Why I Love Her So Much

Beyonce performing Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Even though I don't at all care for Streisand or her work, it's always nice to see the softer side of Beyonce. She really is a dynamic performer.

Life Goes On...

So I decided to keep contributing to this blog, even though I have returned to the States for my last semester in school. Although there are many thoughts that I am not willing to share on the Internet, there are just as many that I don't mind sharing, and I think this blog is a good way to keep the writing juices flowing.

The past week has been a bit dull, as I have not been doing too much aside from catching up on bad American television and spending time with family members. You know how that goes. I did, however, catch a showing of Will Smith's new flick, Seven Pounds, which I loved despite the negative reviews. I've learned to make a stronger effort to think for myself and not rely so much on what other people have to say. In the end, it'll be me who reaps the rewards or suffers the consequences, so it stands to reason that I and I alone should be responsible for the actions that lead to those outcomes.

I have also restarted something of a fitness regime. We'll see how long I can keep that up. The last time I did any serious exercise was Sunday, November 23rd, when I thought it would be a good idea to go running in cold weather. Lance Armstrong I am not! I caught a really nasty cold that knocked me on my butt for a day or two. I exercised for the first time since then last Wednesday, doing a 45 minute fitness DVD. I exercised for an hour (cardio, strength training) on Friday, followed by more cardio (2 miles on treadmill) on Saturday. I did weights last night, and I think I may be game for hitting the treadmill tonight. We'll see how it goes.

Is losing weight a 2009 resolution? Perhaps, but I'm focusing more on finding the perfect job to await me after graduation. That would indeed be my top priority.

Man Shot During "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Check out this news link!

Pretty crazy stuff. I've always loved movies, and although I have in recent years cut down on my trips to the theater, putting a bullet in someone's arm is just all kinds of insane. That's why I always wait for the DVD release....

Back in One Piece

Airports are pure craziness, I tell you. Everytime I am in an airport, I see people at their worst. Parents stomp around in a huff while barking at their kids to stay close. Businessmen talk furiously into their Bluetooth devices while waiting in the line at Starbucks, giving the barista an evil eye as they anxiously await their caffeine fix. Backpackers and students walk around with their eyes glazed, rendered ulle airport, situated a good 10 miles from the north of the city. After we hugged goodbye, I scrambled to the departure screen to find my flight, only to see that I was in the wrong terminal. Oops.

After I hit the CDG Val (a monorail that escorts visitors to one of the airport's three terminals), I found the line for my flight. Just as I made my way to the ticket counter, one of the airline representatives told me that there were no more seats and that I would have to fly out the next day.

I can only guess that from the look on my face, she thought she had to appease me in whatever way possible. It's funny because I wasn't at all mad. I was merely thinking, "Hooray! Another night in Paris. I never did get to say goodbye to my friend across the street."

That thought must have translated as frustration or displeasure on my face, because not only did the airline rep offer me a free hotel for the night (with meal vouchers), but a seat on a first class US-bound flight for the next day, AND an international travel voucher. Who's excited? Yes, that would be me.

I'm sure you're thinking that I could've just called my host mom and asked her to pick me up, and spared the airline the trouble of booking me a hotel. I even thought that myself. Yes, a small tiny voice inside my head told me, "They're already giving you a seat in first class tomorrow, and you got a travel voucher. Have some class." But then a louder, more familiar voice in my head said, "Screw that, ride this free horse till it buckles!"

So it turns out that the hotel was one of those airport hotels, so I didn't have to travel far to get to it. That turned out to be a much better solution because I could avoid inconveniencing Micheline by getting her to drive to and from the airport two days in a row. Plus, the hotel was awesome! As soon as I stepped in, I realized that although I had stayed in places that called themselves hotels, they were merely private rooms in a hostel, complete with uncomfortable beds, dirty floors, and bad television.

This one had all the trimmings, including a plush queen-sized bed and a television that offered channels from over a dozen countries. Turns out that world news is much more fascinating in Chinese. Imagine that.

But I digress. I put my things down, giddy at the thought of being in Paris for one more day, and headed straight for the hotel restaurant, lunch voucher in hand. I gorged myself on pasta, salmon, roast beef, chocolate mousse, fruit, and cheese. Luckily there was only one other couple dining, but I doubt I would've cared anyway. Eating for free is one of life's greatest pleasures, of this I am sure.

So after I ate and crashed for a few hours, I called up my former neighbor and met her at a party in the city (I never know which arrondissement I'm in, by the way). What I love most about house parties in Paris is that I always feel comfortable as I am. In the States, I would always feel out of place for not having the best clothes or the "flyest" pair of shoes or sunglasses on. Oh, and while I'm on that tip, WHO THE HELL thought wearing sunglasses inside was cool? I blame this trend on Jay-Z, Usher, and whoever else thought they looked cool wearing a frickin' pair of Ray Bans to a party.

