voyageaparis's Xanga

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:10:27 GMT

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Thursday, July 28, 2005

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 11:32:04 GMT

-::New Adventures::-

I've moved to www.xanga.com/purwa

Its not Paris, but San Diego is home.

Monday, July 18, 2005

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:36:40 GMT

-::The Final Entry::-

La Parisienne

So, here we are. The final entry. As of today, I have been back from Paris for exactly 3 weeks. Gives me a little time for reflection before I write this final entry I've been putting of for so long. Writing this entry in many ways is admitting that my time in Paris is over, that a piece of my life and myself is left somewhere across the Atlantic, perched in a tiny Seine-side apartment.

What can I say about my time in Paris. Those of you who were with me, or with whom I was constantly in contact saw my little evolutions over my 10months. No, I don't believe I became the quintessential Parisienne. In many ways I feel my time in Paris reaffirmed my steadfast Californian identity. Being in Paris was difficult at some times, leaving home for the first time to live a different country amongst people with whom I barely shared a language, associating with students I'd never met before, operating under an educational system I was not familiar with. But it was all made easier by the fact that, soon into my Paris experience, I learned that I have one of the most amazing bases of support. Between my family and my friends, I have never felt a stronger more blessed person than I have been this past year. Though you may not realize it, to all of you who sent me IMs, called me at 4am, skyped with me frequently, sent me e-mails, cards, letters, and especially those of you who came to visit me--I am so blessed to have you in my life. If Paris has given me anything, it is the realization that not everyone is as lucky as I am- I have the love, suppport, and affection of an amazing and varied group of people. It was knowing that I was coming back to all of you that made my periods of homesickness and frustration bearable. It was because I knew you would all be waiting for me when I came home, and that you would always accept me just as I am--changed or otherwise--that I was fully able to give myself to this foreign city and the equally foreign people I met here, allowing the city and the people to become an intrinsic part of myself, my experience, and my heart.

Paris became a home to me just when I needed one. Torn between my family in New Jersey and my friends, school, and life in California, Paris gave me a place where none of those loyalties had to be compromised by the other. As others who have lived there will surely agree with me, Paris is not a welcoming warm city that assimilates you into its way of life upon first contact. Nevertheless, I began to feel myelf a part of the city in my own way, and felt that I connected with it on a personal level.

Even through all the struggles Sciences Po inflicted upon me (and many of you were witness to my "breakdowns"), I was able to find my own support group within my new world. Through our difficulties, our frustrations with exposes, our intolerance with mean French professors, our absolute detestation of French bureaucracy we came together, whether as individuals or in clusters of friends, we enjoyed some of the most amazing times I've had in my life, even if we were only drinking water and playing a glorified version of UNO. You, mes amis parisiens, have touched my life in a way you'll never understand. I miss you already more than you know, but know that in many ways you'll be in my life and will influence my life and thoughts in subtle ways in the future.

Paris opened me to a new world, a new perspective, and though many may not see it, a hidden part of myself. My changes are subtle and few, but that does not undermine their significance. Paris, le plus que je te regarde, il est evident que tu as change ma vie....I will miss my apartment with my sloping 400 year of steps, cafe cremes on rainy afternoons, the dogwoods blossoming as spring came out, chance encounters in the gymnase, wandering around the streets late at night with no apparent purpose, spectacular views when least expected, the beautiful architecture and the history tied to it, sitting in classes about the EU surrounded by students representing each of the member nations, lingering dinners with intense conversation over left over fruit and discarded baguette crumbs, ice cream on the few deathly hot days, falafel (but only when there are fries), being greeted by the men at my grocery store, eating ice cream on the banks of the Seine, and most of all the friends. You are amazing, intelligent, thoughtful, energetic, spontaneous, adventurous, affectionate people. J'ai pas les mots pour vous dire ce que je sens....je vous aime, tous.

