I'm not one to brag about my French language skills (let's face it, I'm still not fluent..) and yes, it's my fault that those skills are not undeniably incredible. However, one factor that contributes to this reality is the plain and simple (nerve-wrecking) feeling I get when I speak French to any French person: "hey Nadia, try NOT to butcher the language, because they will judge you, and you will go home crying"...Which leads me to tell you why I'm super excited for this post.
Many French people in Paris speak English. And most are pretty good at it. Others are passable but hey, I'm proud of them nonetheless. After being here for almost a year and haven spoke to French people in English, I can confidently say that no matter how fantastic their English is, French people will most likely make these mistakes. Just a foreword-- these are not meant to be grammatical mistakes, they are just words or expressions that French people use while speaking English because of translation issues. Normally, an English speaker will get the sense of what they are saying but it's still WRONG...(bitter? maybe..)
Anyway, let's go for it: (French mistakes in italics, English corrections in bold)
1) as you want: whatever/whatever you want.
For example, a conversation may go like this:
"Hello French friend, I'm hungry"
"Of course you are, you're American!"
.....
(just kidding)
"Would you like to make some food at home or go out?"
"As you want"
Now..that's very cute, but we don't say that.
2) joggings: sweatpants
No need for an example, joggings is not even a word. We GO jogging and we WEAR sweatpants.
3) doing sports: exercising/working out
For example:
"Wow, you lost weight! I think you may have broken a record and now wear a size -4!"
"Oh thank you, I have been doing sports"
This is the part where English speakers ask which sports (assuming they will answer with soccer, rugby, tennis, etc...) but the French usually mean working out, as in running, biking, weights, etc...
4) take away: take out
....I'll take you away if you don't start calling it take out
5) take a coffee: have/get a coffee
Example:
(around 2:00PM) "Hello French friend, I'm bored, what ever shall we do?"
"Let's go take a coffee?"
No. Let's say we did and don't
6) nearly: almost
Okay okay, this one isn't that bad because British people use it and I assume that the French learn British English..but it still sounds funny. And literally, every French person I've spoken to says "nearly" in place of "almost"....which Americans do not.
7) at/to yours: at/to your place
Example:
"Oh no French friend! I can't find my sunglasses!"
"I think you left them at yours"
MY WHAT?
8) propose: suggest
This one isn't bad either, but again, we don't propose plans for the day or ideas for dinner. We suggest them.
To any French readers out there, I meant no offense to your English skills. You've obviously studied very diligently (yeah look that word up) and have learned a lot. All I'm doing is helping out!
bisous: kisses
xoxox
Monday, June 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
French Food vs. American Food (and what's available)
Hello all my fellow foodies,
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again..food is more than a means of survival for me. I enjoy cooking as much as I enjoy eating but I can't even describe the excitement a simple meal can bring to my day. I guess it sounds a bit sad and obsessive but hey, I know there's others out there like me so it can't be that bad of a..."passion", right?
Saying that, I came to Paris already knowing about the food here (I lived here three years ago during my study abroad semester at school) and I was super happy to be back with that in mind. My first stop: kebabs. I pretty much dumped my suitcase in my apartment, asked my new (and at that point, weirded out) roommates where the closest kebab restaurant was, and ran over practicing my French in my head for "extra hot sauce" and "Can I have that to go?". A kebab in America is better known as a gyro but here in Europe, and specifically in Paris, it's just so much more delicious. It's also pretty much the cheapest meal you can find in Paris that will fill you up. A dollar in McDonald's may get you far in New York but here in Paris, MacDo (as they call it) won't fill you up unless you drop about eight euros. So, unless you're a vegetarian, I recommend you get a kebab in Paris before you venture into expensive cafés and ask for the escargot appetizer. It may not be typical French food, but it's just as available and, in my opinion, just as tasty.(PS-ask for samurai sauce.Best condiment ever)
Of course, other than kebabs, you can find plenty of other foreign foods such as Indian, Chinese (yes, same stuff we have in NY), and Lebanese. Don't worry, I didn't forget sushi...I'm simply saving the best for last :) Sushi is everywhere here in Paris, so don't fret. It's a bit pricey and sometimes the menus lack variety. But I guess I'm just spoiled because the sushi in NY is mostly always classy and of the best quality.
