Deux Jours a Paris

I just came back from watching this new film with Julie Delpy. I liked it a lot! But, then again, I'm really getting into French films a lot. It was basically a romantic comedy about a girl who has committment issues and a guy who has all kinds of issues. They have been dating for 2 years, and just come back from a romantic holiday in Venice. They live in NY, but stop in Paris for 2 days before heading back to the States. In Paris, he starts to see her crazy side and feels like he doesn't really know her. She, sensing that she might be haing real feelings for him is waiting for the bottom to drop out like it always does.

The theater was laughing throughout the whole movie! But I sense it had something to do with the french subtitles that I didn't quite pick up. Anyway, it's one of those movies I need to watch again, as I usually pick up new things everytime I watch a movie.

I walked back to my apartment from the theater, and I just really felt appreciative of my time here. As my time here draws to a close, I feel so much more mature. So grown-up. I envy people who are living in France for real, and only hope that my time gets here fast enough and that I can make it happen. I've met some great people here who actually live in Paris, so hopefully I can keep in touch (sometimes, it's hard!). I do miss the US though. I'm not gonna front. But I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't pursue this one aspect of my life. Sometimes, when listening to french I feel so intimidated and like I have so far to go in terms of really learning the language. But I know in time, it will come.

Homesick?

I started having the feeling that I'm ready to go home. Not because I hate it here. Not because I can't hack it. It's the opposite, I think. I think I want ot go home so I can get on with tying up my loose ends (so to speak) in the US so I can move to Paris. OK, maybe there's a bit of homesickness in there somewhere too. I do miss being able to call people at will. The cost and the 6-hour time difference makes that a bit hard to do. I haven't seen my family since December, but them again, I hadn't seen them a year before the last time I saw them. So that can't be completely it.

I think a part of it is loneliness. When you're in a place for only a short time, it's hard to get to know people well. Sure you make fast friends when you're in a challenging situation, but do you really have time to get to know people? I wish I had more time to develop the relationships that I'm forming. I think I've become more social since I've been here. ;)

I think I also want to go home because I feel this new sense of purpose. Like, I'm going to get my life together (sorta like when Sabrina comes home from a year in Paris, she's a new person). I just feel like I've grown up so much here. I'm so proud of myself for doing this.

Still, another reason for wanting to go home is, I'm in Geneva. Geneva is a nice city, but after a few weeks, you feel very comfortable there. I guess that means, there isn't that much to do after a point. It's a lovely city for families and for people who are not interested in the big city life. But I'm a city girl at heart with dreams to conquer the City of Lights and the Big Apple, so I need a glamorous city with glamorous people. Don't get me wrong--Geneva is very moneyed. There is a lot of wealth here. I love my daily eye candy of watching business men in suits on their way to work. They are so GQ. But, I think the divide is also wide here, so when you don't have a regular source of income, you feel trapped here, like you can't enjoy yourself. That being said, if I got a job to come back here, sure I'd take it. Geneva is only a few hours from Paris by train lol. And the Easy Jet flies out of the airport.

I'm still trying to think about how I'm going to parlay my degree into a job in Paris. But if there's one principle I operate on, it's faith. I know with a little faith, prayer, belief and luck, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

La Vie en Rose

I thought that love was just a word
They sang about it songs i heard
It took your kisses to reveal
That i was wrong, and love is real

Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose

Less Money, More Problems

Geneva is VERY expensive. Like 2-3 times as expensive as the States. I think, when I go back, everything will seem relatively cheaper. Hopefully, it won't turn me into big spender.

So far, I've been pretty good about watching my money here. I probably spend the most money on food. I paid 70 francs for a monthly travel pass. I paid my rent for July. I still have money in the bank. The hard part comes from wanting to travel. Living in Europe is a wonderful opprtunity to travel to other places in Europe. What I didn't know is you can get DEEPLY discounted train fares if you book 2+ months in advance. of course, I didn't know that I'd want to go to all these places and I didn't know who I'd meet until I got here and who I might travel with.