After the party, we left with two of her friends to head to Montparnasse for one more Kebap! I'm gonna miss Parisian junk food, even though the American variety suits me just fine. I'm glad I got to go out in the city at least one more time before a nine hour flight in first class.

Ever flown first class? I doubt I'll ever be rich or picky enough to pay an extra $1,000-1,500 for a flight, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy sitting on a giant recliner chair, drinking wine while watching any one of various terrible movies. I didn't get a chance to watch Mamma Mia, which I heard was good, but I don't see myself watching Pineapple Express or The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ever again. In regards to the former, I really don't get fratboy humor, nor do I think Seth Rogen is funny. As for the latter, save for a cool fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Jet-Li, the film is devoid of redeeming values.

The Day Has Come

So long story short (and you'll get the long, as soon as I have the time, which seems to be never, I know), I have really grown comfortable with living here, and now that I have to leave, I'm as petulant as a cast member on "The Hills" or "Dawson's Creek." That's right, I'm pitchin' a fit cuz I don't wanna go!

I haven't posted any photos on here in quite a while (chiefly because anyone who reads this is likely to be friends with me on Facebook, where I put most of my photos anyway), but I hope to post a few here of:

- Rome
- Berlin
- Paris
- Dublin

Don't wanna go, don't wanna go, don't wanna goooooo...

Une Petite Leçon Culturelle

French phrases commonly used in the English language

Even if you don't speak French, you can fake it :)

Fire Alarms in Winter? WTF

So I'm on Deezer, about to play "Put On" by Young Jeezy and Kanye West (I've recently become a big fan of rap, more on that later), and then I hear this crazy alarm sound. I thought, "I don't remember alarms in this song the last time I heard it." Turns out it was a fire alarm! Yes yes, it was someone's bright idea to have a fire alarm for the entire building in 33°F weather.

It suffices to say that I was not well amused, although it was funny to see half the employees of a six-story building take advantage of the brief recess to light up a cigarette on the Champs. And who says the French aren't optimistic?

Looking to Learn a New Language?

I am really in love with the idea of becoming fully fluent in two languages, and I think my cranium is just big enough for a third. Spanish would probably be the most useful, no? I scrapped this off Wikipedia a few minutes ago.

Ranking of languages by number of sovereign countries in which they are official:
* 55 countries: English
- largest: United States, India, Nigeria
* 29 countries: French
- largest: France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canada
* 24 countries: Arabic
- largest: Egypt, Sudan, Algeria
* 20 countries: Spanish
- largest: Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Argentina
* 10 countries: Portuguese
- largest: Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Angola
* 7 countries: German
- largest: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
* 5 countries: Dutch
- largest: Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname
* 4 countries: Albanian, Italian, Russian, Serbian,
* 3 countries: Chinese, Malay, Persian, Swahili, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, Hungarian.
* 2 countries: Aymara, Bengali, Croatian, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Quechua, Romanian, Sotho, Swati, Swedish, Tswana

Logic indicates I should focus on Arabic, but I don't see that happening anytime soon...

Open Letter

Before leaving to go back to the States, one of my supervisors (I have two - one is American, the other Russian-Hungarian. The American is the one headed to the US for the holidays) wrote me a great e-mail:

Hi Baron,

Well, here you are. Almost at the end of your internship with us. I know you'll be sad without the wiki, without our hovering and case study updating. But alas, life does hold bigger and better adventures!

I do hope you've enjoyed your time here with us, and I hope we've been able to give you a slightly positive idea of what it's like to work in the corporate team of an international agency. I can honestly say that your positive humour made it a pleasure to have you around.

Whatever your plans for the future may be - the next Waldo Emerson or a future communications professional - I wish you all the best and know you'll go just great. Keep seeking out those adventures! And hopefully our paths will continue to cross. Be sure to keep in touch. And...

Go Dawgs!

Quick Update

Going to Rome this weekend, can't wait. Just booked my hostel today. Should be a lot of fun!

Going home the weekend after....can't wait for southern cookin', smiling faces, and American cable television. Bring on the reality TV marathons!

Architectural Digest

I went for a walk in Montmartre last Friday and managed to take a few good shots of this beauty - La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur.


I've found that I have a really deep appreciation for good architecture. While museums and operas may not be my favorite things in the world, I do know good art when it's in my presence. This is indeed good art. I've also learned that when you're in an infinitely fascinating place, you are always in good company, even when traveling solo. Have the gumption to take yourself out on a date every now and then - I recommend it!

I should have plenty of good shots after I come back from Berlin!

The Time Draws Near...

So it's been a pretty solid three months thus far, and I only have three left! I am excited about the trips that I booked for Berlin and Rome for my last two weekends here.

I do have a bit of homework though - I need to send a report of my internship to the States within the next day or two. Ahh, crud.