Onto the French! I know I've been talking a lot about the foreign food but I just wanted to get it out of the way. French.food.is.ah-may-zing! Let's take the most basic, well-known French food-- cheese, of course. As I'm sure you know, there are as many days of the year as varieties of cheese in France. I've heard there's even more. Problem is, I don't have enough days :( When you walk into a supermarket here and go to the cheese section, you are faced with the moral question of "Which cheese should you leave behind?". I'm telling you, it's not easy. I'm not exaggerating when I say I have spent 20 minutes JUST in the cheese aisle of the store. And when paired with wine, I don't need anything more. But of course, I'd die on such a diet so I've moved on to exploring other French foods. BUT before I tell you about them, I just want to list two cheese related meals that are a must-have in Paris. 1) Fondue. I mean, its melted cheese that you eat with bread, there's nothing much more to say about it. Big tip coming your way: my favorite restaurant for fondue is "Le Refuge des Fondus". It's in Montmatre and the whole meal is fixed for 20 euros. You get a lot of food, you won't be sorry, GO! 2) Raclette. This meal is wholly French. I never heard of it until I ate it here and the concept is quite simple. Cheese slices are melted and spread over potatoes, ham, or bread. That's it! Here's some pictures:
Side note: Something I had to learn over and over again-- Cheddar cheese is not a daily player in the lives of the French. They do sell cheeseburger cheese slices which is marked as "cheddar" but as for a good ol' block of cheddar cheese? Forget it. So if you need a substitute, I'd go for cantal, edam, or comté.
Since we were on the topic of supermarkets, I do have a quick little warning. The supermarkets in Paris are quite different than the ones in the US. They obviously don't carry everything that a Stop & Shop will (see my first blog post) but some things are packaged in ways that I've never seen in NY. For example, sugar and flour mostly come in these little pouches that have a pouring spout. Milk is sold refrigerated AND on a shelf. Ketchup and mayonnaise sometimes come in squeezable tubes.
Okay, now that we're past the awkward mayo in a tube section, I think I'll list a few things that I believe you should buy and accept into your mouth when you're in Paris. This is not the time to be picky! Go buy a baguette...and just eat it while walking around. This is productive in two ways: 1) you're eating a very delicious, very French food. 2) unless you're wearing a "God Bless America" sweatshirt with a huge camera hanging around your neck, you'll look partly French and non-touristic, which saves you from any of those people trying to pull money out of you. It works..
If it's winter, you must try some vin chaud (hot wine...see my snow day post). Otherwise, at cafés, they have all your usual hot drinks. Ordering a coffee is slightly tricky, but I'm here to save the day. In Paris, when you order a regular "café" you're ordering a small cup of strong black coffee. But when I say small I mean like dollhouse small. This café comes with sugar cubes and, if you're in a nice enough place, a little butter biscuit. If you want milk, you have to ask for it (sorry, it's just not normal to have milk with your coffee here). If you want a coffee that's not as strong and perhaps closer to what you're used to in the US, you should order a "café americain". If you want a coffee with milk already in it, you can order a "café creme" or "café au lait". Anyway, it's a little complicated but this blog did a good job at breaking it down: http://misadventureswithandi.com/2010/04/french-friday-how-to-order-coffee-in-paris.html
If you're into meat, you've got to try several different pâtés (they're also called terrines). They range from meat to seafood to veggie. Never tried the veggie but I can tell you, the French know how to make a mean meat or seafood pâté. Another one for you meaters out there, foie gras. But I'm not going to elaborate on that (google it). I love tartar as well...but I also feel that elaborating on it won't get me anywhere. It's beef prepared raw with an egg yolk and other fun ingredients. I don't think it's exclusively French but I love the stuff and it's popular here.
Anyway, there's always crêpes that are universally delicious and if you're really missing American food, you can always go to BIA (Breakfast in America). It's an American style diner with very American dishes (burgers, breakfast, bottomless mug of Joe, etc..). You can always find pizza as well, but as a New Yorker, I need to say, I miss NY pizza.
Last, but most definitely not least, prepare for a whole different spin on breakfast. In France, breakfast consists of coffee, toast, and jam. Eggs are more of a lunch or dinner thing and are mostly popular in omelette form. Sausage and bacon are also a definite dinner thing. Actually bacon doesn't really exist in the way we know it. It's usually cut into little pieces and used with pasta dishes or quiche.
If you got anything from this...I hope it was: Cheese and Wine = Life
bisous xoxox
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again..food is more than a means of survival for me. I enjoy cooking as much as I enjoy eating but I can't even describe the excitement a simple meal can bring to my day. I guess it sounds a bit sad and obsessive but hey, I know there's others out there like me so it can't be that bad of a..."passion", right?
Saying that, I came to Paris already knowing about the food here (I lived here three years ago during my study abroad semester at school) and I was super happy to be back with that in mind. My first stop: kebabs. I pretty much dumped my suitcase in my apartment, asked my new (and at that point, weirded out) roommates where the closest kebab restaurant was, and ran over practicing my French in my head for "extra hot sauce" and "Can I have that to go?". A kebab in America is better known as a gyro but here in Europe, and specifically in Paris, it's just so much more delicious. It's also pretty much the cheapest meal you can find in Paris that will fill you up. A dollar in McDonald's may get you far in New York but here in Paris, MacDo (as they call it) won't fill you up unless you drop about eight euros. So, unless you're a vegetarian, I recommend you get a kebab in Paris before you venture into expensive cafés and ask for the escargot appetizer. It may not be typical French food, but it's just as available and, in my opinion, just as tasty.(PS-ask for samurai sauce.Best condiment ever)
Of course, other than kebabs, you can find plenty of other foreign foods such as Indian, Chinese (yes, same stuff we have in NY), and Lebanese. Don't worry, I didn't forget sushi...I'm simply saving the best for last :) Sushi is everywhere here in Paris, so don't fret. It's a bit pricey and sometimes the menus lack variety. But I guess I'm just spoiled because the sushi in NY is mostly always classy and of the best quality.
