rockstar weekends and the perfect flat: week two.

27 weeks left...

daily updates:

14 january. we can't remember what we did but it was probably just this.

or maybe this.

15 january. my programme took us out to a musical, called "une americaine à paris". it had mostly american songs, but french dialogue. it was really cute and enjoyable, which was its aim. after the play, a friend of ours was meeting up with some frenchies. we tagged along, and went to a bar. everyone was french! they all spoke english, but we refused to speak anything but french! it was great practice, in a comfortable environment. i had a lot of fun, and actually enjoyed speaking.

16 january. katy and i moved out of the housing, and into our place. we spent the day unpacking, and at night we went out around our neighborhood and splurged on a way too expensive dinner.

17 january. posted about here. this was the day we realized our living situation was not going to work out...

18 january. depressed and downtrodden, we began the search for housing yet again. we spent all day in class, doing homework, and scouring the internet for new places.

19 january. last week, we visited a house that was looking for two international students to share a room. it was like "l'auberge espanol", lots of international people living in just a few rooms. we had liked it, but the move-in date was too late, so we moved in with the cat lady instead. upon realizing that would never work, we called them back, they offered us the place, and we went to see it again.

upon arrival, we were able to meet the rest of the flatmates. it was great, but the room was small, the kitchen almost nonexistant, the rent was 540 euro, and they wanted 1000 euro deposit each, plus a nonrefundable 225 euro agency fee. they wanted us to move in, sign the lease, and pay the rent within a couple of days. we decided we would tell them the next night, since we were desperate but unsure.

20 january.

i had a job interview, i arrived forty minutes early. my boss arrived an hour late. but i got the job! for 26 hours a month, i will be teaching english to french computer nerds. i start in february. it will be a great way to get some extra cash, and a resume builder. when i graduate, i want to take a couple of years off and teach english in foreign countries. this will be great practice!

after my interview, katy, lauren, and i went to a small artsy bar in the 11th arrondissement. free concert with cheap pints! there were three french indie bands, who played mostly english songs. but the banter between songs was french and i only struggled slightly to keep up! regretfully, i never caught their names. that night, katy got a boyfriend! [apparently, one of many to come!] he's a jewish new yorker who majors in philosophy. he's been here for a few months, so he's down to show us around!

21 january.

for the past two weeks, our friend tara has been relentlessly searching for the perfect apartment. she was in fact our inspiration for getting out of mme taeib's, not taking the room in the flat share with the international students, and continuing our search. she found the perfect place, and was able to share some of the places she had been looking at. she told us of a small one bedroom flat in the 14th, which was remodeled and brand new, even the oven was still in its wrapper.

we scheduled a visit and went to see it. when we walked out of the metro, it was like walking into turn of the century paris. the streets were cobbled, one-way, and narrow. the street was lined with shop fronts, stalls and produce markets. it was comfortable, relaxed, and uncrowded. a breath of fresh air, as we've been living in constant traffic and construction. in other words, the neighborhood was perfect.

we found the flat, entered the code, walked up the three flights of stairs, knocked on the door, and fell instantly in love. the flat was in disarray, the oven was in the living room, and tools were scattered all over the floor. but it was beautiful. the door opens into a small entryway, off of which is the living room, bedroom and bathroom. the bathroom has a large shower [complete with bench and brand new showerhead] to the right of the bathroom is the living room and kitchen. the walls were actually white, instead of that eggshell color i hate so much. the floor was hard wood, and showed the effects of years of wear. there is a working fireplace, and a mantel. the kitchen is floored with charmingly old and chipped tile. but the rest of it is brand new. there are wooden countertops, new still-plastic-wrapped cabinets, and a large window over the sink. the oven is really interesting, the bottom half of it is a dishwasher! the kitchen even comes with an old radio, bought decades ago, that has traveled with the landlord from country to country.

the bedroom is small and has two twin beds, which hadnt been put together. there are three closests, and one floor-to-ceiling window. there are also about ten different electrical outlets, which is a huge plus! in the spring, we'll be able to have flower boxes and plants on our romeo and juliet balcony.

the appartement is completely furnished. there are brand new mattresses and bedding. the kitchen comes with brand new pots and pans. the landlord has even bought photographs to put up on the walls for us. everything was bought from ikea, so it is all fashionable and light.

 

the flat is small, but perfect for us. we'll be able to host couch surfers! if you want to come stay with us, let me know!! there is an open invitation!

i am so glad we decided to find the perfect place! it really worked out!! as soon as we walked in, i couldnt stop smiling. i still havent stopped. i am finally happy to be in paris.

