Ma Vie en France

This post is so long that I split it up into different sections. Look at the heading and decide what you’re interested in reading about. I’m sorry, but I’ve had a problem with writing (and talking) too much forever. There is no changing me, and I won’t be offended if you skim. P.S. There are pictures!

French Class

Today was my second day of class at Alliance Francaise here in Paris. I have 20 hours of French a week. That’s French class from 9-1 Monday through Friday. It’s a little exhausting. But, I like my teacher. She is in her late twenties, early thirties… and your typical French woman: skinny, practical, fashionable but not trendy. She also has that great French sense of humor.

There are two other DePaul students in my class. The rest of the students are from all over the globe. I have a Swedish friend named Mimi. There are people from England, Germany, Brazil, Mexico and probably other places as well. There are also two nuns from an island that I’ve never heard of, but I think it’s off of India. There’s a random mix of ages also, although almost everyone is older than me.
This is the first French class I’ve taken where I don’t feel like a complete idiot. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that it’s basically all review for me. I was definitely placed in the wrong class. But, I’m not worried about it. The practice is really what I need… not more lessons on grammar techniques that I’m not comfortable applying in conversation. The four hours feels like a long time, but with such a mix of cultures and native languages humor often ensues.

The Alliance Francaise

Art Class

Yesterday, I had my first art class. We’re studying impressionism. The professor is another great French lady. But, she’s older and very serious about teaching us art. She says she’s going to “train the eye”. So, we’ll see what that involves. I was worried about the tests in this class, because I heard they were killer. But, they’re essay format. So, my hand will probably hurt after writing so much (1 six page essay in class!), but it’s something I can handle if I prepare. We’re going to spend 3 hours at the Louvre on Friday. It will be interesting, but exhausting. The 2 hours of lecture on Monday was exhausting, so I can’t imagine what 3 hours of lecture, observing and walking will be like. Hopefully we’ll have enough energy left to do something fun afterwards on Friday night. I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures in the Louvre!

Vincentian Tour

Yesterday, between French and art classes we took a tour of the St. Vincent DePaul Chapel. Not being Catholic I wasn’t all that excited about it. But, the building itself was cool, and we heard some interesting history about not only DePaul, but Paris. We also went to St. Sulpice… a really old, really huge, really gorgeous church. They still have mass in all of these old churches… which is cool, but also weird when tourists (like myself) are filing in and out and taking pictures in a place of worship.

The St. Vincent DePaul Chapel. The people in this picture are looking at what is basically fragments of SVDP's skull placed in a wax figure of SVDP enclosed in a "tomb".... I think. Also, this Chapel was restored in the 198os and the French goveernment had to approve all details to ensure that the restoration was done true to the original. Interesting.

Le Bon Marche

Today after class I ate lunch at the Pomme de Pain. It’s the French equivalent of Cosi or Panera. I got a chicken and veggie sandwich thinking that it would be healthier than the typical Parisian ham and cheese on a baguette, but it had mayonnaise on it! It was so tasty, but also fattening- like most food in France. So far, I’ve liked all the food given to me by my host family. The craziest thing I ate was almost-raw steak. I couldn’t refuse it, because I didn’t want to be impolite. So, I ate a little. It was actually pretty good, but it kind of freaked me out at the same time! Hah! Some of my friends have been offered leg of lamb and pate by their families.

After Pomme de Pain we went to Le Bon Marche. Le Bon Marche is the oldest department store in the world, that’s right ladies and gentlemen, the first ever department store. At Le Bon Marche- a.k.a. the mother ship- I realized how much I hate the exchange rate. There was some cool stuff, some of it was even on sale… most of it was way expensive designer. But even things that sort of sounded affordable were not after I reminded myself to translate into dollars. Not only do I have to translate French to English, I have to translate Euros to dollars. But, I still had fun looking around the store with mes amies. There were some truly amazing hats. After that I walked home, passed by some cheaper stores (there is hope for my French shopping experience!) and got lost (of course).

Host Family

I think I finally have my host family dynamic (sort of) figured out. I still don’t know if Madame Serra and Flavien are married… I think they are. But, he doesn’t live here during the week. He works as a stock trader and (if I understand correctly) has an apartment on the other side of Paris. It would probably take him an hour or so each way to commute, but lots of people do that… so it’s a little strange that he doesn’t live here. The guy I met on the first day is definitely their son. I don’t think he lives here, but he was here for dinner today. I think his name is Flavien also, but maybe I’m wrong. I spoke a lot at dinner today… and Madame Serra told me where there are stores pas trop chere (not very expensive!). Also, I ate more rare steak today… today’s was cooked a little more and it was so good. I like it. I’m ashamed haha.