Onto the French! I know I've been talking a lot about the foreign food but I just wanted to get it out of the way. French.food.is.ah-may-zing! Let's take the most basic, well-known French food-- cheese, of course. As I'm sure you know, there are as many days of the year as varieties of cheese in France. I've heard there's even more. Problem is, I don't have enough days :( When you walk into a supermarket here and go to the cheese section, you are faced with the moral question of "Which cheese should you leave behind?". I'm telling you, it's not easy. I'm not exaggerating when I say I have spent 20 minutes JUST in the cheese aisle of the store. And when paired with wine, I don't need anything more. But of course, I'd die on such a diet so I've moved on to exploring other French foods. BUT before I tell you about them, I just want to list two cheese related meals that are a must-have in Paris. 1) Fondue. I mean, its melted cheese that you eat with bread, there's nothing much more to say about it. Big tip coming your way: my favorite restaurant for fondue is "Le Refuge des Fondus". It's in Montmatre and the whole meal is fixed for 20 euros. You get a lot of food, you won't be sorry, GO! 2) Raclette. This meal is wholly French. I never heard of it until I ate it here and the concept is quite simple. Cheese slices are melted and spread over potatoes, ham, or bread. That's it! Here's some pictures:
 |
| This is the "grill" that heats the cheese |
 |
| Then, the melted cheese slides right off, mmm |
Side note: Something I had to learn over and over again-- Cheddar cheese is not a daily player in the lives of the French. They do sell cheeseburger cheese slices which is marked as "cheddar" but as for a good ol' block of cheddar cheese? Forget it. So if you need a substitute, I'd go for cantal, edam, or comté.
Since we were on the topic of supermarkets, I do have a quick little warning. The supermarkets in Paris are quite different than the ones in the US. They obviously don't carry everything that a Stop & Shop will (see my first blog post) but some things are packaged in ways that I've never seen in NY. For example, sugar and flour mostly come in these little pouches that have a pouring spout. Milk is sold refrigerated AND on a shelf. Ketchup and mayonnaise sometimes come in squeezable tubes.
Okay, now that we're past the awkward mayo in a tube section, I think I'll list a few things that I believe you should buy and accept into your mouth when you're in Paris. This is not the time to be picky! Go buy a baguette...and just eat it while walking around. This is productive in two ways: 1) you're eating a very delicious, very French food. 2) unless you're wearing a "God Bless America" sweatshirt with a huge camera hanging around your neck, you'll look partly French and non-touristic, which saves you from any of those people trying to pull money out of you. It works..
If it's winter, you must try some vin chaud (hot wine...see my snow day post). Otherwise, at cafés, they have all your usual hot drinks. Ordering a coffee is slightly tricky, but I'm here to save the day. In Paris, when you order a regular "café" you're ordering a small cup of strong black coffee. But when I say small I mean like dollhouse small. This café comes with sugar cubes and, if you're in a nice enough place, a little butter biscuit. If you want milk, you have to ask for it (sorry, it's just not normal to have milk with your coffee here). If you want a coffee that's not as strong and perhaps closer to what you're used to in the US, you should order a "café americain". If you want a coffee with milk already in it, you can order a "café creme" or "café au lait". Anyway, it's a little complicated but this blog did a good job at breaking it down: http://misadventureswithandi.com/2010/04/french-friday-how-to-order-coffee-in-paris.html
If you're into meat, you've got to try several different pâtés (they're also called terrines). They range from meat to seafood to veggie. Never tried the veggie but I can tell you, the French know how to make a mean meat or seafood pâté. Another one for you meaters out there, foie gras. But I'm not going to elaborate on that (google it). I love tartar as well...but I also feel that elaborating on it won't get me anywhere. It's beef prepared raw with an egg yolk and other fun ingredients. I don't think it's exclusively French but I love the stuff and it's popular here.
Anyway, there's always crêpes that are universally delicious and if you're really missing American food, you can always go to BIA (Breakfast in America). It's an American style diner with very American dishes (burgers, breakfast, bottomless mug of Joe, etc..). You can always find pizza as well, but as a New Yorker, I need to say, I miss NY pizza.