I feel there's no way this entry could ever to justice to the way I feel about my time in Paris. I am sure I am leaving out some essential component of how I feel about my ten months in the most enchanting city I've ever experienced, but I leave you with these words, and hope that this log has somehow conveyed to you the range of emotions I felt this year. Eventhough there were feelings of frustration, failure, stupidity, humiliation, nervousness, anger, exasperation, and yes, even heartache, there were the equally thrilling emotions of happiness, excitement, amusement, success, intelligence, anticipation, hope, and affection. So, I leave you once again with Hemingway's A Moveable Feast quote, for never have any other words about Paris spoken to me so truly:

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

Paris, tu es toujours avec moi, dans mon coeur et dans mes pensees.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Sun, 26 Jun 2005 22:11:38 GMT

-::1 Day::-

Maroon 5 - Sweetest Goodbye

Today has been a day of goodbyes. In the morning, finished packing, cleaned the apartment (after getting rid of Mirad, which took forever as usual), then met up with Krystal for coffee around 6:30. We had it at Le St. Regis, one of the cafes that looks out onto the Pont Saint Louis and has the backside view of Notre Dame. It poured cats and dogs in the morning, so our picnic was cancelled. After coffe, Yun came over for a little, and after she left Krystal and I said our sad sad goodbyes. Then, I went off for a 2.5hr walk on my own through Paris with my iPOD. Started at Pont Marie, went through the Marais, down the Seine, around the Louvre, and back through St. Michel. My favorite route. Then, I bought a nutella banane crepe, ate it on the banks of the Seine as the batomouches went by, and well, cried. On my way back up I ran into Mirad, who was coming by to say goodbye. God, that was a hard one....took us quite awhile....

Now, everything is packed, the apartment is empty, and its just up to me to get up at 5:30 to wait for my 6:30 van to take me to CDG and back to the states. Expect a wrap up entry from America tomorrow.

I have never had harder goodbyes in my entire life. I am so sad right now, so happy, so anxious. My emotions are going haywire. I love Paris, I love it I love it.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Sun, 26 Jun 2005 07:16:12 GMT

-::2 Days::-

Kings of Convenience - Sorry or Please

So, yesterday I finished packing in the morning, and by that I mean packing and repacking my suitecase about a million times, before heading out into the city for a little last minute sightseeing. I went to Centre Pompidou for the Musee d'Art Moderne, which was really cool: Picasso, Mondrian, Magritte, the works. I really like modern art. Was really close to crying in the museum, but I've been really close to crying everywhere.

Don't really know where the rest of the day went, really lots of just wandering around the city. Then, at 10:30/11 everyone (Krystal, Liz, Ali, Lin, Yun, Mirad) came over for our last farewell party-esque thing. Between us, we got through 1 bottle of red, 2 bottles of white, 2 bottles of champagne, and 1 bottle of Bailey's. Not bad for an evening. Around 5 we kind of realized what time it was, and around 6 everyone was gone. I, of course, can never sleep after these things and so have been up since 9. Nice little nap I had going there.

Need to finish the packing-ness a little, and then I leave tomorrow at 6:30am. I can't believe I'm leaving this place behind....but last minute goodbyes will be said this afternoon at Parc Butte-Chaumont..........and then lots of crying will be had on the plane. I've avoided it so far, we'll see how far I can go.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Sat, 25 Jun 2005 11:04:31 GMT

-::3 Days::-

Embrace - Ashes

I don't really know where yesterday went. I spent most of the morning repacking my suitcase, then wandered around the Marais and St. Germain des Pres a little (acquired a ScPo sweatshirt! Yes!), got gifts for Erina, bought myself a pair of earrings, came back, packed a little more, then took a little nap before meeting Kristen at 7 to get my camera back and to have dinner. Was probably my last time at L'As du Falafel. Serious depression. After, met up with Julia at 9 at the Champs de Mars for the Brit's last picnic...all sorts of random people ended up being there: Annick, Shannon, and even Vince. Talk about life going full circle. First and last picnic there....life is a strange thing. Hung out there for awhile before the rain attacked us, then made our way over to St Michel at Polly Magoo's to say goodbye to Julia. Her friends that I'd never known before are hilarious and good and amusing. So, sad goodbye to Julia, walked home really really sadly, contemplating throwing myself into the Seine, taking in both Iles. I love Paris love love love. Then came home to pack some more, which I'm still working on.

