Chantal and Julia smile before the show... How cute are they?
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My dresses from our fashion show... from left to right: Chantal, Abbey, and Julia... yay for fashion!
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Au Revoir Paris.

And just like that it was over...

I have offically returned to the states... its kind of depressing actually. i feel like life will never be the same again.

I am working in Cooperstown, New York for the summer season at Glimmerglass Opera... AKA: the Middle of Nowhere hick town... seriously I saw a tractor and was in a walmart all in one day. Culture shock feels like this people.

I am sorry for my lack of posts at the end of my stay in Paris... I was uber busy with my fashion show and jury for school. Fashion has been fun but i really really miss theatre! there is no collaboration in Fashion. its very independant which is good and bad, but mostly just lonely... and a LOT of sewing... grrr... so i am going to post a few pics of my models backstage at the show. My models rocked my world they were so amazing! they made everything go so smoothly and made my job so easy, not mention they kept me entertained backstage... thanks girls! you rock!

But anyway, I miss Paris already... not necessarily the smell of Paris which is still on all my clothes but you know the Beauty that is Paris... I am going to miss my Amazing friends in Paris! I hope all is well with each of you; and I will miss spending hours and hours sitting in cafes and having drinks with y'all... enjoy Paris while you can...

So I have massive amounts of Luggage to sift through (you know me... what a shock, right?) so i have to run... will post more when I get settled. TTFN!

The stereotypes

So, I came across this article today on USA Today online about the French according to popular vote is classified as the ‘Most Unfriendly Nation’… now, this got me thinking about all the things that I had heard/thought about France before I actually lived here and what I think of them now…

In this train of thought, here is the fact from the fiction:

- ‘French people are rude’… well truth is that the French are unfriendly to everyone in general because they don’t know you, this applies to Paris more than anywhere else. Yeah they are unfriendly, don’t take it personal, its not you its them. This especially means that they don’t smile a lot at strangers like we do in the states and it comes off as unfriendly but if you happen to say drop something on the street then people go out of their way to make sure you get it back… which happened to me when I dropped a glove on the street back in February and this nice old man flagged me down and handed it back to me… He had a reason to be nice, you see how it works? It’s just a different mentality… Why would you smile at someone you don’t even know?

- ‘French people won’t speak English, even if they know it’ … Ok, so I have a lot of issues with this one… Probably because a lot of people told me that you didn't need to speak French to live here which is an outright lie! Basically the French are FANATICAL about their language. The French language is something that every French boy and girl has had drilled into their heads from day one… une, un, le, la, du, des… the French language is the greatest accomplishment of the French culture, and no matter what you say, it IS the most spoken language in the world. So naturally they are very protective of their language. Over protective like a mother hawk. Why would they speak English when they could speak French? (and they definatly don't want any more English terms sneaking in to their language, damn Anglo-Saxon invaders...) So, yes if you ask them a question in English they might get a little insulted because you aren’t even attempting to speak the Glorious French language… and also even though most Frenchmen might have taken English in school… they probably do not really remember a lot because they don’t usually speak it much, exactly what happened to my high school French and yours, don’t lie. So yes, they might know a few words of English, but the golden rule is ‘You are in France, you must speak French’… I guess its their version of ‘When in Rome…’, just make the effort and you will most always be rewarded with good service...