Last, but most definitely not least, prepare for a whole different spin on breakfast. In France, breakfast consists of coffee, toast, and jam. Eggs are more of a lunch or dinner thing and are mostly popular in omelette form. Sausage and bacon are also a definite dinner thing. Actually bacon doesn't really exist in the way we know it. It's usually cut into little pieces and used with pasta dishes or quiche.
If you got anything from this...I hope it was: Cheese and Wine = Life
bisous xoxox
Thursday, March 28, 2013
How to Make Friends in Paris
Making friends is something you've been doing for a while. We all remember going to school for the first time with wide eyes and a search for a new friend. Well..perhaps you don't remember but anyway, the point is, whether you're an extrovert or introvert, you instinctively have the need to socialize.
Also, whether you're in Paris, New York, or ...Tokyo, the need remains and the search is never-ending. If you honestly hate socializing with other humans there is no need to read on, I'm only talking about us normal people.
The easiest way to make friends is in places where you can find lots of people that are also looking to find friends. Usually, places like school and/or other organized activities are filled with people that are eager to click with you....(don't worry, I am going somewhere with this). So, if you're coming to Paris with the intention of taking some sort of classes or going to acitivities, I applaud you-- you're taking a rewardable step towards new-found friendships.
Yep, that's really all the advice I have on that topic. If you're coming to Paris with zero connections, I recommend taking a class (c'mon, you definitely need to take French lessons...I know you do) or signing up for some sort of activity..like photography, pottery, yoga? There's tons of options with bi-lingual teachers so you don't have to dive into photography en français.
I met my friends through a French class. We are all au pairs and this language center had classes that were scheduled so that it would be possible for an au pair to go (mornings, and no class Wednesday.. because, in case you DON'T know, kids in France don't go to school on Wednesdays). My other friend met a few girls at a theatre group that she signed up for. And from there, it's easy to meet their friends, etc...
The best part about making friends abroad is the mix you get. I've met people from Ireland, England, Israel, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, Lebanon, and China. Of course, not everyone sticks. Sometimes keeping in touch doesn't work out or they're just traveling through and they leave you forever.
If you're ballsy enough to just go out and meet people at a bar..there are plenty of facebook groups and websites that deal with providing events for expats/international young people to meet up. I've actually been to one or two (well, I was with friends...so..that's cheating) and they're very entertaining. Everyone is eager to talk and exchange stories at these little meetings, so don't be shy.
As of right now, I have a nice little group of friends and it was very easy to make friends. Just a funny little side note though: I'm just realizing this..but I have no French girl friends. How odd.
well then...'til later!
bisous xoxox
Also, whether you're in Paris, New York, or ...Tokyo, the need remains and the search is never-ending. If you honestly hate socializing with other humans there is no need to read on, I'm only talking about us normal people.
The easiest way to make friends is in places where you can find lots of people that are also looking to find friends. Usually, places like school and/or other organized activities are filled with people that are eager to click with you....(don't worry, I am going somewhere with this). So, if you're coming to Paris with the intention of taking some sort of classes or going to acitivities, I applaud you-- you're taking a rewardable step towards new-found friendships.
Yep, that's really all the advice I have on that topic. If you're coming to Paris with zero connections, I recommend taking a class (c'mon, you definitely need to take French lessons...I know you do) or signing up for some sort of activity..like photography, pottery, yoga? There's tons of options with bi-lingual teachers so you don't have to dive into photography en français.
I met my friends through a French class. We are all au pairs and this language center had classes that were scheduled so that it would be possible for an au pair to go (mornings, and no class Wednesday.. because, in case you DON'T know, kids in France don't go to school on Wednesdays). My other friend met a few girls at a theatre group that she signed up for. And from there, it's easy to meet their friends, etc...
The best part about making friends abroad is the mix you get. I've met people from Ireland, England, Israel, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, Lebanon, and China. Of course, not everyone sticks. Sometimes keeping in touch doesn't work out or they're just traveling through and they leave you forever.
If you're ballsy enough to just go out and meet people at a bar..there are plenty of facebook groups and websites that deal with providing events for expats/international young people to meet up. I've actually been to one or two (well, I was with friends...so..that's cheating) and they're very entertaining. Everyone is eager to talk and exchange stories at these little meetings, so don't be shy.
As of right now, I have a nice little group of friends and it was very easy to make friends. Just a funny little side note though: I'm just realizing this..but I have no French girl friends. How odd.
well then...'til later!
bisous xoxox
Friday, March 8, 2013
Day Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel
As the title of this post may suggest, I recently took a day trip out to Mont-St-Michel. For those of you who don't know, Mont-St-Michel is a small rocky island just off the coast of the countryside in Normandy. It has been inhabited and built on since the 10th century (according to Wikipedia theres about 44 people living on the island today...ha). One of the most intriguing aspects of this island is that at low tide, you can easily walk to shore. However, at high tide, the island is completely surrounded by water. Although there are houses, restaurants, and other smaller establishments on the island, the main attraction is the abbey sitting atop the mountain of rocks. Including touring the inside of the abbey, the whole island can be seen within a good 5-6 hours. Overall, I found my time there to be enchantingly pleasant and I recommend seeing Mont-St-Michel to anyone going to France!
