Class-on-class-on-class

Paris 7, my university for the semester.

 Where does the time go, yikes! It is already Monday night of my second week of school here, and my classes are half amazing half scaring the crap out of me.  All of my classes at the Madeleine Center are extremely interesting: a class on Language and Culture where the prof, who happens to be hilarious, just tells us why French people are crazy, a class on the French equivalent of separation of Church and State (they are much better at it than the U.S.), and a class on the methodology at French universities, which is actually not as great but very useful considering most of my grades will depend on large papers or presentations that I don't know how to do.  My classes at Paris 7 are another story: last week I went to three, but the history of cinema class will be substituted with a class on T.V. series and prequels/sequels, mainly because I sat in the history class for three hours and understood about three sentences.  One of the most overwhelming class periods of my life.  On Friday, though, I had a class on Hollywood cinema that was excellent with an awesome prof that I actually understood, probably because he only talked about movies from Hollywood in the 70's, with a large focus on my man George Lucas.

I like this building...

As for cultural life (teehee), I am now a member of the public pool system, meaning for three months I can go to any of the public pools (there are 38!) and swim laps during given hours, all for only 19 euros, quite the deal.  The problem is, everyone else knows it is a deal and swimming there is like swimming behind an army of kids who just learned to swim; i.e. extremely frustrating.  But I'm getting in the pool, which is great-ish.

Went to a club last Thursday night that had free entry for all study abroad kids in Paris, so there were quite the interesting characters from quite interesting countries.  We stayed out past the metro and I had to walk about three miles home, which turned into five miles since I started in the wrong direction and didn't realize it until I was at a metro stop that I know is across the city from my apartment.  I caved in and took a taxi; my feet were hurting.  Friday night I got to hang out with some seriously chill guys my age from the south of france, and Saturday night might have been my favorite night in Paris so far.  JBrown and I spent three hours hanging out in a metro stop listening to a guy from Bulgaria play guitar (he was really good) and talking to a lady from Kenya, a man from Portugal, a guy from London, a girl from Paris, and a really drunk guy from the south of France.  It was like a great dinner party with a great show, all for less than five euros since the cheese and meat we were eating were from Monoprix (the Albertson's of Paris). Actually made the metro this time (not impressive considering the party was in a metro station).

A blister I've had since day four that just grows and grows!

Sunday, I decided to check out a flea market I had read about.  I was skeptical at first, but boy was I happy when I realized it was basically the Parisian equivalent of the Orange County Swap Meet.  Of course, I didn't buy anything even though the prices were twice as cheap as anywhere else in Paris; I just didn't need anything.  It ended with me having to leave because the temp was approaching 0 degrees Celsius and my nose was running like Usain Bolt.  Also, I learned a valuable lesson: speaking with someone who is worse than I am at french is twice as hard as speaking with someone who is fluent.  I went to order a simple panini from a vendor at the Marché de Montreuil, and he instead gave me a gigantic sandwich with fries and a drink.  Confused, I just paid and ate it, and like all food here it was delicious. More classes this week, send me french vibes cause I need to be on my game if I actually plan on being able to take notes!

Like the orange county swap meet... but sketchier. And not as beach-y. Yes, that dude is picking his nose.

School of hard knocks

So, I went to my first class at an actual Parisian University today... yikes. Let's just say it was three hours of scribbling, as I struggled to understand her french while she seemed to try to cover the entire history of cinema in one class period.  Besides struggling a bit, it was very interesting and great to be back in a real class.  I have had a couple classes at the Madeleine Center for Middlebury, but those are much more discussion based with teachers that want to get to know you.  My Language and Culture professor was particularly interesting: within five minutes of entering class yesterday I was called out twice for my American sitting habits.  But, turns out he is just an aggressive guy that is also an awesome teacher.  Midway through class he decided that we should just go to an art exhibit and took us to an expo on Sempé, a french cartoonist who has drawn the cover of the New Yorker at least 20 times and makes sure everyone knows how dumb he thinks they are in his drawings and comics.  My favorite expo so far!
Place de la Concorde is an amazing open square where every big street in Paris converges, and just standing on the outskirts gives you the goosebumps.  After class yesterday I decided to really check it out, and had trouble leaving.  Sure, it is touristy, but with good reason: it is worth seeing.

