Palace of Versailles

Making Movies
A professor once asked me why I like movies. Taken aback by the question, I responded blankly, “movies are my favorite form of entertainment.” I couldn’t comprehend how someone wouldn’t feel the same.

However, if I had the chance to elaborate, I would have explained that what I appreciate about film is the combination of striking visuals and music, which is why Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” is one of my favorite movies.

Anticipation
Her film is also one of the reasons Versailles was the destination I was most excited for. Not only did Coppola have unprecedented access to Versailles, she paired her highly stylized, sympathetic take on Marie Antoinette with a new wave soundtrack.

Listening to The Strokes’ “What Ever Happened?” and New Order’s “Ceremony” as the tour bus drove to Versailles, my anticipation continued to build. I couldn’t wait to walk on the same ground that both Marie Antoinette and Sofia Coppola graced with their direction - one of a country, the other of a movie.

Marie-Antoinette Sweet Lolita
As we passed through the palace rooms, I imagined what it would be like to live in such a grand structure and have the grand responsibilities that Marie Antoinette had at the young age of 14.

Walking outside, I looked ahead to the gardens, which were stunning even though the flowers are not in bloom. The gardens were both visually pleasing and eerie for that reason. It made me think of the hauntingly beautiful graphic novel, Marie-Antoinette Sweet Lolita I bought from the gift shop. Meanwhile, the passersby reminded me that I would need to learn French in order to fully enjoy the souvenir.

Père Lachaise Cemetery

When You’re Strange

Family is important to Europeans. The same can be said for many Americans. However, I tend to take my family for granted.

I’m independent and my family has come to accept that. When other students on the trip mention being homesick, I think I can relate. Then they mention that they miss their parents or siblings and I realize that although I care for my family, what I am homesick for is the solitude of my apartment in Chicago.

A Twist In My Story

For a long time, I’ve contemplated continuing my life as solo act. I never considered having children, and I questioned whether or not I’m the “marrying type.” Then I went to the Père Lachaise Cemetery and my outlook changed a bit.

Home to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison, the cemetery is tantamount to a village, occupying 118.6 acres. The cobblestone streets and elaborate grave sites resemble illustrations from the macabre mind of Edward Gorey. It’s lovely.

Hand In Hand We’ll Stroll Again

What’s more lovely though is the dedication these families have to their deceased. Seeing generations of families buried together reminds me of my grandparents.

Alex and Annabelle O’Kash are buried together in my hometown of Lake Nebagamon, Wis., and their gravestones read, “Hand in hand we’ll stroll again.” I can only imagine that they’re still madly in love and enjoyed celebrating their 67th anniversary on Jan. 11, 2010.

Married With Children

Being at the cemetery also reminded me of the importance of family. I realized how simple gestures like leaving a flower at a loved one’s grave site conveys the tradition and love of a family. It made me realize how over the years I’ve considered my grandparents a stellar example of unconditional love and how visiting their grave site leaves me feeling content.

Most importantly, Père Lachaise Cemetery made me seriously consider having a family of my own to carry on the traditions of my parents and siblings and start new traditions with a husband and children.

Photos by Erin Edwards ... watch out, Ansel Adams!

I Love the Eiffel Tower, but Just as a Friend

Perhaps I was jetlagged or perhaps simply jaded, but for the first day or two in Paris, it just didn’t feel like Paris. Don’t get me wrong, everything I saw was jaw-dropping but I hadn’t gotten that “little kid on Christmas morning” feeling yet.

That is, until I saw the Eiffel Tower.

While walking to a nearby meeting, my group and I decided to cut through a park. We turned the corner and BOOM—there she was in all her glory. I was finally in Paris.
I started towards it with a strange combination of running and skipping while continuously looking back at the rest of my group to see if they shared my excitement.

Much to my chagrin, everyone else was acting like they had seen it hundreds of times. I kept shouting various things like, “Is anyone else seeing this!?” “Why aren’t you excited?!” and “Oh my God, I’m so excited!”

It’s hard to imagine iron looking soft and elegant but it was more gorgeous than I could ever have imagined it would be. It still looked beautiful in the gloomy rain with water dripping onto the tourists below. No picture I have ever seen of the tower comes close to doing it justice.

I took some painstaking pictures which I plan on cherishing forever.
As I fell in love with it, my mind wandered to an episode of the Tyra Banks show I had recently seen. What? Tyra Banks? What does Tyra Banks have to do with the Eiffel Tower? Not quite as much as Erika Eiffel does.

