I keep running into little reminders of Texas everywhere I go. Perhaps they are signs that is about time for me to head back where I belong. This summer has been great, just not what I expected. I knew that working abroad would be a different experience from studying abroad, but I never imagined how completely opposite it would be. However, I'm glad that I took this internship opportunity. It took a courage that I did not even know I possessed to leave behind everything familiar at home and fly across the globe to a place where I knew nobody. Had I not taken this chance, I may have always wondered what it was like to live in Germany.
But the truth is, I feel like a fish out of water here. It's cold and rainy most days, and I just miss the summer weather I used to know, the beach, Mexican food, and my family and friends. Three months (or a quarter of a year really) is a long time to be in one place, when that place isn't home. The grass always seems greener on the other side, even though I know that it is much greener here than in the drought-ridden land I said goodbye to in May. And maybe when I'm back in Sealy sweating in the 100+ degree heat or stressed out of my mind at school in Fort Worth, I'll long for the lazy, grey days in Saarbrücken when I had few responsibilities. But right now, I simply desire to feel the warmth of the sun upon my face, to eat a Chilly Willy snow cone, and wear sandals and shorts again. Is that too much to ask for? Twelve days until I'm home. Let the countdown begin...
graffiti along the Saar River
I'm not sure what is so Texan about pepperoni pizza, but they sell this in Ihr Platz
it may be hard to find Dr. P on the East Coast, but it's here in Germany
After our late night of celebrating, Ardena and I slept in past the breakfast hours at the hostel. We decided to go for brunch in a quieter neighborhood of the 17th district. As it turns out, brunch is only offered on Saturday and Sunday, but we happened to find this quaint little bar/coffee shop that was serving a typical French breakfast of bread and jam, alongside fresh-squeezed orange juice and espresso with cinnamon sticks. The place had lots of character with mismatching bar stools and tables, a hodgepodge of art, and interesting local people which gathered there to socialize and sip coffee.
We passed through the Luxembourg Gardens again and walked through the carnival there. Riding on the giant pink swing offered some pretty incredible views of Paris and allowed me to feel like a little kid again. Afterwards, we rented bikes and rode them along the Seine, past the Notre Dame, and to a really eclectic shopping area. It's been at least three years since I've ridden a bike, so trying to avoid people and cars on the busy streets and sidewalks of Paris was a terrifying thrill. But it was so much fun and certainly an adventurous way to see the city.
"I love Paris in the summer, when it sizzles." -Cole Porter
We window shopped for a couple of hours and shared a quiche, salad, and gazpacho for dinner. Afterward we took the metro to La Tour Eiffel in hopes to view the sunset from the top. Unfortunately, the lines were miles long. Rather than spending five hours of our short weekend waiting in line, we plopped down in the grass of the Champ de Mars, people watched, and bartered down a bottle of rosé from 15 euros to five. Back in the Latin Quarter, I satisfied my sweet tooth with a nutella and banana crepe and then we went out for drinks with our new Brazilian friends. Two beers and 16 euros later, I headed back to the hostel to crash for the night on my rickety bunk.
Saturday morning we woke to a rainy day in Paris. After eating breakfast at the hostel, we took the metro to the Marche aux Puces Saint-Ouen, one of the largest markets in Paris. There were lots of antique shops, vintage clothing, and specialty stores. The prices weren't exactly what I would consider flea market prices, but it was still fun to look around at all the pretty little objects that each stall had on display. I could have spent an entire day at this market.
Since the weather was less than ideal, we saved all of our indoor activities for Saturday. We went to the Musée du Louvre, the largest art museum I have ever seen and the most visited one in the world. The museum is in a former palace, which is like a work of art in itself. Inside there are more collections than a person could see in one day. I found the museum to be completely overwhelming and overcrowded.
But we couldn't leave without paying the Mona Lisa a visit. There was probably a hundred people in the room trying to crowd around one small portrait of a smiling woman. I would have had to swim through a sea of tourists and flashing cameras to try and get a closer look at the painting. It wasn't worth it to me. I still do not understand all the hype about this simple portrait. I recognize that Da Vinci was a brilliant man in all domains, and I may sound like a snob for saying it, but I think the Mona Lisa is a tad overrated. There are hundreds of other pieces in the Louvre which arguably deserve equal attention. Exhausted from dodging hordes of people and walking for kilometers, Ardena and I had a picnic of bread, cheese, fruit and cookies on a bench in the same room as the Mona Lisa.
Next we went to the Musée d'Orsay which features art from my favorite Impressionist artists--Renoir, Monet, and Degas. The museum is housed in a gorgeous 19th century railway station with many windows that let in a lot of natural light. The museum layout is smart and categorized by artist, and it was far less busy than the Louvre. I enjoyed being able to examine the art up close and in an unhurried manner.
In the evening we took shelter from the rain by ducking into the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. It was definitely one of the coolest bookshops I ever been in and a great place to find books in English. Afterwards we went to see Woody Allen's latest film, Midnight in Paris. It was fun to count all the places I had seen earlier that day which were featured in the film. The movie captures the exuberance of 1920s Paris and all the artists which made the city their playground. When we left the cinema, it was midnight in Paris and raining. We ended the night with a glass of Sauvignon blanc and live music at a little bar called Moliére.
"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." -Ernest Hemingway
"You can't escape the past in Paris, and yet what's so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn't seem to burden." -Allen Ginsberg
afterwards the tourist wearing the beret in the background, picked up a guitar and started playing with the band
macaroons, pastries, and Kusmi tea :)
Ardena and I had fun imagining what our lives would be like living in one of these dreamy Parisian apartments
It's impossible not to fall for the romance of the city.
breakfast on my last morning in Paris: cafe eclair and an espresso. Yum!