I plan on bringing my external hard drive so I can post some pictures after work. The processor on my desktop in the office is much faster than my laptop at home. Perhaps it needs more RAM? Does anyone know what hardware upgrades can be done to make a laptop run faster?

And on a more dramatic note....I DON'T WANNA LEAVE!!!!

Thoughts A-Racin'

Why is it that I never have time to post? I have at least 10 things I'd like to talk about. Can't believe I'm 20 days away from returning to the States. Am I ready for that? Well I'd love to write on that...

How were the Thanksgivings? Love to talk about that one too...

Another "romanticizing Europe" post to come shortly...

I shall make time to write, I shall make time to write, I shall make time to write...

Oh Crap....Literally

I usually wait so long to post my anecdotes that I end up forgetting them, but there was no way I was going to miss out on talking about this.

So it's no secret that there are homeless everywhere, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and as you can imagine, they are usually not the cleanest of people. However, never before had I seen a blatantly homeless man sleeping on a métro train. The average homeless man (or woman, mind you) is content to set up camp in a métro station, ATM vestibule, or sidewalk. This particular homeless guy was crafty.

Because my métro stop is the beginning (or terminus) of the line, I have the option of sitting just about anywhere I want before the train gets crowded as it picks up people after each stop. I usually like to sit at the end of a car, where the seats are arranged in a sofa-style fashion.

I was walking to the end of the métro car when I saw this homeless guy sleeping on one side of the couch. Though I had already decided that I didn't want to sit across from a sleeping bum (they can be physically unpredictable), I immediately got hit by this wave of FUNK. I mean, no lie, there was no doubt in my mind that this guy had been walking around in his own excrement for some time. I headed to the other side of the car, out of the stink zone, and sat down.

Here's where it gets funny - as the train got more and more crowded, people were forced to stand or sit near the guy, and I could see their expressions turn into grimaces of disgust as their noses were assaulted by the smell of feces. Many put their scarves over their faces in an effort to block out the smell, while the scarf-less smothered their mouths and noses with their hands. I even saw one woman choke, the smell was so bad. EVERY TIME the métro made a stop, the people nearest to the homeless guy would get out and hurry into a different train car. Every time.

Ahh, these are the moments that make Paris worth visiting...

Be Cool

I definitely am not in the best of moods right now, due to some serious temperature-related discomfort at the house. The discomfort? It's freezing. That's pretty much it.

Not to say that the landlady has not tried to accommodate me. She's jiggled the knobs left and right, trying to get the heat to stay on, but for some reason it goes out in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Yeah, it sucks.

So now I have a cold today, at one of the worst possible times. Our office has a presentation on International Public Relations that we're giving to University of Florida (ugh) students tomorrow, and I'm expected to speak! How am I going to say anything and sound confident when I am all the while fearful of snot running down my nose?

At times like this, I really miss home. No, not the house I'm staying in with the supremely screwed up HVAC, but HOME. Right now I'd be in a warm bed watching crappy daytime television, eating Chick Fil A. Uncle Sam, I miss thee....

Vamped Out

I have around five essay-length posts that I have every intention of publishing very soon, but I've learned to embrace each and every train of thought that keeps this twisted mind of mine entertained.

Train of the moment? Vampires. I've always been fascinated by any subject interesting enough to pull me away from what I'm supposed to be focusing on, and I've always been fond of vampires in particular. I think my first exposure to vampire lore was the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The essence of the plot? A young Californian female who enjoyed nothing better than maxing out her credit at the Beverly Center must now grapple with her calling to destroy vampires and other various demons.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a person of high taste. Say what you want, but it was a fairly enjoyable camp flick. I remember checking the TV Guide listings for the HBO broadcast schedule in order to catch the flick whenever it was on the television. Imagine my glee when the (now defunct) WB network announced a spinoff in 1997. I remained a faithful viewer throughout the show's six year run. The television series quickly surpassed the film in terms of quality and intrigue. In the TV version (which I highly recommend), Buffy falls in love with Angel, a vampire cursed with a soul. Though Buffy's mission as the Slayer keeps her bound to the night, she'd love nothing better than to be whisked off by her pale lover into a beautiful sunrise...oh wait.



In 2000, one of my favorite singers, Aaliyah, announced her intention to star in a feature film adaptation of The Queen of the Damned, the third installation of Anne Rice's much-heralded Vampire Chronicles. Those familiar with Rice's canon know that her main thesis is that vampires retain their personality after being created, and many of them are sensitive, emotional creatures that spend a large part of their existence reflecting on their lost mortality (when they're not ripping out throats, that is). Though the film itself was of questionable merit, it was enough to turn my attention to Rice's literary work.

After having read books I-III - Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and The Queen of the Damned, the latter of which I finished shortly after arriving in Paris, I considered myself just about done with vampires, until I got hooked on this, my newest guilty pleasure.



