I swear this is the last one!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Soggy Socks
As I walked down Rue Clotilde I felt the water penetrating through the holes of my old and worn Minnetonka moccasins. I was headed for Place Saint Genviève to find my favorite café and escape Paris's November rain.
I'd been having a rough day (it was just 4 days before Thanksgiving) and I couldn't wait to get out of the rain and sit in my café.
I had been restless all day and was walking at a speed faster than normal, just rushing to get to a cup of tea. As I turned the corner, my old Minnetonka's lost traction on the old cobblestone street and I fell.
"Merde!" I muttered to myself. (I've gotten pretty good with the French "four-letter words.")
"Ca va?" asked a man walking in my direction.
"Oui, merci," I said quickly picking myself up, pretending it hadn't happened.
I took off quickly and continued on my way, but about half way down the block I let out a giggle to myself . . . I could only imagine how funny it must have been for that man to see me take a spill. As I laughed to myself, I was reminded of the time that my cello teacher had once told me that there are times where you have to decide whether to laugh or cry. I could either laugh because I had taken spill that must have been pretty funny to watch, or I could cry because I was having a bad day, my socks were soggy, and I had fallen.
Sure, my knee was a little bruised, but once I started laughing about the situation, it wasn't so bad. "Laughter is the greatest medicine." It's so true, and we musn't take life too seriously. Sometimes we (when I say "we," I really mean, "I") get too wrapped up in seeing the negative and we forget to laugh and life's humor that we stumble upon.
LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH.
I'd been having a rough day (it was just 4 days before Thanksgiving) and I couldn't wait to get out of the rain and sit in my café.
I had been restless all day and was walking at a speed faster than normal, just rushing to get to a cup of tea. As I turned the corner, my old Minnetonka's lost traction on the old cobblestone street and I fell.
"Merde!" I muttered to myself. (I've gotten pretty good with the French "four-letter words.")
"Ca va?" asked a man walking in my direction.
"Oui, merci," I said quickly picking myself up, pretending it hadn't happened.
I took off quickly and continued on my way, but about half way down the block I let out a giggle to myself . . . I could only imagine how funny it must have been for that man to see me take a spill. As I laughed to myself, I was reminded of the time that my cello teacher had once told me that there are times where you have to decide whether to laugh or cry. I could either laugh because I had taken spill that must have been pretty funny to watch, or I could cry because I was having a bad day, my socks were soggy, and I had fallen.
Sure, my knee was a little bruised, but once I started laughing about the situation, it wasn't so bad. "Laughter is the greatest medicine." It's so true, and we musn't take life too seriously. Sometimes we (when I say "we," I really mean, "I") get too wrapped up in seeing the negative and we forget to laugh and life's humor that we stumble upon.
LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH. LAUGH.
Monday, November 17, 2008
"The times they are a-changin'"
Bob Dylan
Over my fall break, I got to go to Bretagne (as you know) and stay with my host mom's brother's family. I received a mail from Patrice (my host mom's brother) after Obama won...
Yes ! You can !
From France, the beautiful Obama victory is the victory of all americans (and maybe of all democrats in the world) who do not identify with the 8 years that just passed ...
What a wonderful event which carries in a moment millions of people around the world since the camp of those who couldn't stand anymore this America to the camp of those who want to dream with her...
I have a dream [a hope...] today!
Patrice (from Britany the little !)
Yes ! You can !
Depuis la France, la belle victoire d'Obama est celle de tous les américains (et peut-être de tous les démocrates dans le monde) qui ne se reconnaissent pas dans les 8 années qui viennent de s'écouler...
Quel formidable événement que celui qui transporte en un instant des millions de personnes dans le monde depuis le camp de ceux qui ne pouvais plus supporter cette Amérique là dans le camp de ceux qui veulent rêver avec elle ...
J'ai fait un rêve [j'ai un espoir ...] aujourd'hui !
Patrice de Bretagne
Thank you, Patrice!!!
Bob Dylan
Over my fall break, I got to go to Bretagne (as you know) and stay with my host mom's brother's family. I received a mail from Patrice (my host mom's brother) after Obama won...
