U.S.ofA.

how excited am I to come home? -very.
how sad am I to leave paris? -extremely.
I got to watch the sunrise over beautiful paris one last time this morning on my way to the airport.
I may have teared up a lot bit. And that will just continue.
I love you paris.
But I miss you america.




BE HOME AT 7 ARIZONA!

j'aime le dimanche.

Sunday's are the best in Paris. Whether I spend them alone sitting by the Seine, or with all the girls getting crepes, I love sundays.
Church was really great today. I understood MAJORITY of what was being said. I guess it was sort of cheating that three of the speakers were americans without french accents.. Still counts for me.
Afterwards, Hollie wanted to celebrate her birthday, because its on wednesday but we'll all be outta here.
So we started by walking to creperie genia. Lots of the girls always rave about this place, 5 euro's for a panini, crepe, and a drink. Thats an amazing price.
I got mozzorella et tomate panini,
nutella, banane crepe,
and a bottled water. -the one word that has given me the most trouble for three months.
Then we went over to place de la concord to ride the ferris wheel! It was put up last week and we've been dying to go on it. And I loved it. Every piece of it.
Great views, and good friends. Paris is so EXcItiNg! [by the way, we saw him on our trek over. Yes, that's the third time. Whaaaat are the chances.]
We got some really good pictures with the ferris wheel in the background.. I mean a tour bus of asians waving at us.
From the ferris wheel we saw what HAD to be a christmas market going up the champs elysee, so we HAD to go there. So happy. I finally got something that I've been looking everywhere for. And we saw a couple french santa's, so it was a good time.
Then we decided to hit up the orangerie museum. Its a tiny little quaint place with a couple rooms with huge paintings by monet. Amazing, they were beautiful. And downstairs they had an exhibit also, with alll the artists that we've learned during the semester in our art history class. I was exctied about that.
From there me and maddie went to see the museum d'art et descriptions? something like that. We have just always called it the fashion museum. Its in one of the wings of the louvre, and was pretty interesting. I liked it, but we just did it pretty quick because it was closing, oh and also the fact that I have two finals tmrw that I have not even begun to study for. Kill me? twodaysleftinparis.

cat.

sunday.
monday.
tuesday.
wednesday.

one.
two.
three.
four.
un.
deux.
trois.
quatre.

crepeful for crepes.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
[at least all you americans.]
Today is my favorite holiday ever. And I missed the best part of the tradition. Being home with my entire family, eating my heart out on all the stuffing I can get my hands on.
Instead;
I dressed up like a french person and romped the streets of paris taking tourist pictures and filling up on crepes.
I guess twelve of us went together today.
12 perfect frenchies.
striped shirts, berets,&mustaches.
We had a little paris class then headed out, starting at a carrousel by hotel de ville, where we go to school every single day. They have carrousels everywhere in paris, and this was my first time getting on one, baguette in hand.
We hit up all the main sites.

• Hotel de Ville
• Notre Dame
• Love Lock bridge
• Eiffel tower
• Arc du Triomphe
• Louvre

I might be forgetting something.
For dinner we had to have traditional french food while we were dressed the part, obviously.
We went to a real life creperie. as opposed to fake life.
I loooove crepes, and crepes as a meal? I couldn't ask for anything better.
I've been to creperies here, but my french teacher &Daryl both suggested Montparnasse for real crepes. So we tried it! We went to Creperie Josseline. A verrry cute place, packed with frenchies enjoying their killer pancakes.
We ate our crepes, held hands, and went around saying everything we are grateful for. We went around the circle many times.
I LOVE this group of girls, every single one of them! I can't believe I'm actually leaving soon. It will be so different not to be with everybody everyday anymore, since the past three months have its been impossible not to see all these girls. I really am so lucky and sooo grateful for this entire experience and I know it would not be the same without the people here.
iloveparis&ialwayswill. But five days and I'M COMING HOME!

spinach, bacon, egg, &creme round one.{thanksgiving feast}

go to prague: CZECH!

This weekend may have been framed around making czech jokes (sounds the same as check, if you're slow.), every single second. Of course I loved it. And tried to reference it with everything.
I'm so freakin' busy studying my a** off right now, and packing but I might go crazy if I don't take a minute for some fun. And yes, fun = blogging.
Prague was SUCH a good time. And a great ending to our last trip all together, 14 of us went, and there's 25 girls in my group, so we were only a few short of everybody. It was a perfect getaway for the weekend. And our LAST one before this weeks insane finals. [why we have finals in PaRIS?] We did some great bonding on the terrace that our hostel had. That was my favorite part of prague.. maybe. I just love terraces.
We climbed to the top of Prague where the castle is. Since the french boys haven't been kissing us, this is the action we got this weekend. And yes we made this one laugh too.
Crackin' smiles guard after guard, country after country.

