cooper is the Man of Häagen-Dazs...
Extra yum

Selfies avec le Tour Eiffel

curlsvern photography.
Maddy Grendel pose. <3

curlsvern photography.
Tried to copy my cousin, Seychelle, who has a very
similar photo of herself.

This is my favorite picture
I'm really proud of this one.
The light, the wide-angle, the centered Eiffel Tower.
I just love it.

Finally, some friends...

Today was a good day.

I woke up late, 9:15am!!!!! Call the cops. I made breakfast and watched "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" with Ulghor. We laughed, we cried, we had our own individual mental breakdowns after. Then I showered.

At around 1 I was supposed to meet a friend of mine, Carolyn, at the Madeleine Metro station so we could rendez-vous. We also ended up meeting a friend of a friend's who worked as an au pair in New Zealand for eight months last year. Her name is Sabrine and she's Parisian.

Thank. God.

I've been needing to make some friends who are actually from here, and it's a huge plus that she understands the struggle of being an au pair.

Long story short, it was a good day. We saw La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. Obviously, it was really beautiful and obviously I sang "Out There" from Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." How can you not? Plus, Megan is always telling me that "I am deformed, and I am ugly and the [she is] my only friend." My one defender.

Hilarious.

Then we walked around a few other places that are under the radar for tourists (for the most part) and I we had coffee with Sabrine's other friend before parting ways. Sabrine texted me after we left and said we should do something fun the next weekend and told me she loved my accent. I was flattered but I also don't understand. Americans, to me, have such boring accents in general.

I went back to Carolyn's place for the evening where we shared a romantic meal of frozen dinners, stale bread, and yogurt. Paired with pleasant conversation and an AMAZING little backyard flat to herself, I'd say Saturday was a success. :)

I am well pleased. Heep-how.

The Bastille-forgot to mention

Notre Dame de Paris

left to right: Sabrine, Carolyn, et moi

Out there
Strolling by the Seine
Taste a morning out there
Like ordinary men

Aforementioned:

"Out There/Dani's Theme Song" The Hunchback of Notre Dame

It really builds...

Finally, some family

Today was a beautiful day and my second actual day to myself while les enfants étaient à l'école. 

So, what did I do?

When there was a brief moment of sunshine, I left the apartment and headed toward the usual Metro station at Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. I wore my favorite black skirt with little flowers on it and my black Madden boots, and my maroon sweater from Target. I got no less than two blocks away when it started POURING. I could neither go back for an umbrella nor could I continue onward. I stood under a clothing store awning until the rain passed. It was beautiful. I was lucky enough to make it to the Metro and then to my destination.

As I walked through the small courtyard I couldn't help but feel immediately at home. That feeling of comfort and familiarity began to cover me like the rain from earlier.

Back story: My friend has this aunt. I met her almost six years ago and she quickly became one of my favorite people. I wanted to know her. I wanted to be like her. She was so graceful and strong. She had these eyes, and when they were paired with her smile it was like Christmas, but like, Christmas when Santa still brings you presents and there are bites taken out of the cookies that can only be explained by the presence of Sir Nick. She was just awesome. I used to say she was the most beautiful woman I had ever met (besides my mom, cause she holds the highest honor.)

Blandine. Now, she probably doesn't even know that she had such an influence on me after the first time we met, and I'd probably sound extra creepy right now, but I don't care because as I walked through the courtyard I knew that I was about to have the best day I've had so far in France.

And I did.

I don't have any pictures but she invited me into her apartment (which, is ADORABLE I want it) and I met her son, and we soon took off for some errands and déjeuner. It was really nice to speak in English with someone I knew (even if I didn't know her that well). I felt like I could really talk to her, and she told me some things about her life that I didn't expect her to. We just had honest conversation about the family I'm working for, parts of Paris, our pasts, relationships, family, Chloé (her niece), growing up, and a few good Christian Science talks. We discussed the idea of youthfulness and age. It was like being home. She spoiled me and took me to the mall, and to a cute café where we ate to our hearts content and drank coffee while sharing fun stories and memories.

Needless to say, I'm really excited to get to know her.

Right now, I'm sitting on the couch at my host family's apartment about to watch Easy A and spend a quiet night in with Ulghor.

Viva la France.

The rain dans la rue

Out and about

I don't really have the energy to write clever anecdotes at the present moment but today was my first day alone. I had time to actually explore and it was glorious. Except for when some lady got bitchy at me for not donating to handicapped children, and when some weirdo selling Eiffel Tower keychains whistled at me and addressed me as "jiggle jiggly eh? Jiggly"

Piss off. I'm not even sure what he was referring to. 

But here are some shots from the day. :)

Yeah, I live near here...

"Church is everywhere"-Christina A.

Classic baguette, fromage, and petite écoliers

Emotional moment

Also, I've been speaking in French and it's great.

All in all, a good day.  

Children are weird.

I will never understand why they think fake crying is effective. It literally just makes me want to rip their heads off. The solution is usually très simple and I know those weren't real tears. At least once an hour one of the lil tykes freaks the f* out about something. A) it's hard for me to know what you're saying when you are SCREAMING at me through faux sobs and 2) I DON'T SPEAK FRENCH!

It's becoming rather annoying despite how much better I get everyday.

So, things are fine. The kids are playing quietly while I read on the couch. Then I look up and they are showing each other their butts. Arrêt! I exclaim. They laugh. I keep reading. A few minutes later I look up and the girl is smelling herself...Jesus Christ, Arrêt! I exclaim again. They laugh. I keep reading. One minute later I look up and they are checking to see if there is poop in their buttcracks...