Yes ! You can !
From France, the beautiful Obama victory is the victory of all americans (and maybe of all democrats in the world) who do not identify with the 8 years that just passed ...
What a wonderful event which carries in a moment millions of people around the world since the camp of those who couldn't stand anymore this America to the camp of those who want to dream with her...
I have a dream [a hope...] today!
Patrice (from Britany the little !)
Yes ! You can !
Depuis la France, la belle victoire d'Obama est celle de tous les américains (et peut-être de tous les démocrates dans le monde) qui ne se reconnaissent pas dans les 8 années qui viennent de s'écouler...
Quel formidable événement que celui qui transporte en un instant des millions de personnes dans le monde depuis le camp de ceux qui ne pouvais plus supporter cette Amérique là dans le camp de ceux qui veulent rêver avec elle ...
J'ai fait un rêve [j'ai un espoir ...] aujourd'hui !
Patrice de Bretagne
Thank you, Patrice!!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Notre Dame
Bonjour!
Today I didn't have school so I got to do a little sight-seeing today. I went to Notre Dame with two other exchange students and we got to go up the towers and see an amazing view of Paris. It was quite a walk up to the top, but so worth the view. In the second picture you can see Sacre Coeur off in the distance. It was a gorgeus day for going up, and it was funny to see all of the places that I've been visiting since I arrived.
What a day!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Le Tour Eiffel
A photo from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower! Sorry it isn't of the Eiffel Tower itself, but I thought it was kind of an interesting photo.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
What if...
Obama did it! He really did it! I'm more than happy right now to see that it really was possible. It's incredible how much can be accomplished when we work together for a better cause. I'm amazed at all of the money raised for one man's campaign, at the way our country united for HOPE and CHANGE... we are in desperate need of both of things, among many others.
Obama's campaign is proof of the power of unity for a specific cause, I just wish that we would unite more often than every four years. I wish we would give our money to a good cause more often than every four years. I wish we would donate our time more often than every four years. Just think if we put that time and energy into the AIDS crisis in Africa, our deminishing environment, the homeless people that walk the streets in hope for a piece of bread... the list could go on for pages. We've united once, it's possible to do it again. We have the leadership that we need and we're energized and ready to go!
Imagine the difference that we could make. Just like every vote matters, every human being matters.
Obama's campaign is proof of the power of unity for a specific cause, I just wish that we would unite more often than every four years. I wish we would give our money to a good cause more often than every four years. I wish we would donate our time more often than every four years. Just think if we put that time and energy into the AIDS crisis in Africa, our deminishing environment, the homeless people that walk the streets in hope for a piece of bread... the list could go on for pages. We've united once, it's possible to do it again. We have the leadership that we need and we're energized and ready to go!
Imagine the difference that we could make. Just like every vote matters, every human being matters.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The True Peace
The True Peace
The first peace, which is the most important,
is that which comes within the souls of people
when they realize their relationship,
their oneness, with the universe and all its powers,
and when they realize that at the center
of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (the Great Spirit),
and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this.
The second peace is that which is made between two individuals,
and the third is that which is made between two nations.
But above all you should understand that there can never
be peace between nations until there is known that true peace,
which, as I have often said, is within the souls of men.
Black Elk, Oglala Sioux & Spiritual Leader (1863 - 1950)
Monday, November 3, 2008
This photo is of another ménhir. You can see that Bretagne was gorgeous, green, and a little bit what I imagine Ireland to be...I made it back to Paris, but I had a great fall break in Bretagne! A little R&R was really nice after my first 2 months here! Whew! I cannot believe that it's already been 2 months! My time has flown by and I have already done soooooo much... it's kind of funny to look back at my blog and my journal and re-read everything about my little day-trips, weekend trips, my thoughts about life in France. I sure have been lucky!
It's back to school on Thursday, but until then I'm going to spend some time relaxing and taking it easy.
Oh, and GO OBAMA!!! I sent in my absentee vote a couple weeks ago... let's hope for some change!
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