Besides my first real class today I had L'as du Falafel, which I have heard from just about everyone I have talked to is the place to find the best falafel sandwiches in the world.  Not being one to buy the hype, but being one who likes food, I finally broke down and went... Wow. I just stood on a street corner and ate it, because doing anything other than that seemed to cheat the sandwich.  Already planning a return trip.  Going to a class that I don't plan on taking but want to check out tomorrow; problem is it is at 9. Ugh. And then another class that I have to take at 1. No one said studying abroad would actually include studying...

The Ominous Obelisk, as I like to call it... 

Champs-Élysées with l'Arc de Triomphe at the end!

Goodnight from Paris!

Fully oriented?

Due to the fact that orientation week at Middlebury is done, it seems we are completely ready to enter the Parisian school system.  Someone needs to check those figures because classes start tomorrow and I happen to be a bit nervous.  Luckily, though, with school comes structure, and as dorky as it sounds I could use some structure right now; using the excuse that it is my first week in Paris to just wander and not really do anything is no longer valid.  Tomorrow, I plan on at least walking the Promenade Plantée if not more outdoor exploration; I'm done with classes at noon and needing some good sights.  

Went swimming at Piscine Roger le Gall today, and already got yelled at.  Apparently, it is necessary to wear a swim cap, so the lifeguard came over and scolded me for not wearing one.  Luckily he was nice enough to give me one so that I did not have to stop after 7 minutes of swimming.  Found out two things: I hate having to swim 50 meters (but I already knew that), and outdoor pools are far superior to indoor pools (for the most part).

Petite histoire (little story): Friday night, I had dinner with my host mom, my host brother, one of his friends (who is a female but not his girlfriend) and her mom.  Her mom speaks a ton of languages, but french is not one of them, so she used English for most of the night.  My host mom, on the other hand, speaks very little english but is obviously fluent in french.  What came to pass could have been a scene in a movie: at any given time someone was left out and not understanding, giving off a blank stare and smiling, something I am very familiar with. Luckily it wasn't that awkward and we still tried to let the conversation flow, so I'd mark the night as a success and quite the different experience from what I'm used to.  Also, sauerkraut is much better than I thought...

Saturday consisted of some test taking, some café chillin, some gyro eating, some more café chillin, and a photo expo for Paul Strand's Mexico in the 30's portfolio.  Twas delightful.

It'll be strange starting a new semester not at Pomona; get to get lost on the way to my first class all over again!

À la prochaine fois!

Les aventures...

Sunset from my window

Entrance... to the Abercrombie and Fitch store? Ridiculous.

Munchin on dem baguettes a lot.  Living in Paris is similar to carbo-loading before a big swim meet, but doing it at every meal every day.  But, considering every single piece of bread or bread-like thing that I have eaten has been très excellente, I don't mind it at all.  Started orientation yesterday! Met up with all the cool peeps  at Middlebury, and so far it has been great.  Because of the language pledge we signed, we only speak french to each other but that hasn't seemed to stop the getting-to-know-people process; just slowing it down a bit.  Aside from that, I took another personal excursion after orientation yesterday, this time to la Tour Eiffel! Despite the many pictures I have seen of the Eiffel Tower, it was still breathtaking.  Quite the modern marvel.  Also, it was great seeing all of the strange poses people choose when taking a pic with it.  Then, I visited l'Arc de Triomphe, and it is quite amazing how such a strong symbol for the French can also be on the most commercialized street in France, avenue des Champs-Élysées.

I see London I see France I see the Eiffel Tower's underpants...

 

La Seine

My only purchase, new whip!

Just in case the Gap is robbed...

L'Arc de Triomphe

  Shopped around a bit but in typical Cody fashion decided to pass actually buying anything besides a much needed scarf from the Gap.  I'm sorry, Ryan Gosling from Crazy Stupid Love: in Paris it's hard to be better than the Gap cause everything else is realllll expensive. Some obligatory Eiffel Tower pics (but because I was alone I didn't have the chance to make any ridiculous poses...).

We'll meet again, I'm sure...

