Never let average be the word that describes you

I shall start by apologizing for my long absence. My life is getting into a groove and the weeks are quite uneventful. I watch children, I cook, I eat, I run, I go to school, I watch American tv, I empty the dishwasher, I bathe children, I shower myself, I walk a lot to get said children. I don’t do much during the week because by the time I get off I just don’t feel like it and there isn’t a TON to do around my area. That being said, I still apologize for my absence. I have spent two weekends in Paris since my last writing and I have also pondered a lot of things and talked with my friend about our lives and our situations and so I probably have a good amount to say, so don’t be sad.

Since signing up to run a half marathon, after only running on the regular for five months and being out three weeks with an injury and moving to another country…I have been reading a lot of sites and blogs about equipment, running in the cold, stretching, energy supplements, what to except and other running related things. One of the sites I came across which was addressing running your first half marathon, talked about motivation. I know exactly why I signed up to do this. There are several reasons, but I have to say knowing exactly why I want to do this is beyond motivating. If there was a word to describe that, insert it here. The days I want to say what the hell, I am over it, or the days I get down on myself and question myself…I think of three words, motivation, dedication and inspiration. Then I remember why I signed up in the first place and I get super high and think I can take on the world. Clearly, that is not the case, but it sure as hell helps. It also helps to have someone to talk to about it and my running coach is the best. Really. Follow her blog at psyched2un.com because she really is great. Her blog is also very helpful for different things. Anyway, I am still busting ass trying to train for this. Speed training, I have decided is literally the worst thing in the world. I threw up again the other day speed training. Just whyyy are you so hard?! I also recently ran the longest I have ever run in my life, 6.8 miles. When I started running in like July, I could only run a mile without stopping and I was doing a 15 minute mile. I’ve cut sooo much time off my old times and I can consistently run at a pace I am okay with. My coach says time doesn’t matter, but the time is motivating, and cutting time makes things so much better. I am still kind of on track to make this half marathon my bitch in March, I just hope I make it…

Two weekends ago I went to Paris to go shopping. I mostly shop at places we have at home including H&M, that’s also because I am really poor. There is a store here called Zara, which we also apparently have somewhere in the US. We spend a lot of time there as well. We decided it is like an upscale Forever 21. Much cuter clothes and shoes but so much stuff and so many different styles. I bought a coat from a store called Promod. I LOVE this coat and they were having a sale so in the end it was only like 54 euros. Which is kind of amazing for a coat. We had planned on leaving Paris this weekend early, but that didn’t happen because we went to “our” bar and things escalated quickly. After several Markers Mark’s and coke…and shots…we did not leave early.

We met up with one of our South African friends and we actually like him. He has a girlfriend which makes us relax and we know that he does not want to take us home. He bought us drinks and we had like a 20 minute discussion on what the hell a wanker is compared to the English language. I also found out my bartender friend no longer works there, but this is okay because there is a deadlocked, very attractive man from New Zealand which also means…sexy accent. They were playing a rugby game with the New Zealand team and a Scottish team. Because we seem to so lucky, we also got a Scottish older bartender. So many good things in one place. We hung out with our South African friend all night till we were so drunk we needed to catch a train home. I also made friends with some old dudes at the bar who were visiting because they were on a Business trip in London. Super nice dudes. 

Wondering drunk through the streets of Paris wasn’t the smartest thing we could have done. That is for sure, and I am not sure my parents were all that happy with the crazy ass text messages I was sending about being lost, which I wasn’t, and being hammered, which I was. I amaze myself sometimes even when I am drunk because I can manage to get serious and get where I need to be. Thank god for the two of us. We also stopped at McDonalds. My friend never eats. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel really fat. Anyway, on our drunken trek to the metro to get to the train station we stopped at McDonalds and I bought us some cheeseburgers. I have never seen someone so happy to each a freaking McDonalds cheese burger in my whole life. I have also never heard someone praise one so much. Literally for 10 minutes on our trek… this is the best cheeseburger I have EVER had; this is soooo good; this cheeseburger is so great!