-‘French people wear berets, black and stripes, ride bikes and carry baguettes all at the same time.’ … Yes its true… French people buy their bread EVERYDAY, the fresher the better and if you patronize a particular bakery frequently then you will get the freshest of the fresh, that’s how it works. But yes just as in most all big cities people ride bikes... but the French have such small cars, the Smart cars and other micro mini hot wheels cars, couldn’t they really pass for a bike? Or at least a bike with a really large basket? And as for the stripes… yes everywhere (it must be in for the summer) but in the winter especially they wear black, preferably all black all the time. I don’t understand why, but Paris in winter = serious lack of colorful clothing. I think its because they prefer to wear what I call ‘classic chic’ aka: old lady clothes… but yeah everything is monotone at the very least, or in the rare occasion that they do wear a color, like brown or white, they wear it from head to toe… as for the berets… I saw them a lot in the winter but now that it is warming up not so much. However, I usually only saw them being donned by older men and woman I have to say… but yes they wear berets. Welcome to France.
-‘French people are lazy’… The French have a different mindset then we do… they take their time with things… yes a traditional French meal takes around four hours but that’s because the French have perfected the art of cuisine… they take their time and they do what they do really well they just aren’t in a hurry to do much of anything. Which is completely opposite of the US where we want everything done as quickly as possible no matter what. I personally think that this can be a good thing…
-‘French waiters are rude’… YES... The French waiters can be very rude. The French in general don’t like to wait on other people, they hate to feel inferior… so naturally waiting tables for a career makes them a little bitter… and it shows. You can sit down in a café and wait hours before even seeing a waiter… now if you have hours for a meal this is fine, (this kind of goes this the point made above I guess) but the French waiters defiantly don’t rush you out the door like the American waiters would… I have had both amazingly nice waiters and darn rude ones it’s a 70-30 chance you might get good service… but I think that this is another French-ism that you don’t really find out until you live here… there is NO such thing as customer service. None. Need help finding something in a store? There’s no one there to help you. Have a question about something? There isn’t anyone to answer it. Even the people who check out your groceries at the grocery store sit down and scan your groceries; this would not fly in the states. And the customer is never right. It can be annoying when you need to find something and there are no salespeople… but that’s the way it is. No one can seem to explain why to me, but I defiantly miss good customer service.

-'The French people Smell'... Yes, they smell. if you don't believe me try riding the metro at rush hour and getting squeezed into the cars amoungst the unwashed masses... they stink. yeah i guess its cause they don't bathe as much... still don't fully understand this one. but i find that a lot of Paris smells... more specifically smells like Piss... Especially the Metro in general. Gross.

-'The French are Arrogant'... Yes, the French are really proud to be French. Just are. They are so proud of all their aristocratic history, their ideals and in general how advanced a civilization they are, with such a beautiful language, with such advanced art and culture, with such a traditon of fine cuisine, yada yada yada yada... that they naturally think they are better than you... but you know so are we Americans if you think about it...

That's all i can think of for now... more to come...

But on a tangent… if most of the stereotypes of the French are true, does that mean that the ones about the Americans are also true? Like, we are all ignorant and we all look the same? I’ll let you decide that one for yourself.

On another tangent… These stereotypes of the French are even recognized by other countries in Europe I have noticed. For example when I was in Italy, they bad mouthed the French a lot, “What do you expect its French.” and also in Germany as well… Could it be that the French just as rude to them as they are to Americans? I think the answer is Yes. I met a girl who was from rural France, outside of Aix, and she said even when she came to Paris people were rude to her there… AND SHE’S FRENCH. I don’t get it. But it shows to go you… you can’t take it personal.

ttfn

Notre Dame at Sunset...
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in the gardens at Versailles
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This is a picture I took from the Bus... There was a woman riding her bike in the middle of the street/blocking traffic carrying a large bunch of Balloons while riding her bike, that is talent people... i thought it was really funny and totally French that this ladies' balloons were holding up traffic... he he he...
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The view of the Statue of Liberty (which is a Marianne, AKA: the symbol of France, yes the symbol of France is a woman... how appropriate) AND the Eiffel Tower from the Bateux Mouche, Kyla Bethany and I went on this week. Yay for Guests. This picture Kind of makes you wonder where you are for a second... Am I in New York? or Paris? what country am i in anyway?? love it...
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The thinker with Les Invalides in the background... so beautiful... wish the tourists weren't runing this picture
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some yellow roses in the museum's gardens... yellow roses for the tellow rose in me... i am from texas and it shows and i know its pure cheese but i still love it.
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I loved this sculpture, my fave of them all, if I had to pick one, with Kyla in the background... yay for adventures!
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Not sure the name of this sculpture from the Musee Rodin's beautiful gardens... but i am pretty sure its famous... I know that sounded *really intellegent*, sorry for my lack of details.
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The Kiss by Rodin
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One of many Rodin's graceful beautifully expressive hands
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At Musee Rodin in Paris
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Paris... and the Code

Hi... So today was an amazingly Parisian day... Yay for fun.

