02.15.2012
18h59
I've been so caught up in work and studies that I've skipped a couple of Mondays. But here's some music for you anyway!
Sean Paul - "She Doesn't Mind"
I've listened to this song quite a few times now, and even after watching the video, I'm still not sure what the song is about. But it's catchy and upbeat, and certainly makes it easier to drag myself out of bed and into the shower in the morning.
David Guetta featuring Sia - "Titanium"
Another upbeat, catchy tune. Which isn't much of a surprise, knowing that David Guetta is behind this one. Did you know David Guetta is French? Well now you do.
Madonna featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. - "Gimme All Your Luvin'"
I bet you also didn't know that Martin Solveig, the producer behind Madonna's new album, is French! Another upbeat song with mediocre lyrics. The song doesn't mean much, but is catchy and makes you bob your head.
Matt Nathanson - "Come On Get Higher"
Just to balance things out, a singer-songwriter whose lyrics actually mean something. This song is off of Matt Nathanson's previous album (from 4 years ago, I think).
| Comments (0) |
A recipe ... to help me work
02.07.2012
18h54
I just finished baking 3 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies (recipe here), and I have to say, baking is very cathartic. I like the process: starting with a recipe, getting the ingredients, following the directions, and having a finished product that you can share (in this case, with my Parisian hosts this week). One thing leads to the next, and if you do everything correctly, you end up with something fabulous. (Marie-Laure has said that the cookies are some of my best yet!)
I came to Paris on Sunday afternoon to watch the Super Bowl with Charles. It was a pretty depressing game, actually, because just like 4 years ago (against the SAME TEAM!), the Patriots didn't play very well and they lost the game in the final few minutes. It was nice to watch the game - and let's face it, the commercials too - with someone else, as most years I've been alone. Although now that I think about it, those years when I watched alone were the years when the Pats won ... something to think about the next time the Patriots make it to the big game!
The reason I haven't been blogging here much recently is because I've been working on another project related to my thesis. I've got some amazing people helping me "create a recipe" for my thesis, by providing motivation and support and feedback. Even though I'm writing my thesis in French, it helps to be able to talk about my ideas in English, and even more so with people who don't really know my subject area because they often see things that I've overlooked or forgotten about.
But I will try to post here more often. I need to get into a writing habit where I write at least once a day, as I think that will make it easier for me to get into thesis-writing mode.
And hopefully along the way, I'll be able to bake a lot more cookies and cakes.
| Comments (1) |
Une mauvaise surprise
01.27.2012
12h09
Tuesday morning, I had trouble waking up. My train to Paris was at 2pm, so I didn't have to get up early; instead, I spent the morning waking up, looking at the clock, rolling over and going back to sleep. Finally, at 11am, I forced myself to get up, but apparently I wasn't 100% awake ...
Because yesterday morning, Damien wanted some milk for hot chocolate but there wasn't any in the fridge; when he went to get some out of the cabinet*, he found the bottle that I'd opened Tuesday morning AND PUT BACK ON THE SHELF. Needless to say, it was not a very nice morning surprise.
* In France, most of the milk is UHT milk that can sit on the shelf and only needs to be refridgerated after it's opened. It exists in the US (Parmalat), although very few people use it. In France, it's possible - but really hard - to find fresh milk.
| Comments (1) |
Une grosse nouille
01.25.2012
18h52
As I walked out the door this morning to head off to the first day of the second semester, I said to Aurel*, "Today won't be that bad. [pause] Famous last words, right?" And we both laughed.
*When I teach in Paris, I stay with friends. Some weeks I stay with Aurelien and Solenne (Aurelien is one of my former students from 2003-2004 who has become a good friend. He's an English teacher in the Parisian suburbs. Thanks to these overnight stays, Solenne has also become a good friend. She's a Spanish teacher in the Parisian suburbs). The other weeks I stay with Damien's former roommate, Marie-Laure, her boyfriend Charles, and their roommate J.B. Thanks to lots of long visits with Damien when he lived with ML, we've become good friends. I really enjoy my overnight stays because I get to spend lots of time with some awesome people!