My time in Paris was short but sweet. I now understand why it is the number one travel destination in the world. The city has so much to offer. There were many things I did not have time to see during my weekend visit, but all the more reason to return one day. And hopefully next time I'm in Paris I won't be a broke college student with an unpaid internship, so that I will be able to experience other things like shopping on Champs-Élysées or sampling fine French cuisine instead of feeling like Aladdin for stealing extra pieces of baguette from the hostel breakfast to save for lunch. I had a fabulous time in the City of Light-- experiencing the French culture, catching up with a close friend (check out her adorable blog), making new friends, and enjoying all things Parisian. Until next time...Au revoir Paris!
"Oh, but Paris isn't for changing planes, it's for changing your outlook! For throwing open the windows and letting in... letting in la vie en rose." -Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina (1954)
I arrived in Paris on Thursday morning and met up with Ardena in the Latin Quarter. Reuniting with an old friend is always a good feeling, especially when you haven't seen the person in over six months and when you've spent an entire summer away from everything that is familiar.
We spent the afternoon roaming around the city. After admiring the gorgeous architecture of Notre Dame and the Opera Garnier, we stopped for lunch. And while eating sandwiches in a cafe, we spotted a kid wearing a TCU shirt. I introduced myself and learned that he was an incoming freshman. What a small world. Then we spent some time at the Jardin du Luxembourg where it seemed like half of Paris had come to enjoy the sunshine on their day off of work.
July 14 is Bastille Day, a national holiday in France so there was a lot of free events and festivities around the city. We had to skip out on the military parade at Champs-Élysées, because my train did not arrive until 10:00 am. But we decided to join another million people and watch the fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. Ardena, Gabi (our new friend from Brazil that we met at our hostel), and I pitched in for a baguette, cheese, and wine at the nearest supermarket. Then we picnicked on the Champ de Mars, listening to live music performances and waiting on the sun to set. Finally the sky went dark, the tower began to sparkle, and the fireworks ignited. This year's theme was "From Broadway to Paris," so the fireworks were accompanied by popular Broadway tunes. The French are funny. On one hand, they are booing the announcer when she welcomes the crowd a second time in English; and on the other hand they choose to end the firework display with West Side Story's "America." Nevertheless, there we were-- a Brazilian, Spaniard, and American cheering and celebrating a French holiday with the rest of Paris.
Jardin du Luxembourg
J'adore these vintage cars
Bastille Day celebration at the Eiffel Tower
why this song was chosen for the finale, I'll never understand
As an annual fundraiser and to commemorate the holiday, the fire stations of Paris open their doors in the evening for a fireman's ball. So after the show, Ardena and I headed to the station on rue de Sévigné. The line was out the door and the entrance fee was donation-based. The party took place in two open courtyards of the fire house--one with live music and the other a DJ. We were showered with attention (often unwelcomed) and free beers from many of the men there including two extremely tall British chaps, two short Italian guys, and two bald spectacles-wearing men that looked like they were old enough to be our grandfathers. Needless to say it was a ball for everyone; the locals and tourists, firemen and citizens, young and old partied until the wee hours of the morning. It was a great way to end my first day in Paris and first Bastille Day!
Today I bought a train ticket to Paris and I could not be more excited! I have dreamed of seeing the City of Light since the first time I watched the movie Funny Face or Paris When It Sizzles. I am even more overjoyed because I get to see my good friend Ardena! She has a long weekend off from her internship in France and I'm only two hours away by train, so it is the perfect time to visit. I can't wait to explore all the city has to offer--the landmarks, museums, gardens, markets, shops, and cafes. Not to mention all the festivities for Bastille Day on July 14. Only four more days until I leave!
Tonight I am catching up on some overdue blog posts. I've been busy hanging out with Ludivine and helping her cross things off her to do list during her last week here in Saarbrücken. Today she finished her internship and went back home to Lyon. To celebrate her last day at work, we had a delightful little picnic in the office with the food that her mother brought from France-- salami, pâté, bread, wine, and cheese. It was scrumptious!
I can't believe how quickly two months can fly by and how quickly a friendship can blossom. Ludivine and I started our internships on the same day back in May, and for a long time we were the only two girls in the office. I have no idea what I'm going to do without her during my last month here in Germany. Who will go shoe shopping with me during lunch breaks now?
My heart ached when I had to say farewell this evening, but it was much easier knowing that I was saying "see you soon" rather than goodbye. We've already made plans to meet up again in August and visit Jesus and Diego in Madrid. It should be the perfect way to end my summer abroad, with the friends that I met in the beginning.
"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."
Independence Day is one of my favorite American holidays, and this is the second year in a row that I have celebrated it away from the homeland. But just like last summer in Capri, I found other Americans to share the day with. Youlia, Necco, and I (or "Team America" as we like to call ourselves) invited the rest of our colleagues to celebrate with us in a true American fashion. After work, we all walked to Daniel's garden where we had a BBQ. It is a summer tradition here in the Saarland to cook meat over a special swinging grill called a Schwenker (pictured below). The meal was delicious and afterwards we introduced everyone to an American campfire favorite--s'mores! Only instead of graham crackers & Hershey's squares, we used Butterkekse and Nutella. Yum! We also had sparklers (which took me almost 2 hours to find in town and I was so excited when I finally found them, that I bought over 100!) It was a great celebration and certainly a Fourth of July I won't soon forget. Happy 235th America!
"Oh, it's home again and home again, America for me!
I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea
To the blessed land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars."
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