I started out today by visiting the Rodin Museum for the first time since i came here... It was pretty incredible and I am pretty sad that it has taken me four months to see it, but i am totally amazed at Rodin's ability to express emotion through the hands of his sculpture... wow. it was really impressive.

Then I went to figure drawing class and drew for a few hours… then went to an exhibit of sculpture relief by an artist called Paul Day, a friend of my life drawing professor… it was incredibly moving. Most of the images he depicted were studies he did for a monument to WWII and the way he portrayed the war through people’s incredibly detailed and expressive faces was so moving. So glad I went.

After that I went and had my French Oral Final test... Where I think I did pretty well actually... I would say that my French is definatly improved to comversational where it was very limited when i got here... that's improvement!

Then I went to see the 'Da Vinci Code' movie with Kyla and Chantal… (PS it is opening here two whole days before it opens in the US… he he he I saw it first!!...this rarley happens considering that things usually open in the states and then open here four to five months later...) but it was a good film and a lot of it was set in Paris... as if living in a city isn't exciting enough already I get to see it in a Movie. I have to say it was definatly Exciting like the book but in a different way than the book obviously. I thought that they did a good job sticking close to the story but I have to admit it was a WEEEEE bit Cheesy and the French people, cynical as ever, totally laughed at parts that were not really meant to be funny, I think anyway… which was funny in itself… he he hee. But I mean it had to be cheesy. It is a Ron Howard movie based on a book that was also a bit cheesey… whateves. I liked it. I thought they really did a good job of making the history of it come alive through the special effect/computer animation. But I think that they totally made Tom Hanks look pretty unattractive in this movie, which I thought was good for the role, but sad for poor Tom… but anyway... But seeing this movie reminds me of when I read the book (a good two years ago now, hard to believe but true)and how much reading this book made me want to study here and see all the amazing things they talk about in book... so in honor of the cheese that is the 'Da Vinci Code' let's just say this story, however faulted it maybe in some ways i have to admit, did have an impact on my life by bringing me to France.

So yeah, I leave in a little over a week… WOW. Hard to believe but true. I am glad to be going back home but I will miss a lot of things about Paris… Especially the culture that there is here in Paris… Where else in the world could I have had an amazing day like this? But I still have a long list of things that I want to see before I leave… I hope I get to see it all before my time runs out here in Paris… I seriously think that if you live here you still can’t take advantage of EVERYTHING that Paris has to offer. Its such an incredible city, with plenty of drawbacks as well, but overall it really is an amazing place. I am really glad I came here and I think I have learned so much here not only about myself but about the world too. Yay for Adventures…

Tommorrow… Versailles! Yay! Ttfn…

Super busy week from hell...

Hi y'all...

So superbusy sewing all my outfits for my collection... its been many long hours of sewing lately (plus searching for models for my show... have you ever thought about modeling???)... and wow... am I tired!

Sorry for the lack of postage lately... more adventures in Paris to come...

PS - my awesome friend is here KYLA to visit!!! yay for fun! we are having lots and lots of amazing fun times, including a little thing I like to call the Bateau Mouche... more pictures to come... now i must go to sleep for I am sleepy.

Ta ta!

