Catch Up

Sorry for the delay in the updates! I've been so busy! Lets see...Sunday i had to wake up and change hotels. I decided to take a taxi instead of lugging my suitcases up the stairs of the metro (i had to change lines as well). So that was way more expensive but honestly worth it. Got to my new hotel which was much more like an actual hotel...Hotel Des Voyageurs. my room overlooked the garden/patio area which was nice. Sunday i was a cafe rat. I went to Cafe Daguerre to eat lunch and do some reading. Then i went back to my hotel when i could get into my room. Later on for dinner I went to Cafe Rendez-Vous and had delicious Salmon(the waiter picked it out for me) and my first wine of the trip. The waiter even bought me a glass of white wine for my salmon because i was initially drinking red. The young people in front of me smoked like chimneys. Its crazy to me that all the young people smoke here...and not smoke like the US. They all chain smoke. i mean a minute or two after they put one out, they are lighting up another. I can tolerate the occasional cigarette smoke blowing in my direction, but this was a constant trail right in my direction. Doesn't mix well with red, white wine and salmon. So i did about 20 sudoku puzzles to keep me occupied.
I got back to my hotel and had a short conversation with the guy at the front desk. It was short because somehow we got on the topic of kevin being in Kuwait. He was from Tunisia. Immediately after i told him he was military he stopped hitting on me and hated me. "Ughhh, i hate them. All they do is kill people." So i quickly shut up and said goodnight. After all, im sure he had access to my room key if i pissed him off....

Monday
Very busy. Woke up for breakfast, took a short nap afterwards(i didnt sleep well Sun night) until i could get into my apt (12pm). Walked the short 1 1/2 block walk to my apt and unpacked. I had to wash the sheets so i met my landlord at the laundry place because i had NO idea how to use it. It was very sophisticated and very expensive (4.90 euro to wash, 1 euro/10min dry). Landlord had to help figure out internet as well, and then he took me shopping to the monoprix right on rue daguerre(the best market street ever) for shampoo because they have way too many choices. Then had to run to school for orientation. Afterwards I went to a small cafe for cheese and beer with some classmates before coming home for the night. I didn't stop all day!

Tuesday- first day of school!!
Ok, so they say parisiennes are not morning people, but you could have fooled me. So far, every morning i have been woken up at about 545am. They dont do anything quietly. If they close a door, they slam it...if they walk down the hall, they are talking or walking with lead feet..and they are always either on the phone or talking to someone. Oh and the trash came this morning. Obviously i am a light sleeper so its not helping my situation much...especially since you have to sleep with the windows open because its been about 90 degrees everyday. I melt no matter what i wear. i think im just goin to buy dresses to wear if this heatwave keeps up. Anyways, i love my classes. Very interesting! I am taking two international law courses in public international law and international litigation and arbitration. Pretty much, one is between private entities and other private entities and or states; and the other is law between two states(essentially countries or those recognized but not as countries). We talk about jurisdiction of courts in different countries over disputes that arise. I will tell you more as i learn more about it. But i think i like it more than any other core class i have taken so far. Most of the people have already taken Civil Procedure which would help(i have not bc im in night school)- but i know and understand a lot because of my job.
After class I went to a cafe for a club sandwich and then and walked around shops with a friend Allison. After sweating about a bucket of water, we stopped in a bar/cafe for coffee and to do the reading. Then we walked to her house on rue Poppendor (i think thats the name) in the 4th arr. and met up with her roommates, my classmate Ashkaan and a day student Lyon. Lyon heard of a place in the NY times that was cheap and good next to the Louvre so we walked across paris to get to it. Very frustrating when i am hungry(as you all know i am not very pleasant hungry). However, because they are relatively new friends i was forced to stay as pleasant as possible. I think i did a great job!
Dinner was cheap(for Paris)- 11.50 euro for a steak and fries (i was craving something other than a baguette sandwich and hungrier than a salad). By this time it was 10:30 so we took the metro back to their place to pick up my stuff and i headed out. Just got home an hour ago and now i am EXHAUSTED!!
off to bed, and tomorrow the council d'etat after class. I will try to be a little more constant with my updates so they arent as long. I do apologize! Love to you all!
Au Revoir!

Never fly American overseas

Well i made it here! The first day was crazy busy. First flight was to Miami which was about 4 1/2 hours...I was in the window seat next to a large man who didnt give me much elbow room..so i squished myself against the window and attempted to sleep. We landed, I went pee and boarded the plane..no time for bullshittin. The seats were even smaller on the plane to Paris. My knees were pressed against the seat in front of me. I feel bad for tall people on that plane. i was at least on the aisle so I got to stretch my right leg out a little. Watched a movie, attempted to sleep only to get woken up every 20 min by people walking by and using my seat as a balancing aid. So the moral of the story, never fly American overseas.
After we landed, i walked through the airport trying to find the RER-B. Ok, so i think im pretty good with directions, but i swear they forget to put signs in some places.. Anyways, it seemed like a pretty far walk with all of my luggage, including 2 large law books. I was literally dripping sweat by the time i found the station. Bought the wrong ticket(but ended up being ok bc they were metro tickets for inter-city). Made it to the school ok and met up with K-Rae who informed me that AA is the worst airline to fly over here(go figure). I met 2 guys from my program, one of which wanted to live with me but i told him no boys (i like to dry my hair naked ok--dont think Kev would like that one too much). We found me a couple of places and she called to set up appts. I took a taxi to my hotel(who charged me way too much for driving around in circles). Had to drag my suitcases up 5 flights of stairs...(still sweating, no shower). Finally got in my room but had to rush out to meet the first guy for an apt(still no shower, food or sleep). Met Roger at 43 Rue Boulard and liked the place. I bargained with him and got the price down a little. I am refraining from telling everyone how much i am paying because it is absolutely ridiculous and when i told him this he replied with "its Paris."
He is a very nice landlord though. Took me out to lunch, paid for it and even agreed to pay for Sunday night hotel because i cant move in until Monday night.
I made it back to my hotel (im pretty good on the metro now, not so good on the streets), finally showered, played on the computer and fell asleep around 7pm.
That was day 1- 30 hours straight. Sorry about the complaining..but i had to get it all out. No one to talk to here so it gets pretty lonely. Dont worry, today was much better!

Day 2-
I woke up late and stayed in bed for a while deciding what to do with my day. I went to the cafe next door and got a ham and cheese panini and a badoit(perrier). Walked down Rue de Richelieu to the comedie street and listened to a small orchestra play. Then i went to the louvre. its amazing there and WAY too much to see. Saw Mona Lisa and a bunch of other paintings, sculptures of men with small packages and lots of rocks with carvings in them. ;) I'll tell you, i would NOT be happy if those guys were what i had to choose from!
I think i walked about 4 miles today, maybe more. I really didnt stop...actually once for a painting of a woman holding up her breasts with her hands. I thought it was pretty interesting and decided that that was where Victoria got her idea(or secret if you will) for bras.
Went to a little cafe and had my first beer and soup. now i am back here!

Au Revoir until tomorrow