Long Time No See

Well it is Monday morning, and I am sitting in my room eating Muesli after a good night’s sleep. The kids start school tomorrow, so this the end of sleeping in I guess. Although, I went to bed early last night, so I didn’t wake up late today. I think starting tomorrow I will have to get up at like 6am everyday uhg, but I’ll get into a routine and get used to it I suppose. I don’t even want to know how early that means I have to go to bed… like 10pm. I don’t think that will ever happen.

I don’t know what is in store for me today, which bothers me a little. I just want my routine. But tomorrow I know I am going to Paris for orientation for school, which I am excited about. I don’t know if I will be allowed to stay for a little longer in the city, or if I have to head straight back. Guess I should ask, but I don’t know if that is an awkward question… how long can I stay in the city, and thus not be here? Haha we will see…

Uhg I am just sad right now. I hate feeling this way. Living in France is just so hard and so different. I really am missing America right now. I never thought I would feel that way. I am just incredibly frustrated with the French language; I can’t communicate with people. It’s mostly that I don’t try as much as I should, which makes me feel even worse. I feel guilty not being happy here (all the time), but I am not, and that is the truth. But I mean, I only feel like this when I am sitting in my room alone. I am fine when I interact with the family. I don’t know why I feel so gloomy in my room. I guess it comes back to the isolation thing.

Not living inside Paris is a much bigger deal than I thought it would be. I think I’d be a lot happier if I lived in Paris because my friends would only be a phone call and metro stop away, but here it’s a process to go to Paris. It basically takes me an hour to leave my house and arrive at someone’s apartment in Paris. And the not having a Navigo pass is frustrating. It costs me 14 euros roundtrip to Paris, and I have to pay for it until I get my Navigo pass, which I don’t think is fair. It’s not my fault I don’t have my Navigo pass, so I don’t think I should spend loads of money until then. My fam finally got me the forms to fill out for the pass a week after I arrived (I mean really that should have been waiting in my room the first day), and now I have to fill it out and freaking mail the thing and wait for it to come back. What a long drawn out process, who knows how much money I will have to spend until then.

Since I don’t have my Navigo pass, I sometimes just don’t buy metro tickets. I only started on Saturday doing this. I basically did it all day on Saturday, but I only used the metro like twice. I did it once with Nico on our way to the Eiffel Tower, and he told me “sometimes you win the game, and sometimes you lose it.” You have to be willing to take the risks.

Everything was fine though, so I did it again with Jerome that night on our way out. Well at one point the boys just ran off without me in the metro, so I thought I was lost and alone for a good five minutes. I was about to cry because I didn’t have my phone or anything to find the boys or keys to go back to their apartment. And all of this was emphasized by the fact I was drunk (I even had a beer in my hand, which I don’t think was a good idea). I eventually saw them in the distance, and instantly felt better and made a straight shot for them. Then all the sudden, these two people asked for my metro ticket. I think I was an easy target with a beer and all, and I think they asked in French for “mon billet,” but I just said I don’t have it, and didn’t even use French because I was pissed off. I had to pay 45 euros. Half my allowance every week. Wtf. Super pissed. I just want my Navigo.

I’ve read in other blogs that those people just tell you a random price, so I probably could have played it down, but I was drunk, frustrated, and just wanted to cry and get away from this country. I just shouldn’t even have been in that situation in the first place. Whatever. It happened, and I have to deal with it.

But then after that initial fiasco, I had a wonderful night at a club called Memphis, which Vincent told me is the oldest club in Paris I think. It was a great place and reminded me of the club we went to all the time in Lille last summer—Smile. Because upstairs had Top 40 music and downstairs had oldies and fun music like that. I would have chosen upstairs, but of course, I was with French, so they chose downstairs for most of the night, but it was loads of fun anyway. And it kinda worked out because I had only 5 euros left after the metro disaster, so I didn’t pay the 20 euro entrance fee (I think it was that expensive) or any of my drinks, so I think I probably came out on top that night anyway and spent less money than I would have. Most of the night is a little fuzzy, but I know I had a great time, and I would love to go back soon! Maybe next time with girlfriends. I really want and need girlfriends. I hope to meet some au pairs tomorrow.