Remember when you were in grade school and if you said you liked something, the usual response from your friends was, “Well if you like it so much, why don’t you marry it?” And that’s exactly with Erika Eiffel did.

Erika Eiffel, formerly LaBrie, married the Eiffel Tower in 2007. Erika suffers from a unique disorder called objectum sexuality; an affliction which causes her to feel an emotional and physical love for inanimate objects. Since then, she’s been the subject of dozens of documentaries and news stories and has become an ambassador for objectophiles all over the world.

Here’s a clip from her appearance on the Tyra Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uKPe7WtH8A

And here's an interview with Erika from the official OS website: http://www.objectum-sexuality.org/faq-erika-eiffel.pdf

Notre Dame & Taxi Stands

Growing up seeing images of Notre Dame plastered on the walls of my Catholic grade school convinced me of its grace and grandeur. It was the church to visit (besides St. Peter’s in Rome) for the majesty of the Catholic Church to hit you like a 2 x 4.

Even though when I arrived at Notre Dame I had been awake for almost 24 hours and had just gotten off a sleepless, eight and a half hour trans-Atlantic flight, the sight of the church across the Seine invigorated me.

As our group entered the church, I was careful to stay close to our tour guide to avoid getting lost among the hundreds of ‘Oohers and ‘Aahers’ (the real getting lost part comes later.) We toured the church in record time, much to my disappointment, and my pictures ended up painfully blurry. Then we were released for a little free time. I grabbed a group of my friends and immediately ran back inside to try to soak in as much of Notre Dame as I could.

From the sweeping arches to the towering stained glass windows, it was just as I remembered seeing it as a girl. I took as many pictures as I could and left feeling elated.

We exited the church to meet up with the rest of the group only to find the group was nowhere in sight. A few minutes later, we found out the group had left. On the bus. After a few moments of panic (mostly my panic) we pulled ourselves together and resolved to take a taxi back to the hotel. We marched to the street corner and confidently stuck our arms in the air and watched taxi after taxi zoom past us. It turns out, that’s not how you get a taxi in Paris. Go figure.

Long story short, Google saved the day. So, for future reference, here’s how to get a taxi in Paris in three easy steps:

Step 1: Find a taxi stand. They’re located near busy intersections and major monuments. Don’t stand on the curb waving your arms like a crazy person; no one will pick you up.
Step 2: Tell the driver where you’re going, preferably in French. If you can’t, just point to a spot on a map or show them an address.
Step 3: Arrive at your destination, pay the driver and bask in the satisfaction of surviving a French taxi ride. Don’t forget to tip!

Delectable Paris.

We've all seen pictures of the Eiffel Tower and for me, I've always thought it was a beautiful structure I would never see other than in pictures. Then, there I was. Standing and staring up the most beautiful structure ever. Paris was more than I had ever imagined it to be and It slowly became a reality as I watching Erin's expression. Erin couldn't constrain herself as a smile spread wildly across her face, "Am I the only one freaking out about this?" and though I wasn't jumping up and down, it finally hit. I'm in Paris.

The Paris that knows how to enjoy a meal, the kind where you order wine with every meal to enhance the taste and find yourself lost in conversation with some of your closest and maybe newest friends. Paris is perfect. Perfect for people watching. Perfect place to catch the best deals that only come once a year. Perfect place to see the most beautiful artwork in the world. Perfect place to make new friends. Perfect place to learn a new language.

It's a completely different lifestyle then the one back home, where we are in a constant motion. The motion in Paris is the kind where you take your time enjoying that perfectly flaky croissant with only the most perfect amount of chocolate. The taste still lingers in my mouth thinking about it.

That's Paris, and I'm loving it.

11

Our last night in Paris could not have past any better. The whole group bonded. It was a uncommonly remarkable moment. We owe it all to our little entertainer, he really got the party going. Listening to him play the guitar to songs we all know really set up the vibe for the night. It’s crazy that a group of people who barely knew each other in Chicago have made so many memories together in Europe. I have tons of videos singing and laughing at one another, some of us are defiantly tone deaf haha.

Even though I was sad we were leaving, it was my favorite day spent in Paris. I got to explore the streets of alone which made it more of a soul searching expeirence. I made some friends, I got lost (haha) and I saw some pretty random things. Like a guy in front of the Louvre who was blowing bubbles with these giant strings...so random but cool.