So I hopped on the metro, line 8, and zoned out for the 20 minute ride to the university. I walked to my office, where I encountered a fellow English teacher. She started telling me about an issue she had had the day before, and I quickly realize that her issue was about to become MY issue.
Apparently, the guy who does the photocopying was on vacation for the last two weeks, and FORGOT to inform any of the teachers. So we've been emailing him things we need photocopied for class, except he wasn't around to actually do the photocopying. When I showed up this morning at 930, an hour before teaching, I had to go pressure him to do the most important photocopies, and then I resorted to backup lessons. Except I didn't have the audio files for the backup lessons on my work laptop, so I quickly downloaded the audio files again. I finished at 10:28, just in time to grab my stuff and run downstairs for my 10:30 class.
I walked into class, and everyone was already seated. That should've been my first clue. I said, "good morning!" and started handing out the first document when a young lady sitting in the front interrupted me.
"Madame?", she said. "What time does class start?"
An overwhelming feeling of stupidity enveloped me as I realized that I had never checked my schedule for the time. "I think it's 10:30, let me check ..."
And no, very clearly on my schedule it says that my first class on Wednesday is from 10 to 12 and not 10:30 to 12:30 like first semester. Which made me feel like "une grosse nouille" (a moron) ... what a way to make a good first impression, right?? Although I was impressed that they sat there and waited for me for over 30 minutes ... if it had been me, I probably would've left after 15 or 20 minutes!
I promised them that I'd be early next week, and the class ended up being fine. How would you have dealt with the situation?
| Comments (0) |
Monday music
01.23.2012
18h30
Every Monday, I plan on sharing a song (or songs) that I've been listening to lately. For no other reason than to introduce you to some new music, although rest assured, I am not a music junkie and I certainly don't take myself too seriously when it comes to music.
First up, Matt Nathanson's new album, Modern Love, was my workout music of the summer. I listened to this album over and over, every day that we went to the gym. My favorite song is Run:
Next is what I call the "creepy French stalker song" (one line says "beautiful stranger, who are you" and it's all about him watching her from afar). Anyway, it's really catchy. And emotional ... i love feelings in songs! Merwan Rim sings "Vous (belle inconnue)":
And an acoustic version of Rihanna's "We found love" ... I find this to be even better than the original, but I'm a sucker for acoustic versions that have a lot of feeling:
Enjoy!
| Comments (1) |
"Bonnes fetes"
01.22.2012
23h35
Throughout the month of December, French people wish each other "Bonnes Fetes" (happy holidays). No matter where you go - the bakery, the supermarket, the doctor's office - somebody will wish you Bonnes Fetes as you leave.
When Mom and Dad were here, I wanted to teach them a little French, so I taught them "Joyeux Noel" (Merry Christmas) and "Bonnes Fetes". (Joyeux Noel came in handy when we went to Damien's parents' house on Christmas Day, but that's a post for another time).
The night of the 23rd, the four of us decided to go wander around the big grocery/department stores (kind of like a super walmart). We bought a couple of things at LeClerc and went to check out.
Dad offered to pay, so he handed the money to the cashier after I translated the amount. She handed the change back to him, and I reminded him to wish the cashier happy holidays.
He turned to the cashier and said, "Bonnes Fesses." Close enough, but not close enough ... "Bonnes Fesses" means nice ass.
(Luckily she knew what he was trying to say!)
| Comments (1) |
when life hands you lemons ...
01.18.2012
21h13
I had an appointment at 930 this morning for yet another blood test. I couldn't eat beforehand, so I got up and showered with just enough time to walk up the street to the lab.
Unfortunately, they couldn't do the test. The woman at the check-in desk told me that in order to test one of the things on the list, the test has to be done before 830am. So guess where I'll be at 8am tomorrow morning?
In order to make the best out of a ruined morning, I stopped into the bakery across from the lab and bought myself a fresh baguette. Then I came back home and had toasted fresh baguette with baguette with butter and jam, and two cups of chai tea.
Sometimes it's the little things that make me realize how much fun it is to live in France.
| Comments (0) |