One of HBO's newest series, True Blood, tells the story of a Louisiana waitress named Sookie Stackhouse (raise eyebrows in amusement here), a young telepath who falls in love with Bill Compton, a vampire created during the Civil War. Though I openly deride this show for its obvious cliches, I somehow managed to watch 11 episodes within a week. Congratulations, HBO. You've won me over.

But I've got to draw the line with this Twilight mess. Yes, I know the film claimed more than $70 million at the box office this weekend, but as you can see, the vampire-with-a-conscience wheel is one that Hollywood has spun one times too many. I am not at all familiar with the Twilight novels, but I'd bet every cent to my name that the franchise features the following plot elements:

- Socially alienated young girl (prom queens and yearbook editors are much too busy to consort with the fang gang)
- Socially alienated young girl's motley crew of fellow outcasts who cannot fathom their friend's interest in Undead Americans (sorry, guess that's one less friend to attend the latest Evanescence concert with you)
- Broody, mopey, but always sexually attractive vampires frozen in immortal youth and beauty (Human blood creates the same fountain of youth effect as Botox, apparently)
- Vampiric love interest faces ostracism from his own kind for showing interest in humans (otherwise known as dinner)

I often fantasize about being in a position where I am able to call public attention to this fact. Maybe Roger Ebert is in need of a page? Who knows. All I know is that I need something new to fixate on. I tried exercise, but it makes me tired.

Switch 'Im Out, Kick 'Im Out

As we are thankfully nearing the end of W's tyranny administration, I received this in a company email this morning.

'The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.'
- George W. Bush

'If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.'
- George W. Bush

'One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.'
-George W. Bush

'I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.'
- George W. Bush

'The future will be better tomorrow.'
- George W. Bush

'We're going to have the best educated American people in the world..'
- George W. Bush

'I stand by all the misstatements that I've made.'
- George W Bush

'We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe . We are a part of Europe '
- George W. Bush

'Public speaking is very easy.'
- George W. Bush

'A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.'
- George W. Bush

'I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them.'
-George Bush

'We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.'
- George W. Bush

'For NASA, space is still a high priority.'
-George W. Bush

'Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.'
-George W. Bush

'It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.'
- George W. Bush

He sure is edumacated.

Turkey Day x 2

So it looks as though I may be having Thanksgiving after all! Twice even. Not only is my supervisor hosting a feast, but my neighbors and I are planning a potluck. I wonder what the French think of all this rampant eating...

Because I get the chance to enjoy my absolute favorite holiday in my absolute favorite city, it's only appropriate that I give thanks to Christ the Feeder Healer, right?

Here we go:

Dear merciful baby Jesus,
Thank You so much for continuing to nourish my bottomless pit of a stomach.
For the past 22 years, You have always provided me with more food than one human being should ever eat, and for that I shall always be eternally grateful.
For Your mercy, like my appetite, knows no boundaries.

Amen. Now get to work on securing the menu for Christmas.


'Tis truly the season.

Romanticizing Europe Pt. I

In the past, I was of the opinion that Americans have a very strong tendency to glamorize Europe. I read of gorgeous Spanish beaches, delicious Italian food, and impulsive French fashion. In high school, which is where I believe many Americans develop an appreciation for traveling elsewhere, I was advised to take advantage of the abundant opportunities to visit other countries for the benefit of my well-being.

In college, where I came to better understand government, I heard many a student voice his or her dislike of American self-interest in favor of European socialism. I was also no stranger to the idea of Europe being a racially unified utopia where biracial coupling abounded, free of criticism. After twenty years of being in the South, I finally felt ready to visit the European Utopia.

When I arrived in France in May 2007, I did indeed see a country that appeared to be a melting pot of cultures. Everywhere I went, I found a reality that seemed inconceivable in America. Couples and families of all colors and ethnicities strolled down the street, without anyone giving a second look. The homeless slept by the banks of the Seine river or in ATM vestibules without being harassed by the police. And most notably, public transportation was a marvel of efficiency. Save for New York City and a few other well-known American metropolises, I believed it next to impossible to get anywhere without a car. That didn't seem to be the problem in France.

I continued to hold this view of Paris until my eyes fell upon those working the most unsavory jobs possible. For all the colored blue-collared employees I saw, I might as well have been back in the States. African maids tended to my hotel room, while Arabs toiled away at construction jobs on the métro or in the street. African men hawked counterfeit versions of haute couture bags, while Asians and Middle Easterners manned crêpe and fruit stands on street corners and in subway tunnels.

More and more, I'm beginning to see that the most important things may not be so different, regardless of what side of the ocean you're on...

Back in Action

I promise to write about Dublin as soon as I get my computer back, not to mention some free time! A friend of mine needed to use it to finish her application. To Harvard. Yeah that's right, she's applying to Harvard. What am I doing? Jetting off to look at castles...when I'm not contacting agencies in Tokyo, London, and Mexico City, that is.

I'm important too, darn it!

Photos and review of Dublin soon.

