Yesterday after the gym, Matt and I wanted to hit up Paris downtown. We kinda wanted to get a feel for the scene and what's it's like. So Coach Mas drove us through Paris and showed us around. On the drive there it is crazy, living in Atlanta I figured I had a good understanding of downtown traffic, and the headaches that come with it. ...and then it hits you. I'm in a whole new country, and my knowledge of life on this earth only extends through parts of the US. It is nuts, there are no lanes on some of the roads, and its survival of the fittest. It's not the big that eat the little, but the quick that eat the slow. You've got to be quick and heavy footed to make it in Paris. The scooters and motorcycles just breeze by you weaving in between the cars. We joke about opening a door to knock one of them off while we have to wait in traffic. Oh and lets talk about driving in the round-abouts, especially the one around the Arch de Triomphe... There are no lights, no signal for who can go, you just try and squeeze in anywhere possible and turn on the street you want to go on.... and then it hits you.
We turn onto Avenue des Champs-Elysees and I am suddenly on the most famous street in the world. I'm going to have to take a picture when I get some more time, but it is breathtaking. It is a long street with huge sidewalks, amazing topend stores and it's lit up for christmas. There are trees lining the whole way down and the way the lights are set up it really looks like snow fall. You can tell its high end... think of a store, they've got it. Gucci, Louis Vouton, Prada, you can have whatever you like.... at the right price. Coach then says he'll show us around before dinner...and then it hits you.
I'm seeing a tour of Paris from a native Frenchman who is a History major. I learn more in this one car ride, then I probably did throughout highschool and life so far for that matter (in regards to French History). We see everything, and learn the entire history about it, understanding the Louvre and where things where at within it. What they used certain rooms for, where the king actually slept. The Grande and Petit Palaces, why they were built. I mean there was just so much. Notre Dame, the Pantheon (burial place of great Frenchmen...like the author of Les Miserables, and the 3 Muskateers), there is a nice university in the latin quarter and great commercial schools. And the Eiffel tower, did I mention how freaking huge that thing is. It is so wide at the base, theres 3 levels that you can walk on and it is lit up as well. We also see the military muesum, senate, this one building which is illuminated with flying doves on it, I can't remember what it was for but I think it was for the government. Awesome.... and then it hits you.
So many people have lived in these buildings, on this streets, in this city. That history and the stories about certain individuals are not some type of movie with celebrity figures, but real people like you and me living their lives. I decide then to make my own histroy, a life worthy of remembering. I think about the French army housed in the hospital that Louis XIV made for his troops during the war (it's an amazing building, huge) I think about how they created all this without modern technology. It's stunning. I think about people going to mass at Notre Dame from 12th century to today. I think I am going to try and go one sunday....and then it hits you.
Just part of the Petit Palais. It's about 3 times this big, this is just the middle.
This is not a city or town that I am just visiting. This is my new residence, my new home for the time being. I will know and learn this city. I am already falling for it. It is easy to see why the French are romantic. Just walk around the streets. It's breathtaking, something that just feels good being here, having the privelage to see through these eyes, the same sites that so many before me have fallen in love with. Ah. ... and then it hits you.
I'm HUNGRY! We go to eat at Hippopatumus. I cant wait to tell you later about the desert, the Crepes are amazing. They are so good that you have to know about them now. I didn't even order them, I just ate one of Matt's and they are that dam good. They have different types of sauce you can pour in them and some ice cream too!! WOW. I tried to order in France, coach was even helping me, but I froze when the lady came up and reverted back to english. I need to push myself to get better, to embrace the culture and learn the language. I had Tuna Tartar for an appetizer, not to mention the bread that is endless. I get a steak with Forte Formage, a strong cream sauce to dip in, accompanied by frites. The fries are endless, this is neat because I can eat as much as I want and she keeps bringing more fries. This is definitely not customary in America. But I am no longer in America am I?!? I have creme brulee for desert ...and then it hits you.
Deserts as well as meals are a big deal in France. We spend a couple hours sitting, exchanging stories. Learning about one another. It's not a rush to eat and pay and get out of there. It's good times had by all, laughter, and friendships being made. I keep falling for the way things are done and handled over here. ...and then it hits you.
We do such a bad job in America, appreciating other parts of the world. Taking time to value the things that matter the most; flesh and blood. Also in learning other languages. The French start learning another language at 6 and then a third language by 10. I wish I would've had the same privelage, it would've paid off now. WHY DID I TAKE THE EASY ROUTE AND TAKE LATIN? This would really help now, the language boundaries are tough to get around, thank God for non verbal communication. Also, the French are knowledgeable about what's going on in the world. We talk American politics, economy, environmental issues... and then it hits you.
