Bonjour Ya'll!
Well, I'm getting internet in my apartment this week and you don't even know how happy that makes me!! No more McDonald's!!! I might have to have a moment of silence or something..ha...yeah right!!! There is a technician coming to my apartment on Monday to set things up or something like that. I received all of the information on Friday; cable box, the Livebox, which is the source of internet, cable and phone. I started setting everything up, with French directions no less, but I have to wait for the technician to open the lines or something. I'm not even sure what he's going to do but I don't care as long as I have internet and phone in my apartment!
Ok..so here are a few differences between Paris and America. Everything is smaller here; people, food portions, apartments. You don't leave home without your scarf, gloves and umbrella. You never know what the weather will be like. A lot of places, restaurants, bars, stores, have the men and women's bathrooms together. Can I just say how weird it is to come out of a stall and be washing your hands right beside a guy?! I still haven't gotten used to it, nor do I want to. Europeans in general are very open so they don't think anything about it. I just find it weird. haha Some of you might not want to hear this next one but it's a part of life here. People do not pick up after their dogs. And since we're in a big city, there isn't much grass around, so you can imagine what it looks like. It's like trying to walk around landmines or something!! Luckily, I have managed to miss the mines...for now!! Most places close between 7 and 9 at night and are closed on Sundays, sometimes even Mondays too. It just depends on the store. It's not like in the States where you can go to Walmart or Kroger and pick up a few things at midnight if you want. And, everything is more expensive over here....which is why I REALLY miss Walmart and Target:(
If you rely on the public transportation system here, you HAVE to know the schedules; arrival and departure times, the times of the first and last metros, and if you take the bus, which buses go where and when. Or....you will get stranded, on the other side of Paris, knowing where you are but not knowing how you're going to get home, and getting propositioned by a guy on the street and ending up having to pay 18 Euros for a taxi. Not that I know this from personal experience or anything:) The metro(subway) is awesome and I wish Nashville had it...which will never happen because Nashville isn't big enough. I'm really liking this whole not having to drive thing. I walk everywhere and take the metro or the bus. I love finding my way around the system and the city. It's like a challenge for me and I always manage to get to where I want to go. I feel so accomplished when that happens! ha Until you are in a city with a massive public transportation system, you don't realize how much you rely on your car and how much time you spend driving.
Alright, well those are just a few differences between Paris and The State, mainly Nashville. I'll write more soon. I have to go home and clean. I'm hosting movie night tonight so it should be fun!
Bon journee!!!(Have a good day!)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Bonjour Ya’ll!
Well….I have officially moved into my apartment and I have to say….I LOVE IT!!! I have wanted my own place for so long and now that I finally do, all I want to do is decorate it and get things organized (right now my parents are laughing hysterically at the thought of me getting things organized :). The only downside is the fact that it technically isn’t my apartment; which means I can’t do everything to it that I want to. But the family has furnished it and are providing everything that I need, and that is a total blessing. This whole set-up is a blessing. Au pairs usually live with the family or have a room somewhere; not their own apartment! I can’t wait to have people over for dinner and movie nights….and people who might want to come visit! Listen to me…I just got my own place and I’m already wanting people in it! Ha Well I think there is only so much quiet I can take. I’m a people person; what can I say!
There is so much to talk about that I don’t even know where to begin. I’d love it if ya’ll would let me know what ya’ll want me to talk about. That would help me out so much! That way, I could write a couple of shorter blogs each week about different topics. Please email me and let me know what you think.
Well, each week has gotten easier and easier and I have more and more fun as time goes on. I have met a lot of people and that has been great. It’s funny, when I hear English being spoken, I automatically perk up and usually go ask where they are from. Most of the time they are from the U.S. and I get so excited! It’s like we should be friends just because we are Americans, living in Paris and speaking English! We have 3 things in common….why not become friends! Haha And let me just say that Facebook has taken over the world. No matter who you are, where you’re from or what language you speak, you know what Facebook is; and more than likely you have one. I’m glad I got over my “I hate Facebook and I will never have one” phase! Ha One thing I could do without is all of the smoking. I’m pretty sure around 70% of the people in Paris smoke. I feel like I walk through smoke all of the time…but most places are non-smoking or have designated smoking areas which makes it tolerable…but I still hate it.