What made the last day so impressive was my solo trip to the Fashion History Museum. It’s a hidden museum inside of the Louvre. IT WAS STUNNING. Some people look at Venus De Milo and tears of passion and love roll down their faces, but when I see a marvelously crafted couture gown, I can’t help it, tears swell up. So I guess it was a good thing I was alone because I was basically blown away by everything.

It was a swamp of designers. You look left and you see Dior, right Gautiller, straight Alexander McQueen and then turn around there’s Balenciaga!! I almost passed out.

When you see renowned clothing with your own eyes it’s completely shocking from when you see it in a magazine or on TV. Everything instantly becomes more real and you start thinking about all the work individuals put into crafting. Hours and hours of drawing, measuring, choosing colors, sewing...thank god I only have to write about it.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I truly admire the creative people in the world. Which brings me to my other favorite moment of the trip. When a small group of our group went to the fashion brand 11 Colors and talked to the director of menswear Golnaz Adham Khazei. She was awesome. Everything about her was unique. It would be hard to find a designer like her in Chicago. I’m going to write my feature story on her because her journey into the fashion world and where she is now is quite astounding. I’ll give you a little sneak peak: She started out at one of Europe’s top house designers and interned with him for 1 year and left that job (which millions of girls would have killed for) and got offered a position created just for her at the clothing line she is at now, 11.

How impressive is that?! They literally created a position just for her. Well I could talk about fashion for hours so I’ll leave it rest until my feature story :) Stayyyyy tuned!!

Lost and Found in Translation

A non-French speaker in Paris is like a fish out of water that can order a crepe but will get the death stare while doing it.

Tu comprends?

That’s why, when I heard there would be a translator going with us to the market on Sunday, I jumped at the opportunity to get some good investigative work done. Coralie, our translator, transcends the limits of being, not only a Parisian, but a kind and thoughtful human being as well.

La crème de la crème.

Anyway, she accompanied us to the flea market at Porte de la Chapelle, the northernmost stop on the 12 metro line in Paris; not necessarily the most glamorous market, but one that would end up yielding a story with depth and humanity.

“Out of the flea market,” you say?

Mais bien sur.

However, in the process of attempting to dig up a story, I discovered what most journalists trying to do their job probably discover at one point or another…

It’s just not as easy as you hope it’s going to be.

First of all, I wanted to get some nice b-roll of the market without having to ask every single vendor if

1. they spoke English
2. it would be okay if I, a student from the United States, filmed their goods
3. it was okay that I was using the film for some larger purpose

So, I took the short cut and filmed whatever I wanted without consent. This resulted in vendors telling me not to film after I had already gotten the film I wanted and, in one instance, an artist almost physically accosting me after I had shot some of his art without his consent.

Is this appropriate? Is this the way it should be done?

I’m not sure. I think that’s the whole point. There is all this gray that we, as journalists, must constantly navigate. I didn’t feel completely comfortable shooting that artist’s work without asking him, but there is another part of me that is trained to think, “Shoot first; ask questions later.” And still another part of me that knew I had no intention of stealing his work; but rather which wanted to make art out of his art-to give his art more exposure than perhaps it would have ever received without my filming it.

This sounds presumptuous. It is presumptuous. At the same time, I don’t really know any other behavior.

Without trying to be too romantic, I think this is the American way. A shared experience-An artist who recognizes another artist. Uncertainty, exploitation. Trying hard to be better than you are. To be better than we all are as human beings.

Whether French or otherwise.

Understanding Paris

For me, learning to navigate Paris means more than understanding the metro system; it means knowing when to smile at a stranger (after they smile at you), where it's cheaper to buy an espresso (standing at the bar, not sitting down at a table), and knowing not to make eye contact with street vendors ( five Euros for a yarn bracelet!?!).

Having spent a few days here, I realize, beyond my luggage, I brought a lot of baggage to Paris. Like many Americans, I grew up with the unfortunate experience of learning about France from television. It turns out Pepé Le Pew and Inspector Clouseau were terrible examples of French culture.

I am happy to have had my preconceptions of France melted by the warmth of the Parisians I've met. The myth of French rudeness is exactly that, a myth.

From shopkeepers to strangers in the laundromat , the Parisians I talked to were more than willing to put up with my limited French. I may be in the running for a world record on how many times a person can say "Parlez-vous Anglais?" in one day.

The hospitality I've been shown by the French speaks to some universally human ideals. Average people, regardless of nationality, want to lead happy lives and this includes helping strangers. Why would France be any different? Perhaps America's history with France as long-time international allies has helped foster the amicable relationship we still share. Whatever the reason, my time in Paris has reinforced the idea that I should not stereotype a culture.

