Tuesday 29 March 2011

One Month


I have lived in Paris for one month now and I still haven't had the chance to try all the baked goods. Maybe I have my priorities wrong and should be putting more effort into trying a new flakey pastry each and every day.

Things I have been putting effort towards would be: finding a job, trying to occupy myself with Paris wandering, and purchasing groceries. I seem to buy groceries quite a bit. I think it has something to do with our small European fridge. I have rediscovered my love for coffee but in a masochistic or perhaps self preserving way I am limiting myself to one a day. I do love sleep as well so I am trying to find a balance. I also have been putting effort towards convincing my tongue that it should form silly sounds and produce the French language. Living with all French people has helped immensely but I need to stop thinking that hearing French is a cue for me to zone out. I think it is my Au Pair reflexes coming back, hearing a foreign language was the cue I did't have to be part of the conversation. My brain is trying it's best though. I have even purchased a kid's book in French from a used bookstore to help with my reading comprehension. AND it happens to be a Mary-Kate and Ashley book! That would have been my top book choice back in the day if I happened to be French.

My French skills have improved enough for me to have an interview all in French though. Sure it was slightly clumsy and mostly only took place in the present tense but it was still an interview all in French! I was quite proud of myself. I do have to give some credit to my french and all the roommies for having patience to speak slow, child-like French with me when speaking English would really get the point across much quicker. I have adopted some wonderful phrases such as: oh la la, zut, chouette, and je pense que oui. I'm keeping my eye out for others to be added to my repertoire.

Paris continues to be spring like and beautiful. Even when doing the most mundane things such as walking home with groceries I like to remind myself I'M IN PARIS walking home with groceries! When I put it that way, it seems great to me.

Monday 7 February 2011

French.

Well. New things are on their way and days are marching on. Marcher= to walk. I'm going somewhere and I'm not sure what to think about it. Penser = to think. I'm a bit nervous. I don't know what to expect. But I'm doing it and that's the first step, non? 5 months. Cinq mois to be foreign, to have fun, trouver un travail, to feel awkward, to act like a copine, to be uncertain, to do things I haven't, to second guess myself, to think I'm absurd for doing what I'm doing, to think I'm right doing what I'm doing, to take deep breaths and to look at clouds. I don't think I can say I'm 100% certain about this but what is ever 100% certain? If you never do things that make you slightly uncomfortable we would all be far too comfy. And, I'm excited. So that is good too.