Maillot de bain…
means ‘speedo’ guys. Yes, it’s the required swimming attire for public pools here in France. And what can I say after the fact… ce n’est pas grave(no big deal)! The only thing that stuck out was my terrible and outdated swimming. I actually looked good in the ‘le maillot de bain’ but that’s what I think. Oh, I do have pictures.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
I have a headache
J’ai mal un tete…
seriously! Everynight my head is full to the capacity ready to burst at the seams. It’s good for me it’s good for all students. I honestly feel like I will not get close to being fluent but that has to be false because the pain of my brain testifies to something different.
seriously! Everynight my head is full to the capacity ready to burst at the seams. It’s good for me it’s good for all students. I honestly feel like I will not get close to being fluent but that has to be false because the pain of my brain testifies to something different.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Express yourself... I can't
The difficulties of being unable to express myself SUCKS!!!!!!
There I said it! No the romance of France hasn’t worn off but simply realizing that I have to wake up to the equivalent of bad breath in the morning (a husband or wife) has set in right alongside the beauty. Reality! Noooooo!! I wasn’t ready for you yet!
Speaking in simple sentences while fumbling every other syllable has gotten old. Some of the romance of learning a language has faded…
But, it gets resuscitated when ‘curious cute girls’ sit next to me and hear my American accent. ;) Then, tou va bien! Ca fait du bien!
I am being a little dramatic because it’s not that bad but reality has arrived. I can’t say that I fully underestimated the experience but there is only so much I can know while being on the outside looking in. It’s better this way. I, like jazz, live in the unknown and enjoy the ‘pressure’ ‘improvisation’ but now it’s time to develop my voice!
I have made it a point not to be afraid of speaking, NO MATTER WHAT! Even in crowds, even if I know I will mis-pronounce something, it’s necessary that I keep trying and putting myself out there. Like today, a fellow classmate and I ate lunch together (her name is Emily and she’s from Texas, who knew that so many Texans loved French and anything besides Texas ) and 3 French students sat at our table. And well, a conversation began and it seemed like the words were flowing like water albeit I had some mishaps in pronunciation. I’m grateful for those opportunities. They said that we spoke well so I guess some work is paying off. Voila!
There I said it! No the romance of France hasn’t worn off but simply realizing that I have to wake up to the equivalent of bad breath in the morning (a husband or wife) has set in right alongside the beauty. Reality! Noooooo!! I wasn’t ready for you yet!
Speaking in simple sentences while fumbling every other syllable has gotten old. Some of the romance of learning a language has faded…
But, it gets resuscitated when ‘curious cute girls’ sit next to me and hear my American accent. ;) Then, tou va bien! Ca fait du bien!
I am being a little dramatic because it’s not that bad but reality has arrived. I can’t say that I fully underestimated the experience but there is only so much I can know while being on the outside looking in. It’s better this way. I, like jazz, live in the unknown and enjoy the ‘pressure’ ‘improvisation’ but now it’s time to develop my voice!
I have made it a point not to be afraid of speaking, NO MATTER WHAT! Even in crowds, even if I know I will mis-pronounce something, it’s necessary that I keep trying and putting myself out there. Like today, a fellow classmate and I ate lunch together (her name is Emily and she’s from Texas, who knew that so many Texans loved French and anything besides Texas ) and 3 French students sat at our table. And well, a conversation began and it seemed like the words were flowing like water albeit I had some mishaps in pronunciation. I’m grateful for those opportunities. They said that we spoke well so I guess some work is paying off. Voila!
Manners & wardrobe
Everywhere I go everyone is well-dressed. School, shopping, grocery shopping, laundry cleaning whatever it is well over 90 % of people I see are well dressed. I’m not talking about ‘trendy’ but dressed with a respect for themselves. That’s what I call it what would you call it?
I like it.
Also, politeness is everywhere. Guys (men) being polite works! ;) Every store that you enter ‘Bonjour’ and when you leave ‘Merci. Bonne journee’ with a smile. I dig it.
I like it.