Their family seems to be very close. On Sunday they had all of their nieces and nephews over for lunch. I met them all in an overwhelming series of introductions, from which I remember no names. Madame Serra is very kind, and I think Flavien really likes me. It is so nice to be liked by a French person. I barely speak any French. So all I do is nod, smile and say things like yes and okay. My attempts at full sentences are usually pathetic. On Sunday one of their nephews stayed for dinner and the conversations that he and Flavien had seemed very interesting. They are almost debates or friendly arguments over who knows what. I know they talked about iPods, lesbians, marijuana and Canada haha. They seem to enjoy the conversations so much! I wish I could participate in the conversations… you all know how I love to argue (maybe not especially about pot or lesbians… but in general haha).

Overall, I really like my host family. At dinner I get to practice my French and eat good food, but before and after I have a lot of privacy. Over all—trés bien!

Les Photos

My room in Paris! It's comfy and cozy and all mine...

Bikes In the Courtyard of La Chappelle de St. Vincent Depaul

A plaque commemorating the death of a soldier at this spot during the Resistance (WWII). The French are big on history and not forgetting.... I wish I'd taken the time to take a better picture... but that's side of my prof's head in the front hah...



A hospital that was used from the 1500s until 1999. The French don't like to waste... anything. And in Paris space is a hot commodity. Apparently they're making a bunch of these old buildings into condos.

C'est tout!! I love and miss you all!! xoxo

Home Sweet Home

It is morning in Paris… I’m in my bed again. Feeling a little sleepy, and not exactly sure what time it is. Last night was France’s equivalent of Daylight Savings Time. So, it is currently either 9, 10, or 11 am. I’m hoping it’s 10. I’m going to wait until I don’t hear any more noise coming from the kitchen, and then go have a tasty French breakfast. But for now, I’m avoiding awkward conversations in a language I don’t speak by informing all of you about my living arrangement… So, here we go.

Yesterday: After dragging my approximately 100lbs of luggage all over Paris, I arrived at the home of Madame Jeannine Serra around 1:30pm. Madame Serra is in her early/mid 60s. This is just a guess. It's hard to tell with these French women. She's very thin, very healthy looking. Her hair is reddish, short, practical, but perfectly in place. But, her face shows her age. When I arrived I met another foreign student who was living here named Yoko, from Japan. I say was living here because she left as soon as I arrived. I also met another guy who I believe lives here, but I'm not exactly sure. I only understand about half of what is said to me. I didn't hear his name, and I don't know if he is her son or another foreign student.

The inside of the apartment is .... interesting.... haha. The decor hasn't been changed since the early 70s. But, everything is very clean, comfortable and nice. It reminds me a little bit of my Grandma Omer's house, but just in that it is very inviting, but dated. The apartment isn't large, but isn't small either. My room is a nice size... About the same size as my room in McCabe, only it's just me here! I have a desk, closet, drawers and shelves. There is plenty of room for all of my things. My bed is a bunk bed, but no one else will live in this room. I'm sleeping on the bottom bunk and the bed is a little bit bigger than a twin size, but smaller than my big bed at home. I feel like the room was planned out in a very French way. Maybe I'm wrong but this is the perception that I have. It's sort of like someone issued of check list of things necessary in a bedroom: closet, hangers, drawers, desk, shelves, mirror. It seems as though it was done very methodically. Everything that is necessary is here, nothing is missing, and there is nothing extra. It's interesting, but I'm very comfortable and thankful for my living arrangement.

After being shown around the apartment I unpacked my clothes and did a little setting up. Then, Madame Serra took me for a tour of the neighborhood. The apartment is in what appears to be a very lovely part of Paris. It is in south eastern Paris, on the northern bank of the river Seine. The apartment building is on the Rue de Bercy. From the outside it looks very nice, lots of grass and trees. I'll try and take a picture soon. It is very close to the Parc Bercy. The Parc Bercy (if I understood correctly) is the largest park in the eastern part of Paris. It has lots of flower gardens, gorgeous trees, soccer fields, a skateboard park, jungle gyms for children and just about anything else you could imagine in a park. There is also an outdoor shopping center and a movie theater in the middle. There is a walking bridge that goes from the Parc Bercy across the Seine. On the other side of the river there is la Bibliothèque Nationale (the National Library) and a swimming pool. At the north end of the park there is a large sports arena. It looks fairly new and is an interesting looking building. Maybe I'll take pictures of the Park this afternoon, if it doesn’t rain. This map isn't the best, but it sort of shows you the neighborhood I'm in. The parc is the green rectangle by the river with Palais Omnisports written on top of it. The Palais Omnisports is the orange dot at the top right hand corner of the green rectangle. I live on the street that is covered by words, parellel to the park and parallel to the Seine. The metro stop I'll use is marked Gare de Bercy.

