Post by LHR02 on Jun 27, 2005 16:58:50 GMT -5
Dear Readers:
So since my last entry I have not been up to a terrible amount. I have to confess I have largely been getting aclimatized to both Paris and the time difference. Not with a whole lot of success either - at least not at first.
On Saturday, I went out and got my fan and some snacks. I can not tell you how much my quality of life has improved as a result!! Funny thing is that on the way back I happened to bump into the Paris version of the Gay Pride parade. I guess the dates coincide all around the world 'cause it was the same weekend as the Toronto version. Being weary of excessively large crowds, due to pickpockets, I quickly got out of there.
That evening I met up with some classmates from the program in front of Notre Dame. Some Parisian girl suggested meeting at some round plaque on the floor - point zero for all routes in France. Anywayz, I'm not sure it was such a good idea 'cause with a horde of tourists milling around you could scarcely see the thing. Eventually though we all met up. There were about eight of us in total. Everyone seemed really nice and I look forward to seeing them in the future. There was also another Canadian in the crowd -- a guy from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). We went for food/drinks at a cafe in the Quartier Latin and afterwards we headed out for coffee at another place in the 6th. Coincidentally just around the corner from the Canadian pub ("The Moose") which I have eaten at on previous days of frustration with the "Frenchies."
Yesterday though was when I was subject to a "Too exciting for my blood!" kind of moment. I woke up and decided that I would go exploring. At first I thought of going back and giving the Rodin museum another try. Last time I had not fallen in love with the place. This despite the fact that most Parisians consider it the best museum in the city. What can I say? I love my marble sculptures ("The Prisoners" in the Accademia are still my favourite) and the bronze work wasn't doing it for me. In the end though I settled for going to the Opera instead. It's a fantastically beautiful building from the outside and somehow I just never got around to going inside.
So the plan was to head to breakfast, do some reading, and then head off. Shortly after breakfast though a great big huge thunder/rain storm started. It was certainly no weather for going anywhere. It was crazy outside! So I decided to hunker down and let it pass. Of course soon there after I feel asleep to the gentle whirring of my fan. Pretty impressive I'd say, particularly given the fact that I am in general pretty scared of thunder and lightning.
Anywayz, there I was calmly asleep with the pouring of the rain keeping me from waking up (I like constant sounds when I sleep). All of a sudden, I was awakened by THE most massive flash of light. So huge in fact that I could see it through my eye lids before I could get them open. At the sametime there was a massive shuder and a huge explosion. I got up, legs shaking, and ran into the hallway. I was convinced lightning had hit the building -- and I was right!!! Why had I felt it so much you ask? Well for starters my window was open. And to make things worse I am currently living in the 5th floor of the Fondation Danoise in the University City. In any other country this would be called the attic but in France they fix it and convert it into another floor. So more or less I am on the roof -- my ceiling is even slanted!!!! The lightning managed to knock out the phone lines and the internet. Until mid-morning today I was incomunicado and as such I could not share my horrifying experience. Or as we will refer to it from now on: "As close as I EVER want to get to a lightining strike!"
I think the shock of it all was too much for the pitter patter of my little heart. I stayed in the rest of the day and basically slept the day away. It appears jet lag (and my complete lack of sleep the two nights prior) finally caught up with me. Nice thing is that when you're in a place for an extended period of time you don't feel obligated to always be in a constant rush to see something new. I guess that's when you know you really "live" somewhere!
Tomorrow I start orientation. Hopefully it will go well and I will have nothing but good things to report!
Until we meet again,
A Canadian in Paris
posted Monday, 27 June 2005
So since my last entry I have not been up to a terrible amount. I have to confess I have largely been getting aclimatized to both Paris and the time difference. Not with a whole lot of success either - at least not at first.
On Saturday, I went out and got my fan and some snacks. I can not tell you how much my quality of life has improved as a result!! Funny thing is that on the way back I happened to bump into the Paris version of the Gay Pride parade. I guess the dates coincide all around the world 'cause it was the same weekend as the Toronto version. Being weary of excessively large crowds, due to pickpockets, I quickly got out of there.
That evening I met up with some classmates from the program in front of Notre Dame. Some Parisian girl suggested meeting at some round plaque on the floor - point zero for all routes in France. Anywayz, I'm not sure it was such a good idea 'cause with a horde of tourists milling around you could scarcely see the thing. Eventually though we all met up. There were about eight of us in total. Everyone seemed really nice and I look forward to seeing them in the future. There was also another Canadian in the crowd -- a guy from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). We went for food/drinks at a cafe in the Quartier Latin and afterwards we headed out for coffee at another place in the 6th. Coincidentally just around the corner from the Canadian pub ("The Moose") which I have eaten at on previous days of frustration with the "Frenchies."
Yesterday though was when I was subject to a "Too exciting for my blood!" kind of moment. I woke up and decided that I would go exploring. At first I thought of going back and giving the Rodin museum another try. Last time I had not fallen in love with the place. This despite the fact that most Parisians consider it the best museum in the city. What can I say? I love my marble sculptures ("The Prisoners" in the Accademia are still my favourite) and the bronze work wasn't doing it for me. In the end though I settled for going to the Opera instead. It's a fantastically beautiful building from the outside and somehow I just never got around to going inside.
So the plan was to head to breakfast, do some reading, and then head off. Shortly after breakfast though a great big huge thunder/rain storm started. It was certainly no weather for going anywhere. It was crazy outside! So I decided to hunker down and let it pass. Of course soon there after I feel asleep to the gentle whirring of my fan. Pretty impressive I'd say, particularly given the fact that I am in general pretty scared of thunder and lightning.
Anywayz, there I was calmly asleep with the pouring of the rain keeping me from waking up (I like constant sounds when I sleep). All of a sudden, I was awakened by THE most massive flash of light. So huge in fact that I could see it through my eye lids before I could get them open. At the sametime there was a massive shuder and a huge explosion. I got up, legs shaking, and ran into the hallway. I was convinced lightning had hit the building -- and I was right!!! Why had I felt it so much you ask? Well for starters my window was open. And to make things worse I am currently living in the 5th floor of the Fondation Danoise in the University City. In any other country this would be called the attic but in France they fix it and convert it into another floor. So more or less I am on the roof -- my ceiling is even slanted!!!! The lightning managed to knock out the phone lines and the internet. Until mid-morning today I was incomunicado and as such I could not share my horrifying experience. Or as we will refer to it from now on: "As close as I EVER want to get to a lightining strike!"
I think the shock of it all was too much for the pitter patter of my little heart. I stayed in the rest of the day and basically slept the day away. It appears jet lag (and my complete lack of sleep the two nights prior) finally caught up with me. Nice thing is that when you're in a place for an extended period of time you don't feel obligated to always be in a constant rush to see something new. I guess that's when you know you really "live" somewhere!
Tomorrow I start orientation. Hopefully it will go well and I will have nothing but good things to report!
Until we meet again,
A Canadian in Paris
posted Monday, 27 June 2005