2009 April | Kristie In Paris

Speechless….

I made a new friend in French class. She’s from New York and is here with her French fiance. We sat a free test yesterday, which was put on by Alliance Francaise for students of all levels.

It was touted as a way to measure our level of understanding of spoken and written French, and wasnt [...]

I’m breathless…why dont our riot police look so hot?

There was a small gathering of protesters outside the Palais de Justice this afternoon. I just happened to walk past as I was coming home from French class. And boy am I happy that I did! The place was teaming with hot french riot police, called the “Gendarmerie”.

Tall, slim, but not skinny, with riot armour [...]

Oh god its good to feel attractive!

Its been described as “The Look”.

All French men (and some women) do it. Its more than a glance. Its much, much less than a stare. Its never a leer. Its never accompanied by a smile. It perhaps includes an almost imperceptible look up and down.

Its a brief meeting of eyes. Its nothing more than an [...]

Bars, bars everywhere, but not a friend in sight…

I went on a date last week (don’t get excited everyone, as I’ve discovered, its quite easy to get a first date here but they are generally not followed up by a second date. He wasn’t special, as you’ll see, but dates are a good way for me to practice French, so at least he [...]

“The scowling grey universe, relieved by pastry…”

This week has been a hard one.

Coming into Paris on the TGV (fast train) back from Nice, I started to feel a bit strange, apprehensive, unsure. I questioned myself about my feelings: I know this city, I know where I’m going and how to get there, I love arriving here. So why do I feel [...]

Paris smells like…….

* warm, sweet, freshly baked brioche

* sweet smokey woodfires

* mineral/electrical smell of the brakes on the metro trains

* floral perfume and fresh flowers

* roasting chickens

* cigarettes and cigars

* stale urine (human and dog)

Aliens arrive in Nice and establish headquarters in Eve’s belly

Apologies to those who have been waiting for another blog entry: sometimes ya just gotta live your life and write about it later, non?

So last week I finished up at my little rented apartment (my second stay there and oh how I wish I could buy it) and hopped on the TGV at Gare de [...]

Why I now consider myself to be a very elegant chair

Seems like most French people (a generalisation of course) either dont want to/dont need to be introduced say, to a group of friends in a bar or at a party. Its ok to just make eye contact and wait for an opportunity to speak to each other. So it is possible to be out with [...]

Ramdom things about Parisiens/French/France

French families seem to go out, all together, on the weekends, even if its just to go for a walk together, then sit down for a coffee.
I’m in LOVE with French eggplants and tomatoes. The fruit is heavy, large, unblemished, colourful, full of flavour and fresh!
Apart from eggplants and tomatoes, not happy that I cant [...]

Travelling makes you think, like, heaps!

So I’ve had some interesting thoughts over the past few days………

JB said at dinner the other night that I’m either really brave or really crazy to be here without a job, a place to stay, not many friends, no family etc. I think I’m a little of both. In one way, if it was really [...]

Kristie In Paris

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