The entire city was beautiful. This was an amazing spot. This is on Charles Bridge, and probably the most famous image of Prague out there. Czech google, you'll get this picture twelve million times.
We were crossing back over it around sunset, and this picture pretty much speaks for itself, it was insanely gorgeous.

We climbed the clock tower too. That's the most famous landmark in Prague, or so tour-guide Tom told us. It was incrediblllleeee from up there. All you see is these red rooftops, one after the other, and colored buildings lining the streets. It was so pretty!

Here it is for now, I have to get back to studying.

sunday

We sang this in relief society today as our closing song. I've had it stuck in my head the rest of the day. And it always reminds me of efy.
Anyways, I came home to listen to it and pulled up this youtube video of it and I know somebody in it! Our friend's from mexico's daughter is in it around the 2 minute mark. So ironic.

czech republic.

Today I started stressing out. Realizing all the ish I need to get done not only for school here, but also just plain for PaRIS. I have so many things that I still want to see, pictures I want to take, and food I want to eat.
Il n'y a pas assez de temps dans le journée- there is not enough time in the day.
But today I did got to the hotel des invalides. And in the church, where napoleon's tomb is. So I got that done.
And then we all went over to the Lee's apartment to make t-shirts for keeps. Such a good time when we're all together.

if you don't hear from me in the next couple days its because
I'll be here.

a little place called Prague.
Don't know what to expect there, but I'm dressing warm. . there could very well be snow, yikes.
There are 14 of us going, sounds like a mess, but should be exciting and we'll have a ton of fun.
I'm super stoked, and we've had this planned for a really long time.
And then once I'm back, I'll have eleven days left in Paris. That is so unbelievable.

Ratatouille for dinner.
+beet/endive salad &creme oeuf for dessert.
14 days.

<3

ALLEZ FRANCE!

trying to break the facebook addiction, so I'm blogging instead of getting on that devil.
I just got back from a real live french soccer game. It was SUCH a good time
The game was France vs. Belgium.

I obviously repped my country well; france, jersey&scarf.

It was me, Amber, Hollie, Anna, Tiffany, Riley and Michelle who all went. And we all loooved it. Our seats were right behind the goal, lower section. And our tickets were only 10 euro. Amazing?

{I know, I look like a crimpled disabled person. don't really know how that happened.}
It was soo much fun being around lots of loud, excited people, because that's what we/I am a lot of times and in paris that isn't always socially acceptable.
I love soccer, I love France, and more importantly I love french men [okay men in general]. We can agree that it was a great combination.
Everything was magical, except for the fact that it was freezing cold and could have been literally snowing on us as riley says. But, didn't matter, it was another great memory in France.
Nobody scored the whole game, so that was a little disappointing. But it was still fun to watch and just have a fun time sitting at an actual sporting event together. It felt like america.
Je t'aime beaucoup match du foot!

this picture is defffinitely being blown up and hung in my room.

15 days.
warm carrot soup for dinner.
+homemade crepes by chef Katherine.

When you're sick in Neuilly.

• You stay in bed. allday
• You learn how to say "avez-vous des medicaments pour la grippe - do you have any medicine for the flu."
• Your host mother asks if its because of her meat patee she served for dinner.
• She gives you medicine for fevers even though you don't have one.
• And then calls her daughters to bring over all the medicine they have.
• You take french tablets that you aren't sure what they are, but you stick them under your tongue and they dissolve while you finally fall asleep at ten a.m.
• Katherine makes you rice for dinner, even though she doesn't even owe you a host family dinner.
• She shows you pictures of all the art she has restored
• And talks to you for an hour about Paris' history.
• Then you get packages from you're amazing sister. Who is a future mother, but has truly always been a perfect second mother to me. She will seriously be the best mom to her little boy.

{I'm positive these were full cookies at one point in time. They're kind of crummy now, just like my stomach. But look amazing. I'll eat them tomorrow. }

THANK YOU!