So, I'm kind of bummed that I can't explore Europe like I want. BUT, I keep telling myself that I will be back. With more money (hopefully a job) and more time to take weekend trips all over Europe. I should be grateful that I'm even here for 2 months in the first place!

That being said, I am planning one major trip (more about this later) and I'm ending my stay in the south of france. Other than that, it's day trips to Lyon, Annecy, Bern, Lausanne and other close destinations. I think I can deal with that. As a matter of fact, I'm going to buy my train tix for my one "major" trip today. TODAY.

Yodel-a-he-hoo!

Greetings from Switzerland!

Today makes exactly 3 weeks since I've been here and it's time I blogged about it, no? I'm here working for the summer. I got a great opportunity to come to Geneva and I've been having a great time. Even though I've only been out of the US for a little over 3 weeks (I stopped in Paris before I came to Geneva) I haven't had any huge emotional breakdowns or an major language issues.

It was a little lonely at first but I've made some nice friends at work and I live in an apartment with other students. I don't see my housemates often, but they are quite nice. I'm the only American. Everyone else is French, African or Swiss, so it gives me a good opportunity to practice my language skills.

Geneva is a nice city. It's very diverse but it's not segregated. It's very family oriented. Even though I'm single and childless, I can appreciate the family-friendly atmosphere here. There are SO many designer stores here! Hermes, Chanel, Kookai, Cartier, Rolex, Armani, Dior, etc. The streets are just lined with fashionable stores. And man, can people DRESS here! I love to just don my large sunglasses so I can just people-watch. Today, I even took some photos of storefront windows for inspiration for when I dress.

Geneva is in a lot of ways very simple. If you like shopping, eating out, walking around, window shopping, going to a park, boats, then Geneva is for you. It seems a little lacking in excitement or flashy nightlife. But that is probably why it's considered one of the safest cities in the world. It doesn't attract that kind of crowd. On Sundays, all the stores are closed, so it was kind of a nuisance to deal with at first. However, I discovered a nice farmer's market just down the street from where I live. And restaurants are open. Today, I enjoyed a nice cafe au lait at an outdoor cafe and had lunch at the very affordable but tasty Chez Ma Cousine.

Like I said in my last post, I'm 98% sure I want to be in Paris in the next 2 years, but it will take some careful planning. I'm trying not to be too overzealous because I'm sure there's still a lot I haven't seen yet, and I know I'm just scratching the surface of living abroad.

I feel like I'm growing a lot as a person, though. Coming out of my shell, putting myself out there, living life. I don't know why I had to come over 3000 miles to do that, but hey, I won't question it. Hopefully when I return to the States in a little over a month, I will still retain the same joie de vivre and not fall back into old boring habits.

Bad Blogger

I have so much to update but I don't have to desire to write a lengthy update. Which futher perpetuates the need for an, er, update. Never mind.

Just a quick note to say the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Thank God for a beautiful summer day.

I know when I get back to the US, I will be a lot more appreciative of just being outside and enjoying the general splendor of the day.

Since Paris is my fantasy city to live in, wouldn't it be great to have a fantasy job? I've always loved fashion and dreamed of being a designer. Now, I have no desire to run a fashion label or start one, but a short-term job at a magazine or at a design house would be fabulous! It doesn't even have to pay well. . .I would just need to be able to live (but NO struggling from paycheck to paycheck). My family would probably hate me, but like I said, Paris is going to happen, and it might as well be the way I've always dreamed it could be. Well, I'm going to start searching message boards, and seeing what I can find. Even if such a perfect job exists, I'm sure it will take hard work and dedication to get it. Hey, it took me a YEAR to earn my current internship! Yes, slow and steady is my motto. Like a true Cancer, I may move sideways towards a goal, but everything usually works out.

Making my Move

I made the decision "officially" yesterday that I will be moving to Paris by mid 2009! I know, that seems a ifetime away, but think about it, we're already into the second half of 2007 and the year feels like it just started.

If I didn't have 2 years of school left, I would probably cancel my lease and set up permanent residence in Paris. But I can't do that. . .(right?)