18.9.10

My life as a Parisian is starting to get pretty hectic! I really enjoyed the end of my orientation. The night Cruise on the Seine was breathing taking and hilarious. Thomas got spit on by people on top of the bridge as our boat went under it. We did a bus tour of the city - so I feel in some sense that I have seen Paris. My Aunt was here this week, which was nice and a great break from this crazy, crazy week.

My marketing class finished up and my mandatory french classes stopped. I absolutely LOVE my marketing professor and marketing in general. I got an incredible group and an incredible product- Picard food. Our marketing project is starting to take off and my group is investing a lot of time into the product. Our first presentation is on Monday!

Kelsey and I went to a Sciences Po party last Wednesday night. It was absolutely CRAZY. I got some great material and really had to experience French culture in the middle of a crowded dance floor. We mastered the art of French dancing/ facial expressions- meaning, don't smile, don't look in the same direction, don't make any big hand gestures and when possible, play with your hair. Another great event this week was our Alumni Reception which was at this fancy hotel in Paris. All the GW kids took full advantage of the open bar, despite teachers/ deans, etc being there. I got to meet the dean of the Elliot School. He and his wife are polar opposites and have different views of Europe. 

Friday we spend the day at Moet and Chandon. We had a tour, great lunch and a meeting with their marketing guy. Scarlett Johanson was there the week before, but wasn't there when we were there unfortunately. We took a lot of pictures showing off our new "French faces" and definitely enjoyed the Champagne! 

The group is really getting along well, I'm loving getting to know these students. 

08/09/10

I feel like the character Salt right now trying to disguise myself as a French person. It seems to be working since now people don't automatically switch to English once I start speaking in French. It also helps that I am pulling together some pretty french looking outfits and show my Sciences Po ID every chance I get.

Lets see. The other kids in the program are already starting to get sick of the French culture as each night they want to go somewhere that doesn't serve french food. Last night, Italian tonight, Japanese. No matter where you go, it is still very, very french. We concluded the night last night at a Jazz Club right near our apartments. It was interesting to hear French jazz and the people there were really good! Everyone wanted me to sing, but I didn't. Next time I suppose.

Today was the first day of French Classes. We spent the day at Sciences Po getting used to the environment, having lunch at the cafeteria, meeting our professors and people who organize the trip, etc. The group was divided up between beginner speakers and intermediate/ advanced. I was in the second group and LOVED my french teacher. She looked like a stereotypical 50 year old french woman, tiny, dressed all in black with a bright red belt and matching blazer and had an air about her like you didn't want to mess with her. She is one of the directors of the International Affairs program at Sciences Po (teaches master classes in international conflict and security). I spoke with her after class and she invited me to her class and to take part in a graduate, only french speaking class. I singled her out the second I heard her background.

A French lesson for the day - French students aren't go getters as much as American students (or at least, me). During our mingling session of the day with our professors, I took it upon myself to meet my Paris History Professor (who speaks Arabic). Sciences Po students came up to me afterwards amazed saying that French students would never approach a teacher and introduce themselves/ have a conversation with them. Teachers, they said, were above them. I don't think my personality would fit well in France for an extended period of time, c'est la vie.

Tired, sore and thirsty, we walked to the Musee D'Orsay and had a guided tour with a French woman. Loved the museum, hated the boring French woman who obviously despises American students. I am definitely going back to the museum and will try to sneak in for free as Europeans (Sciences Po students) under the age of 25 can do so. I'll see how well my disguise as a French person is working ...

Everyone was tired today, lots of walking, lots of things to process. We got Japanese and headed home! Waking up early for my second 3 hour French Class. Looking like a good weekend ahead, biensur!

9/6/10

Well... after 13 or so hours of traveling, getting lost in Heathrow, networking with a British businessman, hitting a French baby with my suitcase and getting car sickness on my van from the airport, I MADE IT TO FRANCE. I am currently writing this blog in my beautiful french apartment. Unlike other European apartments, I have a fairly large set up here. A kitchen with a table, a big bathroom and a large common space - this apartment is really really nice! Plus, I get to look out to a little French garden/ other apartments every day. The challenging part is finding a place to store all of the 100 lbs of stuff I brought.

Tonight we had dinner together with the Sciences Po students and our housemother, Florence. Thomas (a science po student) had the difficult task of translating the menu. Me, thinking I didn't need his guidance wanted to get a vegetable plate and ended up with duck... All in all, great meal. We sat there for 3 hours drinking wine, eating french food and attempting to speak french.

For now, I look forward to what tomorrow will bring.