T-18

Posted on August 16, 2008

It’s a little under 18 weeks to go now and I’m anxious in a good way, I think. I’m really starting to look forward to the trip, though I still have a few small feelings of reservation about it all. It is, afterall a new country for me, a whole new experience, and one that I will be taking on entirely alone. And while that definitely has a certain amount of adventurous appeal, it’s a little disconcerting, too. It’s oddly comforting to have this little space on the Internet to keep connected to. You can bet your sweet croissant that if I get lost in France, you are all getting lost with me. LOL

So I’m still looking forward to it all, to Christmas and New Years in the incredible City of Lights, to traveling down the River Seine, to the fashionable shops and restaurants on each side (Rive Gauche and Rive Droit), and mostly to just being in Paris.

I’m developing such a wanderlust these days and 18 weeks seems like 18 years. Which reminds me, I need to book a couple more fun tours to do while I’m there. 18 weeks to go!!!

The Language of…?

Posted on July 21, 2008

Despite studying French in high school, lack of use pretty much left me about as useful as a spork when dining on steak. And no one likes to be the spork.

I’d really like to embarrass myself as little as Americanly possible while being an American in Paris so I’ve been doing my best to pick up the beautiful language once more. I remember quite a bit of vocabulary and the basic rules of grammar, as well as the general conjugations. I have flash cards for increasing my vocab. (QuickStudy), CD’s I listen to while I commute (Pimsleur), and a phrase book I picked up from the Travel Channel’s Rick Steve. I feel like this is a pretty good arsenal, short of going to one of the militant language saturation schools.

So I’m learning…and today I learned a couple of new things. From Pimsleur, I learned that French women know a variety of clever ways to tell you no, they absolutely do not want to have a drink with you and that your comprehension of French is horrible, and from Rick Steve, I learned the apparently useful phrases:

Je suis marié. - I’m married.
Je suis marié, mais… - I’m married, but…
Je suis riche et célibataire. - I’m rich and single.
C’est contagieux? - Is it contagious?
Soyons amis. - Let’s just be friends. 

Maybe I’ll just pretend to be mute. The French will likely not object. LOL

151 days!!

T-22

Posted on July 17, 2008

In just over 22 weeks the journey begins.

One man. One camera. 14 days in the City of Lights.