Last weekend when we went to Paris I got to eat an American breakfast. I cannot explain to you how happy I was for this. I LOVE breakfast. Besides seafood and maybe cheeseburgers, breakfast is my favorite food. There is an American place in Paris called “Breakfast in America” and it is great. I also got to have a Dr. Pepper, which I have never seen since I have been here. Coke and diet coke but that’s it really. After that we went shopping again. We then went to another district of Paris and had Asian food for lunch. I have still yet to see the Eiffel Tower close up. That was my plan last Saturday and it didn’t work out. I split from my friend and went to see the Hunger Games. It was great. I also realized that because I am here on a student visa, I get discounts! Student discounts everywhere! Seriously, this is amazing because things are not cheap here. Hunger games was what I fine. I went to a theatre on the Champs Elysees; when I went into the theatre it was light outside and when I came out it was dark. My breath was literally taken away when I walked outside. The entire street is lit up with Christmas lights. Not only that but at one end is the Arc de Triomphe and the other is a Ferris wheel set up for the season. The businesses also have different colored lights pointing at the buildings. It is such an amazing site. No picture that I took came anywhere near what I was actually seeing. I was planning then to see the Eiffel Tower at night but when I started walking I realized it was late and I only kinda knew where I was going and I should hold off. So I went back to H&M to buy some shoes then got some dinner and took the train home.

In between and in my down time I have been Christmas shopping. It has been exhausting and expensive when you make nearly zero dollars per month. Not only that, but it makes me sad. I always spend Christmas with my family and we always have a great time. My sister wakes us up at 5am like we are 10 year olds and we open gifts a certain way and it is really great. This year is so different. I don’t know if I am really looking forward to it all that much. I am hoping for a white Christmas and I will be in Paris which is ridiculous but, it is still a lot.

I also do a lot of thinking in my down town and there are some things I have come to realize.

1. This is a hard job. Not necessarily because of the work although, that is difficult at times and gets hairy and you have to tread a lot of lines but it is the line treading that is worse. These people are my family but they are my bosses. I also am living in their home so there is a respect aspect and also the feeling of not being “home” although they might want you to feel like that. It is really difficult.

2. I packed so so terribly. Literally I have worn like maybe 40% of what I brought because that is all that is relevant. I knew it would be cold here and yet I don’t seem to have enough warm shoes. The same for clothes. I brought one coat, like how stupid is that?! I did not bring my tall boots which, again, stupid. I brought open toed dress shoes…dumb dumb dumb. I have been looking for a heeled, short boot for a dressier shoe. I mean my wardrobe is a complete disaster. My friend is having the same problem.

3. I am eating foods I NEVER EVER eat at home. I don’t feel comfortable just saying hey I hate this and that which is sometimes what I’d like to do. I am en extremely picky eater, but here, it all seems to be out the window. I am eating tons of salmon…which I don’t love. Cucumbers like it’s my job, although I do like these. Beans, lentils (which are gross I hate eating these). Duck, which again I like but don’t eat it often at home. So many different kinds of ham. Cheese, which I am so lucky because it is all amazing. Just the diet here is so different from home and I am coming to like things I never did before. I think this is a huge positive in this journey.

This weekend we are staying in Paris for the weekend which is great. No worrying about getting on the train on time drunk, just making it back to the hotel room drunk. Also it saves money on train and metro tickets which start to add up at some point. We also found an American grocery store called…Thanksgiving…which we will be checking out. Tomorrow I have a doctor’s appointment, which sucks and makes me angry but C’est dommage. I am also going to cook some thanksgiving dinner for my family here. Something small and nothing crazy. Maybe some mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and turkey? Maybe some bread? They don’t have the ingredients here that I need to make very many things. That and they don’t eat like we do and the kids hate almost all food that doesn’t include bacon or grilled cheese. I have included a bunch of pictures and while I am sure I could write more this is good for now.

I do want to say I miss my family and friends very much. You have no idea. I hope everyone is doing well and I can’t wait to see you all again…soon…ish.

Title quote: My old dance teacher puts up these daily motivational quotes and they are really inspiring. I really liked the one he did today, so Carlos, thank you. 

An old prison on La Seine, no longer a prison.

River Boat at dusk

La Seine at dusk

Place d'Italie

Place d'Italie

Place d'Italie

Champs Elysees with lights

Arc de Triomphe

Hotel de Ville, one of my favorite buildings in all of Paris

McDonalds!! Pastry section...

Gare de Lyon, main train station in Paris

American Breakfast!!!

Let's do what we love, and do a lot of it

And so, it is Tuesday. Today is a holiday so no work for me. I am really thankful for this not because I need a day off...But really who doesn't love that...But I am quite behind on about 1000 things. I was planning to go to Paris today but I really am trying to be a decent student! I need to catch up on my law class, my French class, Christmas shopping, this flipping blog and just talking to some friends any family.