Am going to shower, go to the bank for the last time, mail something for Masha, then go to Pompidou, before everyone comes over tonight for what will be our last soiree ensemble. Wow, sad to even think about it....I love my friends and my life here. Paris, tu me manqueras.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:42:20 GMT

-::4 Days::-

Lionel Ritchie- You Are

So, packed all day in the morning and ran errands yesterday, then called up Krystal and Maya to get ice cream. We bought ice cream and sat on the banks of the Seine, speaking in French, before walking to St. Paul for falafel, then to Krystal's to watch Thomas Crown Affair. A pretty simple but lovely day. Everday its getting harder and harder...

Today, took care of errands all morning long again before saying goodbye to Maya in the afternoon. She, Mirad, and I went for coffee at Dome (aaaah the parting cafe) and had a really really nice time before saying goodbye. God, it gets harder with every person. Anyway, was very close to crying, but Mirad and I hung out for awhile after and he was making me laugh so I didn't totally break down (yet). After hanging out at my apartment for awhile, we decided to go to dinner and had quite a nice time at Au Lys de L'Argent (crepeee yummmmm). Just split now and I'm trying to decide what I should do tonight....maybe I will assault Julia.

That's all for now. I love Paris, it is my heart.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 09:12:05 GMT

-::5 Days::-

Audioslave - Be Yourself

So, I'm going to try and update everyday for the next couple days, now that its almost done (aaaaah I can't even think it). So, yesterday was an extremely lazy and wonderful day. I woke up, took care of the basic things around the house before heading out to Sciences Po to meet up with the Kings kids (and associates) and Krystal and Lindsey for lunch. We picked up pizza at Vesuvio's and walked with them to Jardins Luxembourg where we ended up hanging out for about 5 hours. Some studied (still have some exams left), the rest of us just soaked up the sun (I am so dark right now!), talked, drank cokes, and ate ice cream. It was nice to feel so calm in Paris...I'm so used to having fun but having an impending expose hanging in my head. Granted, now its impending packing and stuff of that nature, but for the most part nothing to seriously worry about.

We all split off at around 5, at which point I came home to take a really quick nap, respond to e-mails, etc. before meeting up with the same crowd later that day at Lindsey's for Le Fete de La Musique. Le Fete de la Musique is essentially a large music festival that spreads itself out all over Paris and goes on till 5am and so. In an enormous group of about 15 people we traversed all of Paris stopping where we found music. In the Marais there were quite a few good DJs, so we would just stop in a small street and dance for awhile before moving on. It was a pretty amazing evening: dancing at 2am in the streets of Paris in the summertime. Quite a night. Everyone was exhausted from having had exams (except me hehe) so I ended up back home around 2:30am.

Today, I pack. Ack. It hurts just to say it. But this way, there will be more fun to be had later without worrying about things having to be done. Bank stuff is essentially done (wohoo!) just need to cancel phone/internet in that department, and everything is done. Wow. I can't believe its almost over.....

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 08:09:40 GMT

-::Paris hates me, but I love it::-

Foo Fighters - Best of You

Last exam ever yesterday in a hot hot hot amphitheatre....was neither disastrous nor fabulous, so I guess we'll see....needed a 12 to keep my 12...aaah how sad.

After, ran errands with Masha, came home and sorted through papers, met Masha for dinner, came back, got ready and went to Le Queen's disco night (VIP! Which meant free entrance, free alcohol, going in through the side....fancy stuff) but.....not such thing as a plain fabulous night...my phone was lost/stolen.....who knows, really.....I'm so mad at myself for letting it happen, but this time a week from now I'll have MY AMERICAN cell phone hahaha which I can't wait to have, even though it means going back to the States......le sigh. Very conflicted. Excited to see everyone at home, but so so sad to leave everyone and everything here. Saying goodbye to Masha last night was really depressing, too...but I'll see her in New York! Wooooooot. I love that girl like noone's business.