As the French existential philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said "Man is fully responsible for his nature and his choices."

It would do an international traveler well to remember those words. We can choose to be open-minded and accepting of other cultures and especially of other people, or we can remain stubborn. It's our choice, but I'll opt for the former.

Race is a taboo word!

I find it so funny and sad that when I hear about France’s color blind policy I feel so confused about the idea that people here claim not to be racist towards anyone regardless of their color or race. It is so hard for me to think that something like that is possible and it can be because I might be ignorant or the fact that I live in a country where my family and me are minorities. In all the briefings we have gone to they talk about this color blind policy and how in France there is no such thing as minorities or ethnic groups and it is illegal to ask about your race and such words are taboo. But I find that they contradict themselves because then there is this whole issue about banning the burqa (even though they argue that that policy has nothing to do with racism but more about laicité). And then the speaker from the Arab World Institute, Phillipe Cardinal, said that the media does not portray Arabs as professionals. So I don’t know if I’m just being too close minded and that in fact France is a country where racism does not exist or France just doesn’t want to admit that in their “perfect” country there is racism and minorities just have not realized it. I don’t know but it’s all a bit confusing to me. On a different topic I can’t believe our last day in Paris is tomorrow this week has just flown by!!! Oh and I had one of those famous Fallafels everyone was talking about…one word DELICIOUS!!!

Gallery Layfette....every fashionistas dream

SHOPPING!! :) Being down by the Opera today was amazing. There were so many iconic designers. Yes, we have all them in Chicago but they were displayed so well in the departments and they were all in one area. Something that I thought was unique was the architect in the Gallery Lafayette. It’s not just a shopping mall, it’s an historical landmark. When you go shopping you don’t just look at the clothes you look at the building. I think that’s what I’m going to do my multimedia piece on. Comparing Chicago shopping experience to Paris shopping experience. They’re so different. I’ve been having trouble focusing on what to do my projects on. It seems like everyones already started a project and I’m behind.

Everyone from Chicago knows of the magnificent mile but it doesn't even come close to Gallery Lafayette. For everyone who is a die hard fashion lover....like myself they have to come to Paris. This is the birthplace of top designers like Chanel, Dior, Galliamo and so much more. You could spend days in the shopping center and still miss things. Being in Paris has made my love for fashion stronger. They have the latest styles and the best seamstresses in the world. I can't wait to talk to some fashion experts. I have so many questions. Like why Paris? Why are so many of the popular name designers from Paris? It's quite amazing that they have so many.

But now I am just ramboling and I am exhausted and sick... :(

But it’s been a super long day and all I can think about is sleep. ZZZZZ....

Picture Perfect Paris

*I can't upload any pictures from my camera because I forgot my cord at home, so if anybody has an SD card reader please let me know! Pictures are from my phone, excuse the quality.

Paris in Fast Forward

Can someone help me find the pause button, s'il vous plait?

I want to remember what rue Cler looked like the first night we arrived, rainy and glowing in the dark with blue lights hanging above the people tucked away in cozy cafes. I want to remember the first time I bought lunch at a bakery and had to use my awful French for the first time. I want to remember all the little French school children getting out of school down the street and the cute men who work at the poissonnerie across the street from the hotel, but it feels like this trip keeps speeding right past me.

Our hotel is located on one of the most perfect and picturesque streets in Paris, rue Cler. You can't get more French than this -- everything from wine shops to flower shops line this little charming street located in the 7th arrondissement, or district.

The best part of being on this street is people watching and eavesdropping. (Journalists are inherently nosey.) The people are so French here! You see people going to the fromagerie (cheese shop), people carrying baguettes, old French gentlemen carrying bouquets of flowers, little school children excitedly talking as they buy macarons on the way home from school. It feels like an old French movie, if only I could find the pause button.

Being on this street helped me understand the French way of life more clearly. The French seem much more social, even affectionate, towards each other than Americans are towards each other. Restaurants are filled every night of the week with groups or couples and people are always quietly talking in cafes over espressos. Even grocery shopping is very social. Since shopping happens every day (French people prefer fresh food), people see each other regularly and talk often. And I thought I was close to the deli man at Jewel-Osco.

I'm just starting to become a regular at Artisan Boulanger Patissier (cheap sandwiches when you're in a hurry), but we're already leaving in a few days. Where has the time gone?