Anyway, here's a few tidbits about what to do there and how to make the best of your time on this little island.
I made the trip with one of my roommates who decided to rent a car for the day. There are definitely trains available from Paris but we did the car thing, and honestly, once you're out of Paris traffic, the trip is easy and enjoyable. With traffic and a few pitstops it took us four hours to get there...but with the magnificent views of the Normandy countryside, it's hard to think of four hours in the car as a waste of time.
Once you get there, you have to park in a designated lot-- you're going to think its a trick because the parking lot is still a 35 minute walk from the actual island. But it's not a trick; you either walk it or take a free shuttle. Thomas and I walked..and I do recommend it. Think of it as opportune time for picture taking! Once you get behind the walls, it seems like you've entered a teeeeeny Medieval village. It's honestly one of the most adorable little "streets" I've ever seen. There's souvenir shops everywhere and of course your conveniently located cafés and restaurants that you can't resist once the hunger sets in. We ate at Mere Poulard which is actually famous for having started on Mont-Saint-Michel and delicious (totally worth eating there...UNLESS you're on a strict budget $$$).
Whether you stop to eat or not, you're going to make your way past the little shops and cafés. Meanwhile, there's a ton of little staircases to climb and pathways to explore. We didn't follow the main path the whole time and it was definitely worth it. There's so many gardens, cemeteries/chapels, and walls with little windows that look out to the sea. Also, the fact that the houses are built on different levels means that you can be walking along a path and there'll be dormer windows just an arm's length away from you. I really found the whole trot through the "village" and to the abbey to be stunning.
Finally, you'll find that you can't go any further up the stairs unless you pay €9 (unless you're a student or EU member under the age of 25!...then it's free). Either way, you have to go in...I mean, c'mon..that's pretty much the whole point of the island. PLUS, it is an absolutely beautiful abbey. Each room that you can go through is different from the other. I won't bore you with details but I will tell you that there was even an indoor courtyard. Okay, it's hard to explain, here are some photos:
...and! here's what they don't show you: I was in this courtyard garden thing, looking out onto the outdoor gardens and beach and if you search for it hard enough, you'll see a tiny chapel sitting on the beach atop a pile of rocks. At first, it seems impossible to get to, but if you get back down to the main level of the island and move to the west end of it, theres a path that makes the beach accessible. When Thomas and I got there, no one was in sight- it was great, almost like going on a little search. Once you round the corner on the beach, you'll see it sitting there. Maybe the chapel is advertised somewhere on the island but either way, no one was near it and I think that's what made it even more cherished to me. Definitely worth the hike on the beach.
Well...that's how my day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel went. I loved every minute and as I said before, if you have the day to spare, I would recommend coming here for sure if you're visiting France. Don't forget to eat some oysters!
As for now, I'm actually back in Normandy for a week. The kids have vacation time and I'm enjoying some country air with them. I'll try to remember to post pictures from here-- it's gorgeous!
bisous
xoxox
Anyway, here's a few tidbits about what to do there and how to make the best of your time on this little island.
I made the trip with one of my roommates who decided to rent a car for the day. There are definitely trains available from Paris but we did the car thing, and honestly, once you're out of Paris traffic, the trip is easy and enjoyable. With traffic and a few pitstops it took us four hours to get there...but with the magnificent views of the Normandy countryside, it's hard to think of four hours in the car as a waste of time.
Once you get there, you have to park in a designated lot-- you're going to think its a trick because the parking lot is still a 35 minute walk from the actual island. But it's not a trick; you either walk it or take a free shuttle. Thomas and I walked..and I do recommend it. Think of it as opportune time for picture taking! Once you get behind the walls, it seems like you've entered a teeeeeny Medieval village. It's honestly one of the most adorable little "streets" I've ever seen. There's souvenir shops everywhere and of course your conveniently located cafés and restaurants that you can't resist once the hunger sets in. We ate at Mere Poulard which is actually famous for having started on Mont-Saint-Michel and delicious (totally worth eating there...UNLESS you're on a strict budget $$$).
Whether you stop to eat or not, you're going to make your way past the little shops and cafés. Meanwhile, there's a ton of little staircases to climb and pathways to explore. We didn't follow the main path the whole time and it was definitely worth it. There's so many gardens, cemeteries/chapels, and walls with little windows that look out to the sea. Also, the fact that the houses are built on different levels means that you can be walking along a path and there'll be dormer windows just an arm's length away from you. I really found the whole trot through the "village" and to the abbey to be stunning.