I missed all signs of daylight today. I was up all night, sick, I'm sure you don't need the details.
So my new sleeping schedule is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
shout out to all those who have been sick this week. Tiffany, Brynn, Shannon, and Kelly.
unite

<3

sunny in paris

I'm having a great sunday.
peaceful.
b u t
I miss london so much.
But today Paris made me realize how much I missed Paris. It seriously is an incredible place, and theres nothin' like it, nor that compares.
I'm so lucky to be here.
And to have had the chance to live in this city for such a long period of time. I've missed lots at home and I'm excited to be able to go back and have some new fun but I'm more excited to spend the next 18 days in Europe, living it up while I can.

Daryl stressed to us the importance of being on time to church, so today, I was on time. Or about fifteen minutes early. When I was walking up the stairs of the metro a man was trying to get my attention, and I've learned to go into an ignoring mode, where, no matter who, I just ignore the person because most of the time its just a randy french who is creepy.
But this guy was like "Oh excuse me.. Miss, miss?"
and I turned around and he started talking, in english, asking me where a bridge was. And I just looked at him really weird because I could not think of any bridge he'd be talking about, so then he totally thought I was french, [ :) ] because he kept repeating "bridge" and making a sign for it. Then finally I was like "OH, i speak english!" haha.
It was a couple who were from london, fancy that, and we talked for a bit and I directed them where to go.
Then, I didn't even walk two steps and another person came up to me asking me something in french and I completely understood and told her where to go, in french.
I was pretty proud of myself this morning.

After church, which was hard to stay awake through, me and Anna went to check out the
holocaust memorial.
Its right by the notre dame so we walked, and it was pleasant.
The memorial;
You walk down some stairs, so you're at the same level as the seine [the river] and it was just a bunch of white stonework. We were like, is this it?

I forgot, the lady told us we could take pictures, but just for us, were not supposed to publish them to the internet. But I think the outside is okay, right? Just pretend you never saw these.{There it is. Thats the whole memorial}..

But then we found a tiny entry through these big blocks.It was a small memorial, it had a couple quotes from the time and had these little lit balls that represented all of the french that did not return from concentration camps. One quote said that the place was to remember the 200 thousand, that had passed.
There were two empty jail like looking cells in there also, just a barred door and no windows. The whole memorial was supposed to represent what a concentration camp was like, and how it felt, narrow staircases, and obstructed views with no sight of the horizon.
It was really cool to go to and I'm glad I did. I wanted to do something today at least.

Afterwards we decided to go down and sit next to the seine.
I loved it. And definitely want to do that more often during the two weeks that I have.
It was really nice to just sit there, in such an amazing spot, and just talk.
And it was really really sunny today in Paris, so I even took off my coat and got comfortable.
Anna took a picture for a french couple, and after talking to them for a while the lady said "I want a picture of you two, you're so nice." And took a picture of us on her phone.
So presh.

Then I saw this guy:

{ a fishbowl balanced on his head, red clown nose, and tap shoes, all set to some great african music. }

I walked over to the metro, but it literally took me forty minutes. I stopped to watch some fun.
This guy was performing on a bridge, and this is for my mom and aunt debbie because I know how much they love mini stuff. He had set up this mini chairs for children to watch, and he rode that mini bicycle.


The bubble guy, makes me smile every time.

There was some showcase or exhibit at the hotel de ville, so I walked around and looked at that, no idea what it all was about.. something with foreign countries.


Now I'm napping.
And writing in my journal.
Planning the next three days I have in Paris until I go to Prague for the weekend.
Studying for my french test

And this...

{all day everyday. This is how you become french}

I could of been, royalty, sitting in a palace like a queen.

sorry but there is literally no possible way that I can do another london post at the moment.

Yes: I was just "at school" for almost eight hours.
Yes: once again I was late for french. not gonna worry too much.
Yes: On the rare occasion that WiFi worked at the institute during my religion I definitely pinterest-ed, blogged stalked, and learned how to make no-bake cake balls the entire two hour long class
Yes: I found another favorite baguette in Paris.
Yes: I'm still off gelato

No: I did not take any pictures today
No: I still haven't gotten a good nights' sleep
No: French is not my second language, yet.

When I first got to Paris and could not resist having my camera on my person at all times, I wondered if there would ever be a day that that was not the case. Paris has literally been so exciting since September 6th for me, but I've found myself going throughout my days like its actually a regular thing. This has been happening for a while now, and I think its because I've done a lot of Paris and now am just so keen on going to class and being so exhausted after my day that all I want to do is come home and sleep, so things have just flowed into a system?