Book I'm currently reading - The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver.

Off to Dublin for the Weekend....

I don't plan on having regular access to a computer, so everyone have a good weekend!

Random thought: Gyro sandwiches are good.....

Brave New World

I have decided that the best way to avoid boredom with the design of my own blog is just to update the background as I deem necessary.

I'm still in a state of euphoria just knowing that the country I return to, MY country, is one that has only begun to realize its own potential. Yes, yes, yes we can.

You can view our president's speech by watching the video below:

Four Seconds of Fame

So it looks like CNN decided to air one third of my two cents!

Can I Just Say...

That I have never been prouder to be an American. Senator Barack Obama has supporters all over the globe, and the French audience is no exception. Ever since I got to work this morning, people have been making crossed-finger gestures at me. I get winks from guys in the restroom, which is just fine, as I know they're not propositioning me (as least not today). At lunch, the other interns interrogated me endlessly as to when the results would be announced. The energy in this office is palpable - just about everyone is rooting for our dear Chicagoan. I just wish I didn't have to work today! It hasn't been too bad though, but I know I'll be white-knuckled by midnight.

Barack Obama, we salute you. Best of luck.

P.S. I'll be sure to post pictures from the Election Soirée sometime this week. It should be a lot of fun! There'll be a buffet, TV interviews, a buffet, free alcoholic beverages, a buffet, hundreds of Democrats and Republicans to socialize with, and...oh yeah, A BUFFET!

Thought of the Moment

Yeah yeah yeah, so I changed the template yet again. One of these days, I will take the time to design my own template in Photoshop or something so that I can finally be at peace. Today is not that day, however.

This weekend, I had my ritual walk of the town on Friday night. Usually I walk from L'Arc de Triomphe to Notre Dame's Latin Quarter for a good pita sandwich, and this week was no exception. The change in climate may soon necessitate a variation to my routine. Can't believe it's getting this cold so quickly, but then again, I'm not in the States.

I spent the better part of Saturday roaming around town, trying to find a few pairs of pants without breaking the bank. Mission unaccomplished!!! I find myself mystified at how Parisians walk around looking like the best pages of a Macy fall catalog without living on the streets. My only guess is that they save money by turning a two bedroom apartment into a space for five. Not my idea of private space, but hey, when one wants to look good, one has to make sacrifices.

After several hours of being frustrated with the French fashion industry, I headed over to my boss' apartment, where she was hosting a Georgia-Florida football party. There I met some familiar and new faces, and had a great time.

But here's what I wanted to stress (sorry you had to read all that to get to my point): I met a French girl who studied for a few years at the University of Florida. When we were talking (in French, I might add!) about our experiences traveling to a different country, we both said the exact same thing about the other culture:

(rough English translation)
Me:I find French people very friendly and welcoming, but it has been hard to make actual French friends. The majority of my social network consists of Americans and Canadians. It's kind of hard to meet people here outside of work.
Her:I felt the same way about UF. I thought the Americans were really nice, but most of my friends were French ex patriots, and we had a kind of French community at the university. It was really hard to meet Americans.

I think this just goes to show that everyone should make an extra effort to reach out to those who come from another place. When I arrived at the beginning of September, I didn't know a single soul, save for two UGA ex pats who I rarely see because they are busy with work and their personal lives. I now have the experience of being in a situation where your knowledge of the native language isn't exactly perfect, but all you want is to establish a good rapport with the people and get a feel for the culture.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is never easy. Do what you can to make another's transition more fluid. Something as simple as asking a foreigner for a lunch date or coffee can make all the difference in affecting their view of your country.

Threat to the Red States

Note: This came from an e-mail that a co-worker sent me. If I had written it myself, I sure as hell wouldn't have dissed my own school! I thought about changing "University of Georgia" to "University of Florida," but I don't believe in tampering with original documents, no matter how damning they might be.

Subject: Letter from Blue States to Red States

Dear Red States:

If you manage to steal this election, too, we've decided we're leaving.
We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue
States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon,
Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the
Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and
especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We
get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of
Liberty. You get Dollywood.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.

We get 85% of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay
their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 2.2% lower than the Christian
Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single
moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war,
and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you
need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're
apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they
don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming
home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up,
but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the
country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92%
of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines, 90% of all
cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, 95% of the corn and soybeans
(thanks Iowa!), most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods,
sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford,
Cal Tech, UCLA, Berkeley and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88%
of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of
all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the
hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all
televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the
University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually
swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing
the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a
theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy
bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed
they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,

--Blue States

Always So Friggin' Tired...

But I guess that's how it is when you have a....what do you call it, a job? Hmm.

Updates:

- Going to Dublin, Ireland next weekend
- Attending the CinéAqua all-nighter election party next Tuesday!
- Watching the Georgia-Florida game this Saturday at a friend's place

That's about it!