Also, politeness is everywhere. Guys (men) being polite works! ;) Every store that you enter ‘Bonjour’ and when you leave ‘Merci. Bonne journee’ with a smile. I dig it.
roses my friend it's like roses...
Every so often I stop and think about where I am at and remind myself that I am in France. Of course it brings a smile to my face it also fills me up with inspiration to write stuff like this and to want to scratch away on a guitar. But since I don’t have a guitar I guess you have to write these words…
It isn’t all roses here BUT beautiful roses are growing all around me in the warm sun shine that warms us between divinely inspired mountains as people live the lives that they’ve been fortunate to live. Sometimes the roses cry out and say “Stop and notice me” and on other occasions they needn’t say anything...
It isn’t all roses BUT beautiful roses are growing all around me as I learn what it means to be French, what it means to be me, what it means to be 25, young, hungry, unsatisfied and in France…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me and I am able to see them and say thank God for them thank God for HIM and thank God for this experience…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me as I walk these beautiful cobblestone streets glancing at beautiful people living, loving, and hopefully serving…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me in the midst of beautiful change…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me, giving me a reason to smile, giving me a reason to stop and look, to stop and look up, to stop and think a second, to stop and…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me and telling me “Once you break through the ground it’s only a matter of time”…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me so let me grow and not think, let me live and not worry, let me love FIRST and not hold back…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me and I am sorry that you can’t see them, can’t smell them, can’t feel their worth, can’t grasp their intricateness…
but hey I gotta live…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me as I am here in this country of beauty, history, and intrigue being myself and being intrigued by her…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me…
It isn’t all roses here BUT beautiful roses are growing all around me in the warm sun shine that warms us between divinely inspired mountains as people live the lives that they’ve been fortunate to live. Sometimes the roses cry out and say “Stop and notice me” and on other occasions they needn’t say anything...
It isn’t all roses BUT beautiful roses are growing all around me as I learn what it means to be French, what it means to be me, what it means to be 25, young, hungry, unsatisfied and in France…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me and I am able to see them and say thank God for them thank God for HIM and thank God for this experience…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me as I walk these beautiful cobblestone streets glancing at beautiful people living, loving, and hopefully serving…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me in the midst of beautiful change…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me, giving me a reason to smile, giving me a reason to stop and look, to stop and look up, to stop and think a second, to stop and…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me and telling me “Once you break through the ground it’s only a matter of time”…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me so let me grow and not think, let me live and not worry, let me love FIRST and not hold back…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me and I am sorry that you can’t see them, can’t smell them, can’t feel their worth, can’t grasp their intricateness…
but hey I gotta live…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me as I am here in this country of beauty, history, and intrigue being myself and being intrigued by her…
It isn’t all roses BUT roses are growing all around me…
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Probation…thank you Alex C.
Probation…thank you Alex C.
That's the life that I am living now. Probation!!!! An existence of scrutiny and detail oriented behavior. Life has become something more meaningful in the light of being in a foreign country. Life has become
….life!!!!
Everyday I live as if the tables are against me! As if something new and exciting awaits me…
No wait that’s too typical…
Hmm…
Hmm… wait… I have no words to actually describe this experience but unlike probation you DO want to be under this scrutiny.
Everything I do in the house and everywhere I go when people learn that I’m this or that different from them I sense the weight of eyes beginning to take hold of me. I might just be writing typical thoughts but the experience is anything but typical. The only typical experience is that of uncomfortableness.
Hmm…
…probation…
…watch what I say
…ask for everything
…be careful always. The life of any study abroad student.
That's the life that I am living now. Probation!!!! An existence of scrutiny and detail oriented behavior. Life has become something more meaningful in the light of being in a foreign country. Life has become
….life!!!!
Everyday I live as if the tables are against me! As if something new and exciting awaits me…
No wait that’s too typical…
Hmm…
Hmm… wait… I have no words to actually describe this experience but unlike probation you DO want to be under this scrutiny.