Before I write about anything happy or the ridiculous night I had this past weekend I have to say, one of the hardest and worst things about being here is being far away. Literally. I knew this would happen and I thought I'd be well equipped to handle it all when the days came but it's been hard. Two of my closest friends are going through the best and worst times in their life right now and I'm 4,000 some odd miles away. I can't do anything. Helpless. The knowing there is nothing I can do makes me feel so incredibly guilty and selfish and puts me in a place I don't really want to be. It's one thing to be this far away but on the same continent. Or even just far away in the US. But I can't just jump on a flight for a weekend and head home. Flights coming here are almost always overnight arriving the next day because of the time change. Flights going back are much easier and will arrive the same day. Anyway, remember this if you want to leave or move away. It is not easy. Specially when major live events occur and you are 150% helpless to the people you love.

Last week was uneventful to whatever degree. I went out with a friend during the day on Tuesday before class. We realized that the class isn't helping with French. The best way to learn is to just speak it. It is literally amazing what we were able to say to each other and learn just in the time we talked. In class we don't speak. I don't speak French at home either because I'm teaching their kids English and the parents both speak English. Not being forced to speak French is what is stunting my French development. That and I am sure it’s partly my fault. I could study more, but I don’t; especially now with my law class, which of course I am behind in. School and me just don’t seem to get along. And it’s just too bad. I really want to go get another bachelors or a masters but ugh. School. I am going to spend my night doing my law work from last week and starting on this weeks. I am going to study French as well, I hope.  

I started training for my half marathon. I am now wondering what the hell I got myself into! My coach is amazing as usual. Today I did some speed training and I wanted to cry. The weather was so perfect and I was just running laps along one of the two rivers that my town sits on. I know it is only going to get harder, I just hope my body holds out. This training program I stole from my coach is kinda intense and probably for people better at running than myself. I guess we will see. Tomorrow, thank god, is active rest day. I couldn’t be more happy…although maybe just plain rest day will be even better.

This past weekend I stayed in Paris in a flat in the Jewish District. I really love that area. Right around the corner from the flat is actually a restaurant called Breakfast in America. We didn’t eat there but I will go back and eat there at some point. We had falafel from the Jewish District for lunch on Sunday. Had never had this. But it was street food and so good. The smells that were coming from the few blocks we were walking on were amazing. I found out that on Sundays they close down one of the major roads that runs along the Seine for runners and bikers and things. I have this as a goal to get there one Sunday and run. Maybe next weekend. Anyway, I went out on Saturday night with my friend from class. I don’t know that I have enough time or words to describe the crazy night we had. We both wanted something low key. I hadn’t been sleeping and she wasn’t feeling great. First we went out shopping at a few stores. I wanted a new bag she wanted shoes. We bought nothing. Then we walked the like 4 miles to the bar I went to the weekend before. The bartender I had made friends with was there again, which I am thankful for and he recognized me and remembered what we talked about. So we got some drinks and just started talking. Mostly dumb girl stuff, complaining about life, talking about fifty shades of grey, college, partying, boobs…regular two white girls out at a bar shit. No big deal. They weren’t playing any college games yet, so there was rugby on tv. Well, then it all turned…for the worse? Maybe the best since we had soo much more to talk about after. A guy walked up to us and introduced himself, perfectly normal situation at a bar. Then all his friends came over. They were from South Africa. I, like most American girls, are suckers for accents. I have to say, the South African accent was no different. Phew. So we talked with them, great, laughing having a good time. We asked about the stereotypes that foreigners/French have for American girls. I only thought there was one major one. As it turns out my friend was able to name several and the guys mostly agreed. We are slutty/easy, loud, we talk slowly (???), we are animated in our talking and smile a lot (again ???). This was all quite enlightening. So before this even happened, a guy wearing an Arizona State sweat shirt rolled in. My friend is from Arizona so we agreed she would go say hello.  She did and came back and decided he was a douche. The way he introduced himself was apparently a no go for her. He said he was from New York but living in Boston and went to Arizona State for 8 years. 8 years. It takes 4 years to get through college. Me and my friend would allow for 5 since we both went for 5. Maybe even six, shit happens; but 8 YEARS?!!! FOR A BACHELORS DEGREE?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!! At FSU they now charge you extra if you don’tyou’re your shit together and get a degree or leave. Anyway, throughout the night this gentlemen and I seemed to meet in the bathroom several times. The bathroom in this place consists of a small room, with a small stall and then a bunch of urinals. It’s a free for all and not a wait outside situation. Guys and gals share. Well, upon my first meeting with this guy in the bathroom I found out he had just arrived in Paris that morning…for…guess…HIS HONEYMOON!!!!! He was in Paris…PARIS…one of the most romantic places ever, on the FIRST night of his honeymoon, in a bar, alone, watching a football game. Um. No. Just no. So, we judged him all night. Things got interesting then just boring with him. At some point, my Italian (I think) bartender friend came and gave us shots. I don’t know what it was, but it was good. Anyway, the South African guys don’t leave. They keep talking and talking and as the night goes on, they become bigger and bigger assholes. We drink more, they give us shots. Spilling them all over my pants in a very…awkward…place. I also got martini spilt on my shoes and on my friends pants. South African guys have a hard time holding on to their drinks, or so it would seem. Awesome. Well, without going into so much detail, they stayed with us for hours. More hours than either of us wanted. My friend has a boyfriend and I wasn’t looking to go home with any of them, which I suspect was their intention based on all the drinks and shots they bought us. Turns out, they are sexist assholes. I don’t know if that was the booze, seeing as how they got worse throughout the night. All I know is on the like 30 minute walk we had home at 4am, we had PLENTY to talk about. Sadly for us, once the South Africans left, it wasn’t over. Some wonderful, lovely guy just sat down next to us. He had a British accent, a very heavy British accent but tried to tell us he was from New York. Whatever. He was literally such an asshole that we both looked at each other, stood up, said peace and left. It was 4 am anyway, and it was time to get the hell out of that place. What an exhausting night. I don’t know if the highlight or low light of the night was the bartender actively making fun of us for the guys not leaving us alone. He said it was nice and they were trying so hard. Apparently, in France if after 3-4 hours a girl doesn’t come on to you or doesn’t say she wants to come home with you it means stick around. I am sure there are so, so many more details I could include but it wouldn’t be fair to the men who made some attempt on their evening and left alone or to myself for having to relive it in excruciating detail.

