I am happy to say that I had a relatively uneventful trip to Paris. I sat next to a nice couple from New York who was on their way to Paris to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. As they admired the new touch-screen, on-demand, in-seat, state-of-the-art entertainment system, he took out the remote control device that had a keypad and said he thought it was for writing e-mails to other passengers. “Seat 20C—I love you.” It was cute.
Dan met me outside the baggage claim, which I was very grateful for. My flight was just a bit delayed, so he ended up being late to class so he could meet me and give me the key. As much as I appreciate punctuality, though, I appreciated just seeing him MUCH more! He left pretty quickly to go to class, and I called my shuttle.
The drive to the apartment was nice. From what I’ve seen of the city so far, it really is like a prettier San Francisco. It was like stepping back in time walking down the cobblestone passage to get to the apartment. I felt like I was really disturbing the peace because my suitcases were making such noise as they rolled over the stones.
Dan attempted to take me to his favorite metro stop, but it starting POURING down rain just as we were about to walk out of the station. We tried to sit it out a while, then decided to head home and make dinner. I discovered he's been eating mainly pasta and those b0ullion cubes he loves so much...in part due to the fact that all we have as far as cooking surfaces go is two burners and a toaster oven. PLEASE send us recipes that will work with that configuration. We need more variety!
This morning, Dan brought me along to the Alliance Francaise. He's in class, and I'm just biding my time on the internet. His battery power is going quickly, though (I wonder if this is a new challenge with all his charger problems?), so I should probably wrap this up.
A few other things I’ve noticed:
• Just outside Charles de Gaulle airport, there’s some sort of structure that looks like one of the lily-pad fountain things from frog fountain at TCU. (Go frogs!)
• It’s odd to see graffiti written in a language other than English or Spanish...there were a couple of tags written over and over (which of course I don’t remember now).
• I need to figure out exactly which part of the phone number here is the city code, actual number, etc.
• Even the no parking signs are artsy.
• I wish I knew French.
We’ll be in touch again soon. Auvoir!
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10 comments:
meghan (and dan),
i'm so glad that you go there and are beginning to see paris! wish i could be there to help be your french translator. :) dan, have you started to do the french expression of 'shoot, i don't know,' with the pursed lips/eyes raised to ceiling/exhale/phlebbe sound yet? i'm pretty sure that was standard for me for a while even after i came back. enjoy it guys and let me know what you think! (what's dan's favorite metro stop?)
meghan... i have been trying to call you all afternoon but the phone isn´t working (at least not the way i want it too)
can´t belive you are in about the same time zone and that kate and mom/dad will be all hanging out together next week.
os amo y espero que tengáis un verano magnífico... sé que no te gustará el hecho que no entiendes francés, pero pienso que te disfrutarás el desafío
hasta luego
Am I ever glad Alta Vista has a translater. Matt tries to be tricky!
Meg, so glad you're there...and will hopefully be learning a bit of French in the process. It will be a lesson in acceptance to be in a situation where your ability to communicate is a bit challenging! I know you'll handle it, though. Love you both, keep us posted. Mom
Hey Guys! Great to hear that you got there and are already having a great time, Meg. Me and my crew were definitely thinking about you while you were travelling. Ok about your suitcase being loud...you would notice that! haha And that, my friend, is why I love you. I realize you want variety and all, but I'm thinking those cuby things sound pretty darn good...for breakfast...lunch...AND dinner...
We just had our first day of setup and we went into it thinking it was going to be really challenging. But the staff that we have to work with directly are just amazing people. I'm just getting ready for the good old CIB so I can start to modify work descriptions and directions. Boy do I love that all of you know what I'm talking about. How cool is this?!?!
Hey Dan (and Meg), Brian Anderson says "Hey" and also some funny word that I can't remember that apparently you guys both know...but I'll have to ask again and then this will make a lot more sense.
Hope you guys keep having a great time...enjoy it!!! Love you both...A LOT!
P.S. If the language thing bothers you with the grafitti, just do some in English...the spraypaint is on the way :-)
Mom...imagine this.
I read Matt's spanish. I decide to get it translated in Google, which I usually use. I go to Google (which is in French because the computer has a brain and knows I'm in Paris. Or IP address. Whatever). I manage to find the Google translation tool, even though it's written in French. And somehow, I managed to find out Matt thinks I will like the challenge of not knowing the language.
To Matt, I say, you are probably right. BUT, that was a heck of a lot of work, and usually I don't have a translator by my side. I think you just think I'll like the challenge because you're already fluent. ;-)
To Leah, I think Dan's favorite metro stop is Cite. Is that the one where you get off and there's a big courtyard and you're next to Notre Dame? What's your favorite?
Love you all!
Actually, my favorite metro stop (as in the actual station) is the Louvre-Rivoli stop. It has a bunch of little monuments and cool things along the walls (and not advertisements). Cite is the place I feel most comfortable because it probably has the highest percentage of English speakers. Although the minute you get off at Cite you are a tourist (our a beauracrat...ca depends).
I'm going to write again soon too. Don't think I've abandoned you!
i really like the louvre-rivoli stop as well, and cite is rather touristy but absolutely beautiful. Did you all know that the outsides of the metro stops were at various times designed by famous designers/artists? Only a couple remain, but I know one cool on is in Saint Michel. However, my absolute favorite favorite outside metro stop is one particular exit of the Palais-Royale stop. It's right by the Comedie Francaise and looks like a beautifully beaded necklace. Check it out on a sunny day!
Glad to hear about your arrival, Meggie. It blows my mind that my g-kids are traveling the world and can still communicate in an instant. Progress - I think!! So fun to read everyone's posts.
My exciting news for the week was VBS - I had three music classes. Ok, ok...but that's about as much fun as it gets around here. (:-)
Love and hugs, Grandma
i am trying to learn some french phrases. let it be known, i suck at trying to learn some french phrases. am i going to be taking the shuttle from the airport? how does that work? i cant wait for you (meaghan) and me trying to fumble our way around paris while dan is in class...good times.
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