i'm so bad at this -- mostly because i keep a personal journal that i write in like 3 times a day. but i will try harder, even if it's a little bit.

Lately, I've been busy, but also not at all. My sister's visit was wonderful for the most part. Everything was perfect until Venice when Josie and I got really sick with some flu/bug and ended up spending the rest of our time in Italy as well as when we got back to Paris in bed. We did get to experience a bit of Venice and Josie got to experience about 5 days of Paris before everything so it wasn't terrible but it was still a bit of a disappointment. We did a lot of sightseeing, a lot of shopping, a lot of eating, and a lot of aimlessly walking around. She got to see first hand how obnoxious French boys can be when two of them grabbed her face and made out with it at the club we went to Saturday night -- twice i had to rescue that poor little girl as she timidly squealed for help. All in all though, I was content just having her by my side all week. Her leaving made my time left here seem long and empty for a few days but I got back into the groove of things pretty quickly.

It has literally turned completely from winter to spring here in the past week and a half. It's completely gorgeous. Whenever I am in my room, I leave my windows wide open. It's perfect - they open up among freshly budding tree branches and the smell of summertime. Seriously though, it's beginning to have that summertime smell and it makes me ache for bonfires with friends and porch beers. But really, I've been in the summertime mindset since January. Last night while skyping my friend, I referred to something that happened last September as "last spring". This is like one long vacation. Even school for the most part doesn't feel like school to me. Which is why midterms has come as sort of a shock for all of us here in Paris. We're like "Wait, we actually have to take exams and write papers? WHAT IS THIS?"
Next fall when I go back to school, it's going to be a huge slap in the face. I'm worried that I'll have a hard time adjusting. I can barely remember what it feels like to be stressed/overwhelmed over school work. Monday was my first "exam" and my teacher's directions were something like this: "Okay, just sit down. You're going to have one question. You can take it in any direction you want. It can be answered very simply or not at all. Just write whatever you want - I don't care if it's a sentence or two pages. You can cheat if you want but you probably don't need too. Just don't use your notes. Actually, you know what, I don't want to be a stuffy teacher - use your notes if you want. When you're done writing, you can leave." Yep. That's what it's been like for me here. Not all teachers are as laid back as he is but they definitely give us a little bit of a break seeing that we're studying in Europe. It's so hard to concentrate on school - last night for example, a quick dinner with friends turned into walking around for awhile, getting gelato and judging each boy that walked past us, and then long conversations over several glasses of wine at the outdoor patio of a cafe. We could've stayed out all night, just taking in the spring air and people watching while musicians such as Bob Dylan, Harry Nilsson, and Elton John played on a tape deck behind the bar.

Besides that, I've spent a majority of my time lately reading in the parks and walking around. My favorite spot is finding a shady area to sit in the Tuilleries or by the Seine -- both are incredibly beautiful and within a ten minute walk from my apartment. I can't spend enough time outside now that the weather has warmed up a bit.

Anyway, here's to hoping the rest of midterms week goes smoothly for me -- and that i can get in a little bit of studying this morning before I have to go to class. I'm going to Loire valley this weekend to visit some castles and taste some wine ! Really excited for another road trip along the French countryside and a change of scenery for the weekend. As usual, feeling so lucky and full of life.

<3 <3 <3

sitting in my bed after a wonderful week full of sleep and green foods. this was one of those weeks i was craving a cleanse and i feel so great! i cut out caffeine and overloaded with fish and veggies and fruit and water which in turn allowed for the best nights of sleep that i've had in a long time.

--but this past weekend is what i really wanted to write about because it was probably the best weekend i've had here yet. i went with a group of people from my program to normandy. after a bit of a stressful week, i woke up early saturday morning and enjoyed every moment of the bus ride along the northern country side. we started the trip off watching a silent, black and white film at the dday museum - actual footage of the preparation/attack in normandy. it was mind-blowing. i dont think i blinked my eyes throughout the entire film. i've always been fascinated by world world II so the entire day felt like a nostalgic daze to me. visiting the cemetery, which seemed infinite, and then omaha beach. they were equally as beautiful as they were heartbreaking and touching -- to imagine what had happened on these grounds which are now so completely peaceful and picturesque. our last visit of the day was pont du roc - the actual point of attack now composed of large bomb craters and chamber-like, destructed stone hideaways all on a cliff overlooking the sea - unbelievable. i was overcome by so many flashbacks of my childhood - running around the woods with josie, anna, and david playing one of our favorite games "run away from the nazi's" in which we would quite literally pretend to be little jewish children trying to escape nazi soldiers (yes - that's how obsessed we were). i imagined that this would've been our dream place to come as children to play make-believe games, how we could've spent hours and hours running from underground cave to crater, making up a new game in each spot.

