Italy here I come....and some other things

Well, it's been a couple days...and I've officially purchased my flight to Italy! I am going on October 31st and returning Nov 5th. And yes, my flight, roundtrip, was 53 Euro! That's about $65 for a roundtrip flight to another fashion capital of the world! I am flying into Milan, then getting a train to Torino....maybe go to Venice for a day or two...then fly out of Milan back to Paris. I hope to see some of Milan at least for a few hours while I'm there! I am very excited, as this will be my first trip to ANOTHER country, another reason to use my passport. It's great to go somewhere and have free lodging, and my travel in total should be just around 100 Euro, give or take a few, in the end. It's also really cool that Virginie is giving me abotu 10 days off work to take this trip, and have Stacey come visit me here from Italy the same week! I am starting to put everyone's visits on my calendar, so that is nice...BECAUSE I am getting a little lonely...really just on the week day nights after work when it's too late to go into the city...things like that...
Anyways...today I worked in the morning, and was free after lunch...I walked down to the main street in Bougival where I had an appointment to set up my bank account (the 2nd attempt). It was a good walk, especially after being sick and needing some fresh air. I also went to La Defense quickly to pick up a small birthday gift and card for my brother...it was a good afternoon...I babysat the kids tonight for a couple hours and put them to bed...
There are always a few bumps in the day...behavior issues, some small stresses, things like that....but now that I am feeling better it's not so bad. The parents are very busy, taking on a lot of responsibilities...even putting their house up for sale (but I just found out we wouldn't be moving til next June), so it doesn't really effect me...except that the house and studio need to be clean every day for visitors! We've already had 2 interested buyers today and they just put the house on the market this morning!!!
I take my French exam on Thursday...so I need to do some reading/writing beforehand to prepare. I believe I start my classes on Monday...and I'm ready for a change in my daily schedule.

ok gotta make a quick exit....

A new experience to add to the list

Today is a bit better, by the mere fact that I saw a DOCTOR! And it was something to write about...I actually know what it is like to live in a village kind of. I can walk to the doctor, and then walk to the pharmacy, walk to the bakery to get a croissant, and walk back home to rest. Haha. I got a better night of sleep after the most boring Friday night of my life, haha. I walked to the doctor at 9:30 this morning. I had a 10am appointment, and there were others waiting, but it was like "first come first serve" or something...and the doctor himself came out to get the patient. I got in at about 10:25...he was young, friendly, and spoke English, which was quite nice. There was not a nurse or secretary that started me off with paperwork or questions...which was different. So we went into his office, where there was an examining room next door. He 'wrote me a prescription' to get the flu shot in October, which I'm relieved about. Seeing now how it is being sick, and working with kids every day, it will be really nice to get the shot. Then I explained how my cold has been, he examined me and after looking down my throat said, "Yes, it is green and yellow...I'm giving you antibiotics." Sorry to gross everyone out. Haha. I think I basically have a sinus infection, or bronchitis...lol, he didn't say which...but I got antibiotics I will take for 5 days, and then also some nasal spray to clean my nose. SOO...afterwards I asked for the correct paperwork I needed to obtain my medical insurance and reimbursement for everything (I'm still in the process of getting French S.S. and the med. insurance, bank account, so I needed some papers signed by him). I had to pay for the appointment and medicine today, and will be reimbursed eventually. So I asked the doctor, "Is there a secretary outside that I pay" and he said "No, you pay me, right here...22 euro." Bizarre, huh? So, I paid him for my visit, said thank you, and off I went to the pharmacy down the street! Luckily my medicine wasn't outrageous either...will be anxious to be reimbursed though. It is interesting to see how other countries work in society with medicine, etc. I have never paid a doctor directly but I guess it's nice to SEE who your money is going to!
Once I got my medicine at the Pharmacy, I was automatically feeling better....it's a good feeling just to know what I have isn't serious, that I need antibiotics, and that I have them now...knowing I should feel better even by tomorrow. So I went home, took my first dose, ate lunch and laid down to watch "The Queen". I found flights online for my Italy trip and will probably purchase them tonight. I really need to buy a few things that I'm out of in the studio, and NOTHING is opened on Sundays, so I think I need to make a quick trip into the city....I will go into La Defense where there is a Monoprix (grocery store, Target type), and likely head right back home. I babysit tonight for the family....so I think we'll be viewing "Finding Neverland" on the projector in the living room, while the kids fall asleep and me too probably. Haha. If I purchase a calling card this afternoon I will likely make a couple phone calls, otherwise I'll lay low...I kind of hope Virginie and Jerome aren't out til 2 a.m., but I wouldn't be surprised because they haven't gone out in quite awhile....so my plan will be to grab a blanket and fall asleep on the couch. Tomorrow I will sleep in, and if I feel better hang out with Kirsty or Michael, but definitely this weekend is low-key....not what I was hoping for, but I am anxious to get better and be healthy! I hope tomorrow to be able to do my walk in Bougival and some Pilates, just to feel a bit more active... and this next week coming up I have an appointment to open my Bank account at the post office (the 2nd time around...ugh) and then I will be taking my French exam on Wednesday or Thursday to place into one of the courses that starts in October.
Well, I'm off to shower and go to the supermarket before it's too late.
A toute a l'heure!

