winding down

I have a plane ticket to Atlanta for the 21 of June and all I can say is y'all better hope I get on that flight. No, I'll be on that plane, because if I'm not, I'll be out of a living situtation, a degree, food, and plenty of other necessities. Needless to say, I am not quite feeling that whole "coming home vibe." Part of me is managing to get excited about seeing family and friends again, driving, knowing that there are stores open later than 7h, and enjoying summer heat (Paris is currently struggling with the longest "winter" most people can remember--yesterday I wore a jacket, pants, socks and shoes and my fingers got really cold on the way to the métro). I'm excited to be back and tell my stories in person, to feel like dressing in jeans and a t-shirt to run errands is acceptable, and to bask in the glory of that American value called customer service. But I'm also going to miss dearly being able to walk pretty much anywhere for anything, my little attic room, impromptu saturday lunches of salad, paté, baguette and red wine. I'll be sad to leave my host family and all the crazy meals and conversations, my friends and stupid times with my roommate. I'll miss the how intensely carefree my life is here and desperately trying to speak in french. Greeting people with a kiss on each cheek, and chatting with my crêpe man. Alright, if I continue in this vein, things will soon get boring--I will assume you all get the idea by now.

I'm posting pictures from this last month or so--since the last post. Some of them I took while on an extended mosey yesterday in the sunshine, and I wouldn't have them if things had gone as originally planned. A weekend in Stockholm was the plan, but things fell through, as they sometimes do. Disappointment? Of course. But when you step back and think about it, a weekend in Paris really isn't too shabby.

These pictures are all out of order, so hold on to your seats.

My host dad, Jean-Jacques, and host brother, Olivier. This was monday lunch on the french Labor Day. Please note the berets and the piece of paper rolled up to look like a cigar in Olivier's mouth. Craziness ensues chez Jean-Jacques anytime most of the family's over for a celebration. It's a shame I don't have a video of these two singing french drinking songs and playing with their berets.

Near where my friend Tiff lives, métro Odéon.

Muguets (lillies of the valley) that Chantal gave to my roommate and I for Labor Day. They're traditional "portes bonheurs," or good luck charms.

Fontaine de Medicis in the Jardins du Luxembourg, complete with nose, mouth, and chin. Every now and again, this fountain is used to exhibit modern art. The most recent installation.

One of my buses. Not too exciting, but something I see a lot.

Also in the Luxembourg Gardens, this guy hanging up in the branches.

Part of the same display as the previous picture. One of the entrances to the garden has been lined with bamboo, the ground covered in blue sand, and these fabric photos hung up. I don't exactly know what it's all about, but thought it was interesting.

Bibliothèque François Mitterand. It's the national library (kind of like the Library of Congress) near my house. It's four buildings that are supposed to look like open books.

Again (like the bus shot) not too exciting, but something I see all the time--the view from my bed out of my skylight.

On the sidewalk that I use to get to school. There's another little section that comes first which reads "Celia, je t'aime" (Celia, I love you), and it's followed by this set which translates to "You are the most beautiful."This repeats for a few feet, and it cheers me up on the way to class.

Meringues as big as your head.

Pique-nique on the Seine.

The cow parade has come to Paris. This one's an hommage to the famous french rooftops.

A few crumbly bits behind Notre Dame.

Crazy column, eh? It's in a little church called St. Severin.

Met up with my cousin Jason and his wife Anita Kay one night for dinner while they were in town for a couple of days. Note presence of uncontrolable chunk of bang hair. Oh, and don't be fooled by the summer dress--it was FREEZING. But worth it to have a fun dinner with some family I hadn't seen in a while.

From dinner with Jason and Anita Kay. I thoroughly enjoyed my steak tartar as well as the bewildered looks on my cousins' faces. Oh, the things you learn to eat. (By the way, steak tartar is raw ground beef, with lots of yummy seasonings.)

That's all you get for now, guys. Hopefully I'll at least get in one more update before I fly out!