For some reason, me and Jerome took a taxi back without Vincent and immediately headed to the apartment and passed out. I woke up to 22 missed calls and “I hate you texts” by Vincent who was locked out. He didn’t have his keys, and we didn’t wake up after we banged on the door for like an hour and calling us a million times. I usually am such a light sleeper, but like I said, I was completely passed out. He had to stay in a hotel like 5 minutes down the street; I feel so bad. I really can’t believe I didn’t wake up.

Anyway I need to rewind to Friday evening. So I packed my bags and took a train to Paris and got there at 8:15pm I think. I headed straight for Jerome’s and hung out with Vincent until Jerome got home from work. We then went to dinner in a cool part of Paris (La monge I think) and got dinner at a fondue place. I had never had fondue before, and I didn’t know it was a French thing anyway. We had cheese fondue that you dip bread in, and then oil (fondue? I guess) that you put raw meat in to cook. The dinner also came with yummy tomatoes and green peppers, bread, and potatoes, and we got 2 bottles of wine. It was a fun dinner dipping the bread/meat in with long prong sticks. We then got a drink at a bar and headed home because they boys had work in the morning. I wanted to go out for the night (they did too), but we couldn’t because of stupid work!

So I went to bed at a decent hour, but didn’t sleep like half the night because Jerome was sick again—I must be full of bad luck. And then I woke up at like 7am so they boys could get ready, but I definitely slept for like 4 hours till 11am because I had a picnic to go to!

I got ready and headed to Jardin des Plantes (bought 2 bottles of wine along the way), and met up with Jerome and then Nico and Alban. We had a pleasant picnic of sandwiches and wine for a few hours. It was a lovely, sunny day. So perfect for a picnic. By the time we left, it was just Nico and me, and he asked me what I then wanted to do, and I said Eiffel Tower. I hadn’t been there since my first day in Paris. I was on a good level from the wine, so tried to walk to the Eiffel Tower, but I eventually got tired, so we took the metro. It took like an hour, but we eventually got there and sat in the grass drinking more wine.

At one point, Nico left to find a bathroom, and some random French guy came up to me. He said like two words, and then asked if I spoke English. I then used French a little saying I was American and an au pair, and went into more detail in English. His excuse for talking to me was because he wanted to give his friend a present and needed ideas—guys will think of anything really. Eventually Nico came back, and the guy asked if he was my brother to which we said no, but Nico with his suave talking, casually mentioned he was the friend of my boyfriend. To which the guy politely talked for like one more minute with us, and then went to find his friends. I then made Nico take pictures of me and the Eiffel Tower, but the lighting wasn’t right unfortunately.

Then drunk me needed a bathroom, and then I bought drunk snacks at a super marché. (Here I am using and then and then again—which I will do again). THEN… we went to Grand Boulevard, found a bar, and drank and talked some more before Alban met up with us again. THEN I texted Vincent and decided to head back to the apartment because I needed to change since the weather was getting colder. Nico reluctantly let drunk me go (I have a tendency to put myself in a lot of trouble when I am alone in this city—who knows what could happen when I am drunk), but it went smoothly and I texted Nico to let him know I was safe and sound. I ate some dinner and hung out with Vincent till Jerome got back to which we then pregamed (they sang and danced to a lot of songs I didn’t know haha), and then we set off for the night and you know the rest of that story.

A few hours later…

So the next morning, I woke up around 11am I think. I just ate cereal and read a book trying to be quiet for Jerome who was still sleeping. I had looked at my phone and knew Vincent wasn’t home, so I was basically waiting for him to come knocking at the door, which he did like an hour later and then Jerome woke up. We watched How I Met your Mother for a few hours (in English). It was strange watching that show because I felt like I warped back to America , and then reality came crashing back as soon as a French commercial came out. A bit sad really.

We basically lounged around for a good few hours. At one point, me and Jerome got food at McDonalds. First McDonalds experience in France. I don’t eat there in America… but it is like the only thing open on Sundays. I also looked up my train back to my village and texted the dad when I’d be there to be picked up. He never replied, but I didn’t think much of it.

