Oh Happy Day!!

Greetings from my warm and cozy room! Thought I'd do a little update before I head off to Amsterdam this weekend and Spring Break next!
If you were to ask me how I was doing right now, I'd have to say sore. Sore from smiling so wide, laughing so hard, and dancing throughout the streets so much.
Each and every single day becomes better than the previous and I literally could not imagine being anywhere in the whole entire world besides this exact chair that I am sitting in right now.
To give y'all a little update on my snowy week, I'll start with a fantastic concert that a group of about 15 of us went to weekend before last. It was so spur of the moment (I'm talking we decided to go at dinner and were there within the hour), but it was such a blast! Not to mention I'm pretty sure I fell in love. Ok well maybe not love but my like is really big! All I'm gonna say about that is that he's from Switzerland, comes to Paris often to visit his best friend who lives here, and loves to Skype me when I need a break from homework. Don't want to get too excited about it just yet so more to come if and when we progress! We're planning another trip for him to come back at the moment so we'll see!
On another note, I do have a new 2 year old boyfriend. His name is Leo, he's perfect, and I'm teaching him English. My first day was Valentine's Day so I made him a yummy carrot puree dinner which he so thoughtfully flung all over me. We then proceeded to have a puppet show in franglais, which mostly involved him hitting me in the head with a wooden train. Such a doll. It was my trial day and it seems like I got the job but fingers crossed that he loves me and just has a funny way of showing it!

This Friday was my good friend Sofia's 23rd birthday. We started the evening with going to a spanish restaurant, moved back to her apartment for a party and cake, and dance until the sun came up at a fantastic club on Rivoli. She has loads of french and spanish friends whom all joined us so it was quite a cultural evening! Not to mention her friend is in town for two weeks to model in Paris fashion week so we had quite the attention on us, or on her. Either way it was a fabulous evening with lots of new friends!

This past weekend my dear friend Charlie was in town from London. I'm sure you all remember Charlie as one half of xpose pr before her visa expired. It put the biggest smile on my face to see her!  I introduced two of my friends to her and her friends which ended up being such a blast! Everyone hit it off so well, as you can imagine with 4 brits, two gays, and two girls from California.

We spent the day being cultural at the Pompidou center on Sunday and met back up with her and her friends at the rooftop bar there, which I have been dying to go to since my very first trip to Paris. I literally loved it so much that I've been back twice since. Did I mention that Jared and I both showed up in the same exact outfit, with literally the same exact red pants from H&M on? He's 6'5 and I'm 5'3. If you can imagine. We just decided to go with it and call it an early VDay outfit! Tres chic. 

Valentine's evening was spent with my close friends Lily, Peter, Charles and Scott. The boys were so sweet and gave us "not discounted" chocolates as a valentines gift. We then walked over to the Eiffel Tower from the boys' house and watched it light up for a few hours from across the river at the Trocadero. Hate to admit we got a little rowdy and climbed on the fountain, but it makes for a fabulous photo!! We also got hot wine, chocolate gauffres, and went on the merry go round about ten times. I'd have to say its been my favorite valentines ever, even though it was my second one spent under the Eiffel Tower! (apologies for the horrible photo quality and scary red eyes but gotta make do with what I have for now!)

The weather has warmed up immensely in the last few days so I've been enjoying my time outdoors a lot. Last week a few friends and I spent the afternoon at Shakespeare & Co going through all of the old books and finding love letters stashed in between the yellowing pages. Here's a little photo of the "courtyard" at shakespeare in which people add their little toys to for some character. 

After our treasure hunting, we headed to the Louvre to take advantage of the late Wednesday closing. 

I think thats about all that has been eventful in the past few weeks. I'm so excited for this weekend seeing as it's my first trip out of Paris this semester! Cant wait to travel with new friends and meet even more new friends once I get there. Next week for spring break I will do Berlin with Jared, Barcelona with Jared and a few friends coincidentally from OC who go to AUP, and then meet Chantal in Venice before heading back to Paris. Still thinking about squeezing a trip to Zurich in because it's so cheap but not sure if I'm ready for that! 

Until next time!

xo

From Paris, With Love

Bisous! 

xoxo

A couple photos

Taking a little break from an essay I'm writing to post some photos! Headed to the school bar tonight to watch the Super Bowl which I'm pretty excited about. I have so many more pictures to share once I receive my cord from mama at home but here are just a few!

Some fun street art I've seen over the last week!

It's snowing today! Woke up at my friends house to see this view out of her window. Its hard to hate the snow when this is the result.

My friends birthday cake at her 18th bday fete. I showed up expecting nothing fancy but was greeted with a doorman, elevator tenant, two djs, numerous bartenders, and catering from one of the nicest restaurants in the city. Oh and a rented out movie theater the next day to pre screen her fathers film before he shows it at Cannes this season. Not to mention it was in his penthouse on the corner of Champs-Elysees and George V. Arguably her balcony has a better view than the Eiffel Tower. Yeah she hates her life. 

Back to school party with new friends! Sitting on a hammock over a swimming pool. It was definitely quite a fun night!

Chinese New Year on my street last weekend, seeing as I live in Chinatown. So cold but so fun!

Standard Eiffel Tower pic, walking home from school. 

Champagne day trip. Too cold to take many pics but I do have a few to share.

My walking tour/architecture class last wednesday at Notre Dame as well as the crypte archeologique (which is the original city, lutecia, under the notre dame. still quite preserved with the roman walls and baths.) Coldest day of the month so far so it was a struggle to pay attention but we did get to sit in on mass inside the Notre Dame which was exciting!