22 january.

katy and i decided to go out, since we were feeling so good. a friend of ours was having a party in his flat [which is in the first, by the eiffel tower. he pays 1500 euro a month, to share a place.] we bought razors, cause we hadnt shaved since arrival in france. this is what the tub looked like after both of us removed our hair. just thought i would share!! [and yeah. it took three razors to get the job done.]

after we got ready, we went to laurens appartement in the latin quater. she lives in a tiny studio with a french man. her bedroom is literally her bed and a curtain. but her place is great, and fun to drink in! after laurens, we went to dylan's. his party was huge! he had multiple bottles of jameson, which i love. the night was full of french speaking and dancing. it ended at three, when his neighbors came and compained for the third time. we left in a huge group, and no one could figure out how to get home. we wandered around for a few minutes, before we split off from the confusion of the group. another boy from our programme offered to get a taxi and head back to his place. he let us stay there, in his loft appartment in the 3rd. he pays 1000 euro a month for his tiny place!! katy, lauren and i claimed his bed. he was left to fend for himself.

23 january.

so much happened in this day that, for the purpose of clarity, it has to be broken down into two parts!

day: in the morning, we left ben's exhausted and hungover, craving greasy american breakfasts. so we found the perfect place. the name? "american breakfast in paris", seriously. we have decided to make it a tradition. every sunday, we will eat there and rehash our weekend. the waiters speak english, the food tastes like it would at home, and the atmosphere is that of any american diner on the side of the highway. once school starts, and after an exhausting week of speaking only french, it'll be good to have a respite!

after breakfast, we were running very late for our appointment to sign the lease on our flat. we had no time to go home and change, and went straight to the appartement. we signed the lease, and after some last minute preparations [like properly installing the toilet], we move in on tuesday!!

that took longer than we expected, because our landlord thankfully went through every clause of the french lease, to make sure we understood everything. it was so nice of him! but we had to rush to get to the metro to meet dylan and daniel, because our programme had bought us tickets to a travelling gypsy circus! it was amazing, and makes me wish i had an acrobatic talent. this circus had everything; a big tent, contortionists, jugglers, and goats. it was amazing!!

night: after the circus, we went back to dylan's and daniel's for dinner. they made pasta with a mushroom and onion tomato sauce. i did not think i would like it, but i actually did! we hung out there for a while, until danny called me. we had met on the metro last week. hes a year long micefa student and had heard us speaking english. hes a student at saint-denis, where i have decided to go to uni. i exchanged numbers with him, and had promised to call him. a few days ago, micefa took us on a tour of saint-denis, and i thought we should call him. so i gave katy his number and she sent him a text saying, 'hey its katy and anna, we met on the metro, let's hang out!" a few minutes later, dylan came up with this confused grin on his face, and held out his phone, saying "was this from you?" confused as well, i took it and glanced at the screen. it turns out, i had saved dylan's number over danny's! i am very bad with names. as katy likes to say, most people claim they are bad with names, but i actually am.

so we realized we no longer had danny's number, and assumed we would never see him again. but he called that night, and invited us out to drink with him and some of his french friends. we met up with him at his place, which is a very nice studio in the 11th, although it does have too many mirrors. we hung out with him, and were again unable to find our way home. so, as before, katy and i claimed the bed. it turns out, danny is a jazz musician, so we stayed up until four in the morning listening to and talking about jazz. i even called my dad because i couldnt remember the name of an album i desperately wanted to share with him! danny actually spoke to my dad, which was hilarious.

24 january.

we woke up hungover, exhausted, and hungry. we all sat around for three hours just talking, before we could muster the energy to move. luckily, danny, katy, and i all click very well. i think we are going to be very good friends! danny played guitar in the morning, and made up improv songs about the night. he was actually really good! after a while, his hunger grew too much and he took us to a boulangerie. we got pain au chocolat and he showed us this hidden park. the park was absolutely beautiful, with a great view of paris streets and a waterfall!

after the park, katy went on her date! when she got back, we went home for the first time all weekend. we chose then to tell mme taeib we are moving out. as expected, she didnt take it well. before she will give us our deposit back, we have to find people to replace us... which we have no idea how to do.

but it was a great weekend, and i am looking forward to many more to come!

weekly highlights:

dates: 14 - 24 january [days 8 - 18]
sights seen: paris! i'm exploring each arrondissement.

somewhere new: still exploring paris, it's huge!!
something new: i got an internship!
someone new: countless!!

what i miss: being settled.
what i love: the cellphone reception. my portable gets a signal even underground.
what i am not so sure of: my new place, my ability to speak english.