Je suis malade, encore!! I am still sick....

Oh la la...(that's how one would say "oh no!!") Well, this night officially stinks. I was supposed to go to Versailles tonight to hang out with my new friend, Michael, but through the words of advice from Virginie and my better judgement, had to cancel those plans and am staying home SICK tonight. I am really bummed, and I feel crappy. Headache, coughing, gross nose,and I almost feel a toothache coming on strangely enough, which would contribute to the headache I am sure. My body sort of feels flu-like, minus an obvious fever and the upset stomach. I suppose I just have a really bad cold that does not want to go away. Thankfully I have a doctor appointment tomorrow at 10am to fill a prescription, which means I can get some cold meds or antibiotics if this is a sinus infection. Wow, almost 2 weeks now...I didn't think I'd be spending my weekend sick in bed. I had the afternoon off as well today, but had to come straight to the studio, close the blinds and crawl into bed. I maybe slept an hour, but it's difficult to sleep....my head feels better when I'm in an upright position...laying down I can't breathe that well and my nose is more congested. Yeah....no sleep this week. Dammit. Due to all this I haven't been able to exercise this week, so I just feel like a chubby sick blob. Lol.
Work was work...had its good and bad moments this week. My patience gets tested often, but I know its just more difficult when I'm ill. Today actually I taught English to Tiphaine's class for 30 minutes! The teachers are looking for mothers to 'teach' English to the kids...so it looks as though I will go in each Friday morning to sing songs, play little games, read little books, etc. Her class are 4 and 5 year olds so it will be fairly simple concepts, vocab, etc..mainly an introduction to English...Tiphaine definitely knows the most English in her class. I might do the same for Ines' class as well. The girls are very proud of this. It was cute.
In other good news it looks as though I will be going to ITALY! My Delta Gamma sister, Stacey, is studying there this semester....and it is working out that Virginie will give me a week off from work while the kids have their Fall vacation. The family will go back to Pyla with some friends (where I spent the summer), and instead of me going along, Stacey is going to come to Paris for 3 days, and then I am going to Italy for 4 or 5 days! Yahoo!!! She's already booked her flight, and I will book mine this weekend I think. She lives in Torino (where they had the Olympics recently)...I'll stay at her apartment with she and her roommates, then we may be able to go to Venice for a day or two. I will fly into/out of Milan, and take the train to Torino. This is great, I didn't even ASK Virginie for time off work as I assumed I'd just go to Italy for a weekend....but she told me I didn't need to go to Pyla since she'll be on vacation as well. So I don't feel any pressure or anything...and so I may be having a 10 day vacation (and I DID tell her I'd still need free days when my family comes to visit, and that I didn't want to have this replace those days and she said no, not a problem). There are 2 very inexpensive airlines in Europe, so my flight should cost around 50 euro I think, roundtrip! I will also have to pay for a train ticket and shuttle as well, but all in all, it will be a reasonable price...and free lodging with Stacey!
My OTHER Delta Gamma sister from UCR, Courtney, is coming to see me in mid-December!! And we MAY be taking a weekend trip to Morocco, if we can stay at her mother's friends house! If not we may do a small Europe trip...so I am happy to be making a couple plans and to put on the calendar friend and family visits!
Okay, must lay down and rest my head.....pray I get better, I really don't feel well and this job is not condusive to 'sick days'........

Two more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ij3aY2lMU

this is just funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8j0RNLw-Ug

my fav song on her new album

My outfit to the concert...hah. Living alone makes for a difficult time of having pictures of me in Paris! And the only full length mirror close to me is in the house garage! But the black and white stripes went along well with Gwen's theme...