Hi... I live in Paris.
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here is another pic of our rollerblader friends...
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So here is a new phenom for me... Rollerbladers taking over the streets of Paris. So apparently every Friday night thousands of people join the 'rollerblade parade' and the literally close down the street for about thrity minutes while a ton of Rollerbladers go past... it was so cool.
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My Germanic Invasion

Here are some pics from last weekend during my 'Invasion' of Germany... I went to visit my Uncle Allen who lives in Essen, which is near Dusseldorf and Cologne in western Germany... It was such a fun trip!! More to come when I have more time... Off to do more sewing (Booooo! no fun!) ttfn!

A picture of the Lake in Essen... so pretty.
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Gunnar and I on the steps of the Mansion... what a fun picture! yay for fun!
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my Uncle Allen and I
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Gunnar and I taking a dramatic picture in the Krupp Mansion in Essen... I love to take fun pictures like this... he he he
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Allen and I looking down on the lake in Essen... the countryside is beautiful.
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a picture of the Catheral in Cologne... the two towers are the tallest in Europe. wow.
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Inside the world famous Essen opera house (the AAlto Theatre) where we saw a wonderful production of a ballet based on the movie, 'The Red Shoes'... (and the whole ballet the lead dancer was wearing red high heel shoes... it was amazing but it had to hurt!)
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I love the old fashioned buildings in this part of Essen... i took a lot of pictures of them.
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He he he... Look at the Swans! Up close with Nature!
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Essen, Germany.
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in Essen... I felt like I was in a fairy tale!
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A Lake in Essen... I love this picture... it reminds me of a Seurat painting...
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the Krupp Mansion in Essen...
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Also in historic downtown Cologne... Can't remember what this tower was used for but I just thought this picture looked distinctly German.... Guten Tag!
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A view of downtown Cologne (in Germany) from across the Rhine.
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Viva la Texas!

I was really proud of myself today I actually had my first (almost) entirely French conversation with a man in the sandwich shop I got lunch at. I mean there was a lot of gesturing and repeating, and a wee little English thrown in there as well… but overall I would consider it a pretty successful communication, considering the man was only speaking to me in French and I understood almost all of what he say saying to me (knowing the correct responses wasn’t easy but I think I did alright).

It was funny cause I ordered and while I was waiting for my sandwich he asked me where I was from… because he could tell from my ‘accent’ (put into quotations cause I still don’t really believe that I have one…) and I told him I was American, and he asked me where I was from in the states… At which point of course I was proud to tell him that I am from God’s Great State of Texas! (*nerdy Texas Pride moment* sorry I couldn’t resist that one… and if you really know me than you saw it coming admit it) and I noticed he gave the same response I get from a lot of Europeans…

“OH… Texaaaaaaas… Je sais Texas. C’est tres bien.” (I know Texas, It's really nice.)

Now here is a man who probably doesn’t have any idea where the state of Texas is inside the United States (I had to explain that it was not next to California…) or anything else about my state for that matter other than the name, but was very excited none the less that I was from Texas. This is the way with the French. They are always saying the same thing as this man and sharing in his enthusiasms for Texas… I think its because *little known fact* France was the FIRST country to recognize the Republic of Texas on Septemeber 9th, 1839 (mind you three years after the battle of San Jacinto where Santa Anna was defeated in 1836). And there was even a Texas Embassy here in Paris at 1 Place Vendome in the first arrondissement. SO anyway… The French are yes very aware of Texas… and the cowboys and cowgirls that are living there today (we’ll just let them still think that one is true… but yeah not everyone in Texas lives on a cattle ranch you know…)

Another one of my fave responses that I have heard was, in a restaurant the waiter asked what city in Texas I was from and I said Dallas, to which he responded…

“Oh DALlas? like Grr Uing? DALlas?”

In case you missed that reference, he was talking about the AMAZING tv show from the 80’s… with J. R. Ewing, and Southfork Ranch? Yeah, maybe you just had to see the show but anyway… I giggled after hearing that… he he hee

Or my very Francophone sewing teacher, said to me upon hearing that I was from Texas...

“Oh Oui, comme ca Brokeback Mountain?” (Yes, Like in Brokeback Mountain?)