Up next, I think I am going to go to the Louvre this weekend. We will see. Next weekend my family is out of town and the following weekend I think my friend and I are going to stay in Paris and celebrate Thanksgiving together by seeing the Hunger Games and probably drinking. Oh! Walking home at 4am in the streets of Paris is sketchy, to say the least. Some very strange people are around and try to get you to give them money and follow you. They also apparently pick out the foreigners…ie two small white girls speaking English. If you go to or are in Paris, just be aware of this. Don’t walk around late alone. I don’t necessarily know the crime rates and things but it is kind of well known that these things happen.

I am getting really excited for my mom coming at Christmas. We have also been finalizing our plans for New Years in London. I wanted Amsterdam, but I think London was maybe more ma’s tempo. I’ll still make it to Amsterdam sometime. It’s just a 3 hour train ride away. One of the South African guys, the most attractive and best accented…(?!)…one said Prague is a place we HAVE to go. So, adding that to the list. Until next time? Oh! Attached are some pics I took of our walk around Paris Sunday. Some are just of Notre Dame again, some of a Love Lock Bridge. Technically there is only one Love Lock Bridge, the original, which is not this picture, but they are sprouting up all around Paris. Au Revoir. 

Title Quote: Marc Jacobs-pinterest 

Streets

Notre Dame

Cool scooter/motorcycle?

Hotel de Ville (one of my favorite buildings in Paris)

Streets

Love Lock Bridge

Notre Dame

Weird modern building

Quidditch in France!

If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane

I am currently sitting in front of Notre Dame. Other than being away from friends, family and food (the three F's, apparently) it never really hits me that I'm living in a foreign country. Even more, it’s surreal to think I'm seeing some of the most famous and beautiful sites in existence. Even literally sitting right here I can't comprehend it. Not only that but I can't believe I came here alone. Like holy shit. I'm in a place where I can't speak the language. I don't totally understand the metro and train systems which are so fast paced and confusing. I don't even have a ticket to get home...so we will see how that plays out later. I will walk around Notre Dame because it's massive. I will then go in search of one of many American bars which are supposed to be in this area. Probably drink, eat then head home. I have some things I actually need to do today.

So I can check getting lost in Paris off my bucket list…JK, it was never freaking on there! But I totally did get lost in the Latin Quarter looking for WOS Bar. After wondering the streets for about an hour and a half I stopped at Starbucks, got a vanilla latte and used their internet. I still had some trouble after that. I figured that I might as well get lost in a place cause how hard cause it be to find a bar that is just off a main stretch of street. Yea, apparently I was far too confident. The streets in France are so different from home and in Paris it is ten times worse. I mean good lord. I finally found the bar. They were playing European football…or soccer as us Americans call it. It was a small bar that I am totally in love with. It appeals to my old soul. They carry so many different liquors and a pretty good selection of beer and cider, and not just French stuff. The bartender was Italian and so nice and helpful. I just told him to make me something good and I ended up with a ginger Moscow mule which was amazing…and four drinks later…I had to attempt to find my way home. I stayed for like the entire soccer game and the bar become more crowded. Quite a few British people were there, which made sense since two British teams were playing. It is interesting to hear all the different accents from all over Europe. The owner of the bar is a huge packers fan. There was tons of packers signs and things all over. As it turns out I love the Latin Quarter. It is younger crowd because there are several schools in the area and it’s just beautiful. Kind of what you would think of when you think Paris. All the pictures in this post are from my time there. There are pics of Notre Dame and the Pantheon and just some streets. I was talking to my dad this morning and I was explaining how no matter what I take pictures of and how it seems, it does not compare to actually being here and seeing it all in person.