You-Tube videos of Gwen's Paris concert that I was at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxDTbITrmnc

the badass opening..."Sweet Escape"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtKmCVjw8_8

this happened at the very end, I was pretty sad it wasn't me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK7XlajkRPk

more songs...i love youtube! listen to Gwen talk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmpobRnniZ8
talking to the crowd, telling us Paris is her fav!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ij3aY2lMU
and when she went into the crowd

Gwen's concert was incredible!

Hello everyone! It's been a busy couple of days, and I am STILL SICK. I can't seem to boot this cold, it's a stubborn bug. I suppose it is due to the germs I'm exposed to with the kids, and Matt and Ines are also coughing and sniffling, so I think it's just taking longer to lose...however I have a doc appt on Saturday anyway so if I still have the cold I will have him check it out to make sure it's nothing more. Anyways!

Gwen's concert was Monday night at an arena called Bercy! Once I was inside at my seat it felt like being at an arena in Seattle or Portland or Sacramento...I felt like I was just at a show in the States...the arena and the crowd, etc were just like something we'd see in the U.S. Anyways...I had a normal seat (no, Carolyn, that you-tube video is not mine, unfortunately). I had a good seat, not great and not bad. Which was fine because the floor was standing only, and you know me...unless I'm right in the front, I'd rather not stand in the back with a crowd of people! Funny story...when I first walked into the arena to get my seat, I was basically stalked by an employee to help me find my seat (which I TOTALLY could have done alone, it was so easy to figure out), but she chased after me to 'seat me', and then had the audacity to demand a TIP! WOW i was so turned off by that, I gave her about 30 cents, as that's all I had in change...and when she proceeded to help others WITHOUT demanding a tip, I glared at her until she saw me...then saw her ask someone else for a tip. Wow, I guess I haven't exerienced THAT at a concert yet in the States. Whatever, she was wearing an ugly 1970s flight attendant style uniform, so at least I looked better than her!

So the show was the exact same show I saw 3 months ago in Seattle, which was absolutely fine, nothing was very different...Gwen wore the same outfits and the songs were in about the same order I believe, and she even said some of the same things. She spoke in English, but commented on wishing she knew more French...she said a few short phrases in French, like "Ou sont les filles?" (Where are the girls?) She looked even BETTER than she did at the start of the summer, wow she is in GREAT shape and her abs made me want to kick myself for looking like crap at age 22, when she's 37....she looked awesome.

The Paris crowd was INCREDIBLE...I was sooo impressed and in awe at the passion and energy of the crowd. Even before Gwen came out a song came on in the arena that EVERYONE hear knows (by Mika I think) and the entire arena started clapping in unison and then proceeded to do the wave for about 10 minutes...and when Gwen was out everyone sang the "woo hoo" from "The Sweet Escape" in unison several times to cheer Gwen on, or singing her songs loud or clapping or screaming a lot for her backup singer, Gail Ann Dorsey (who has an amazing voice). Anyways, Gwen almost came to tears once or twice in reaction to the crowd and talked about her world tour and everywhere she's been so far, and that Paris had to be the best crowd. I think my jaw was hanging a couple times in awe of the crowd...it felt like everyone there was friends and were all in agreement how great the concert was or how Gwen was amazing...I also got jealous once again when she went into a part of the crowd that I was not in...and when she brought a kid on stage at the very end to give a hug...unfair how many times I've seen her and been right in front and never seem to get that lucky! I will do whatever it takes to meet her in person once before I die! Haha :) It was funny though because I'm almost certain I was the only person at the show who could sing all her songs, word for word...mainly due to the language factor...I'm sure the girls next to me were thinking "wow, her English is really good, she's singing everything!" Ha...pretty sure they didn't know I was Americain, or they figured it out by the singing.

Yesterday was NOT a good day unfortunately....the children misbehaved all day, and with me being sick with a cold, it just made for a bad day...therefore I went to bed around 9pm. On the other hand, the day of the concert Ines asked both her parents if she could go with me to the concert (she loves the songs I play them)...so that was really cute. I totally would have taken her too if they'd let her go...tickets are expensive of course and she IS only 6 years old, and it was a school night..Jerome and Virginie laughed and liked the idea, thought it was cute...Gwen's show is quite kid-friendly and is a spectacle to see...so yesterday I attempted to entertain Ines by making some Gwen posters with her picture and playing her music at lunch...but when the kids were not behaving well it put me in a less-entertaining mood.