Weekends in Paris

I had a really good time this past weekend. On Saturday, I went to the Museum of Erotic Art with a friend, and afterwards we went to a café for lunch. That same night I met up with a group of people at Bong, a Korean restaurant, for a birthday celebration. Half of us ended up dancing for hours at a club that played some of America's best 90s R&B and hip-hop.

Sunday I slept in, and took myself out on a date where I strolled through Boulevard St. Germain, and had quite a few desserts:





Though there's no way in hell I can justify eating three desserts in one day, they were all good!!

Why I Need A Good International Job

My supervisor will be away for a few days because she's going on a business trip. To LONDON. She's going to LONDON to WORK. Right now I am cursing my intern status and wishing there were more jobs out there for people who love to travel and need a way to earn a living by seeing the world.

I'm not graduating until May. I suppose there's plenty of time for some international company to open a position that pays 30,000€ per year with plenty of travel benefits.

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Quick Interlude...

Scarlet Takes A Fall

If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, just fast forward to 2:45. I have watched this five times now and am still unable to stop the tears from my eyes.

I really have to get back to work!!

This Land is My Land...

I have been meaning to write a mini-essay on how much I appreciate the chance to interact with people of various nationalities and interests in this fascinating city, and I will, but for now:

- Turns out I am indeed going to that Kanye West concert (I wonder how you say "Love Lockdown" in French?)
- I am in the process of mailing out my absentee ballot for the presidential election
- Hoping to visit Rome during a 4-day weekend next month
- Currently reading "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver
- Anxiously awaiting the release of the first single from Beyoncé's new LP

C'est tout pour le moment, à bientôt....

Mr. West in Paris

Kanye West at Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy

I think I would be quite stupid not to check this out.

Rainy Day, But the Sun Approaches

I talked with one of my best friends last night, who works as a flight attendant. It turns out that she has secured some time off, and is coming to see me in a couple of weeks. Hoorah. Not only will it be good to see a familiar face, I'm excited to show off my (miniscule) knowledge of Paris life. Should be fun!

The haircut? Didn't get it quite yet, but I have the address to a place recommended by a co-worker in the office.

New Project for the Weekend...

Asking for a haircut in French. I hope I don't end up bald. It's not a good look for me.

What A Day...

Yesterday's turn of events got me off to a rough start, seemed to take a turn for the better, and then dumped me back where I started.

I walk out of the house around 8AM to begin my typical hour-long - yes, 1 hour - commute to work. After reaching the RER (Paris commuter train, this is different from the métro), I find the gates closed and the station completely empty. Not knowing the reason but frustrated nonetheless, I hopped a bus that I believed would take me to the nearest train or métro stop possible.

Not the case. After a few stops, I realized that I was on the right bus, going in the wrong direction. It completed about 15 stops before finally coming to the métro. Now, already late (damn) and not wanting to miss a 10:00 team meeting, I scrambled to the métro, where I got to work mere minutes before the meeting actually started. Whew.

After work, which was thankfully eventful, my boss and I went to The Green Linnet, an Irish pub. There I met a bunch of really cool people from Italy and the UK, as well as France. I really appreciate the wealth of cultural diversity this city has to offer.

After a few drinks (my drink of choice being water, as I am trying to budget!), we hit up a restaurant down the block and had dinner. The food was not by any means exceptional, but I enjoyed the company (One of my boss' friends, a really cool fille named Agnés, informed me that the RER was shut down due to a strike. I have got to be on top of these things). I find that for the really outstanding cuisine, you have to shell out a pretty penny. I think that healthy and delicious options can always be found for cheap in America, but I've yet to find a cheap meal here that didn't include fries. The search continues....

Once I left the restaurant around 11PM to catch the métro, I reached home in about 25-30 mins, not bad at all....only to find that the bus that drops me off within a few paces of my house had closed for the night! Oh well. I took the only bus that was still running and trekked it home in a reasonable amount of time, jamming on the iPod all the way.

I have a date or two lined up for this weekend! Stay tuned.

What A Miracle........

I finally have internet at my house now. For some reason, the WiFi was not working for a few days, but Micheline (the landlady) finally got it crackin'. Ordinarily I would be writing an essay by now, but not only am I having to sort out two different languages here in Paris, I have to work my way around the European keyboard as well. For the most part, it is the same, but a few letters and punctuation marks are switched.

Okay, enough writing, as I am starting to get frustrated. Pics, anyone?



I find that when you are in a big city like New York or Paris, you are always in great company, especially when walking by yourself. Last Saturday I walked around for several hours before I came to a stop at one of Paris' many brasseries (restaurant/cafe). With no other diners present save for yours truly, I opened up my book, sat back, and read for about an hour and a half. Of course I stuffed my face in between pages.