Anyway, off to the bank, then meeting the Kings kids in their post-exam magnificence.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Sun, 19 Jun 2005 10:57:18 GMT

-::And the Days Go On...::-

Embrace - Out of Nothing

Brief update while I (don't) study for my Monde Arabe exam. Life in Paris continues to be amazing, as it always is.

Things that have happened since I last updated:

Rafi came to visit, Gala, Rafi came back, saw Turn of the Screw (an opera by Benjamin Britton), took one final exam, wrote 3 papers, did an expose....basically a lot.

Out of that, the stuff worth updating on. Rafi's visit was splendid, how could it not be. We had a great time basically eating all of the best food in Paris, I actually went sightseeing with him, knowing it would probably be the last time I would do so in Paris, he got to meet a lot of my friends, and we got to party. All around, it was good times. We, naturally, had a number of "deep conversations". I'm going to miss the boy dreadfully next year.

The Gala was magnificent. It was a lot more fun than I would have imagined. Everyone looked amazing, the location was very chic--it was held at the Hotel de la Monnaie, a multi-purpose builiding that's now a museum I believe, in te courtyard. They had an open bar--champagne was literally just lined up for the taking, and there was hard alcohol to be had if one wished as well, so as you can imagine, just about everyone was smashed out of their minds, which made for some good fun. Probably one of the few times we (as intl students) have seen the Sciences Po students act like normal people. They played some seriously great cheesy music (you, Michael Jackson and other fabulous 80s stuff) which we had a great time singing along to. I left around 3am, would have stayed longer but I have 8am class the next day...into which everyone straggled looking dead and hungover. But it was worth it.

After Rafi left I went into crazy stress mode and wrote my million of papers (3 I think, actually) and prepared for an expose and a revue de presse. In the end, everything went alright...could be better, but you know. After I finished my last expose I felt freer than I have in my entire life, I think. I went to coffee with Asees after my very last French class, and it was nice to be with someone Indian for the first time in a long time haha. The evening was Liz's birthday party at the Lizard Lounge, which was really nice to meet her boyfriend from back in England, and hang out with the Kings kids. Later in the evening, Lin and Yun showed up, so I got to see them and walk home with them too, which was great. I'm so glad we're all going to see each other in September again.....makes saying goodbye just a little bit easier.

Then finals time has been going on for about the past week and a half, which because we're leaving so soon means next to nothing to everyone. Since classes have ended (which was surprisingly sad...) I've been on crazy socialization mode. Wednesday night, Masha Julia Kristen and I went to this amazing salad restaurant in the 4th with an amazing atmosphere (they have boardgames stacked up that you can play while drinking your coffee). The food was really good too (salad with mozarella, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, chives, pita and tzatiziki, basil, and pesto dressing...yummm) and then went for drinks afterward. On Thursday, the three of us went to see Les Poupees Russes, the sequel to L'Auberge Espagnole. I almost cried because a couple of the scenes are set on the island, and places I walk everyday. Friday I met Krystal and Maya for coffee in the afternoon, and we were having good conversation, so tearing ourselves away was difficult. I came home, studied for about two hours before Masha called and came over for some ice cream. So, we got Amorino and sat down by the river...it was a beautiful day...the stones of the seine were warm from the sun, just really nice. Yesterday I met up with a girl from my class to study for about 3 hours after closing my bank account, came back to clean up my apartment, study some more and then went with Mirad for drinks and to see Batman Beyond. The movie was amazing...Christian Bale is the perfect Batman (and the perfect Bruce Wayne), and it was just done so well overall. The finally showed Batman for what he is, all his internal conflict and all. I was extremely pleased....minus the major plot change about who killed Batman's parents.

Now I'm back to studying for my VERY LAST EXAM AT SCIENCES PO EVER (argh, wish me luck...this is gonna be a hard one for me). And then I come back from it tomorrow, go crazy packing because, as Mirad as told me...I better be done with packing soon because this week is going to be all about partying. Masha leaves the 21st, Maya the 24th, Julia either the 24th or 25th, and then everyone else either on the same day as I am (Lin) or after, and some are spending the summer here. I don't want to leave. I can't express it enough. I love Paris, I love my friends, I love my life here. Le sigh.