I’m ready to have internet in my apartment. Since I’ve lived in my apartment(almost 2 weeks), I’ve been coming to McDonald’s most every night to use their free Wi-Fi. Yes…I live in Paris and I’m at McDonald’s all of the time!! Hopefully by next week or so I won’t be here….EVER AGAIN!! Haha They have a playlist that plays the same songs over and over and over! It makes me want to pull my hair out!! I do have a life…I promise!! I do meet people and go out and explore Paris. I’ve been to a few museums and I’ve been to several parts of the city. Paris is huge and it amazes me that I probably haven’t even seen a ¼ of it. I can’t wait for the weather to get better so I can explore more. Exploring when it’s freezing and/or raining is not so much fun. I usually stay in my neighborhood during the week, mainly because a lot of the au pairs I’m friends with live on the other side of Paris or right outside of the city and most of them have to get up early for work. We tend to hangout the whole weekend though which is great. I’m having a get together at my place this Saturday so that should fun.
Alright…well…I’m done for now. It’s getting a little long. ha I’m serious…PLEASE give me some ideas on what you want to hear about. It would help me out so much! I’ve already gotten some ideas so please keep them coming!! I hope all is well with all of you!! God Bless! Talk to ya’ll soon!
Au Revoir!
Jessi
Well….I have officially moved into my apartment and I have to say….I LOVE IT!!! I have wanted my own place for so long and now that I finally do, all I want to do is decorate it and get things organized (right now my parents are laughing hysterically at the thought of me getting things organized :). The only downside is the fact that it technically isn’t my apartment; which means I can’t do everything to it that I want to. But the family has furnished it and are providing everything that I need, and that is a total blessing. This whole set-up is a blessing. Au pairs usually live with the family or have a room somewhere; not their own apartment! I can’t wait to have people over for dinner and movie nights….and people who might want to come visit! Listen to me…I just got my own place and I’m already wanting people in it! Ha Well I think there is only so much quiet I can take. I’m a people person; what can I say!
There is so much to talk about that I don’t even know where to begin. I’d love it if ya’ll would let me know what ya’ll want me to talk about. That would help me out so much! That way, I could write a couple of shorter blogs each week about different topics. Please email me and let me know what you think.
Well, each week has gotten easier and easier and I have more and more fun as time goes on. I have met a lot of people and that has been great. It’s funny, when I hear English being spoken, I automatically perk up and usually go ask where they are from. Most of the time they are from the U.S. and I get so excited! It’s like we should be friends just because we are Americans, living in Paris and speaking English! We have 3 things in common….why not become friends! Haha And let me just say that Facebook has taken over the world. No matter who you are, where you’re from or what language you speak, you know what Facebook is; and more than likely you have one. I’m glad I got over my “I hate Facebook and I will never have one” phase! Ha One thing I could do without is all of the smoking. I’m pretty sure around 70% of the people in Paris smoke. I feel like I walk through smoke all of the time…but most places are non-smoking or have designated smoking areas which makes it tolerable…but I still hate it.
I’m ready to have internet in my apartment. Since I’ve lived in my apartment(almost 2 weeks), I’ve been coming to McDonald’s most every night to use their free Wi-Fi. Yes…I live in Paris and I’m at McDonald’s all of the time!! Hopefully by next week or so I won’t be here….EVER AGAIN!! Haha They have a playlist that plays the same songs over and over and over! It makes me want to pull my hair out!! I do have a life…I promise!! I do meet people and go out and explore Paris. I’ve been to a few museums and I’ve been to several parts of the city. Paris is huge and it amazes me that I probably haven’t even seen a ¼ of it. I can’t wait for the weather to get better so I can explore more. Exploring when it’s freezing and/or raining is not so much fun. I usually stay in my neighborhood during the week, mainly because a lot of the au pairs I’m friends with live on the other side of Paris or right outside of the city and most of them have to get up early for work. We tend to hangout the whole weekend though which is great. I’m having a get together at my place this Saturday so that should fun.
Alright…well…I’m done for now. It’s getting a little long. ha I’m serious…PLEASE give me some ideas on what you want to hear about. It would help me out so much! I’ve already gotten some ideas so please keep them coming!! I hope all is well with all of you!! God Bless! Talk to ya’ll soon!
Au Revoir!
Jessi
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