A church next to one of my campus locations. It makes me giggle every time I walk by this graffiti. 

A little square in Montmartre has this man stuck in the wall. There is a very long tale behind the reasoning which I thought was extremely interesting. Cliff notes is that he can walk through walls, and once he  falls in love he becomes stuck in his lovers wall and can never escape. 

Champagne from Champagne.

Ice skating rink on the Eiffel Tower! My friend Chantal is a professional ice skater so I stole this picture from her because I was in class when she went, but what an exciting experience for her!

One of our private tours in Champagne. I love that he stores his motorcycle with his bottles. 

And finally, a little picture from the Provins trip the first week of school. 

Socrates is calling so I shall dash and finish my paper. Hopefully I'll receive my cord by the end of the week to be able to do a full blog post within the next week or so!
Until next time
xo

A Few Photos

Here are just a few photos I've accumulated over the week!

 This one is from Provins with my two girlfriends Chantal and Melissa. Taken in front of Tour Cesar.

 My favorite fountain, St Michel.

Me, Melissa, Sofia, Jared and Chantal on our champagne boat tour of the city.

 Ah! the Sousterrains of Provins. Underground tunnels below the whole city dating back to medieval times. The walls only got smaller from here!

Ice skating at Hotel de Ville. Haven't gone yet but have enjoyed watching with a gaufres (chocolate waffle) or two!

Update

So I've got a bit of down time so I thought I'd update y'all on life in Paris!
Had a blast with mom, gma and uncle while they were here but unfortunately didn't have a lot of time to spend with them. I had orientation from saturday to the following sunday so it sort of consumed me but a few meals here and there as well as some sightseeing was squeezed in. We had a fabulous day at the Opera Garnier (pics to come), a nightmare shopping adventure at Bazar Hotel De Ville (which mom would probably refute), and a trip to the Madeleine.
They came and went way too quickly but luckily I have been plenty busy to not be missing them too much (yet!!).
The day before school started, Sunday, I took a day trip to Provins, not to be confused with Provence, which is on the border of Champagne and Il-de-france. (again, pictures to come). It was a great little medieval town but far too cold for me to not complain 85% of the time. Typical.
I am very excited about my classes and am even more excited to have declared a major that I actually like! I have decided on Urban studies, which is a branch of the history dept and shares core classes with the art history majors. My advising professor is great and encouraged me to take his summer school class in Switzerland, which I am highly considering. He also suggested a semester at AUPs sister school, the Eugene Lang new school in NYC, which again, am highly considering.
As far as classes, I have a Paris architecture class which I already love. My teacher is so passionate and has so many fabulous pictures from his travels that it makes 2 class periods at 4 hours each less monotonous. In this class, we have one lecture period and one walking period. As to say that one class is on campus and the other is a walking tour of the city. So looking forward to this!
Another class I enjoy is my modern city class. My professor is a kiwi from the lang school in ny and the class size is 5 girls including myself. I already really like it even though we have only met once this week.
My third class is philosophy in the city, taught by a brit who dangerously resembles Jude Law. Ive heard horror stories about this class but am keeping an open mind!
And lastly of course is my french class. Nothing to say about it yet.
I have been so lucky to meet such great kids so far. In each class I probably have about 6 different nationalities, and my largest class is of 20 so that goes to say. The majority of my friends are just visiting from san francisco but I can tell I will keep in touch with them for years to come. I have oddly met a few kids whom i have friends in common with/ are from orange county. My best girlfriend so far is this gorgeous girl from Madrid who is the sweetest you can imagine and not to mention has an insane wardrobe and has been attending fashion week. Brat.  We are already talking about moving in together next semester in the 6eme or 4eme which I could not be more excited about!
I signed up for a study trip to Champagne for the weekend of the 27th which I am looking forward to and am planning a trip to Prague, Morocco and Amsterdam for the time being.
I am so loving life and wish I could share some photos. This time around is so much different than last time and I cannot wait to see where this semester takes me. I feel like I am going to be so much more open minded and learn so much from these great peers of mine who seem years beyond their age. This school has so far been the perfect choice for me and I finally don't feel like I am missing out on anything in life because there are so many like minded people here that truly make me believe this is my home for at least the next two years.
Until next time
the new and improved CRose
xo

Bonjour!

So I FINALLY got my internet set up this morning, which means I can use my computer for more that 2 seconds a day, which is so exciting. This morning I have a double period Paris Architecture lecture so I am preparing myself to listen to my teacher (whom I saw nursing a beer or two at our school bar last night for open mic night) talk for 175 minutes about how amazing columns are. Sigh.
On a broader note, I returned from a day trip to Provins on Sunday and have lots of pictures to share, but realized I brought the wrong chord to plug in to my computer. Sigh again. Its on my list of things to do this week so I should be uploading them as soon as I get that sorted.
I have so much to catch you all up on but have to run off to class now so expect lots of posts in the near future!!!
Until next time
xo
PS here is a picture of mom and I at the Jardin du Luxembourg and a picture of my apartment!

I'm Back!

I am officially back in the city I love. After about a hundred goodbyes, packing and repacking my suitcase twice, a going away party that I am still feeling the wrath of, and the smelliest flight you can imagine, I am relaxing in a Parisian apartment munching on brie and a baguette. I spent the whole day today sleeping, and am about to pack up what I need for my first day of orientation tomorrow. I will be staying in temporary housing until January 16th while I do my testing and choose my classes etc. My schedule is 12 hours a day every day until then so I shall get back in to the blogging swing of things in a few weeks! Looking forward to spending the little free time I have with Mom, Gma, and uncle while I can!

And so it begins!

Until next time

xo