I felt better today, but not great...coughing and the nose...ugh. I went into Paris this afternoon (Wed afternoons off work) with Kirsty (the au pair from Versailles). We went to La Defense and saw a movie at the cinema. We saw "A Mighty Heart" with Angelina Jolie. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FILM. It had more significance for me since 9/11 just passed and I remember the story well. Angelina does an incredible job..I'd say Oscar worthy. Anyways...it was nice to do that for a few hours...and now I'm here typing, relaxing and getting ready for bed. I really hope this cold is gone by Friday. It is not fun at all working all day when I'd rather stay in bed and get better.

Low Key in Pareeeee

*A photo of Matthieu..this is a garden at a chateau in St. Germaine (where the kids have school). We walked here one afternoon for a picnic during their lunch break.

*Me at Versailles....photo taken by my new friend Michael. The chateau is in the background.

I had a relaxing weekend in Paris. Friday night I went into Versailles to meet Kirsty for a drink. There is a great neighborhood in Versailles with pubs, cafes and restaurants...lots of young people hang out here on weekends apparently. We could hear the fireworks from the chateau, but the buildings blocked our view...Versailles is a great "little" town...very walkable with lots of shops, markets, etc. We drank cold cider, it was quite tasty. We visited for about 2 hours, and then I took the train back home before it got too late. Saturday I slept in a little bit, then went for my regular jog in Bougival. I made a big lunch to fill me for the day, then headed back to Versailles to hang out with a new friend I made, Michael. We walked in a new part of the garden I hadn't been to yet...and the chateau's garden had a lot of people in it...sitting on the grass, some people on canoes in the lake, taking photos, etc. The chateau plays music that we could hear from even so far away. It was a beautiful day. In fact this whole weekend Paris had great weather. Clear sunny skies, highest was 78 degrees, which is great for Paris! I received a package from Carolyn and Carly, which I LOVED! So I spent Saturday evening watching DVDs they sent me...Sunday I tried to sleep in but just couldn't do it, so I got ready fairly quickly, visited with Jerome and Virginie for a few minutes and then went into the city to attend church (mass) at NOTRE DAME! I decided not to go to the local church today because it requires me to drive and park, and I just didn't feel like doing that...and I kind of wanted to get a coffee in the city anyway. I went to the 11:30 mass at ND, and it was spectacular to attend. There are about 5 masses on Sunday, and I attended (unintentionally) the International mass, with the choir. WOW the choir was unbelieveable. I have never heard voices like that in person...opera voices. And they sang in French..and it was definitely NOT Lady of Lourdes style music. Haha. No offense, Ms. Ausman. The priest was African American (as was the one I saw in Pyla this summer) and he spoke in French, English and Spanish...but most of the mass was in French. It is the exact same order, etc. as a mass in the U.S...just the language difference. At this International mass they have programs with the readings in English to look at. The singing was very prominent...which made mass a little over an hour. A lot of incense was also used at the alter...often giving it a 'smokey' appearance, and I could smell the incense from back where I was sitting. Visitors can be in the church while mass is going on, they just have to stand to the side...so that was interesting. It's definitely more of an 'experience' than the optimal place to attend mass, so I will only return for mass there if I have company or want to see a special service.

Side note: I am still battling the cold, and toward the end of mass when I was standing in line for communion, I almost FAINTED! It was so bizarre, I got dizzy and stumbled and had to hold onto the chairs so not to fall. I didn't get light-headed or hot or pale, as when you faint...but it was like my equilibrium was off for about 10 seconds...I think it was a combination of my ears popping a lot (from blowing my nose...ugh) and heat (the church was a little warm) and hunger (I hadn't had food at this point). Anyways, thankfully I didn't faint, felt fine and left after communion to get a snack and return home.

I didn't stay in Paris this afternoon, despite the nice weather. I really wanted to clean my studio and hang some pictures because I don't have a lot of time during the week. I also went for my jog again before dinner. I plan to spend Wednesday afternoon in the city to see more things I haven't seen yet.

GWEN STEFANI MONDAY NIGHT!! TOMORROW! WOO WOO!!! You better believe I'm wearing some sexy jeans and my black boots and cute black shrug! A good reason to get dressed up, city girl style!

Also, a friend of mine from Delta Gamma in Idaho is studying in Italy this semester, SO it seems as though she will be visiting me for a weekend in October, and if we can find another good weekend I will fly to Italy for 2 nights and visit her in Torino! This is great, because we both have apartments to crash at...a.k.a free lodging ......can't beat that! So, I hope it works out, I'd really love the chance to see Italy at a low fare.