Doing the France Dance with my French Friends

Just like the picture says: -Life Is Beautiful-

I have only been in Paris for five days, and I can honestly say I made one friend. Her name is… Ms. French Phone Operator.

I know what you’re thinking, “Alessandra, why are you blogging about the French phone operator and who are you calling.” Don’t worry I was not calling my dear friend Mr. Sarkozy, but instead was trying to get a hold of my family friend Roxeane who lives in Paris.

I can’t explain how disappointing and frustrating it is to sit in front of a phone and dial a number multiple times, to hear in French that the number is not correct. Even after having tried all forms of the 001+33+[ number], I still received the same result- Ms. French Operator.

Finally, after 1789 tries my call finally went through, and I was so excited to speak to Roxeane. Shortly after our conversation, we met up in San Paul (Jewish Quarter in Paris) and we waited in line for about an hour to get into a small restaurant called L’as Du Fallafel. The food was beyond fantastic. No falafel will ever compare to the one I ate on January 9, 2011. After lunch, we walked around, and stopped inside a jewelry store that had English phrases on the wall. I took plenty of pictures. Then Roxane, her mother Nathalie and I stopped for espresso and cappuccino at La Brasserie de L'isle saint- Louis. La Brasserie de L'isle saint- Louis is a famous cafe that has been around since the 1930's. I was amazed the town (San Paul) had so many vintage stores and authentic restaurants.

Even though it was a hassle figuring out the phone number, I enjoyed spending the day with my friend and her mother. I learned so much about the Jewish Quarter and ate so well. So, to Roxeane and her mother Nathalie, thank you for the wonderful day, and thank you L’as Du Fallafel for making my taste buds so happy.

However, now since I know how to make a telephone call I think I miss my friend…Ms. French phone operator.

The Market Man and Me

Rushing cars, loud salesman, coulped with the allure of what's next had me turning every corner. My eyes rushed at the many colors and attractions, in some way it was like a Circus attempting to entertain while still serving its purpose.

The market had everything from bags to clothes, shoes, trinkets, scarfs, art and food. You heard, "buy buy buy," from the left side to the right and even the pan handlers walking through the center were overly aggresive.

But as I approached one stand I knew they had something just for me. A dark brown leather bag. But as I showed my classmates my new item of the year, a India saleman tapped me twice and said "move move." I thought to myself "well I don't think we were standing too close to his stand, were he can't attract customers."

My classmates saw something and felt something I didn't, he thought I was a pan handler trying to sale them my bag, my bag that I just bought. He thought I was one of the African men pan handeling to my white American classmates. The market man showed me that even though I wear european influenced clothing, speak english and live as a black american, I am of true African decent.

"Some Will Not Take 'No!' For an Answer"

In less than my first week into my trip to Europe I have ran across various unique things, and very interesting people. I fell in love with the architecture of the streets of Paris, but the people, not so much. The culture here definitely differs from the culture back in America, though there are many people who immigrated into France as in America, all the different cultures begin to misunderstand one another causing confusion between customs and blunt rudeness.
We went as a class to the Eiffel Tower, which was a dream come true. The tower was quite a sight to see; in fact we could see all of Paris from the first floor. I always thought the Paris would be a beautiful place, but the view that I saw was far beyond my imagination, it was simply breath-taking. So, as we are departing from the tower, we were swarmed with African Immigrants, who were trying to sell us souvenirs. We could barely walk down the stairs to leave, it was like they were paparazzi and we were celebrities. They were trying to sell us miniature Eiffel Towers and key chains, and would talk to each student in the language which they thought that student would understand, so that they would seal the deal. Well, they most definitely did not do that, instead it came across as quite offensive. Then, when we declined their merchandise, they had the nerve to get upset. Not only did they get an attitude, but they yelled obscenities to us.
The first couple of times I encountered these immigrants trying to make profits from souvenirs, I thought to myself, “ok, here’s some guys who need to make some money,” but after the incident at the Eiffel Tower, I was completely done dealing with them. A few days later, one of my teachers informed me that a European exchange student we knew, told her that it was part of there custom to try to sell, or more so shove, their goods to us, therefore we’d have to buy them. They believe that if they offer someone a gift that the receiver of the gift is to accept it, and then in turn give them the gift of money. So as they were insulting us, they felt that we were insulting them also.
I learned that while there are many beautiful things about visiting another country, there will always be cultural differences that may not have even crossed your mind. So next time someone just won’t stop pushing something on you while in a foreign place, just smile and say “Yes!” and continue to walk away, because ‘‘Some Will Not Take 'No!' For an Answer.’’