I have to say, I am quite proud of myself for conquering the train and metro in France. It is not the easiest thing to navigate, specially after a few ginger Moscow mules...if you catch my drift. I did not really expect the military presence at the train station however. It is a smidgen intimidating to be in another country and watch their military move really slowly throughout a busy train station holding really large weapons. 

Something that I find really interesting is that the French seem to be tourists in Paris as well. There are also a lot of French people in Paris taking pictures and looking at maps, pretty much exactly what I looked like slash try to avoid looking like. I mean I get that not everyone lives in Paris and it’s a large country but I really find it interesting.

I wanted to go to H&M yesterday but because it was Sunday everything was closed. Which sucks. Even a lot of restaurants. A lot of places in France have weird hours, close early random nights. It’s strange. Doctors have strange hours too. Last week I went to the doctor at 7pm at night. Doctors are open late, available on weekends and even come to your house. Going to the doctor was an experience. It is nothing like home. Just a doctor in an office. No receptionist, no frills. Her desk was literally in the exam room…all just one big room. I am crossing my fingers I don’t have to do the doctor again.

This past week I worked full time, 50 hours, 10 hour days with two kids. Exhausting. Totally exhausting. We went to the movies, to an indoor play place, McDonalds twice and we did tons of crafts. It was fun but a lot. I have to work again full time like this but not until April. I have two weeks off at Christmas, and my mom is coming!!! Six weeks after that, another two week vacation which one of my friends is coming to visit!! And the last two week vacation before I leave France, one week will be traveling and working for the family and then another full time week of work.

School starts again for me this week as well. So not looking forward to that. The classes are not the most helpful and since I never have to actually speak French, my skills are so far behind. I am also taking an online class, introduction to international law. I figured I have plenty of free time, I might as well start making use of it in a positive way. I am so sure, however, that I will hate this decision. I always think how much I want to go back to school, then I do, and I want to hang myself. It is exhausting and too much.

I am also making another kinda cool and exciting decision. I will put it on my social media when it happens. I still have to get some deats worked out. So since I didn't post this before I put my news on social media...I shall now discuss it. I am running a half marathon in Paris, France! I am shitting my pants and I am so unbelievably excited. I never thought I would do this. I made the decision over the last few days and I needed to confirm something and I registered this afternoon. I don't know how I will do, but I know ill finish and I will be so proud of myself. I've said before I have a love/hate relationship with running. I love the feel after and I love what it does to my body but I totally hate it, all of it. This is an exciting decision and I have the support of my family and friends. And lets just be honest, is there a better place to run your first ever half marathon than Paris effing France?! I think not. Also, I get a medal and a shirt...and that in and of it's self is worth it. It is also nice to know I have the support of my family here. I talked to my "mom" about it and she got really excited and said...oh we will be there!! I wish my family and friends from home could be here, but, this is a great alternative. I start training, or finally running again next Monday after I finish all my magic knee drugs. Next weekend I will be staying in Paris which means I will be at my new favorite bar watching college football!!! (although I was able to find a place to stream it on my computer live…live meaning 2, 3, 4 in the morning over in these parts) Should be interesting, and fun and I am sure I will have plenty to write about. I still need to post some recipes and I will asap I promise. I miss everyone and I hope my friends and family realize that.

Ps, something that I keep forgetting to write about...my little guy here, E, refuses to call me Sarah, or perhaps can't, I am not actually sure. Instead, he calls me wash. Pronounced rash, with a w. We cannot figure this out, but he is clearly calling me this. Ps again I might have already written about this, so my bad. Hear this story again, it is such a good one...later!

WOS Bar

Also! Here is the video I used to make the scarf in my last post...everyone should try it. Literally takes like 30 minutes once you figure it out. 
Arm Knitting

Unexpected things that happen when you run your first half marathon

Title Quote: Jimmy Buffet 

Notre Dame

View in front of Notre Dame

Street

Pantheon

College/Street

Pantheon