ENTRY: good news and bad news

THE GOOD NEWS

I already found an apartment through my lovely new friend. We became extremely close only yesterday as we attempted to prepare for a 40-minute oral presentation on Casanova's Histoire de Ma Vie. Let me tell you, speaking about the writer's exploits with with our professor was a bit absurd. But hey, we impressed the guy, partially because of our "interest in France and the language, and courage to come here despite any current friction with America," so I therefore recieved an A for the class. Vive la Sorbonne.

Ecstatic that I already have my third Parisian apartment search overwith, no longer feeling obliged to live in filth for the next half a year, I am moving out as soon as possible. My new apartment as of Sunday proves how despicably I've been taken advantage of: it costs just as much as I'm paying for the bat cave! Yet it is roach-free, mold free, crazy-neighbor free, and a five minute walk to the Sorbonne (therefore in the 5th arrondissement, the very center of Paris)! The place is small but two stories--the top floor is a cute living room/kitchen, and the wall facing outside is entirely glass. It is on the first floor, so I plan to invite everyone over after class in the springtime for regular outdoor feasts. My bedroom is in the basement--I have a comfy king-size bed surrounded by four walls of mirrors (leave it to the French). I'm excited that it is directly across from one of my favorite Mosques in the world, its outdoor garden/tea-room considered one of Paris' top ten places.

THE BAD NEWS

Noos internet does not yet recognize the building as a wireless zone, so I will not have internet access until mid-July. Regardless, the internet has proven to be a waste of time, so I won't miss it too much. I'll just keep updating in the net cafés by my new apartment. The run-down: classes here end in the beginning of June, and I'll then head over for a month to Valencia, Spain in an attempt to refresh my Spanish and take advantage of that Mediterranean sun! I'll try to get an Ibiza weekend in while I'm at it. And then, of course, summer by the pool with Ashley!

I've been doing laundry and downloading every song I can think of for the past five hours. Cat Stevens, Pascal Obispo, drying socks on the heater, Sezen Aksu, next load, Bride and Prejudice soundtrack, checking socks, Duran Duran, you get the idea. I'll try and update before I move, but let me tell you, I have merely forty-eight hours to carry my entire life down seven flights of stairs and across five arondissements, so I'm not so sure I'll have much time!

January, 2002, Somewhere in Pennsylvania: HUGE NEWS! One of my dearest friends, Nezzie, had her baby girl Sila just last Wednesday: January 5, 2005. I sent her a thousand kisses and made her promise I'd get to see baby Sila in July! In any case, here we are dancing at a Turkish wedding in the picture above (not her wedding, although her's turned out to be rather eventful as well.)! For those of you who've never been to a Turkish wedding--you're missing out! I always end up having the most enjoyable nights of my life at Turkish weddings, with great friends, the best music, delicious food and meaningful conversation.

As for OTHER huge news: I'm bailing out of this awful prison of an apartment as of this Sunday! Ecstatic is an understatement,. Things worked out very well, I have the entire weekend to move out and find a place to sleep for the next ten days. I'm thinking I'll end up at cité universitaire in the 14th arrondissement, only until the end of the month...

Plus, on July 29th, the day after the end of my semester at the Sorbonne, we will head down to Matthieu's family's house in the French Riviera. After a nostalgic week or two in Nice (as I spent a memorable month there at age 16), we'll drive all over Italy, and spend a week in Florence! I'll take an inexpensive romantic getaway, and won't need to find an apartment until March!

(Belgium and Switzerland Photos Coming Soon!) ٭٭٭٭٭OUR CHRISTMAS IN PARIS٭٭٭٭٭

December, 25, 2004, Paris, France: My brother and I reuniting in the 14th arrondissement apartment my family found for the holidays. Disregard the humorous painting behind Adam's head.

December 25, 2004, Paris, France: After recieving a wonderful gift--the presence of my family on Christmas morning (and an IPod, not that it compares)--we all set off towards the center of the city. We found ourselves at the exquisite Notre Dame.

December 25, 2004, Paris, France: Naturally, I wanted to spend the first day with them in Saint-Germain.

December 27, 2004, Paris, France: Matthieu met my family in the pyramids of the Louvre. The seven of us spent the rest of the day exploring the exhibits, yet still only got to see half of it.

December 27, 2004, Paris, France: In reality, our two-story sublet is the multi-million dollar apartment of a glamorous gay couple who spent their Christmas abroad. Kitsch paintings of naked women were all over the place. We took care of their cat and two birds, questioned the practicality of half of their antiques, enjoyed the two spiral staircases, the balconies, the outdoor gardens, and even had an indoor palm tree at our disposal!

December 28, 2004, Paris, France: Here I am in front of an interesting peace exhibit. Wanting to preserve the breathtaking memories of the last time I went up in April 2003, I kept a safe distance from the Eiffel Tower.

December 28, 2004, Paris, France: Adam and I at the Trocadéro. I took my family here for the sole purpose of showing them a ten-second view from the metro windows as we crossed over the Seine. The 6 line is partially above-ground, which happens to cross the river right beside the Eiffel Tower. I've been living in Paris for almost half a year, yet still get chills every time I take that route.

December 29, 2004, Paris, France: What used to be a train station is now my favorite museum in the world. The impressionist artwork I've dreamed of seeing for years is located on the fifth floor. Take a look at the Musée d'Orsay's resemblance to New York's Grand Central Station.

December 29, 2004, Paris, France: We ate very well that week, and enjoyed restaurants all over Europe. Here Dara and Mark are sipping wine, preparing to share fondue with Matthieu and I.

December 31, 2004, Crans-Montana, Switzerland: My sister and I headed to the Swiss Alps after France and Belgium. Here is the refreshing view from my balcony. We stayed in a brand new hotel, which used to be a monastery, which used to be leper hospital. On my floor, I admired their ease at putting Kandinsky paintings next to giant wooden crucifixes. Many of my neighbors were nuns; the rest were tourists on skis. We will certainly miss that hotel and its many contrasts.