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that most ALL of that movie was filmed in the Canadian Rockies and small town Wyoming, but yeah just like in movies Madame… yeah not so much… but what can you do? Hollywood transcends all language barriers apparently.

And inevitably after the initial response about Texas I always get asked another question, as if it was a script…

“Qu’est-ce que tu pense au sujet de BOOse?” (in English that’s “What to you think about BOOse?”)

When I first got asked about this it took me a REALLY long time to figure out what the HECK they were saying… but that’s the way the French pronounce “Bush” (the ‘u’ sounds like an ‘oo’ and the h is silent and there for not pronounced… so it sounds more like BOOse, emphasis on the ‘Oooo’ sound)… they also sometimes refer to him as “Double-vay BOOSe” (the French pronunciation of W is Double-vay for W Bush) So anyway, I find it always a tricky subject to bring up American politics with Europeans because most of the time they are more miss-informed than anything else… so I rather avoid the subject because as I see it they don’t live in my country, they do not understand its problems and its strong points, and they can think whatever they want to about American politics cause they are not voting US citizens and their opinions do not matter. Its not really worth arguing with them about it because they really, again 79.9% of the time, have no idea what they are talking about… Don’t get me wrong… if I feel like I actually am talking to someone who has an inkling of knowledge about US politics and/or foreign relations etc… I am more than willing to hear their educated point of view… and usually am interested to hear what they have to say in general. But still… sometimes you have to pick your battles if you know what I mean…

It never ceases to amaze me that the French LOVE Texas and they don’t like the United States, or hate Bush, whichever it happens to be at the moment… Its like the Europeans have as much of a Love/Hate relationship with the US as they do with their own city of Paris (a lot of the people I have talked to who live in Paris love it but also hate it just as much if not more as I have documented before). They LOVE everything from American music (including the dirtiest un-edited rap music, Do they really know what the lyrics mean I have to wonder?) to American movies like Brokeback Mountain, but they still hate Americans? We are still the Anglo-Saxon invaders after all this time...

But anyway, I always am astounded by the fact that all Europeans have heard of Dallas, Texas, or know someone/have family or friends living in Texas… (I know it’s a huge state and all but really its kind of funny to me… like iam supposed to know their brother and his family in Houstom personally or something...) I mean when I am with Bethany and she says she is from Wisconsin, she usually gets blank stares, until she adds, “North of Chicago”…. (“Ohhhhh, ChEEEkAGoh!!”) and then they have heard of Chicago… and some hand gestures are usually exchanged in order to explain that ‘VEEESconSHON’ is just above Illinois, etc… It kind of makes me smile that my state is so famous that it is known all over the world… he he hee…

So yeah, I was talking to the man in the sandwich shop for about ten - fifteen minutes in my fractured French while my sandwich was heating up and he ended up giving me a can of Coke for free which was nice of him… and he said as I left the shop, ‘Viva la Texas!’, I like that man. I should go back there more often…

London London London and more London

So yeah, London Rocks. End of story.

I have to say that I am a little sad that I didn't study in London after this visit because it was a lot of fun... It is not the first time I have been to London, I went a few times when I was younger with my parents, so I didn’t have do a lot of the touristy things BUT I have to say I saw the BEST museums that I have been to yet in all of Europe and that ain't no lie. Plus they were free which is the most amazing part… I seriously want to live in the V&A, defiantly spend almost a day there. By far the most interesting and most informative fashion exhibit I have ever seen, not to mention this incredible exhibit on ‘Modernism’ that I saw there, totally recommend it to anyone who is going to be in London, (along with the ‘Algers and Moholy-Nagy’ exhibit at the Tate Modern, Bauhaus is sooo cool). I am in love with this museum beyond words. Also went to the Stockport Hat Museum, The Tate Modern, The British Museum, the Globe Theatre and the National Gallery… That’s a lot of museums in about four days… welcome to amazing my life.

