Almost a year ago, I boarded a plane for China. 7 months ago, on December 12th, I returned home to NJ, only to leave again less than 3 weeks after my arrival.
It is now 12:07 am on July 12th. In 10 hours, I will be on a place bounds towards home and my year-abroad will be over.
I never thought my year-abroad would have been as amazing as it has been. I have lived a truly wonderful year, and I am happy I was able to share it with you. Thank you for encouraging my stories and leaving comments that sometimes made me laugh so hard, I would cry. This blog (and my China one) will stay on-line, but will no longer be updated. Who knows where the next adventure will take me - but all I know is that this ride is just getting started.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Metaphor, in the shape of a Melon
In 50 years I will remember my host family. I am sure of that. I'm not sure if I'll remember that Madame only wears blue mascara or that Priscilla isn't allowed to go out on Friday nights...but I am confident to say that I will always remember that they eat fruit with a knife and fork.
When people ask me what I got out of this semester I say that I can now peal a pear with a fork and knife. It's a life-skill, you know, though I feel like if I do that at home, my parents would take the pear away from me. Heck, even if it did that at a dinner party, people would stare. And then probably take the pear away from me.
With 2 days left, I look back at my time here and try to figure out what I've accomplished. Paris 7 was on strike; Madame said my French is better, but hey...it was never THAT BAD; I now have an obession with fur vests. It's not as clear this semester all that I have accomplished, unlike last semester.
The only "new skill" I picked up is eating fruit with a fork and knife.
I'll take it.
Last night I had a little good-bye dinner at the apartment. Just me, Monsieur and Madame 'cause Priscilla is in London, the sons had a dinner party and Lara had wedding preparations. It was going fine until Madame put a melon down in front of me.
At home, I'd just pick it up. Here...not so much. And because the conversation was focusing on "their friends, the Rothschilds", I figured I shouldn't dribble melon juice on my dress. So while I pathetically stabbed at the melon, Monsieur and Madame were cutting their with ease and elegance. Madame got up to get the next course, and in a moment of benevolence, Monsieur took the melon and cut it for me.
"I know you can do this yourself...but it'll be easier if I just do it for you"
"...thanks..."
"No, really, you've come a long way, think of what would've happened if we gave you a melon on the first night"
And it's true.
I have come a long way.
When people ask me what I got out of this semester I say that I can now peal a pear with a fork and knife. It's a life-skill, you know, though I feel like if I do that at home, my parents would take the pear away from me. Heck, even if it did that at a dinner party, people would stare. And then probably take the pear away from me.
With 2 days left, I look back at my time here and try to figure out what I've accomplished. Paris 7 was on strike; Madame said my French is better, but hey...it was never THAT BAD; I now have an obession with fur vests. It's not as clear this semester all that I have accomplished, unlike last semester.
The only "new skill" I picked up is eating fruit with a fork and knife.
I'll take it.
Last night I had a little good-bye dinner at the apartment. Just me, Monsieur and Madame 'cause Priscilla is in London, the sons had a dinner party and Lara had wedding preparations. It was going fine until Madame put a melon down in front of me.
At home, I'd just pick it up. Here...not so much. And because the conversation was focusing on "their friends, the Rothschilds", I figured I shouldn't dribble melon juice on my dress. So while I pathetically stabbed at the melon, Monsieur and Madame were cutting their with ease and elegance. Madame got up to get the next course, and in a moment of benevolence, Monsieur took the melon and cut it for me.
"I know you can do this yourself...but it'll be easier if I just do it for you"
"...thanks..."
"No, really, you've come a long way, think of what would've happened if we gave you a melon on the first night"
And it's true.
I have come a long way.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Not now Chief, I'm in the fuckin' zone
When people ask me if I'm ready to go home, the answer is YES (in all caps), then me saying "AMERICA, FUCK YEAHHH!" (also in caps), then followed by a fist pump (I am from NJ after all).
And it's true. I am ready to go home, I do love America, and I love NJ more and more by the day.
Will I be sad to leave Paris? DUH. But it's time.
Some things I am looking forward to seeing (in order the pictures loaded):
My caahhhh!