As I work in the Paris hub of an international PR company, I have the privilege of getting to know people from all over the world. One of the interns, an Italian girl named Irene, had her last day yesterday. She indulged us with crostata, an Italian cake made with jam, brown sugar, and other delicious ingredients. Yeah, it was good.



I snapped this while taking an after-work walk to burn some calories.

I Think It's Time For Me To Admit It..

Many who have known me over the years are no strangers to this fact:

I am a pastry addict. I am a pastry addict living in Paris, land of pastries and all other known sweets. This is a serious problem. Already I have eaten two of these today:



You think they have a support group for this?

In other news, I turn 22 tomorrow! A friend from work has her 26th on Monday, so we are going to try and set up a joint birthday party for this Saturday at a restaurant/bar known as La Boca Chica. You can check it out here: La Boca Chica
Funny how I say "joint" birthday party, as I only have a handful of non-work related contacts here in Paris, and Claudia no doubt has tons. Nonetheless, fun is to be had, and have fun I shall.

Dagnabbit!

This is the second day in a row that I have spilled chocolat chaud on myself. I may have to start shopping for new clothes if this keeps up.
Until I learn how to properly steer a cup to my lips, it's strictly water for me!

It's my favorite polo too. Crap. I hope this washes out.

The Worst Is Now Over

So I have reached the end of my first week at work and I spent the better part of today walking around Paris, (re)taking in the sights. As I write this, I am on the upper floor of one of Paris' many McDonald's locations, pilfering the free WiFi. I absolutely love this city and all it has to offer, but I can't help but compare the experience I'm having now to the first time I visited Paris, in summer 2007.

Last summer was the first time I had ever been out of the country, as I enrolled in a study abroad program that my university offered. While spending six weeks there in a rather posh hotel, we took two courses and had The City of Lights to our full disposal. Everyone seemed to get along well and after a few days of introductions, people buddied up and we all went about enjoying the city in our own way.

Although I'm happy to be back, I have to admit that there is a great deal of difference between being surrounded by a group of fellow Americans with whom you eat meals and take classes, and being on one's own to complete a work study program and having to find a place to live.

Boy oh boy, was finding a place difficult. After spending the first three days in a hotel that I had booked in advance, I lived for two nights in a house that just wasn't comfortable. After informing the ex-landlady that I had decided to move elsewhere, I moved to a nice house just on the south side, about 10 minutes away from the Eiffel Tower by car. So although I'm settled, I'm sure I'll be having nightmares about lugging my crap through the métro for three days.

There's a lot more to say, and I'll be sure to write it all down, but my laptop power is decreasing by the minute and there are no electrical outlets in sight. But I do have pictures!! I'll try to make this a habit.


Team Party



My room. It has an Indian theme - red and orange walls, night tables in the form of elephants, and Hindu figures on the pillows and bedspread. J'adore.

Gone But Not Forgotten....

I promised myself and my readership (however small it may be) that I would update this thing regularly in order to A) give people a sense of what it's like to live and work in another country, and B) avoid having to answer the "So what all did you do?" question 50 times.

The job? Worthwhile. The people? Even better. The living conditions? To be continued....(meaning I have yet to commit to a place)

Ah, what an adventure. Not always a fun one, but like I said, I'll have updates soon.

For now, feast your eyes on this:


And the weather is FANTASTIC.

Bon Voyage (for real this time)...

This will no doubt be the last post I make while I'm stateside. I prayed up and down for the opportunity to get to intern in France, and now that it's here, I'm goin' full force.

It's been a long time coming, no doubt. The powers that be at my new job informed me of the internship offer in May, but little did I know that there would be a small hurdle in terms of paperwork. Because of an unexpected delay in obtaining a necessary signature, I was almost convinced that I wouldn't be able to gain a student visa in time. But as they say, situations have a mysterious way of working themselves out, and here I am, less than 18 hours before my flight.

I had a good talk with a really dear friend today (you know who you are). She graduated from our university and recently started a job as a TV news producer in a relatively small market in one of the Carolinas. We were catching up when she said something that reverberated in my mind. When describing one of her colleagues, an unsavory man in his sixties, she said that he was in the winter of his life. That really struck a chord and got me thinking.

What if life really is comparable to the ebb and flow of the four seasons? In spring we are born and develop an understanding of our talents and purpose. In the summer, we push this understanding to the extreme, experiencing the best and worst that life has to offer. Autumn allows us to transform these experiences into a wealth of knowledge for others to draw from. In the chill of winter, we retreat into the earth, returning to that from which we....well, sprang.

Like anyone else about to embark on a major life experience, I've questioned myself, often to the point of frustration. But now, when I'm mere hours away from departure, I feel relaxed, more relaxed than I have in weeks. If there ever was a summer of life, this would be it for sure.

P.S. I've enabled my cell phone to dial and receive calls internationally. Earlier today, I confirmed my hotel reservation with the concierge - completely in French. Oh yeah. I'm bad. Until someone approaches me with rapid fire French and I choke, that is.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a camera is worth...