We then walked around the city for a bit. First we went to this reptile shop (kind of like a zoo in a wa since you could just look at the animals). There were lizards, snakes, and one really big iguana. It was cool seeing the animals. I then asked if we could go to my school, so I would know how to get there for tomorrow. It was one long metro ride away, but it was easy enough, so now I won’t worry about being lost tomorrow. Then I had to head to my train station. I tried using my train ticket I had previously bought on Friday (because you can use it to use the metro to get to the staion), but it didn’t freaking work, so I knew something was wrong. I bought yet another metro ticket and headed to the station. I got Jerome to ask someone to help with my lame ticket… I was really hoping to not have to pay another 8 euros, but a lady got a new ticket for me. I was right though… when I tried to use the first ticket it wouldn’t work, so I am glad I had the new one.  It sucked saying bye to Jerome and Vincent. I hate leaving Paris, and it is sad knowing I won’t see anyone until Friday. But c’est la vie I suppose. Uhg I don’t really like thinking about when I left.

The train ride went smoothly. I just read and chose not to look outside the window at the disappearing city into countryside. When I arrived, the dad wasn’t there, so I just waited for a few minutes. Then I decided to give him a call to which an automated voice in French said who knows what to me. I called the house phone—same thing. Then I called the mom’s phone (which the dad told me she never answers), so I just left her a distressed message. I had nothing else to do but call Jerome and almost start crying. It was getting dark, and I was all alone at an empty train station with no way home. Too far to walk, and I wouldn’t know the way anyway.

I told him to log on to my email account because I had an email message with the home phone number (I was assuming somehow I had the wrong phone numbers in my phone because the contacts were already in the phone when I got it). After like ten minutes, he found it, and it was the same number I already had. I called it again anyway and THANK GOD the girl answered, and the dad came to get me like 10 minutes later. I called Jerome back saying everything was fine.

Ah another scary situation…but it wasn’t so bad. I just hate when things don’t go according to plan. Anyway I did in fact have the wrong cell number of the dad. I think it is weird though because they never called me to see what the heck I was doing. I am supposed to tell them on Sunday when I will be home, and I think after not hearing from me through night time, they would worry and try to call me? But no. Hmmmm…

When I got home, dinner had already been eaten, so I made a ham/goat cheese sandwich and talked to the girl for a while. I then talked to the mom in French and explained my weekend (minus the being drunk part) and asked her about her birthday on Saturday. I then asked her to help me with my Navigo forms, and she also got me a new(er) phone! I like it much better.

I skyped my mom for a bit telling her how depressed and sad I was. It was a good vent session. I wanted to blog but told myself I just want sleep to hopefully feel better in the morning.

The next morning, I ate cereal and then ran. Running was great. This place has good running weather… sixties, cloudy, and not humid. I then showered and ironed the clothes from last week. The dad told me I would be in charge of food today because he has a lot of work (so it is confirmed—he works from home doing who knows what), but he said he would answer any questions.

He told me what to make, so I boiled elbow macaroni, cooked (and burned) onions, then cooked ground beef. It was an ok meal… we added cream and cheese to the pasta dish, but it was my first meal all by myself! I then had to clean all the dishes, which took forever. The girl has a friend over, so the dad said I should hang out with the boy. I went upstairs, and his door was closed, so I just found other stuff to do, and then I went upstairs again. His door was opened, and I asked if he wanted to hang out or play a game and he said no, so now I am in my room blogging. I feel guilty… I hope the dad doesn’t think I am Slacker au Pair. I really did try.

Woo just got asked for a bike ride by the girl!

I really like riding with the girl more than the boy because she goes at a much easier pace. We biked to some horses and a donkey and fed them grass. Then we continued to a nearby chateau that I have seen before, but it is really pretty, so I wanted to see it again. The dad once told me three of these types of chateaus were created by an ordinance of the king, so that is cool I live so close to one of the three!

So I just read an email from my school, and I also need to go to a Welcome Day this Thursday! Yay I can go to Paris twice this week. I think I am supposed to go, so I am sure my family will let me. The kids have school anyway. And Thursday is a day off for Jerome, so maybe I can see him. This is exciting news!

Sorry for the weird formatting... idk how to fix it. And sorry for writing a novel... I did have a whole wknd to catch up on and all my feelings to rant about ;)