It is weird though, to feel like I am really living in Paris, France. Because thats just so unreal. Who thought that would ever be something I'd be able to say? Its so weird to me, still.

But slowly becoming less and less weird.

We had a huge review sesh with Daryl tonight, and afterwards I stayed and chatted for a little while after, and should have gone with monseiur Lee and check out the paraguayan flan place he was talking about but I didn't and I regret that. Next time.

But on my way home, I was alone and I just was thinking about if I actually like living in a city. Because do I? I just could not come to a conclusion. But when I got home me and Hailey ate dinner together and I was talking to her about that and she said she was contemplating the exact same thing on her walk home earlier. So strange.

Well that was just some random thoughts.
And the question still remains.
But I do know that I ADORE getting to walk down the street and finding a boulangerie/patisserie immediately and be able to eat a baguette with a macaron for breakfast for less than two euros. now that, is the life.

{and I guess I lied. I took one picture today. During our three hour review annie's computer died so she just gave up on taking notes and was drawing pictures in her notebook instead. I thought it was funny.}

and I am still thinking about how much I love london.
I got this super chouette magazine there. I love it a lot.
It's called "oh comely."



obsessed: coin laundry. I play this on repeat all day long.

<3

passport out of paris

day one:



I just had the best weekend ever.
It's called LONDON, england.
[I literally took over 1-thousand pictures.]
And I've been practicing using my camera on manual so.. disclaimer; a lot of my pictures are blurry. So excuse the unnormal shakyness.
But I'll be back in two days and be able to get some re-do's.

I'm in love with london. Every single part of it. And I could not get enough. It is a complleeetely different atmosphere than paris. Everyone, from the very beginning when we got our passports checked, is So incredibly nice, &funny. and they speak english. Which is a +plus, except for when you still can't understand what they're trying to say to you even though they literally are speaking my first language.
From the moment I got there I fell in loooove. It was just so fun and lively and exciting. Just a completely different vibe than there is in Paris. [which I still love, don't worry]

We booked a hostel in hammersmith. Weren't really sure what we were getting into, but just hoping it was accommodating. Turns out it was connected to a bar/restaurant/hottest club in town at night. It was way nice, and not at all what I expected a hostel to be like. We lucked out.

Me, Annie, Maddie, Kelly and Riley took the eurostar train through the english chunnel thursday night. HOW exciting?! It was really cool

We got in, checked into our hostel and were directed by them to the best authentic fish and chips just right around the corner.

It didn't take us very long to find our hot british men.

one word:Twins.

Out to dinner with their mother. The perfect family men. So obvs we got some great boystalking pics.I've never had fish and chips, and I have no idea why. . they were the best thing on this planet. AHmazing. Ours were huge, and I ate every bit of it, youknowme. I wanted fish and chips everynight.

After, we took the tube out to piccadilly circus. It was thriving. Some street performers were out and there were tons of people everywhere so it was way fun.

{classic}

{this theater sign said Herbert on it}

London has tons of bridges. over the Thames river. Theres so many, and I love them all. We walked across this one first, and got some good glimpses of the London eye lit up beautifully.

Also some big ben in there.Of course it started raining. But that didn't stop our fun. We all had umbrellas and walked around with them out the rest of the night. We were really cute.

I wore rainboot the entire weekend too. It really only rained the first night, the most. It misted a couple other times, but not bad at all. That was a relief.{theres benny in the background.}

We did lots of city night walking, which I loved. Everything lit up and sooo much fun. We walked to Buckingham Palace and by Hyde Park and then down to the arc du triomphe replica I swear.. I thought we were back in Paris.. which I didn't even want to think about because of my new found love of the most beautiful city on this planet.

After romping around through the night we headed back to our hostel and met up with Anna and Michelle who had flown. And turns out the hostel didn't charge them to stay and said we had already taken care of it, so they charged us 140 pounds less than they were supposed to. We did NOT complain. London is sooo freakin' expensive.

I couldn't sleep after seeing all of london for those couple hours, I was so excited! We were split between two different rooms at the hostel, and the room that me, kelly, annie and riley were in had four other girls who were all sleeping when we came back. But naturally, we are loud people, we can't help it; were American, and were girls.

I guess we were just a little bit too loud while we were all in our bunks talking across the room, a voice from the darkness got snappy at us and told us to be quiet. Whoops, goodnight london.


cheers.
<3