And I forgot my Camera on this trip… about an hour into my Eurostar ride I look over at the dude next to me on the train who has fallen asleep and is making the best ‘fallen asleep on the train’ face I have ever seen (mouth wide open and everything, it was AMAZING!!!) when I reach into my purse to get my camera and I realize that yuuuup it was defiantly still on the floor of my apartment waiting to get packed… shit… But Deborah took some amazing pics of Bethany and I for me and you all will just have to wait until I get the CD. Sorry but trust me no one is as sorry as I am.

So this was the first time in about three month that I stepped onto English speaking soil and I have to say it was kind of weird. I mean I could understand everything that everyone around was saying! The people on the loudspeaker in the train station, the person behind me in line, the person taking my ticket at a museum… everyone. Which also includes the stupid people who make inane remarks while I am trying to enjoy an exhibit (why do the loudest people always say the dumbest things?). I mean I never realized how nice it is to not have to listen the frivolous everyday conversations going on around you. Ignorance is bliss I think in this instance. I mean I don’t really want to hear how the woman behind me in the underground’s life is going, cause I don’t really care. And when you are in a country that doesn’t speak your language you learn to tune it out as unimportant noise. It’s great.

For instance, in the Amazing aforementioned V&A fashion exhibit when this loud family of like three children and a mom come walking through the exhibit, and the oldest out the three kids, a girl, comes through with her index finger extended and points to every dress in each of the cases and assesses them as loudly as possible. “That ones too poofy. That ones a bit vivid (only in Britian would a 10 year old say this i might add). Would never wear that. That’s just ugly, etc…” *sigh* this is why I am not having children… ever… Its not just that this was annoyingly loud, but it’s the fact that she totally missed the whole point of the exhibition! Its not about what you want to wear its more about elevating the clothing on display into ‘fashion’, making them an art form and not merely clothing that we wear everyday. *sigh*

Another example of a conversation that I could have lived without hearing: This father takes his I would estimate 8 year old daughter around the exhibit and I encounter them around the history of undergarments section… IE: the corsets and bustle section. And the father is saying to the daughter, “Look at that waist on that thing (points to a bustle in the display) YOU would NEVER fit into that!” omg, can you say scarring your child for life? In ten years your constant put downs are going to cause her to have seriously distorted body image and possibly cause her to develop an eating disorder pal. What an asshole. Also annoyed/angered me. I hate to say it but I think that some of the time I could really tell that the museum was free … if you know what I mean… *sorry snobby elitist moment is now over* (I think that’s Paris rubbing on me. yipes!)

I know that these are exaggerated examples of course, and I also overheard a lot of interesting things as well so I guess I shouldn’t be so one sided. But seriously, glad to be in a country again where I don’t have to hear what people are saying ALL the time.

Anyway, also saw the Globe Theatre, or I should say the newly reconstructed modern version of what the Globe might have looked like. Still really moving for a theatre person, even though it lacks some authenticity. I mean to see THE theatre that Shakespeare wrote most of plays, that I have read often and studied even more frequently, to be performed in this space is pretty interesting. It’s a LOT smaller than I thought it would be… and they said they packed something like over 1000 people into this theatre in Shakespeare’s time… wow. Can’t even imagine that. Would really love to see a Shakespeare play at the Globe sometime. And did you know that they make all their costumes for the Globe performances by HAND? Wow, that’s patience that I do not have.

Speaking of Theatre... And I saw ‘Chicago’ on stage… amazing Fosse choreography and all that jazz. It was great. It reminds we why I really love West End Theatre… The theatres are smaller and you really have a much more intimate theatre experience… you really feel more involved in the show than you do in a 4,000 + seat theatre like Gammage for instance… I mean I was sitting at the top balcony and I still felt like I had a great seat… THAT’s a good theatre, and a good show as well. (Not to mention they serve ice cream at intermission… he he hee) Much more of a cynical version with this production than I have seen it staged before… cynical and even funnier. Loved it.