Since June I've been seriously considering a new camera, and now I have finally settled on one. This Canon is one of the best reviewed makes and models on the market, and I can't wait to start snapping photos like a crazed tourist once I land this Saturday. Well, I'm sure at that point I'll be tired out of my mind from the jet lag, but once I recuperate...

The camera is an early birthday gift from my grandmother - God bless her. I appreciate her even thinking of getting me a gift, seeing as how she and Mom provided all the food for Sunday's get-together. I honestly wasn't expecting anything else. It's going to be weird having my first birthday away from home and in a different country, and I'm sure missing Thanksgiving for the first time will be even stranger.

But once you go for something, you've gotta give it your all. That means shrugging away the occasional feelings of homesickness or culture shock when they come, and I'm sure they will. Nevertheless, I know this is a great opportunity.

I can't wait to start posting once I actually get to Paris and I'll be able to start reporting on the goings-on at work and during my downtime.

Bon voyage

Last night was the family gathering. We invited 15 people (pretty much the entirety of the family on my mother's side), and 12 showed up, much to my surprise. For a few nanoseconds I thought I'd get the pleasure of eating the feast that mom prepared, but the fam' started showing up a few minutes after our appointed time.

It never ceases to amaze me how people can set aside their own agendas when it comes to someone they care about. My grandfather and his second wife were there, in addition to my grandmother and her second husband, and although their divorce took place well before I was born, they were never on what I'd consider great terms. But they were friendly as could be.

I also got to see my cousin's 5-month old baby. Needless to say I'm already devising a plan to kidnap her and raise her as my own, as she was cute as could be.

Well my flight leaves on Friday and I am at the moment 100% unpacked. Duty calls....

What have I brought upon myself...

"See, what had happened was...."

Remember that tentative plan to have a gathering for family? Well it actually came to fruition, in a mere hour or two.

[phone call from grandmother]

GM: "Well I think it would be nice, and we want to do it for you."
Me: "I think it'd be nice too, but it's always a hassle trying to get people in one place. Everyone always has their separate plans...."
GM: "Well you won't know until you make a few calls."
Me: "But it's Thursday! And we're trying to get people to show up for Sunday?"
GM: "You won't know until you call."

A few calls later, and everyone I call says they're good to come over!

Imagine that. Should be fun...except for the fact that a guest list of 5-6 people ballooned to about 14 family members, some of whom I have not spoken to in years.

This should be fun...

Ou habites-tu?

Where will I live in Paris? That is indeed the question. I spent so much time worrying about whether or not I'd get a student visa in time for my departure. Now that that's out of the way (thank you Adriana, you're an angel), I can worry about finding a place to stay.

Easier said than done, just like anything else worth doing. On some good advice from madre, I decided to book a hotel/hostel for the first week's stay. This way I can view apartments in person when I am not at work. This way I can get a feel for where I'd be staying without actually having to commit to an agreement beforehand. On top of that, Paris is notorious for having a large number of professional scammers who prowl the Craigslist dailies, posting fake ads requesting a deposit be sent via Western Union.

Well not me, suckas. Not me.

So all's I have to worry about for the moment (baby steps are important, you know) is finding a quality place to stay that fits within a reasonable budget.

How's that going? Well, I am up at 3:30AM.....

Tick tock tick tock tick tock

The hook from Madonna's "4 Minutes" reverberates in my head as I think of all that needs to be done before I leave on the 5th for the grand return to Paris.

• Clean out closet (full of old clothes)
  
• Throw out old clothes (create more space for room while packing)
  
• Buy new ones (sounds like fun now, but I know it won't be when I see that credit card statement)
• Pack clothes
• Personal appointments (doctor, etc)

But the most important item on the to-do list would be to have one last hurrah with the friends and family. With less than 11 days before my flight, I am wondering how I'm going to pull this off, but I know it'll be worth it. Maybe I could have a last-minute get together for family members this Sunday at the house, followed by a simple dinner somewhere between Athens and Atlanta next week. Nothing too expensive of course, as I'll have plenty of time for meals I can't afford once I'm back in Paris.

Funny thing is, I'm not at all nervous about leaving home. I'm nervous about re-acclimating to Paris, for sure, but I know I'll be leaving everything on a good note, and that the ones I love will not only support me while I'm gone, but that they'll be waiting for me when I get back.

Hmm....1:30 in the morning and I'm sitting on the bed surrounded by clothes, both clean and dirty. Damn, I wish I was better about being organized.

Mic Check...

Alrighty, here it is! I'm still in shock that the domain name "twistedflava" was still available, and I always appreciate a good surprise. Though I've made attempts here and there in the past, I've never been good about journaling consistently (my writing hand always gets tired), maybe a blog will work. I had one before in 2006 as a class project, which ultimately fell by the wayside after I received an unfavorable grade.

Here's to new beginnings...