Don't Think Twice It's Alright

It’s been a while since we last talked (over twenty days to be exact), but I’ll try too fill y’all in the best that I can.  I originally envisioned this post being a lot longer.  However, procrastination took its toll and as a result this post is more abbreviated than originally planned.  Next post will be better and more thorough…pinky promise.  As usual an introduction followed by the top ten things that have caught my eye.

One of my favorite writers, Matthew Berry of ESPN.com, posted an article a few weekends ago titled ‘A Little Faith Goes A Long Way.’  In it he talks about not giving up on underperforming players on your fantasy football team since the season just started.  Now wait, this isn’t a fantasy football post, so don’t go back to Facebook just yet.  I'll explain.    

Every time we travel somewhere there is a wonder, mystique that we associate with the place:  Cairo for its mysterious pyramids; New York as the city that never sleeps; and Paris as the city of love.  In some way all of those descriptions are true, but when visiting these great cities we are never given the time to truly LIVE while there.  As study abroad students I think we fail to realize this upon arrival.  Our romantic ideas about each location hide the fact that where we live now is a lot different from home.  I can’t change someone's thinking to fit the way I think something should be done.  It’s impossible.  There are some things we can never change, whether it's

Michael Vick getting injured.  Photo courtesy of Detroitnews.com

bustling Parisians in the Metro.  Photo courtesy of Matternetwork.com

or the people we love.  Photo courtesy of Newyorktimes.com

How do you cope then?  Live your life and work around it, but given time maybe you get lucky and people will surprise you.  It just takes perseverance.  Now onto the juicy stuff i.e. the top ten.

1) Forget getting around the city via the Metro.  It’s too hot and beyond crowded during rush hour.  Besides, what better way to explore a city than on a bike?  The Velib bike service provided by the city is an awesome, inexpensive alternative to really see the city.  Words of warning: this is not for the weak of heart i.e. crazy, Parisian motorists.

Velib station in my arrondissment.

 2) I had always wanted to have a host family before coming abroad and to this day I don’t regret it.  Granted, it can be difficult at times talking to them because of the constant worry of making mistakes, but I think all study abroad students have that anxiety.  Anyhow, last Saturday night we celebrated Laurence’s birthday…French style.  I probably understood about half of what everyone was talking about, but hot dog it was a lot of fun.  We started out with champagne and then moved into the dining room for crayfish (langouste).  This was followed by duck and then a selection of cheeses with wine and finally cake.  It really was a night to remember. 

3) I was able to make it to Germany for several days to visit an old friend.  I didn’t know what to expect going over, but let’s just say I didn’t want to come back.  What a great, beautiful country.  Paris is great, but at the end of the day I’ll take the small villages over a sprawling city.  

Jaca and I at the top of Kolner Dom in Koln.

 4) Just a little tid bit, but it’s interesting to see what the Parisians wear on a day-to-day basis.  It has been abnormally hot here for September (70s to 80s, I know, I shouldn’t be complaining), yet I still see people bundle up with coats and scarves…even on the furnace that is the Metro.

5) Well, two interviews later and it’s looking like a no go when it comes to working at the Ralph Lauren on Saint Germaine (i.e. the dream store).  I think it came down to my ability to speak French, and frankly my level of fluency isn’t where it should be to work there.  This is the guy who mistakenly pronounced canard (duck) as connard (***hole) at the dinner table. However, it was great to have the opportunity to even GET an interview.  Fingers crossed I hit the ball next time it comes my way.  In the mean time, I’ve been reading Wikipedia articles in French to improve my fluency.  It’s really cool to see the street you live on has its own Wikipedia article.  Good stuff!

6) School is just NOW about to start on Monday for me, which is kind of frustrating.  I miss the feeling of what all of you are experiencing right now with exams.  Anyhow, my school, Paris VIII, looks like it came straight out of the 60s.  The only real presence of a student organization I’ve seen on campus is the communist club and their posters declaring that capitalism is dead…and we all thought UT was liberal.

And we thought the PCL looked bad.

 7) My buddy Lucas and I went to visit Château Fontainebleu which is 30 minutes outside of Paris by train.  Pictures below.

Lucas and I in front of the château.

Wouldn't y'all like to have this as your backyard?

8) The bars here are quite the places to go for students.  Last night a few friends and I went to a bar called The Wall in the Latin Quarter.  How cool was this place?  Well before leaving we were treated to a student who busted out his guitar and started playing jams to songs by Bob Dylan and the Beatles.  Obviously everyone sang along.

9) Speaking of bars, Paris does have some that caters to us roudy Americans who love football.  Another exchange student, David who goes to University of Wisconsin, and I went to a South African bar to watch the Eagles play.  It was bittersweet, no just bitter, because the Eagles lost and Michael Vick got injured, again (see introduction).  Nevertheless it was a lot of fun.

10) Haircuts here are expensive.  Jim’s Barbershop where are you with your 10 dollar haircuts when I need them?  20 Euros is NOT a bargain for a buzz cut.

So there you have it gang.  I’ll try to update this baby each week.  Thanks for reading and I hope all of you are doing well.  If you're interested in reading the Matthew Berry article I mentioned, click here.  Just read the intro as the rest is about fantasy football. 

Song of the blog:  Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright – Bob Dylan