Oh La Lauren

What is it about Paris?

Oops . Lunch . Away We Go . Coconut curry dinner

To my great embarassment, after having skyped briefly with Jessica and Jenna last night, I woke up this morning at 12:30. 12:30 in the afternon. Fuck. I mean, oops. I had plans to meet Julien for lunch at 1. After rushing to look somewhat presentable, I got out to Trocadero where I was so embarassed that he’d been up since the early morning studying, and I had been sleeping like a koala.

Julien, his parents, and I went to lunch at this wonderful restaurant whose name I did not note. It was very pretty though. There was a mirror with water running down in behind me, and the chandeliers hung from the ceiling that was studded with small green gems of light. It was so so generous of his parents to take me out. We spoke a wonderful mélange of French and English. I get embarassed when Ju keeps insisting that my French is better than his English, because I’m certain that it’s not. I had some yummy steak-frites and we shared some crème brulée for dessert. Afterwards we went back to his house and hung out for a bit. I teased him about how much he must spend on school suppies, and laughed when he showed me the ear plugs he uses when studying. His Dad was the second French person to inform me of this horrible story about a man hiding his rape victims in his home in Cleveland. Wonderful, now my city is on the map.

Ya, so, spent about 4 hours with Ju I hopped on the métro over to Place d’Italie and once again saw that spectacular view that you get when the train crosses the river. And sitting on that train, I was just basting in happiness. I don’t know what it is about hanging out with Julien that makes me so happy. I decided that he makes Paris real for me. People are such an integral part of cities, and I haven’t gotten to know ANY Parisians. It makes things feel real to me. And on the train, I realized that what’s so crazy about Paris is this: the best days are 5 times better than the best days at home, or on campus. Things go well, and then suddenly the beauty of the city is illuminated, and you think of how lucky you are to be here, and for that moment you’re untouchable.

Biki and I went to see Away We Go with a theatre full of people. It was in English with French subtitles, which I don’t quite think do the film full justice. But the French seemed to like it. Certain scenes made me miss the US. And I had to wonder, do the people in the theatre know where the city of Tuscon is? Do they have any idea how to pronounce it?

So afterwards Biki and I went to Place Monge for a little dinner. Went to a Chinese resto where I had reeaaallyy good coconut curry chicken, just like I’m used to in Evanston. Biki and I reminisced about the deliciousness of French grapes, sending wrong texts to wrong people (as I had just done), and our insane laziness.

Random: Last night I was watching television and I think that my comprehension skills have really improved.

Tomorrow: Biki and I try to corrige our laziness with a big serving of bibliotheque Pompidou.