Train

Oh my god, yesterday was an absolute nightmare, but it started and ended well.

I woke up at 6:30am and di my usual thing, and when I got back from taking the boy to the bus, I did some ironing and then thought to do banana bread because there was three oldish bananas, and since I was leaving that evening, I wanted to do something nice. I then watched an episode of Revenge I think, and the dad woke up and told me the kitchen smelled very good, so I was feeling smug. I then ran, but did very badly. I kept getting a stitch, and therefore had to keep walking. Blehh whatever, at least I ran a little bit. Then I took a long shower and prepares lunch (the dad left for a bit).

He told me to cook rice and then fry some chicken with mushrooms and add crème fraiche at the end. I cooked and covered it with tinfoil and went to pick up the boy. The kids and I ate afterwards, and the food was really good! The boy liked it too. The dad came back, and then I took the boy to guitar, and after guitar straight to pony club with the girl. I then had to go buy milk, and the line was so freaking long. I was getting annoyed because the time in-between pony club was the only time I had to get ready for my evening that day; I ended up getting twenty minutes to get ready, but I managed to put on a nice outfit and some makeup and pack my overnight bag.

The dad came with me to pick up the girl, and then we went straight to the train station, so I could make my 4:30pm train. I got there in time and boarded… everything worked out perfectly. Or so I thought.

I thought this part was bad (at least annoying, but much worse came later). When I boarded the train, I headed for a bathroom to finish putting on my make-up. The bathroom was locked, so I waited until my turn. A group of ghetto, black guys board and immediately start chatting me up and say a few things in English. They were creepy and gross and wanted my number. I dealt with it for five minutes and gave up on the bathroom and headed AWAY from those guys.

I found another bathroom and used it, and then found a nice, quiet seat where I’d be left alone. I noticed a ghetto looking guy near me, but he didn’t approach me, so all was well. Until the train stopped.

We stopped at like the second town you pass through on the way to Paris, and I was confused because it is a direct train. An announcement came on, and of course I didn’t understand, but I did hear 15-20 minutes and electrical problem, so I pieced it together. The conductor then walked through the train explaining the issue, and I asked if he spoke English. He didn’t, so I tried to clarify with French what was going on. He said minimum we’d be in Paris in 30 mins, and we would leave in 20 minutes, so I thought this isn’t so bad.

I then called Jerome to tell him the news. I also asked him to look up if another train would be coming through the stop to Paris to see if I could just ditch the broken one. He looked it up, and there wasn’t one for another hour, so I just had to wait.

Finally the train starts moving again. And then another sketchy guy sat across from mw and just stared. I just read my book harder; that usually means leave me alone. He didn’t get the idea and started a conversation in French. I just said I spoke English (in French) to be short and basically say leave me alone. Then he spits out a few English words, and I laughed. In my mind, I was like well I will just practice French with this kid; no harm in that. So he just asked me random questions, and I practiced French, which was kinda nice, although he was sketchy.

Meanwhile, the train stopped again and started and then stopped. It was so frustrating. Announcements kept coming on, and I at least got to ask Skecth Guy what was going on. I am pretty sure we sat at one spot for an hour, and we were in between stations, so I was STUCK. I couldn’t leave if I wanted to. I was so frustrated because I was getting to the point where I would be late for the event; I was already over the fact I wouldn’t have time to go to Jerome’s, drop off my bag, and eat dinner.

I called Jerome, and he told me to take a taxi at the next stop I reached. It was really getting that desperate. I was so confused and annoyed because the train would start stop start stop, and I never really understood why it couldn’t just GO. The guys did the best they could to explain to me with my French. Eventually Sketch Guy got bored with me because it was obvious he wasn’t getting anywhere. He was being creepy asking where I was staying in Paris that night and where I was going. But he had a nicer friend who seemed harmless that helped me when I was confused with announcements. 

Eventually we started again and were told we would stop at two specific spots and then arrive in Paris. I was so happy because it looked like I would arrive just on time. Jerome told me he was waiting at the metro for me where Palais des Congrès was, which I thought was sweet because I assumed I’d have to get there alone. I finally arrived in Paris at like 7:40pm (show at 8pm) and dashed to the metro. I think the whole area had train issues because the station was crammed with people, who I assumed were waiting for the trains to arrive, so they could leave. It was just a whole mess. I was glad to get out of there. I ended up being on that train for 3 EFFING HOURS GAHH. Worst evening ever. Not really, but so annoying.

