Barcelona, Louis Vuitton, Funfetti Cupcakes and Monet.

                                              (Lily pads from Monet's Garden)

So much to update on! First and foremost, I finally accomplished the touristy but essential event of climbing to the top of the Eiffel tower. The best part about it is that I got to do it with one of my besties, Chelsea Kane, from Santa Cruz. It’s always nice seeing a familiar face when you’re on the other side of the globe. Secondly, Barcelona! The UC Paris kids were taking over Barcelona, a group of around 20 of us went and it was such a blast! First night out we went to a club, the next day sightseeing and saw the wonderful Sagrada Familia and Guell Park. Later that night we had to complete out Spanish adventure with Tapas, Paella and Sangria. After dinner we headed out to the beach where we met new Swiss friends and dipped our feet in the Mediterranean. Our last and final day in the sunny city we sat upon some steps giving us a view of the town, while listening to a man play classical Spanish music on his guitar. We finished the day with a bike tour of Barcelona-one of the best decisions we made all weekend, and then let the sun go down while sipping on cheap beer on the beach. Haha. Putting the final touches on the weekend was going to the airport at 4am and getting nudged by a worker to wake the EF up after a couple of hours of snoozing on the airport chairs. Returning back to Paris was an interesting experience as it felt like I was “going home”. It’s odd to think that here is now where I call home, but also refreshing at the same time. I tend to like Paris more and more with every week that passes. Only 8 more weeks left in the city of lights then it’s time to head back to “Ole Rocklin”, as Peter calls it. Last week I went and strolled through the Garden of Tuileries for the first time, it rained creating a whole different look of the city. I actually like Paris more in the cold, than in the sun. It feels more “Paris-like” when it’s frosty outside and people are covered in pea coats and leather gloves. I also saw the Louvre for the first time (I know, I know I’m a little late on all this touristy stuff-I still have yet to go inside). Also walked down the Champs-Elysees for the first time where I found a cute yet modern sandwich shop off Washington St. called Cojean. After leaving Cojean I walked into Louis Vuitton to browse when the manager took me around the building to an art exhibition going on put on by Marc Jacobs. I got to go all the way to the top floor of Louis Vuitton and get a tour of all the artwork, plus a book containing pictures of all the pieces which inspired their collection. After returning home drenched from the rain, my host mother made a fire and some tea and I did one of the children’s English homework and he did my French hw…  The perks of living in a home stay. On Wednesday I took a cooking class where we made chicken kebabs, salmon samosas, and an odd cheese wrap with caramel and pine nuts inside. On the metro ride home I sat next to a gay couple who had a dog with a tattoo which said “bitch” inside his ear. In Cali that couple probably would have been given a lot of shit for animal cruelty, but hey we’re in Paris so I laughed. Thursday night I went out with Peter and J.J. for the typical steak and frites, afterwards we headed to a corner store where we got real classy and shot gunned some beers, and then went to a bar where we had reverse jager bombs… BAD IDEA. Clearly drawing attention to our American mannerisms, we met some locals and a French man bought me my first Parisian rose! Cliché but the trick worked… I have a date with the guy Monday night. To wrap this longgg post up, Friday went to the Salon du Chocolat chocolate festival, where we saw a chocolate fashion show, demonstrations and basically OD’d on all things chocolate. Later Friday night Pauline, the oldest child and only girl in my home stay had her 12^th birthday party. I made confetti cupcakes, a real American dessert, and all the girls began eating them with a spoon. They looked at me like I was crazy when I said “No no, eat with your hands!” Some even refused to… but in the end were all obsessed with the cupcakes and wanted to learn how to make them. Yesterday J.J. and I took a train to Giverny and then rented bikes and road to Monet’s garden and house; we were freezing from the wind but had a great time. Now, as it is Sunday and I have a midterm on Monday (tomorrow) on French Identity Issues which I haven’t done any studying for... I better start studying! A bientot!

Left my heart in Amsterdam...

What a wonderful weekend getaway with the girls! Amsterdam was such a blast. The Netherlands is absolutely beautiful; very different from the hustle bustle always around in Paris. It was quite the adventure getting there though, I must say. To start, we took a bus-bad idea-7 hours stuck in a large and slowly moving vehicle is not the best. Anyway, we arrive in Amsterdam at 6am and are stuck in the Central Station because we all can’t check into our hostel/rented apartment, so we end up catching some more zzz’s in the station only to get nudged and punched by the security. Apparently sleeping is not allowed, oops. Finally at 9am we head out to find Emilie, Emily, Jeannie and Diana’s apartment, I got stuck in the hostel I booked way too in advance across the city. The place is nice and we end up “napping” for way too long, Haha. Finally we decide to head out into the city, we stop by a “coffee shop”… or two :] and then eat like mad men. Unfortunately I got sick and had to end the night early. Saturday morning we started off fresh with a big meal at Barney’s and then did a little vintage store shopping which was fun. We also took a stop in the Heineken museum where we met some nice Canadians. Sunday; strolled the city for a while and then made my way back to Central Station where our lovely bus was waiting for us. Overall the weekend was an absolute success filled with laughter… and food. Hahah pretty much sums it up. We literally ate so much we would have made NFL football players proud. It was so refreshing to be around other English speakers, to see English magazines even! And of course to have the typical American breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon, etc. Yum Yum. I definitely left my heart back in Amsterdam, such a youthful atmosphere where the people are so helpful and nice. Now back to Paris, but just for 4 days and then I’m flying out to Barcelona on Thursday! Forget school and grades, I’m here to explore the world. Since I have no class on Tuesdays, usually I go out and venture different neighborhoods, today it was the Japanese neighborhood in Les Halles. Found some boba tea at a place called Zen Zoo, a rarity in Paris, which I slurped while doing my French Media reading. While wandering the various streets I found myself at an America Bookstore. I have to admit after being abroad for over 3 months now I am beginning to get America-sick! (As in homesick). But, when I think about it, I only have two months left in this exciting and upbeat city, only two months to be in Europe while the rest of my entire life, most likely, I’ll be in America, so I force myself to snap out of America-sick mode! Speaking of which, my host mother and I were discussing French toast today-Here it is called Pain Perdu, or “lost bread”, because they make it when their bread is not the freshest anymore. She was appalled when I told her it is a very popular breakfast item in the states. She said “They are liars! The French would never eat such for breakfast!” Hahah, apparently it is only for their “tea time” around 4pm. I’ve also learned that the French are very strict about their eating schedule! Breakfast only when it is breakfast time, lunch only around noon and dinner around 7-no in betweens! They don’t snack here! We also spoke about Halloween. Sadly, making me even more America-sick is how she told me the French actually view it as disrespectful to the Catholic religion, so they have created their own version of it called “holy-ween”. No costumes, no pumpkins, no Halloween themed TV shows or movies… Aye aye aye this is going to be a sad October 31^st for this girl… I’m already downloading Hocus Pocus on the internet so I don’t get too sad. :] On other news, one of my besties and absolute favorite girl from Santa Cruz is coming to Paris! The lovely Chelsea Kane, and I am so excited to see her tomorrow, this is going to be a wonderful week for me. To all you Americans-enjoy your pumpkin spice latte’s and Halloween themed everything and don’t take it for granted! Sayonara!