Princess Street

Centre Pompidou: C'est assez importante...

Sacre-Coeur on its hill. So impressive.

Got that phone numba yeeeee.  So now, I'm mobile and ready to make french friends... or just have a blast going around Paris with a bunch of Americans.  Which is exactly what I ended up doing! After a solo visit to the Sacre-Coeur (very impressive, but also so many other tourists!), I met up with some Pomona-ites and some new friends from Middlebury, Bowdoin, and CMC.  After some serious Louvre entryway chillin (how does one properly pose with two pyramids? we couldn't figure it out...) and a free Jazz-Improv concert for the ages (one of the strangest things I've ever seen: picture an old video game soundtrack slowed down and remixed with nails and a broken fan), we grabbed dinner and set off on the town, ending up chilling on Rue de Princesse, getting late night crepes, and meeting some cool french bros.

failed to catch an awkward pose; there were many

A success of a night, and I made it back in time for the metro and didn't have to walk home in a city I just arrived in. Lazy Sunday and then it's Orientation time tomorrow. Kinda forgot I also have to attend school, I could get used to this wandering around Paris and people watching all day thing I got going.

Hey look it's San Francisco!

The aliens have landed... in Paris?

Walking in circles

Today, after a very late wake up time and a slow breakfast (jet lag is not a myth), I set off! Although I had no specific destination in mind, there is so much to see that just walking down a street suffices as a successful day.  After buying un carnet (ten metro tickets), I set off toward the Jardin de Luxembourg, where I watched some bros play tennis and just wandered.  

Le jardin de Luxembourg. Some Eiffel Tower action in the background

After some major chillin, I hit up the Cathédrale de Notre Dame and stepped inside for a bit. WOW. I do my best to not be too obvious of a tourist, but at places like that you actually fit in better acting like a tourist.  

While chillin on a chevre sandwich a bit later, I strolled around le Centre Pompidou; easily my favorite area so far.  

Pour 3 euros? Bien sûr!

For all of these places, because I feared getting lost, I would just walk around the block to keep the metro stop in sight.  Got dizzy walking in circles all day.

I passed on le promenade plantée, I nice walkway near my apartment, due to a chilly breeze that had persisted all day.  I returned home, attempted to go back out (with a coat) to buy a phone card (but failed due to a 7 oclock closing time), and had a wonderful dinner with Marlène, my host mother.  For not even being awake for 12 hours, it was a great day.

À la prochaine fois!

I wrote this record while 30,000 feet in the air...

My row-mate is passed out and the two small children across from me are crying.  My boy Hugh Jackman was on screen in his Oscar winning role as a fake boxer in “Real Steel,” but they shut the movie off. Killin me Iberia Airlines! Also, I was trying to catch the sunrise over the Atlantic but an older sassy lady that lives in Spain was trying to sleep, and she had window privileges.  Borrrrinnggg.

Anywho, jump to later on, first flight went great (minus my butt being in serious pain), second flight was okay, and then, right after I picked up my bags, I caught a break! A girl in her mid-twenties and her guy friend were on both flights with me, and through a series of half-French, half-English convos they found out that I basically had no idea how I was getting from the airport to my host family.  So, they showed me how to do the metro thing, I rode with them half way to their destination and split off, and voilà, I’m sitting in my new room without having to pay taxi fares.  New friends on day one, noice!

Goodnight!

Chillin chillin, posted posted

With the 24 hours-until-airport mark come and gone, I figured the only way to delay useful actions even more would be to get my blog started.  I am departing my household at 2:25 pm tomorrow for LAX, which will (hopefully) allow me to go to Madrid for a slight layover before my final hop to Paris, where I should land around 6:20 pm their time (or should I say 18h20?).  French feels rusty-ish, bags aren't packed, letters aren't written, and gifts aren't all purchased.  In other words, doing this trip my way.  From this blog, expect semi-routine updates, pictures of interesting strangers, obligatory Eiffel Tower shots, jumbled commentary, and everything in between.  Dunno if I'm ready, but its here anyway.  Around six o'clock tomorrow night I'll be stanky leggin it all the way across the Atlantic.
À bientôt, Paris!