Weekend

So I went in to Paris for a bit today to do some errands. I received the board game from the UK, that whole big mess up, so I mailed it back today for 17 euros. Don’t want to think about it. I hope the other one arrives before this week ends because break starts this Friday. I also bought the boy a shirt from Quicksilver Saturday, and I got a size too small, so I went an exchanged that also.

Sunday didn’t do anything worth mentioning until the afternoon when Jerome, the roommates, and I went to the l’Aquarium de Paris. It was at the metro stop Trocadero, which has a good close-up view of the Eiffel Tower, so we took pictures with that in the background walked in the Christmas markets they had. Then we went to the aquarium, which was really cool, but it only took 30 mins to go through. It was 15 euros too, but I am glad I went. They had a lot of pretty fish, no dolphins though.

On Saturday, I went Christmas shopping at a mall for Jerome, Eliott (bday soon- the shirt), and Paige. I managed to buy each one a gift, so I was happy with myself. I won’t post what I bought in case those two happen to read this, which I doubt, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Jerome told me to get something under 5 euros, which I managed to do too. Meghan and her friend Lindsey met up with me at the mall too, and we wandered around trying to find Xmas presents for Lindsey’s fam. I then took a bus to go have lunch with Jerome because we weren’t going to see each other that night, and it was nice. We just got some kabobs, which kabobs are different here. It is basically like a gyro, so it is always tasty.

I headed back home after and saw Nico for a bit, and then we both left around the same time to go see friends. I went to go meet up with Rebecca! Finally after one year! We met up near the Louvre and went to a brasserie and just chatted for a while. Her friend came with her to Paris as well, and she was really nice. I was just telling them about the good and bad of au pair life and everything else in between. We then went to le Marais to meet up with her parents for dinner. They were really nice, and we went to some Italian place, and I got carbonera.  After dinner, they all went home, so I headed home too.

I didn’t really know what I was doing that night, but it really worked out because Nico and Vincent had no plans either, so we just stayed in and drank and played drinking games. I taught them Up the River, Down the River and Circle of Death, which they liked. It was so fun playing those games again! Because here in France, they don’t play drinking games—no pong, card games, flip cup, anything, and it is a shame because they are so fun. I went to bed at 3am, but the boys stayed up, and I heard them singing Titanic at one point. Silly boys. Jerome then called me at 5:30am to be let in even though I texted him telling him I left they keys under the mat, oh well. I went right back to sleep.

On Friday, I had French as usual and was right back in Paris at 7:15pm. Jerome hadn’t gotten back to me, but I just went to his apt anyway because I had been in contact with Nico. I was chatting in French with Nico and Vincent, and eventually Jerome came home, and we watched the show that’s like Survivor, but it is all in French, so I enjoy it as much as I can. Fortunately I can see what’s going on obviously, so I can still enjoy it. You may think it is weird that I can’t understand TV when it’s in French after so many months, but even Jerome, who is fluent in English, cannot watch an English movie without subtitles easily. Subtitles help so much! But we can’t add them to the TV shows normally.

I have an apt today at 3pm my time with an adviser in Raleigh about my resume and cover letter. I have to use skype to call her, so I hope there isn’t connection or hearing issues. I just want my resume and cover letter to all be in order! I asked my host mom last night to write me a recommendation for the SKEMA aplication, and she agreed thankfully! I am happy to get the ball rolling! Also my birth certificates finally arrived to my mom’s, so those will be on their way! Getting stuff done!

Nemos!

This is somewhat of an inside joke. On Friday, Vincent went to the Disney Store and bought a giant Nemo for a friend's baby, but I am its surrogate mother when I am at the apt until he actually gives it to his friend. He is a great cuddle buddy! Nice and big and cushy to hug!