that night we stayed in saint molo - my new favorite place. it's an old pirate town on the coast surrounded by ancient stone walls and eery, fog-covered islands. we rolled in all a bit tipsy from playing card games with cheap, boxed white wine on bus on the way there. a group of us went out and ordered the dish the area is most well-known for: mussels & frites: delicious. afterwards, some of us branched off with a few bottles of red wine and apple cider and found a tall rock on the beach where we could sit and enjoy the view. the night was blissful -- the moon sat directly above us with a large halo around it. and after only minutes of being on the beach at nighttime, i realized something that filled me with glee: this was the same beach that one of my favorite local native's videos was filmed on! i had watched this video on repeat during summer '10 (when i was utterly obsessed with them) and now, here on was, dancing on that very sand. [[http://vimeo.com/9645436]]<---here's the link to the video :)

in the morning, we had a bit of time to walk the wall around the town and take some photos. we sauntered out to the island and admired the hazy view from the top. i was on such a high during my visit here - completely in awh. my euphoria continued as we made our last stop of the weekend at mount saint michel -- an intensely beautiful monastery which has the appearance of an island surrounded by clear waters but was originally built amongst forest. yet, another unbelievably gorgeous place. the monastery was never-ending with large windows bearing incredible views of the vast lands around it.

the long ride home was a bit rough, most of us were either hungover or motion sick or both -- but good conversations were still had. in general, there were lots of wonderful talks and laughs throughout

the trip. i got to hang out and get to know many people i hadn't really had the chance to yet which was   really great. i'm really excited to continue many of those friendships in paris. in general, the weekend was exactly what i needed in every way - a breath of fresh air, the country side, the people, it was perfect. 

tomorrow i will wake up early to greet my little sister at the airport. praying that she has peace on this long night of travel and that she gets here safely. as for me, i'm hoping i can actually get some sleep tonight despite my excitement for the upcoming week.

<3 <3 <3

the most magical moments here lately have been while taking long walks, usually (and preferably) on my own. whether it be early in the morning, mid-afternoon, or late at night - i've always really looked forward to clearing my mind and organizing my thoughts by aimlessly walking and admiring my surroundings. my go-to route in iowa city includes a detour through the ped mall to people watch, down along the river where i cross every bridge i see, and over to city park where i usually end up sitting in the shakespearean theatre for awhile before heading back. in dubuque, i love the routes through the forest of swiss valley, heritage trail lined with tall trees, and sometimes just simply along the gravel roads near my house.
but, in paris, it's another world. whenever i feel out of it, not myself in someway, or just simply nostalgic, i force myself to get up and take a walk which, naturally, always turns into hours and hours of getting lost along the seine and exploring which ever old street has the most provocative stone passageway or the most colorful storefront. this city seems so small sometimes, everything seems to be within eye-sight. 2 minutes from my apartment, there is a beautiful view of the sacre coeur in the distance and a view of the eiffel tower from the other side. if i keep walking i run into the tuileries gardens, the louvre, and the notre dame. but in general, everywhere i look there is some kind of artful masterpiece, beautiful garden, or mind-blowing cathedral.
walks of solitude, to me, really seem to be a healer of all wounds - for anything from a hangover to homesickness. i come back to myself when i am able to really lose myself in the beauty that surrounds me.

im going to normandy this weekend with some people from my program - really looking forward to it. but even more than that, i am unable to express how excited i am about my little sister coming to visit me in less then 2 weeks! when i think about it, the only thing that could make this experience better would be to share it with a loved one from home. i am so antsy to take her to my favorite walking spots and to share a bottle of wine with her in a local cafe, to dance the night away together in a foreign country. we will spend the last weekend of her visit in venice, italy where i hope to indulge in the best pizza in the world and get hit on by the best flirts in the world. plane ticket and hostel were booked last night - couldn't be more stoked!

