Just Keep Walking ...

It still amazes me that people in Compiègne don’t drive to do normal things like going to the grocery store, to the hairdressers, to the pharmacy, to church, to just about anywhere.  On Saturday I went to get my haircut and it hit me that I walked to get my haircut. At home, that would be unheard of.  It just baffles me how we drive everywhere in the US while they walk here – old, young, everyone. Granted their towns are set up more geared to walking places rather than driving whereas at home, our houses and towns are more widely spread out. It is just another example of how life differs. 

Margarita Monday

On Monday I took the day out of work because I was meeting up with Elena's mom, Margarita, and Auntie Kathy. They were in Paris with the annual high school trip. I was so excited to see them because I haven't really seen too many people from home! So I got up and actually took my normal train into the city and met Auntie Kathy at the hotel. She wasn't feeling very well so I picked up some medicine for her at the pharmacy and left her to rest. Really, I just didn't want to get sick. Now I had a little free time before I was to meet Margarita at Notre Dame so I decided to head to the mall. I just did some window shopping because everything was so expensive. I picked out a pair of super cute leggins that were 150 euros. I decided to put those back on the rack and move along. Once I finished window shopping, I jumped back on the metro and headed to meet them. At first I didn't see them so I decided to wait by the bathrooms. If I know anything about the Dempsey woman, its that they are always in need of a bathroom! They showed up a few minutes later and I literally ran to Margarita and gave her a huge hug!

I met her kids and the other mother on the trip, but I have been out of high school so long that I didn't even know any of them. It was so strange and I felt so old. The other mom on the trip was so nice. She kept asking me questions about being abroad and everything. I felt like a superstar haha. After Notre Dame, Margarita, myself, and this other girl went to get a quick kebab for lunch. The place didn't take cards so I had to ask Margarita for money haha. She goes, "I feel like I am with Elena." I just laughed. We were supposed to meet back with the rest of the group at 1, but Margarita thought it was 1245 so she told her kids to meet then. When we got to the meeting place, at 1245, there were these two girls that basically told Margarita that they were leaving to get lunch because they didn't have time and left. I just sat there and was in awe. I told Margarita that she was loosing her touch and needs to be more intimidating! Students never would have stood up to her like that.

After that little tobacle, we walked to the Louvre. Margarita did her little tour that she always gives and right in the middle one of the girls comes up to me and was like I think I am dehydrated and feel like I am going to pass out. I handled the situation very well. I know you are all shocked because I myself am a little nervous nellie, but at the same time, I know the feeling of almost passing out, so I knew what to do. She asked where the bubbler was and I was like this is France, there aren't any. So I gave her my vitamin water and told her she could finish it. She looked relieved. Then she thought she was going to get in trouble because she had a water bottle. I was like oh my god, I see myself four years ago. Luckily I have grown up a lot since then and for the better. I am hoping the same happens for this girl. After the Margarita tour, the kids had free time, so we of course went shopping in the little boutiques and then got starbucks. She also paid for me again. I was like no no I can pay and she was like please, let me treat you. Totes adorable. She also treated me to the fancy bathroom too. They personally clean the seat for you before you enter the toilet room. Its so nice. While we were waiting, we saw someone legit buy colored toilet paper.

What did you get while you were in France?

Oh you know, the usual, colored toilet paper. I hear its one of kind.

After the Louvre, we went to the Opera and then had some more free time so we went to Galeries Lafayette and just walked around. You should have seen the line for the Chanel store. There were only Asians in it. We just laughed and were like totes China. No one bought anything because it would have cost us a kidney, but we looked around for a while and then decided we wanted to rest so we sat on the steps of the Opera. Some of the group was already there resting as well. Everyone looked so tired. After that it was time for dinner. I asked Margarita what we were having and she said she didn't know. I was like well I hope its duck! Turns out we went to the same restaurant that we went to when I was there four years ago on the same trip and had duck! I was like wow full circle. After dinner I had to leave Margarita and catch the train back home. They were headed to the Eiffel Tower. I was so sad to leave and I was like I don't want to go. I almost cried, but I didn't. I was a big girl.

It was a wonderful day and I was so happy to have met up with her.

French Easter

France does things a little differently for Easter. Let's start with Palm Sunday. Everyone brings their own "palms" to church. Their palms look more like thorns and they wrap the stems in tin foil to hold them. At first I thought it was just one family that was bringing this type of palms until I saw everyone else walking to church with them. Very odd.

Next up is Good Friday. Kids do not have Good Friday off and no one really celebrates it. At work there was no special non meat dish or anything. I found it quite strange. Everyone ate meat like it was a normal day and I was thinking the whole time, how can they be eating meat! After work on Friday, I met up with Ashley and her boyfriend. They were up from Spain for the weekend and I was so excited to see them. I had never met Ashley's boyfriend before because she met him while she was studying in Spain, but he was so nice and I really liked him. This was also the first time I had seen Ashley since I left so I was super excited. We met at Les Invalides and I got in for free because I am technically a long term France resident! It was pretty awesome. After that we walked to the Eiffel Tower. Apparently the thing to do Easter weekend is go to Paris. There were so many people it was ridiculous. The line to go the top of the Eiffel Tower was a good 300 people long. We decided to skip that and move on. We then went to see the Statue of Liberty replica. It was the first time that I had seen that. Afterwords we got soft serve ice cream - fantastic by the way - and Ashley got cotton candy. She was like a little kid standing there with ice cream in one hand and cotton candy in the other with the biggest smile on her face. After that we just meandered our way through the city and I eventually left them to head home.

I was supposed to meet up with them on Saturday but I didn't really feel well so I ended up staying home. For most of Saturday and Sunday, I spent the day in bed because I wasn't feeling well. It was a very quiet Easter. I didn't even eat an Easter dinner or anything. My friends were making chili for Easter dinner, a new way to do Easter, but I didn't partake. 

That brings us to today, Easter Monday. France celebrates Easter Monday by having a day off. I don't really know what they do today but I am happy to have a day off. Easter is like the forgotten holiday in France. No one decorates or has Easter eggs hunts or anything. It was very weird. There was hardly any Easter candy in the grocery store too. There is no Easter Bunny in France; they have an Easter Bell. I don't really understand how a bell is supposed to bring candy but that is what their tradition is. As you can tell, I am looking forward to an American Easter next year!

We did get to get a family picture though. It is by far the most interesting family picture we have to date.

Little Blonde Puppy even made the family photo :)

Hope everyone had a nice Easter!!