Finally, you'll find that you can't go any further up the stairs unless you pay €9 (unless you're a student or EU member under the age of 25!...then it's free). Either way, you have to go in...I mean, c'mon..that's pretty much the whole point of the island. PLUS, it is an absolutely beautiful abbey. Each room that you can go through is different from the other. I won't bore you with details but I will tell you that there was even an indoor courtyard. Okay, it's hard to explain, here are some photos:
Well...that's how my day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel went. I loved every minute and as I said before, if you have the day to spare, I would recommend coming here for sure if you're visiting France. Don't forget to eat some oysters!
As for now, I'm actually back in Normandy for a week. The kids have vacation time and I'm enjoying some country air with them. I'll try to remember to post pictures from here-- it's gorgeous!
bisous
xoxox
Monday, February 18, 2013
Who Let the Dogs Out...in Paris?
Hello all, hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day.. mine passed quite uneventfully here in Paris. One of the kids I take care of was my little Valentine so that made the day a whole lot nicer :)
Anyway, my friend Volter (pronounced like the French philosopher Voltaire..which is great because he's in Paris for 3 months and people are loving the name) just got here a few weeks ago and pointed out that dogs are sometimes muzzled whereas in NY he doesn't recall seeing dogs with muzzles. First of all, I think it's funny how these random topics come up between people who would normally never discuss something like dog muzzles/behavior. But, c'est la vie when you're used to one thing and something done differently will usually always catch your eye.
So yes, you might not find this interesting, but I do...and it's my blog. So there.
Dogs in New York are not crazy or anything. Actually, most dogs in New York are pretty well behaved. However, after seeing the dogs here in Paris, I think they all must have been trained by circus ring masters. Half these dogs walk with their owner without a leash but still maintain a slow trot-- always remaining at their humans right side. When they walk past another dog, another miracle happens: some dogs attempt to smell each other, but with one whistle and/or quick call from their owner, these dogs drop their noses and turn the other way. I'm not lying...you have to come see it for yourself!
I guess the question is why would some be muzzled. I've only seen bigger dogs muzzled and mostly on the metro. I've never asked one of these muzzled dog owners why they do it, but from some simple analyzation I figure it's to avoid any sort of conflict with smaller dogs. I think French people understand that if they want to get onto a smaller subway train car with a dog bigger than the size of a football, people would generally feel much better if the dog had a muzzle on. It's just courtesy.
What isn't courteous is when these circus master dog owners forget to pick up after their dog. New Yorkers are definitely a winner in this category. I guess Parisians have the time and patience to train their dogs but not to pick up after them. So be warned: if you come to Paris, be sure to watch your step!
Also, I see an average of two/three jack russell terriors a day here. And they all seem to have the token brown spot over one eye. Reminds me of that little guy Wishbone on PBS...maybe he moved to Paris and had lots of babies.....
bisous xoxox
Anyway, my friend Volter (pronounced like the French philosopher Voltaire..which is great because he's in Paris for 3 months and people are loving the name) just got here a few weeks ago and pointed out that dogs are sometimes muzzled whereas in NY he doesn't recall seeing dogs with muzzles. First of all, I think it's funny how these random topics come up between people who would normally never discuss something like dog muzzles/behavior. But, c'est la vie when you're used to one thing and something done differently will usually always catch your eye.
So yes, you might not find this interesting, but I do...and it's my blog. So there.
Dogs in New York are not crazy or anything. Actually, most dogs in New York are pretty well behaved. However, after seeing the dogs here in Paris, I think they all must have been trained by circus ring masters. Half these dogs walk with their owner without a leash but still maintain a slow trot-- always remaining at their humans right side. When they walk past another dog, another miracle happens: some dogs attempt to smell each other, but with one whistle and/or quick call from their owner, these dogs drop their noses and turn the other way. I'm not lying...you have to come see it for yourself!
I guess the question is why would some be muzzled. I've only seen bigger dogs muzzled and mostly on the metro. I've never asked one of these muzzled dog owners why they do it, but from some simple analyzation I figure it's to avoid any sort of conflict with smaller dogs. I think French people understand that if they want to get onto a smaller subway train car with a dog bigger than the size of a football, people would generally feel much better if the dog had a muzzle on. It's just courtesy.
What isn't courteous is when these circus master dog owners forget to pick up after their dog. New Yorkers are definitely a winner in this category. I guess Parisians have the time and patience to train their dogs but not to pick up after them. So be warned: if you come to Paris, be sure to watch your step!