I consulted a good friend on the matter. She responded, "Only kids have the time to look at each others buttholes."


Good thing Ulghor had my back and sat next to me for a long, long time today.

It was a long, long day.

Children are weird. 

Three's Company

Today I saw three of the most beautiful men I've ever seen.

The first resembled a modern day Beatle. He had long (but not too long) soft brown hair, a pointed nose, tall, lean but defined arms. I was walking past this pizza place when I saw him. "Cool hair," I thought to myself. Then he raised his eyes. Underneath straight, dark eyebrows were the greenest eyes I have ever seen in my life. Clear, crystal, Maui ocean green. Sweet, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds they were green.

The second was walking past me on the street the kids go to school. At first I thought, "what the hell is that dude wearing" I proceeded to do a full up and down. Only then did it make sense. Navy pants with a light blue sport coat, tailored to a tee. He had black, polished leather oxfords on, and a white and blue vertically striped shirt. He left the top two buttons open parce que il fait chaud (because it was hot). Once again it were the eyes that got me. They seemed to smile moments before he did. He wore thick-rimmed, sqaure, black glasses. His blonde hair was disheveled in the afternoon breeze, and I think I smiled back way too hard.

Lastly, I was dans ma rue heading back to the apartment. The kids were running ahead and I thought I might kill them when I happened to look across the street. Long blonde hair, five o'clock shadow, sunglasses, a chambray button up, a baguette and a coffee occupying his hands. He gave me "the nod." Luckily, I was able to reclaim myself with enough time to yell at the kids to not shove people on the sidewalk. He was a hipster fa sho and I didn't hate one bit of it.

And that concludes all other interaction I've had outside of the family I work for.
Oh, besides falling in love with this drawing I did during bath time.

The End.

Happy Lundi.

Hopped up out the bed, turned my swag on.
Took a look in the mirror said, "HOLY HELL IS THAT REALLY WHAT I LOOK LIKE?!?!"

I had 7 minutes to wash my face, brush my teeth, dress, pack for the day and get my ass down to their apartment by breakfast at 7:45.

Pas problème.

Today was my first full day sans internet, sans les parents, et sans l'anglais. 

It was awesome. This morning we had dance parties, drew stuff, gossiped a little bit, and just spent some lovely time together. Olympe, Dimitri, et moi. Eléonore came home for lunch and afterwards we went to the park. It was officially my first time out walking around in Paris. Let me tell you, it's beautiful. Even the architecture of the residential apartments is gorgeous. I don't even think these kids are old enough to understand that they are living in one of the most beautiful cities in the entire world. At the park I got to sit and take in my surroundings. It still hasn't fully settled in that I am in a different country. I'm on this adventure by myself and it's scary but SO rewarding. I actually spoke decent French today. I even decided that my closet-space is actually pretty sick. It's a free place to leave my shit, where it won't be in anyone's way, and then I just sleep there at night. It's all locked up and safe and there's a woman who bought three or four tiny rooms on the floor and had them made into a small flat. She's adorable. I met her in the stairwell. I'm not alone. Ultimately, it was a great day. I got a sexy little Samsung phone to use in France. I have 5 contacts. The mom, dad, grandmother, mom's work, and the kids school. Supa responsible me. Also, I have no friends yet.

BUT I AM NOT DISCOURAGED!

All in all today was good. I can't wait to have some free time to explore and get to know what's around me. I did see a small pizza place that looked pretty hipster fabulous and there is also a park to sit at nearby the house. Beaucoup de cafés. I'll be just fine.

Sidenote: I'm friends with the family's last au pair, Patrícia, she's super encouraging and let's me know that it's okay to be nervous but that I will adjust eventually. They hired her twice so she's obviously pretty good. She's been a big help to me and she's offered to put me up if I ever want to visit Slovakia!

I'm tired as all get out, but here are some pictures. 

View from my room. Pretty morning. 7:30am

Dimitri with my "Well, Hello There" mustache

The view into one courtyard

Today's Outfit: yes I know I'm in a bathtub.
It's the only full length mirror.
Plus, it's funny.

View into another courtyard

Walkin' to the park...

le parc

le parc

À Paris!

Today, ladies and gentlemen we arrived in Paris. We live almost next door to the Arc de Triomphe and we absolutely almost collided with a biker as we circled around.

If you don't know, do not attempt to walk through traffic in a Parisian round-about. The chances of perishing are high. 

That being said, their apartment is absolutely beautiful. It was apparently built in the late 19th century. 1850-1880 something like that. Or maybe she said the EARLY 19th century 1815-1818...

Either way, this place is old. 

Being in the city, I've determined several must havea for my future home. 

1. Large windows. They must open and they must let in a ton of light. I need them big enough for me to stand in. (At least)

2. I want part of my apartment (should I live in one) to look into a nicely tended courtyard. 

3. I want cute little bed covers and only glass plates and cups. It's classy. 

4. Lots and lots and lots of vintage French posters. 

I'll post photos of the place in the next few days :) 

P.S. my living quarters are located three stories above my employers' apartment. It's maybe 6' by 10' and I feel like I'm living in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." First night is tonight and I'm a little nervous. BUT should I survive I'm sure I'll get used to it and enjoy my tiny closet space of a room. If anyone wants to visit, we will most likely be spooning in the top (only) bunk. I couldn't even back up enough to get the bed in the photo.