Paris at a Glance

When we first arrived to the Paris airport, I was completely lost. I felt like I was a little kid lost in a department store. I have never left the country before and to top it off, the only French word I knew is Bonjour. Things got a lot easier as soon as we got passed the passport check. The workers who were checking made jokes with a few of us and showed us there are people who are helpful and willing to make “lost people” feel welcomed. On a better note, this trip has been a lot of fun so far. I enjoyed traveling to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. A few of us took a walk to the highest point in the city of Paris and it was the most beautiful thing I have yet to seen. All the city lights just glowing, I was mezmorized. So far, during this trip, I have realized one important thing; be thankful for what you have. French people are not the most welcoming people to be around, especially if you are American. It is so hard to come from a country where you can walk around and just smile and say goodmorning to a complete stranger to now having to keep a straight face and walk past hundreds of people a day. I have met nice people who make jokes because I am from Chicago. Histarically, this is the one city they say they hate. Paris has definitely been a new adventure I'm glad I was able to experience.

The Parisian Way of Life

The only country I’ve been to outside of the United States is Mexico, and that was ten years ago. I love learning about different cultures and the way people live and I was excited to come on this trip and see what the everyday life is like in Paris, France. The sites have been absolutely beautiful! The Notre Dame Cathedral, Palace of Versailles, Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and basically every building in the city is breath taking. The pictures do them no justice. I have learned on this trip that the French are very unlike Americans, which is why we have the perception that they dislike us. While some probably do, they just have a different way of life and don’t understand why Americans act the way they do. There are many cultural differences that divide us and it can be difficult to find sources for our stories as a result of this.

Yesterday a group of us went to The Flea Market at Porte de Clignancourt. The location reminded me a lot of being in Chicago, with building and cars similar to ones you would find in the city. The market was much different from the ones we have at home. Some vendors sold products they made from their home countries, such as jewelry and clothes they had sewed and designed. Others sold knock off shoes, purses, and perfumes. There were a variety of items to pick from, and if one looked hard enough they could find a good deal on a product they were looking for. For our multi-media project my group is doing a story about what French culture is and how a native or immigrant to France would define being French. The language barrier proved to be an obstacle. Many people were excited to hear we were from Chicago and said things like “Viva Obama!” and talked about Michael Jordan. I sometimes find it tough to find people to conduct man-on-the-street interviews in Chicago, and here in Paris it is much more problematic. A few people who spoke English well were not comfortable being recorded. Our translator Coralie came with us to the market and she was a huge help! She was able to translate what they were saying and that is when people had deeper answers and talked about their true feelings. People felt more comfortable speaking their own language and could open up and express themselves. At first, most people had short answers, but as they delved into the interview they opened up more and we got some good interviews. It was interesting to hear the perspectives of French citizens and their perceptions of themselves, along with immigrants and how they felt toward French people.

A Whole New World

January 6,2011

My First Step In Paris

Today we arrived in Paris and the airport was quite different from the ones in the United States. The men that checked our passports were very nice and they joked around with the students a lot. I felt that this was a good welcoming for us to have. The escalators were covered and instead of steps they had just straight walkways. The top of the airport was open and I think this was why the escalators were covered. It reminded me much like hamster cages. All the people in the airport were apart of many different ethnicities. I really enjoyed watching the French communicate to each other at the airport the best out of everyone. I feel that French is such a beautiful language and it is very interesting to listen too. After we people watched and waited for our baggage we left the airport. Once we left the airport, we all go onto a bus that happened to be made by Mercedes! I was so shocked to see that most of the taxi’s and buses were made by luxury car companies. While we were on the bus we got a little tour of France. The tour guide named Antoine was quite informational and I enjoyed learning where everything was at in the city. We passed the Eiffel Tower and it was so nice to see in person. It was beyond beautiful and I could not believe how big it actually was. We went to the Notre Dame and toured it. We got to walk around the Notre Dame and see what the city was like on our own. After we got back on the bus and the tour was over, we checked into our hotel and all of the students could hardly fit into the hotel lobby. It was very small and the elevator was so tiny that only two bags could fit into it. I was amazed by how small hotels are in Paris especially this one. Once everyone got to our rooms we got ready for dinner and had some free time. Then we began our adventure to the place that we were scheduled to have dinner at. We got to ride the Metropolitan and it was quite different from the one that is in Chicago. The seats that were in the station were bright colors and they looked like a bubble. The actual train was quite clean and it seemed to always be packed. The people on the train all seemed interested in us because we were students from the United States. One woman actually picked up on one of my fellow classmate’s Chicago accent. I thought that was very amazing because not many people in other countries can pick up on particular accents from a certain state. We finally made it to dinner, which took quite sometime because we got lost and kept walked up and down the same street. We walked into the restaurant the place seating were quite different from how the United States usually sets their tables. The spoons were beneath the glasses and there were two forks on the left side and two knives on the right side. We got to try a salad that had very large pieces of tomato in it and the French bread was VERY good. For the main course we got to eat beef burgundy and it tasted much stronger in France rather than the United States. While we began to eat, CNN’s Jim Bittermann came to speak to us about how he is a United States’ correspondent and the great things that Paris offers. He answered many questions that students had about their personal projects and future careers. I enjoyed listening to Jim’s adventures and how his everyday life is different from a reporter who would just work in the United States. After dinner, we went back to our hotel and got a good night’s sleep so that we could be ready for the next day.

