Paris avec mes amies

Sunday was a full day in Paris. We started off at the Port de Clignancourt flea market (the largest antiques market in the world) where I spent too much money. But it was all justifiable - shoes, a second hand dress and gloves... things every girl needs. Afterwards we went to St Michel and enjoyed some hot chocolate at a cafe and soaked up the heat from the space heater. After we had all finished our drinks and eaten our snacks, we braved the cold and headed to l'Arc de Triomphe. We climbed the 284 steps to get to the top and enjoyed the beautiful view of Paris and la tour eiffel.

Once we were sufficiently chilled to the bone we headed back down the steps and walked around the Champs Elysees then hopped on the metro and headed to the cinema. The Social Network was playing in English (french subtitles) and was only 4.20 euros. I enjoyed the film and found it interesting how facebook came about. What's so crazy is that a website that took two weeks for a harvard student to create has completely altered our generation. Everyone and their mom's are on it. (Literally, both my parents are!) It's become such a crucial way of staying connected with so many people. You can meet once and exchange names and the next day you'll be facebook friends. It's pretty ridiculous how much a social network rules people lives. I know many people who are addicted to it, myself included.
Anyway, after the film we walked back to the metro and headed home to L'Etang la Ville. It was the first time I'd actually taken the train home with someone and it was a lot more enjoyable having friends to talk to the whole time. Plus it felt a lot safer to not be travelling alone late at night.
Two weeks ago when I went for a jog in the Forêt de Marly, I determined that I watch entirely too much Dexter. As I was jogging through the forest I kept thinking that I was going to find a dead body or that someone was going to try to abduct me. Then this last Friday my paranoia became justified. Some people out picking mushrooms discovered a young woman's body in the same forest. The news report said her hands were tied behind her back and she had been stabbed and that the body hadn't been there for long. This is the second type of murder that's happened in the parisien area lately. While I'm not going to let fear rule my life now, I will defintely be more careful and avoid going anywhere alone at night. No point in taking risks that need not be taken.

Patience is a virtue which I lack.

For those who know me well, you know that patient is a word not used in my vocabulary unless it's preceded by "im". 
Learning a language is proving to be the ultimate test in my patience, or lack thereof... 
I read my textbooks, I watch tv and listen to the news reporter discussing issues in a language I'm yet to understand. At night as I lay in bed, I try to put sentences together and later have nightmares that I'm trying to talk in French and have no idea how to even introduce myself. Later, I wake up and feel relieved when I realize all I need to say is, "Je m'appelle Bree." 
People keep telling me that one day it will click and I keep holding my breath for that day to come. I realize I've only studied it for 4 months and I've only been back in France for a month and a half. Regardless, I long for the day when I can hold my end of a conversation in French! I feel as if my brain is just too literal and I keep trying to translate things word for word when that's literally impossible! 
For example, in French they say, "ça va?" which means "How's it going?" but if you translated it directly it'd be "that goes". It's just the little things like that, that make such a difference.
I really feel that when I'm able to argue in French, I will know the language. Thus, I've made it my goal to get into an argument before I leave France. A French friend of mine has agreed to this argument and has given me the deadline of my birthday = seven months. So it begins. I need to work on speaking it more and trying to improve my vocabulary daily. If anyone has any tips or suggestions to help me along the cobblestone path, I'd be more than happy to hear them!

Thursdays aka "Valerian day"

While the older kids are in school and Nathalie takes the day to run errands, Valerian and I hang out. Today the weather was cloudy but decent so I decided it was perfect weather for a stroll through L'Etang la Ville. Valerian has begun to speak both English and French but mostly he just talks gibberish. As I pushed the stroller along the narrow streets, he would point and say, "cwah" (car) after each vehicle passed by. When there were no cars, he'd sing his own little song or repeatedly say "Bwee" and giggle each time I said, "What?" It made for an entertaining morning and a good workout as I pushed the stroller up the steep streets. I think this will be our new Thursday tradition as long as the weather permits.

Just down my street

In the Center of town

The way to St Germain en-laye

Little Valerian

Home Sweet Home