Missed Train

Today is a snow day for both kids, and it is Monday. I don’t mind too much. I got to sleep in, so that is always great. Although, I do enjoy my conversation class, especially since Paige and I are in there together, but she had a snow day as well today.

I had a really good weekend, and I didn’t even make it to Nantes. That is a story within itself haha, so I will start with the beginning…

So I took the usual 6:30pm train on Friday night to Paris. It had started snowing as I was driving to the train station with the dad, and was coming on full stream when I arrived in Paris. For some reason, I just didn’t think it snowed in Paris really, but boy it SNOWED in Paris this weekend! Anyway I arrived in Paris and headed straight for Paige’s new house (she just got a new family) near La Défense.

It took a good 45 minutes or so to get there, and then I had to walk in a few inches of snow for like 10 minutes once I got off the tram stop. Luckily Paige gave good directions, so I found the house easily, but it felt like it took forever because it was dark, snowing, and cold. I met her family, and they were all so nice. Two parents, 5 year old boy, 13 year old girl, and 15 year old boy. I stayed for only like 20 minutes unfortunately because I had to be at the Montparnasse train station to take my train to Nantes in time, but the little time I did have, I saw the house and family, and they even let me eat a slice of pizza.

I then left for the 45 minute journey to Montparnasse. I was making good time when Jerome texted me asking if I was at Montparnasse. Turns out, we had a train leaving the same station at similar times (he was going out of town this weekend too), so we got to randomly meet up for twenty minutes or so. I was happy to unexpectedly see him, so we were just chatting and giving him advice because he has recently gone through a difficult thing in his life, so I got carried away with the time.

I left him with four minutes till my train to spare, and I went to the TV screens that tell you which platform you leave off of, and I couldn’t find Nantes. So I asked an SCNF guy, and he said it looks like it already left. So I then called Jerome and found him again, and he left like 5 minutes later for his train. Then I was alone again, and went to an office to see my options. They weren’t helpful as usual, so I was out 100 euros total for my missed train, and I really didn’t want to pay for another ticket.

I called Paige like 5 times because I started to make my way back to her house assuming I could stay with her. She eventually got back to me and said it was fine. It was annoying because I had to wait like 30 minutes for the tram to her place to leave La Défense (the tram times are less late at night). But I made it eventually! Everyone was asleep except Paige when I arrived, so we just chatted a bit, and I told her my story, and then we hit the sack. It is lucky bc she has two twins in her room, so I had my own bed!

The next day, we hung out at the house all day until nigh time. We woke up and ate some cereal and hung out with the two youngest kids. We then played with the 5 year old while the mom cooked lunch. We just played marbles. He’s a cute, little, rambunctious boy—well he is five. Then we had a large lunch. We started with grapefruit, potatoes, green beans, steak (which was extremely rare and chewy), salad, and then pineapple, and of course, bread a cheese. It was a good, classic French meal. The fam then left, so we had the house to ourselves. We just hung out, and then our friend Lindsey came over, and we just hung out some more until the evening. Lindsey and Paige went to the Pompidou for an exhibit, but I made plans with Justine to go out with her, so we parted ways at La Défense.

So I made my way back to Jerome’s apt, having made plans with Vincent to leave his keys for me (he was at dinner with his gf), and I got ready there, and then set off for the pregame. It was at the same apartment as last time when I went out with Justine. There were like 5 people total, all of which I knew except one, but they were all really nice.

We then made our way to Showcase, a club underneath a bridge near Concorde, which is kinda cool. Anyway we got in this long line, and it was freezing and snowing outside! We waited like an hour! And then like another hour for the Vestaire (where you put your coat). The bathroom line was ridic, so I never even went to the bathroom there. Drinks were 12 euro. It was an awesome venue, but the waiting times SUCKED. I was sober by the time we got through everything, so it honestly wasn’t much fun unfortunately.

I kept contemplating taking a taxi and just going home, but eventually we all left together. Luckily Justine’s boyfriend parked his car nearby, so I got a free ride back to the apartment. I was asleep by 5am. I then woke up at 11am and watched a show, ate breakfast, showered etc. I didn’t really know what I’d do with my day, but it all worked out.

Vincent made lunch for us, so I ate with them and talked about our nights. Then Paige had called and invited me to go see her, so I joined her and some girls at Angelina ‘s (a restaurant), and it is known to have the best hot chocolate in Paris, and it was really good! I got white hot chocolate too! Then we walked around in the snow, and eventually made our way to the Louvre food court and “camped out” there. We were just chatting. I got too know a girl from Mexico and Alabama, both equally as nice. Turns out the Alabama girl knows my town, and works very close doing white water rafting tours. Small small world.

Also during this time, I was trying to coordinate seeing Jerome before I went home. I knew there were train problems (either a strike or because of the snow), so I was worried if it would work out, but it did. I met Jerome at the train station got to see him for like two hours before I went home. I was so happy to see him. I wish I could have been stranded in Paris to stay the night, but oh well.

I don’t really know what I will do today because there’s no school or activities, but Mondays are the busiest with driving, so I got lucky to miss this day. I am doing lots of laundry today I know—the kids’, my bed, and my clothes.