writing has saved my soul here. studying abroad can be almost equally as intense and overwhelming as it can be beautiful and full of wonder and new-ness.

many sleepless nights
spent tonight listening to mix tapes and looking at fashion blogs

here are a couple of my favorites:
http://nzca-lines.com/#2178243/Mixtapes
http://ftbh.blogspot.com/

Settling into my life in Paris. This weekend was especially wonderful for me - a bit more relaxed maybe than many of my weekends here have been so far, but nonetheless, wonderful. I've been trying to surround myself with things I love, things that make me feel more at home while also stepping out of the box and trying to expand my horizons. Thursday night, I ventured to a less-seen area of the city to see a couple local Parisian bands play in the cave-like basement of a cafe. The musicians were experimental and played with large smiles on their faces. For the first time since I've been here, I felt like I had found a spot that was familiar to me - a crowded basement of captivated, music lovers, clear plastic cups filled with beer, and a magical late-night energy. 

The next day, a couple new friends and I went in search of a dance studio and found a part of the city which held the jackpot of thrift stores! Every street corner we passed, another one seemed to pop up and the clothes seemed to be getting cheaper and more beautiful by the minute. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that my hands literally shook as I ran my hands over gorgeous 30 euro fur coats and velvet skirts. After a couple hours of hopping from store to store, we stumbled upon a large building which blasted loud house music over large speakers. We walked into a large open room filled with young fashion designers and artists showing their latest work. A group of Dj's bobbed their head in the corner while beautiful, young people walked around wearing beautiful, unique clothes. It was places like this that made me want to go to Paris in the first place. My friend and I stayed all afternoon and then came back later that night to see a band play. I spent more money then I probably should have but tried not to feel guilty about it on account of I was supporting young artists/designers. 

Last night, I took my first dance class in a long time. I have no words to describe the way I feel physically and mentally when I dance. I took a hip-hop class in that same part of town that held the thrift stores and designer show (new favorite area in the city obviously). It was perfect. The minute the music started and we began to warm up, I felt as if I had never stopped. I'm beginning to realize how important it is for me to balance my life out with a physical activity that I am passionate about. Dance needs to be something that I continuously pursue in my life. 

Today was laid back. I went with my roommate this morning to see the famously beautiful view of Paris from the Sacre Couer  and it was just as wonderful as I had always imagined it would be. Since then, I've spent most of my Sunday afternoon in my bed - reading, doing French homework, watching re-runs of Sex and the City, napping, and skyping with my family. A perfect ending to a perfect weekend. 

The universe continues to send me the most amazing opportunities, lessons, and adventures - I am so thankful. xo

snuck some photos of my homestay - it's so beautiful and french with large golden-framed mirrors and oil paintings that cover the wall (which reminds me of my grandparent's home, Derby Grange). the best part is that i have my own room with a tiny bathroom attached. the couple we live with are older and seem like such kind souls - i already feel so comfortable. but they don't speak a lot of english so it's a bit hard to communicate sometimes. they have a granddaughter who is also living with us. she is our age and speaks english well so if we really need to communicate something she can translate. i'm excited to improve on my french and be able to get to know them better on my own though!
we are in the 7th district right between the notre dame and the eiffel tower - doesn't get any better than that. we are neighbors with the most beautiful cathedral and only a couple blocks away from a large, beautiful park which i plan to spend lots of time at once it warms up a bit. so far everything has been a bit overwhelming - at this point, i'm physically and mentally exhausted and praying that i won't get sick so that i can fully enjoy the busy week of activities ahead.

bonsoir -- xo

stood merely inches from this work of art by marc chagall - an exhilarating experience which i will probably never  forget. a rush of flashbacks came over me as i remembered sitting in my childhood bedroom flipping through a book of chagall's work, fascinated by the colors and curvy images. also, enjoyed the work of giacometti (my cat's namesake) as well as many more incredible art that made my eyes water with excitement at the modern art museum in Saint Paul de Vence - which made it on the already huge list of most beautiful places i've ever seen. the small village sits on top of a mountain, is surrounded by a massive stone wall which used to serve as protection against invaders, and is made up of the most tiny art galleries and bakeries you can imagine - all which have a window showing off the beautiful mountain sides and gardens that surround the town.