That's why the lights are off in the apartment building everytime I leave the room. They care about the environment and are doing a damn good job to help thwart that. No plastic or paper bags at the grocery. No wasteful energy spending. They are concerned with modernization and industrialization of China. They care. Damn I'm glad I came here. Well I have to go dry my clothes now, the laundry is finished and I have to hang them up on a make shift clothes line. (Energy conservation!) Practice 2 tonight!
We turn onto Avenue des Champs-Elysees and I am suddenly on the most famous street in the world. I'm going to have to take a picture when I get some more time, but it is breathtaking. It is a long street with huge sidewalks, amazing topend stores and it's lit up for christmas. There are trees lining the whole way down and the way the lights are set up it really looks like snow fall. You can tell its high end... think of a store, they've got it. Gucci, Louis Vouton, Prada, you can have whatever you like.... at the right price. Coach then says he'll show us around before dinner...and then it hits you.I'm seeing a tour of Paris from a native Frenchman who is a History major. I learn more in this one car ride, then I probably did throughout highschool and life so far for that matter (in regards to French History). We see everything, and learn the entire history about it, understanding the Louvre and where things where at within it. What they used certain rooms for, where the king actually slept. The Grande and Petit Palaces, why they were built. I mean there was just so much. Notre Dame, the Pantheon (burial place of great Frenchmen...like the author of Les Miserables, and the 3 Muskateers), there is a nice university in the latin quarter and great commercial schools. And the Eiffel tower, did I mention how freaking huge that thing is. It is so wide at the base, theres 3 levels that you can walk on and it is lit up as well. We also see the military muesum, senate, this one building which is illuminated with flying doves on it, I can't remember what it was for but I think it was for the government. Awesome.... and then it hits you.
So many people have lived in these buildings, on this streets, in this city. That history and the stories about certain individuals are not some type of movie with celebrity figures, but real people like you and me living their lives. I decide then to make my own histroy, a life worthy of remembering. I think about the French army housed in the hospital that Louis XIV made for his troops during the war (it's an amazing building, huge) I think about how they created all this without modern technology. It's stunning. I think about people going to mass at Notre Dame from 12th century to today. I think I am going to try and go one sunday....and then it hits you.
Just part of the Petit Palais. It's about 3 times this big, this is just the middle.This is not a city or town that I am just visiting. This is my new residence, my new home for the time being. I will know and learn this city. I am already falling for it. It is easy to see why the French are romantic. Just walk around the streets. It's breathtaking, something that just feels good being here, having the privelage to see through these eyes, the same sites that so many before me have fallen in love with. Ah. ... and then it hits you.
I'm HUNGRY! We go to eat at Hippopatumus. I cant wait to tell you later about the desert, the Crepes are amazing. They are so good that you have to know about them now. I didn't even order them, I just ate one of Matt's and they are that dam good. They have different types of sauce you can pour in them and some ice cream too!! WOW. I tried to order in France, coach was even helping me, but I froze when the lady came up and reverted back to english. I need to push myself to get better, to embrace the culture and learn the language. I had Tuna Tartar for an appetizer, not to mention the bread that is endless. I get a steak with Forte Formage, a strong cream sauce to dip in, accompanied by frites. The fries are endless, this is neat because I can eat as much as I want and she keeps bringing more fries. This is definitely not customary in America. But I am no longer in America am I?!? I have creme brulee for desert ...and then it hits you.
Deserts as well as meals are a big deal in France. We spend a couple hours sitting, exchanging stories. Learning about one another. It's not a rush to eat and pay and get out of there. It's good times had by all, laughter, and friendships being made. I keep falling for the way things are done and handled over here. ...and then it hits you.
We do such a bad job in America, appreciating other parts of the world. Taking time to value the things that matter the most; flesh and blood. Also in learning other languages. The French start learning another language at 6 and then a third language by 10. I wish I would've had the same privelage, it would've paid off now. WHY DID I TAKE THE EASY ROUTE AND TAKE LATIN? This would really help now, the language boundaries are tough to get around, thank God for non verbal communication. Also, the French are knowledgeable about what's going on in the world. We talk American politics, economy, environmental issues... and then it hits you.
That's why the lights are off in the apartment building everytime I leave the room. They care about the environment and are doing a damn good job to help thwart that. No plastic or paper bags at the grocery. No wasteful energy spending. They are concerned with modernization and industrialization of China. They care. Damn I'm glad I came here. Well I have to go dry my clothes now, the laundry is finished and I have to hang them up on a make shift clothes line. (Energy conservation!) Practice 2 tonight!
1 comment:
haha french is waaaay easier than latin... it's just the pronunciation that you have to work on for years and you still never get it right...
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