Anyway, stayed with my friend Deborah from SFO, at her student dorm/hostel, which was beautiful… and got to talk hats with her! I heart hats! And I heard all about the millinery program that she is taking over there… Seriously considering moving to London and studying millinery at her school. How cool would that be? But Deborah was an amazing hostess and I felt so at home there because of her. Thanks for that.

Went to my favorite Department Store in the Whole Wide World – Harrod’s. I just love walking around in the food halls and the floors and floors and floors of merchandise. I didn’t buy much (its all very expensive once you do the conversion rate… I mean 20 pounds doesn’t sound that expensive until you realize that 1 pound = 2 dollars and then its 40 dollars for a bag of tea… and you are like no way brother!) but I just love the store’s design and atmosphere. It really is a larger than life experience more than it is just a department store. It’s a superficial materialistic heaven.

Also the street fashion in London was the best I have seen yet. I thought Italy also had some excellent fashion, but I think that I saw a lot of the same styles in Italy… the same pairs of flea market jeans, the same pairs of sunglasses and puffy ski vests… which cohesively was a cool style, if not formulaic, but London style is so much more focused in the Individual. It was inspiring. I saw more color than I could handle. At one point I was on the Tube platform waiting for a train at night… and I saw a group of 18 year old girls walk in day glow 80’s neon and other assorted bright colors and omg… I was on color overload after living in Paris for so long. But seriously, I saw so many funky outfits and I wanted to take so many pictures and of course forgot my camera! Ahhhhh sooo frustrating! But anyway, I really thought that the style was overwhelmingly punk rock inspired and I know that it the whole individualistic vintage look is really in style right now… but the British did a more punk rock version of it… really interesting. Vivienne Westwood should be proud of the legacy that she has created. Seriously the British people have style, more so than Parisians… Who only wear the same classic monochromatic outfits that they have been wearing for the last 50 years. Black Black and more Black. Its depressing. No color, no originality, nothing. For the fashion capitol of the world its really a sad state of affairs I think. But that’s just the French for you I guess… Tradition! (now singing 'Fiddler on the Roof' in my head… make it stop.)

So yeah, I have to also retract any statements I have said about London being dirtier than Paris. It was actually A LOT cleaner than what I remember. The Tube stations especially were I lot cleaner than they were when I was there in 2000. But yeah, hands down Paris is a lot dirtier (with Rome close behind I think). Still seriously there is dog shit on the streets and people are OK with that? I still don’t get it…

I was actually kind of relieved to come back to Paris though I have to admit. It is quite a bit Warmer and Sunnier here in Paris this time of year, obviously because it is much more southern than England. And I am also kind of glad to be back in a city where I know my way around. I think that the Underground is a lot more confusing than the Metro… even if it has less lines… there are so many more tunnels and they are so much smaller, it almost made me claustrophobic… Also thankful to be using Euro again… even if it is still more than a dollar it is cheaper than pounds! I mean seriously, I changed about 80 Euro in England and they woman at the Bureau de Change… gave me 21.50 in pounds… yeah, it sucked. C’est la Vie. Gosh darn my life is hard… if anyone is still reading this I give you credit cause I did a lot of frivolous complaining in this entry. Sorry 'bout that.

anyway... next weekend Germany! Summer's invasion of Europe continues! its actually kind of sad... not many weekends left before I go home... only three weeks before my European Adventure is over... :o(

Foggy London Town

Hey friends....

just when you thought I was done traveling...

I am in London for the weekend and LOVING IT!! (they speak english here and its amazing) I really love it.... did I emention that I love it?

well the weather hasn't been fab, but it is London... (and it kinda sucks that the pound is so high... its like double the US dollar... YIKES!)

but the Musuems are amazing and free... how cool is that? but yeah I have been going to see a lot of fun things with Deborah, my former boss from Santa Fe, and Bethany and we are having a great time... More fun fun pictures etc... to come when i get back to Paris.

Cheers!