RILLLEEEEYYYY!!! (...maybe, just maybe, Heather et al too...)
My parents/home/taxidermy monkey
...a few things on the list...
LESS THAN A WEEK!
ps - 10 points to whomever can tell me where the blog post title comes from....
And it's true. I am ready to go home, I do love America, and I love NJ more and more by the day.
Will I be sad to leave Paris? DUH. But it's time.
Some things I am looking forward to seeing (in order the pictures loaded):
My caahhhh!
RILLLEEEEYYYY!!! (...maybe, just maybe, Heather et al too...)
My parents/home/taxidermy monkey
...a few things on the list...
LESS THAN A WEEK!
ps - 10 points to whomever can tell me where the blog post title comes from....
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Be a Good American!
So this morning I picked up Caralie from the airport, bright and early.
Caralie got to experience the joy of a metro strike (TRIPLED!! the time it took to get home), had her first bites of Japanese food, did a 3 hour walk and went to dinner with all of my friends this evening (she came in from Boston at 7 am, btw)...none of those things, however, is as exciting as something else she got to do:
SHE WITNESSED ME DOING A GOOD DEED.
I know, shocking.
When we got on the monorail at CDG, there was an American lady on it with us, who started to ask a whole bunch of questions: Where are you going, what side of the bank are you on, etc etc. I finally got annoyed and was just like, I live here.
Her eyes lit up.
Oh shit.
Basically, the problem was that she had her friend's eurail pass, but was going on to Krakow in 3 hours (and couldn't get into Paris) and was unable to pass it along. So she asked me to go to their hotel and drop it off.
I was a nice person (and because it's the 4th of July); I decided to help out another American.
The kicker however was her repeating:
"Just be a good American, ok?" "Just bring it to the hotel" "I'm trusting you" "Just be a good American."
Yo, lady, I get it. If you don't trust me, don't give me the damn pass!!!
I smiled politely and offered her my cell number, as a peace of mind and told her I would glady HAUL MY ASS ACROSS TOWN and drop off the pass.
Which I did, after dropping Caralie off at the apartment.
So, dear readers, I have done my one good deed for the year. That's it. Next time I see all of you I am going to be mean, 'cause this one good thing will cancel out every other bad thing I might do.
HA. GOOD KARMA FOR MICHIIIEEEE!!!!!!!!
In other news, I have spent three 4th of July's in France. Aka, over 10% of my lifetime's 4th of July's.
In other, other news, 8 days!!
Caralie got to experience the joy of a metro strike (TRIPLED!! the time it took to get home), had her first bites of Japanese food, did a 3 hour walk and went to dinner with all of my friends this evening (she came in from Boston at 7 am, btw)...none of those things, however, is as exciting as something else she got to do:
SHE WITNESSED ME DOING A GOOD DEED.
I know, shocking.
When we got on the monorail at CDG, there was an American lady on it with us, who started to ask a whole bunch of questions: Where are you going, what side of the bank are you on, etc etc. I finally got annoyed and was just like, I live here.
Her eyes lit up.
Oh shit.
Basically, the problem was that she had her friend's eurail pass, but was going on to Krakow in 3 hours (and couldn't get into Paris) and was unable to pass it along. So she asked me to go to their hotel and drop it off.
I was a nice person (and because it's the 4th of July); I decided to help out another American.
The kicker however was her repeating:
"Just be a good American, ok?" "Just bring it to the hotel" "I'm trusting you" "Just be a good American."
Yo, lady, I get it. If you don't trust me, don't give me the damn pass!!!
I smiled politely and offered her my cell number, as a peace of mind and told her I would glady HAUL MY ASS ACROSS TOWN and drop off the pass.
Which I did, after dropping Caralie off at the apartment.
So, dear readers, I have done my one good deed for the year. That's it. Next time I see all of you I am going to be mean, 'cause this one good thing will cancel out every other bad thing I might do.
HA. GOOD KARMA FOR MICHIIIEEEE!!!!!!!!
In other news, I have spent three 4th of July's in France. Aka, over 10% of my lifetime's 4th of July's.
In other, other news, 8 days!!
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