Also, I see an average of two/three jack russell terriors a day here. And they all seem to have the token brown spot over one eye. Reminds me of that little guy Wishbone on PBS...maybe he moved to Paris and had lots of babies.....
bisous xoxox
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Super Bowl in Paris
Oddly enough, this is my second time watching the Super Bowl in Paris. So having already been through this once had me slightly more prepared for this experience than your average American spending some time in Paris. In case you do ever end up in Paris during the "finale du championnat de football américain" here's a few things to expect:
1) The game will obviously be aired live...so keep in mind that in Paris it begins at 12:30 AM and goes until 4/4:30 AM. A few factors come into play with this timing. First, you have to find a bar* that will stay open that late (well, this isn't too hard, just type it into google). Second, the metro will be closed when you get out. So after the game..say hello to your friendly taxi driver or night bus driver! yay! Or you can be cool like me and walk home (note: this is not recommended unless you're extremely poor or do not enjoy waiting for the bus). Third, even though the game doesn't start until around midnight, you're kidding yourself if you don't think you have to be at the bar several hours before to get good seats. Because every bar in Paris actually ISN'T open for the American Super Bowl, space is limited. And when I say a few hours, I mean, get there between 8:00 and 9:30. Fourth, and last, yes, it's happening in the wee hours of the morning, so yes, you may be more tired than you would have been if watching in America. But hey, if you're really serious about football, you won't get tired watching the Super Bowl. I mean, really..
2) Ready for this one? This is the one that really gets most Americans when they don't know what to expect. NO COMMERCIALS! Yep, that's right. One of the primary reasons why the Super Bowl is awesome (and for some people, the only reason they even WATCH it) is all the funny, passionate, "hey we spent $76, 000, 000 on this 30 second advertisement so it better be good" commercials. When my friends and I were at the bar, waiting for the game to start, the bartender decided to make the announcement that commercials will not, simply CAN not, be aired during the Super Bowl. This one couple, I swear the world ended for them right there and then-- they almost collapsed on the floor from shock. So putting it into fewer words, if you watch the Super Bowl for the mere reason of getting joy out of the commercials, don't watch it in Paris. The commercials shown are mostly NFL sponsored or something about how NFL made it easy now for Europeans to buy cool sports jerseys online. On the other hand, you will be able to watch the opening ceremony and half time show. No worries about missing Beyoncé guys!
3) As has been established earlier, I am passionate about food. Let's just say, if I'm watching the Super Bowl in America, I am getting all the appropriate foods prepared a few days beforehand (yes, real chili needs to cook for more than 20 minutes...) and I am serious about this menu. When I think Super Bowl munchies, I'm thinking chili, salsa and guacamole, chips, wings, potato skins, mozzarella sticks... I can keep going with this list. If you can't figure out what I'm about to say about the Super Bowl in Paris in this paragraph, I am very sad for you. Bars in Paris, no matter how American or Canadian, do.not.know.how.to.make.appropriate.bar.food. Except for fries. But thats it. Okay, yeah, sometimes their nachos are good. But anyway, to me, the biggest bummer about the Super Bowl in Paris is not the time difference and it's not the missing hilarious commercials. Nope. For me, it's the lack of football game munchies. Let's take the bar I went to for example...they only served hot dogs. (If you must ask, yes I ate one, of course). I did find that the Hard Rock Café in Paris had the option of an American cuisine buffet but it was 35 euros and again, after personal experience of trying "American bar food" in Paris, I wasn't too trusting.
4) Finally, all you Americans out there trying to figure out what to expect while watching the Super Bowl in Paris.....expect French people! Really! There are some die-hard football fans in Paris and they are not American. I'm not saying that they're terrible fellow onlookers. I'm just giving a warning that you may end up sitting next to a table of French men who may or may not be getting more angry than you are with the game. But think of it this way, you can brush up on some French curse words!
Anyway, all in all, watching the Super Bowl in Paris is most definitely possible-- so fret not my American friends! Just be sure to find a bar (I'll name some at the bottom), get there early, prepare yourself for a lot of youtubing the next day for all those missed commercials, and entertain the idea of spending 35 euros for mediocre bar food. It's still the same old Super Bowl and if you're lucky, you'll be sharing the experience with some Frenchies as well!
xoxox
bisous
*You don't really have to find a bar. I just found out this year (about 3 hours before the game started) that if you have access to a TV and cable, Paris actually does us, the Americans, the honor of giving the Super Bowl a time block on channel 9! See, if I had known this, I may have skipped the bar, made some chili, guacamole, _____ (insert all the other 23 delicious typical game foods here), and stayed at home. Oh well...maybe next time.
Bars that will stay open late and show the Super Bowl:
1) Hard Rock Café
2) Wide Open Spaces
3) Le Players
4) The Great Canadian (where I went for all other football games, great place!)