After the tour of the neighborhood and park, we returned to the apartment. I checked my e-mail and decided to just lie with my eyes closed for a minute. I, of course, promptly fell asleep. It was just a little embarrassing when Madame Serra came in to wake me up for dinner haha. At dinner there was another person I hadn’t yet met. His name is Monseiur Flavien. I'm not sure if he is married to Madame Serra or what is going on there. Neither of them wore wedding rings... and he looks a lot like an older version of the other guy I met this afternoon, so perhaps that man is Monseiur Flavien's son. There are pictures on the wall of people, but I didn't want to overtly snoop... so I'll have to wait until I’m alone to figure that all out. Also, I don't know where these other bedrooms are, because so far I've only seen one other besides my own. Although, I think it is probably typical French to not show a guest rooms in the house where there presence isn’t necessary. And that’s fine… I’m just curious as to where they even are.

Dinner was very nice. It was definitely a little taste of what my French teachers called "l'art de la table" (or something like that). We ate at a very leisurely pace, with lots of conversation. Well, I'm not sure you could call what I did "conversing"... I think smiling and nodding is the more appropriate name for it. I attempted a few full sentences in French, but it was exhausting. I understand about half of what they were saying. I feel like we talked about a lot, especially considering I don't speak the language. We talked about Chicago, Springfield, horses, cheese, Lincoln, peanut butter, Obama, Clinton, McCain, Sarkzoy, conserving water and electricity, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Alaska. I found out that Flavien works as a stock trader. He asked me what I thought the dollar would do. I told him I thought it would get worse, but then get better... at least that's what I wanted to say. What I could understand of the conversation was very interesting. What I couldn't understand was probably also interesting...

We started out the meal with something similar to cold couscous. It was really good, kind of spicy. Then we had pork and green beans. They eat pork with a type of mustard. It was good. Madame Serra asked me if there was anything I didn't like to eat. I said no, because really- it's true. I eat anything. Then she named off some meats... and she got to lapin. Lapin is rabbit. And I have known since my 4H days that people eat rabbit. And, I would probably like rabbit if I tried it.... but I don't really want to try it.... because they are bunnies and I love them and I'm just not going to eat them unless I'm starving or something.

For dessert we had cheese, baguette, wine and clementines. So delicious. I’m going to get so fat! I ate so much cheese! I can’t remember what all the different types were all called... but I remember that I didn't really like the goat cheese haha. I ate it all anyways because I didn't want them to think I was wasteful. Not being wasteful is very big with the French. After dinner I watched a little bit of what is the equivalent of either PBS or the History Channel with Flavien. It was about Joan of Arc. I felt like I was at home, with my dad who doesn't like to waste food, water or electricity and loves the History Channel. When I excused myself to go to bed, it was 10:30pm already. We spent 2 and a half hours eating dinner.... crazy.

Bonjour!

Hello family, friends and creepy people who possibly stumbled upon this on the world wide web!

I am writing to you from Paris. I'm sitting in my bed, in my new Parisian home. My stomach is full of tasty French food (lots of cheese!) and I'm feeling quite sleepy and tres contente.

I decided that a blog would be the best way to keep everyone updated on my adventures abroad. I would love to hear from all of you as well. So, if you want to tell me how much you miss me and how you wish you were here with me you can leave a comment, or better yet e-mail me at ROmer1104@aol.com.

I arrived in Paris around 8:30am on Thursday the 27th. I didn't sleep at all on the plane, but I think I avoided any serious jet lag by staying awake until about 9pm the first night. The first two nights I stayed with other DePaul students in a hotel near the school I will be attending. I was very thankful to have other English speakers around me! I came to France and forgot all my French.... I'm hoping I'll remember some of it when class starts on Monday. For now, all I say is "D'accord" (okay), "oui", and "Je ne comprend pas" (I don't understand).


The first day involved lots of waiting around to check into the hotel. I made friends with the other DePaul students on the trip. There's about 15 of us... and everyone seems pretty nice. I think we'll have fun together. The first day we went out for food together. I had some of the best hot chocolate of my life. I swear they melted the chocolate right there in the restaurant and added a little cream and served it to us. Delicious.

Yesterday (the second day), we had orientation at l'Alliance Francais (the school where we'll be taking French classes). It was very short and not very helpful. I did receive my student ID and class schedule. I'll be taking 20 hours of French a week. I'm a little bummed about this. Especially since the DePaul credit I'll receive is the same as if I were taking 6 hours of French a week. Most other students are in the same position as me. If I was in a more advanced level then I would only have to take 9 hours a week, but still just receive credit for 6. It's a little bizarre and I just wish that I had Fridays off... but I'll have most of my afternoons free, and if I learn French it will be worth it.

Yesterday afternoon I came back to the hotel and fell asleep from 2pm-8pm. I woke up and my roommate was home and just waking up from a nap also. We decided to go explore the city a little. We got food at a grocery store and walked to the Eiffel Tower to eat it. The weather wasn't that great though. It was very windy and very cold. I didn't leave Chicago to come to another cold and windy city! The walk was nice though, and I felt like I saw a good portion of Paris. We decided to take the Metro back.

Today I got a French cellphone, ate a delicious quiche Lorraine and met my host family. There is much to tell about them, so I think I'll save it for tomorrow.

I love and miss you all! Grosses bises! xoxo

-Rebba