January 7, 2011

Learning More Everyday In The City Of Love

Today when I woke up I headed down to the little lounge in the hotel to meet with Yolanda. There were about six students in the room listening to ideas that Yolanda had about what we should do for our upcoming projects. Every person got to tell what their topic was and what they planned on doing for their final projects. Yolanda gave me a lot of great ideas that helped me prepare for my final projects that had to be completed for this course. After Yolanda helped us organize our ideas and show us how to shoot different shots on our iflips, we went out into the streets of Paris in search for some pictures and videos that we could shoot. I walked around the streets close to the hotel and found out when a minor league soccer game would be held. I plan on attending the soccer game tomorrow and I want to interview fans. I want to see if these fans are similar to American football fans. I think that this will be an interesting topic that will help me with my future career as a sports reporter. After I walked around the streets and found out some information on soccer games and fans, I decided to buy a crepe. I ordered a jambon and fromage crepe because it was the only one on the lunch menu that I recognized from my high school French class. I liked ham and cheese sandwiches so I figured that this would be a good choice to order. It was very good and I could not believe how good the crepes were here compared to America. I didn’t realize that they would be so much different. After I ate my crepe, I decided to catch up on some work for my final projects. I sat in the lounge of the hotel and started some of my final projects. After I did some work, all of the students went to the French Conflict, Refugees and Resolution’s office and learned about what this business does. I really thought that the video that was shown to the students was helpful. After this we went to the Tour of Agence France Presse. It was neat to see how the French Press works. I would love to get the chance to intern for a press office in Paris like this. I felt that I learned a lot of good information from this Press’s briefing. After we left this building, I decided to walk around Paris and site see. I met a lot of nice people and picked up on some French language. It was a lot of fun to go out on my own and meet new people and experience everything Paris has to offer.

January 8,2011

A First Glance At A Queen’s Life

Today I woke up very early and went down to the lounge in the hotel and ate breakfast. French breakfast is quite different from American breakfast. There was a lot of bread served with the meal and I tried some chocolate cereal. It tasted a lot like coco puffs but they were shaped different. After breakfast, all the students went to Versailles. It was unbelievably so beautiful. I really enjoyed seeing the Queen’s bedroom. It was so neat to see how big the bedrooms were back then. The gardens were also very pretty and I could only imagine how much time it takes the gardeners to keep it looking like that. We looked in stores and ate in a café next. After we left Versailles everyone went to the Eiffel Tower. On the journey to the Eiffel Tower, we got to see where Princess Diana died and that really touched me because I have always been really interested in her life. We took a lot of groups pictures and got to ride up to the top of the tower. The view from there was so unreal and I could not get over the fact that people back then made a building that was as tall as the Eiffel Tower was. I met a couple that was from London and it was amazing to actually hear a real English accent. They were so nice and we decided to exchange Facebook information and they planned on coming to Chicago to visit anyway. It will be nice to be able to keep in touch with them and show them around the city of Chicago. I love meeting people from different places and keeping in touch with them. After the Eiffel Tower, we went to the Tour Louvre Museum. It was such a huge museum and I really enjoyed getting the chance to see the Mona Lisa in person. The other art in the museum was very creative and this also amazed me how people a long time ago made these great creations. After we left the museum we got to tour the Fragonard Museum. It smelled like heaven in this building. We got a tour on how many perfumes and colognes are made and we got some free samples. It was a very neat experience and I have never been to anything like it before. After the museum, my roommate and I went to get food. We decided to get cheeseburgers and french fries. It was good to try something American here because it still tasted much different than it does in the States. After this long day, I decided to go back to my room and work on some homework and get some rest for tomorrow’s adventures.