Everything I do in the house and everywhere I go when people learn that I’m this or that different from them I sense the weight of eyes beginning to take hold of me. I might just be writing typical thoughts but the experience is anything but typical. The only typical experience is that of uncomfortableness.
Hmm…
…probation…
…watch what I say
…ask for everything
…be careful always. The life of any study abroad student.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
What a city! And, what a city?
What a city! And, what a city?
I’ve been listening to my fellow classmates’s remarks about being ready to get to Grenoble and slow down and this that and the other but me, I’ve thought just the opposite. I’ve thought, I love seeing different people everyday on the subway and looking at them with emotionless glances, stares, and more. I thoroughly enjoy taking the subway and living according to it’s schedule. Walking, is a friend whom I hope to bond with. The feel of a big city like this yells at me to come along and enjoy. Now, I’m aware of the problems and I’m aware that I’m unaware of the problems but that’s anywhere and everywhere I go. However, I can agree with Ernest Hemingway that ‘where ever you go Paris will stay with you’. But the problem now, is, I need more Paris!!! I understand that France is more than just Paris and that Paris is not France or French, but I’ve only learned about Paris through sights and attractions but not through the people who are the life and blood of the vibe of Paris. I would love to do a semester in Paris and then another semester in Grenoble and see the comparisons of life. One could be more relaxed and the other more stressful?! One could be less friendly and the other the opposite?! However, an overwhelming amount of Parisenne’s smiled at me, spoke to me, offered to speak in English and they were patient! Very different stories from what I was told. Very different vibe than what I was told. I’m beginning to get to a place in my life where I say ‘N’importe quoi!!!’ to people blowing smoke out of their behinds about what they don’t know!!!!! I wonder when and where did they decide to stop learning, stop seeking understanding?!
The last few nights I have been blessed with the images of moutains, parks, subway experiences (like the amazing ensemble playing. Man, they were AMAZING and people stopped and watched. I need/want that where ever I live!!!) beautiful architecture, paintings and sculptures. Paris is everwhere now but now I’m in Grenoble and so far I’ve been fortunate to leave Paris behind and enjoy the here and now. But, not necessarily leave her behind but use her to remind to find the small beauties where ever I am at. I’m patiently waiting until the next time!!!!
I’ve been listening to my fellow classmates’s remarks about being ready to get to Grenoble and slow down and this that and the other but me, I’ve thought just the opposite. I’ve thought, I love seeing different people everyday on the subway and looking at them with emotionless glances, stares, and more. I thoroughly enjoy taking the subway and living according to it’s schedule. Walking, is a friend whom I hope to bond with. The feel of a big city like this yells at me to come along and enjoy. Now, I’m aware of the problems and I’m aware that I’m unaware of the problems but that’s anywhere and everywhere I go. However, I can agree with Ernest Hemingway that ‘where ever you go Paris will stay with you’. But the problem now, is, I need more Paris!!! I understand that France is more than just Paris and that Paris is not France or French, but I’ve only learned about Paris through sights and attractions but not through the people who are the life and blood of the vibe of Paris. I would love to do a semester in Paris and then another semester in Grenoble and see the comparisons of life. One could be more relaxed and the other more stressful?! One could be less friendly and the other the opposite?! However, an overwhelming amount of Parisenne’s smiled at me, spoke to me, offered to speak in English and they were patient! Very different stories from what I was told. Very different vibe than what I was told. I’m beginning to get to a place in my life where I say ‘N’importe quoi!!!’ to people blowing smoke out of their behinds about what they don’t know!!!!! I wonder when and where did they decide to stop learning, stop seeking understanding?!
The last few nights I have been blessed with the images of moutains, parks, subway experiences (like the amazing ensemble playing. Man, they were AMAZING and people stopped and watched. I need/want that where ever I live!!!) beautiful architecture, paintings and sculptures. Paris is everwhere now but now I’m in Grenoble and so far I’ve been fortunate to leave Paris behind and enjoy the here and now. But, not necessarily leave her behind but use her to remind to find the small beauties where ever I am at. I’m patiently waiting until the next time!!!!
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