I then hopped on the metro, which of course, was effing up and going slower than normal and jerking to a stop. I was sick of trains at this point. I finally got on another connecting line (that is automatic), and it ran smoothly, so I was less frustrated. I made it to the stop and met up with Jerome at like 8:05pm, and we ran to the Palais. I was in a dress and had my backpack and looked ridic. I was so exhausted when we finally got there.

I didn’t even have time to enjoy the Palais because the movie had started when we walked in. First of all it was HUGE and there was a movie screen with a big orchestra in front of it; a very nice set-up. We were shown our seats and then enjoyed the show. The orchestra played the music to the movie, which was the first Lord of the Rings btw. The volume wasn’t loud enough for the voices when they played music, so I had to read the French subtitles a lot, but it was fine! I basically could read (for the most part) the subtitles, at least piece together the words I knew, and it helped that I knew the story line as well.

I was so hungry during the movie (I hadn’t eaten since lunch, which is a long time for me). I asked if Jerome could get me something while he waited for me, and he bought a ham and butter sandwich at a bakery, which we sketchily ate during the movie. There was then an intermission, so we could have waited, but we didn’t know. We found his two roommates, and they all had a smoke outside during the intermission, and I told them my crazy story of the evening.

We finished the move afterwards, and Jerome and I switched to much better seats. Basically in the front middle, which was way cooler. The show was so great with the live music, and they had a children’s choir, which was really neat, and a female singer, who could sing at a very high pitch! All amazing, and then the actual instruments. It was way cool. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. 

At the end, we clapped for I am pretty sure the longest time in my life, but it was weird because not everyone stood up. In America, when one person stands up, basically it is a signal for everyone to stand up, but not everyone did last night, but they sure clapped a long ass time.

We took the RER back to Jerome’s place and ate some food before going to bed. The boys had to go straight to bed because of work the next morning, so I was awake at like 7:30am, but slept a little more when they all left.

I ended up not having shit to do today. Usually Jerome doesn’t work Thursdays, but he had training today. I was excited (yes, sad too) because that would mean I could actually hang out with my friends today because Thursday is reserved for Jerome haha. But of course, no one was up for anything today of all days. So I just took my time getting ready. I was mad because I couldn’t watch Disney in English; they were playing French shows.

I finally realized I could go to a train station and print my tickets for Dijon, so I set out to do that. I had to wait in a long line, but it was finally my turn eventually. I did my usual spiel of I speak French a little bit and then continuing to what I need. The guy was very nice and said he spoke a little English too, so we had a bilingual conversation. He said I spoke French very well though!  I have come to find out even if I utter a word of French here, the French appreciate it so much and love that you try. It is a definite confidence booster for sure!

I then went to Sacré-Coeur to kill time before my train. It was a gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky, although the view of the city was hazy, but beautiful nonetheless. There was a cardiovascular event going on there with a host and people riding stationary bikes I guess to raise money/awareness; it was cool to watch. Usually things like that seem American to me (idk why), so it was nice to see.

Then I took my train home, and the dad picked me up. I told him my crazy story, and he said it was probably an area-wide thing with the trains. When we got home, he asked if he could shut off the internet to work on it (always working on the internet), and that it would be ready by 9pm (he specifically said that’s when you skype your mom, right?). So I was kinda annoyed. I don’t have internet right now, and it is 11pm. The internet is fixed, but my pc doesn’t like the internet here, and every time he changes it, he has to come fix my computer. It is so effing annoying. He was gone for a few hours tonight (he just got back), but I am ready for bed and don’t wanna deal with internet stuff right now.

I used the family computer to write a long message, and that 15 minute session has already confused my brain because the keyboards are different, so I keep pressing where the character would be on the French computer—annoying!

Vaca is tomorrow, which will be today when I post it. It is weird because I will miss being an au pair a little bit actually. I say I am adjusted at this point!