January 9,2010

From Flea Markets To Gravestones

Today I woke up pretty early and went down to the lounge to eat breakfast. I am starting to get tired of the same breakfast everyday but I still ate some cereal. After breakfast, I went to a flea market with a small group of students and Yolanda. It reminded me a lot like the streets of New York City. Many men were selling fake purses and there was a lot of souvenir stands. Many of the men who were selling fake purses were very pushy and did not take no for an answer. The part of Paris that this flea market was in was very different from where our hotel is. It seemed to me that it was more like the ghetto of Paris. We stayed at the flea market for about two hours. After the flea market a group of students and I went to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. I got to see Jim Morrison’s (who is a member of the band called The Doors) gravestone. I really enjoyed seeing all the messages that were put on the tree beside his gravestone. I also got to see Oscar Wilde’s grave. Oscar Wilde’s work touched many people and I feel that his gravestone did the same. There were many kisses smeared on the gravestone. My friends and I put lipstick on and kissed the grave as well. It was a really beautiful graveyard and the structure of the whole cemetery was built on a hill. I took a lot of pictures and really enjoyed my trip to this graveyard. After the graveyard I got ready and went on a boat ride tour of Paris. It was so pretty to see the city from the river. It was a quick but informational ride and I am glad that I got the chance to experience it. After the boat ride, I went to dinner by the Moulin Rouge with a few friends and Yolanda. I got chicken and potatoes and it was very good to say the least. Food in France is such a better quality than it is in the United States through my eyes. After dinner we walked around this part of the city and we went into gift shops and a McDonald’s. I took a lot of pictures in the McDonald’s because it was so different from the ones in the United States. After all this walking we ended up on the highest point in Paris and the view was outstanding. After this we took a taxi back home since our metro track was out of order and the taxi driver was quite funny. He was very interested that we were Americans and I had a lot of fun talking to him as well. I really enjoyed today’s adventures and I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow.

January 10, 2011

International Reporting At Its Finest

Today when I woke up, I headed downstairs to meet the rest of the students and go to The International Herald Tribune. When we arrived there it looked much like an American newsroom. We got to go a tour of the building and got a lot of questions answered about our future careers. We also got to go into the room where most of the meetings take place. There were a lot of newspapers on the wall that the IHT published that were major events throughout the world. I enjoyed the September 11^th and Obama being elected into office the best. I learned a lot from this tour and was happy that we got the chance to go visit this place. After this tour, I went to lunch with a few of the students and the meal was very good as always. After eating we went shopping at the Galeries Lafayette. I could not get over how many stores were in this one place. The structure of the building was so beautiful too and it was unlike any mall I have ever seen. After browsing through many of the high priced fashion stores we left. We walked around and bought some crepes and scarves from some street vendors. Then we headed back towards our hotel to get some interviews done for our final projects. After talking to a few people and getting the information we needed, we went back to the hotel to work on some homework. It was a very relaxing day and I was happy that it was.

Pleasure of Paris

BONJOUR! I'm about to get real here. Food is my jam, like if I didn't eat elephant servings for every meal I wouldn't have to run 30 miles a week (actually, that's a joke, I run because I enjoy it... not because I think I'm fat, I don't have little girl body issues DON'T WORRY). My friend Eli from back home told me about this falafel restaurant in the Jewish quarter here in Paris I had to check out, so of course I jumped at the opportunity once I had some free time. You guys, Eli was right, this falafel place called L'AS DU FALLAFEL was magique (magical). This sandwich brought out some intense emotions in me. I can't even describe it... it's indescribable. My sour mood instantly turned happy. I ordered the vegetarian special which is what I suggest ordering, it was 5 euros and took less than 30 seconds to make. They ask if you want it spicy, say YES! It's not that spicy, but it brings out some serious flavor. I enjoyed it so much I'm going back for our next free meal tomorrow. I took pictures which you can check out above but don't worry, I'm going to make Alessandra record me eating it because you just have to see the pleasure this falafel brings out in me.

Ladies and gentleman, if you have a free meal please check this place out. It's off the Saint-Paul stop on the 1 line. It will change your life, it did for me.

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