5) The Moose
6) Belushi's
1) The game will obviously be aired live...so keep in mind that in Paris it begins at 12:30 AM and goes until 4/4:30 AM. A few factors come into play with this timing. First, you have to find a bar* that will stay open that late (well, this isn't too hard, just type it into google). Second, the metro will be closed when you get out. So after the game..say hello to your friendly taxi driver or night bus driver! yay! Or you can be cool like me and walk home (note: this is not recommended unless you're extremely poor or do not enjoy waiting for the bus). Third, even though the game doesn't start until around midnight, you're kidding yourself if you don't think you have to be at the bar several hours before to get good seats. Because every bar in Paris actually ISN'T open for the American Super Bowl, space is limited. And when I say a few hours, I mean, get there between 8:00 and 9:30. Fourth, and last, yes, it's happening in the wee hours of the morning, so yes, you may be more tired than you would have been if watching in America. But hey, if you're really serious about football, you won't get tired watching the Super Bowl. I mean, really..
2) Ready for this one? This is the one that really gets most Americans when they don't know what to expect. NO COMMERCIALS! Yep, that's right. One of the primary reasons why the Super Bowl is awesome (and for some people, the only reason they even WATCH it) is all the funny, passionate, "hey we spent $76, 000, 000 on this 30 second advertisement so it better be good" commercials. When my friends and I were at the bar, waiting for the game to start, the bartender decided to make the announcement that commercials will not, simply CAN not, be aired during the Super Bowl. This one couple, I swear the world ended for them right there and then-- they almost collapsed on the floor from shock. So putting it into fewer words, if you watch the Super Bowl for the mere reason of getting joy out of the commercials, don't watch it in Paris. The commercials shown are mostly NFL sponsored or something about how NFL made it easy now for Europeans to buy cool sports jerseys online. On the other hand, you will be able to watch the opening ceremony and half time show. No worries about missing Beyoncé guys!
3) As has been established earlier, I am passionate about food. Let's just say, if I'm watching the Super Bowl in America, I am getting all the appropriate foods prepared a few days beforehand (yes, real chili needs to cook for more than 20 minutes...) and I am serious about this menu. When I think Super Bowl munchies, I'm thinking chili, salsa and guacamole, chips, wings, potato skins, mozzarella sticks... I can keep going with this list. If you can't figure out what I'm about to say about the Super Bowl in Paris in this paragraph, I am very sad for you. Bars in Paris, no matter how American or Canadian, do.not.know.how.to.make.appropriate.bar.food. Except for fries. But thats it. Okay, yeah, sometimes their nachos are good. But anyway, to me, the biggest bummer about the Super Bowl in Paris is not the time difference and it's not the missing hilarious commercials. Nope. For me, it's the lack of football game munchies. Let's take the bar I went to for example...they only served hot dogs. (If you must ask, yes I ate one, of course). I did find that the Hard Rock Café in Paris had the option of an American cuisine buffet but it was 35 euros and again, after personal experience of trying "American bar food" in Paris, I wasn't too trusting.
4) Finally, all you Americans out there trying to figure out what to expect while watching the Super Bowl in Paris.....expect French people! Really! There are some die-hard football fans in Paris and they are not American. I'm not saying that they're terrible fellow onlookers. I'm just giving a warning that you may end up sitting next to a table of French men who may or may not be getting more angry than you are with the game. But think of it this way, you can brush up on some French curse words!
Anyway, all in all, watching the Super Bowl in Paris is most definitely possible-- so fret not my American friends! Just be sure to find a bar (I'll name some at the bottom), get there early, prepare yourself for a lot of youtubing the next day for all those missed commercials, and entertain the idea of spending 35 euros for mediocre bar food. It's still the same old Super Bowl and if you're lucky, you'll be sharing the experience with some Frenchies as well!
xoxox
bisous
*You don't really have to find a bar. I just found out this year (about 3 hours before the game started) that if you have access to a TV and cable, Paris actually does us, the Americans, the honor of giving the Super Bowl a time block on channel 9! See, if I had known this, I may have skipped the bar, made some chili, guacamole, _____ (insert all the other 23 delicious typical game foods here), and stayed at home. Oh well...maybe next time.
Bars that will stay open late and show the Super Bowl:
1) Hard Rock Café
2) Wide Open Spaces
3) Le Players
4) The Great Canadian (where I went for all other football games, great place!)
5) The Moose
6) Belushi's
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Snow Days at their Finest
Paris is known for its wet, cold winters. However, lucky lucky me, it's been snowing this whole week! Normally, it doesn't stick to the ground but all those huge, flimsy snowflakes create a perfectly breathtaking view.
To my delight, I woke up on Sunday and found that snow DID indeed stick. I live on a small one way street, so traffic is minimal and within the hour, I could hear a group of kids playing outside. Another half hour passes and my roommates and I hear a snowball hit our window. I go to look outside and see the two kids I care for, their dad, and about 10 more kids outside having a snowball fight. Before I know it, one of my roommates is joining the "battle" and after two more snowballs hit our windows (by my kid's dad of all people...) I'm putting on my outdoor clothes as well. The second I get outside kids I don't even know are already aiming snowballs at me. I'm not lying when I tell you I haven't been in a snow ball fight, let alone made or thrown a snowball, in at least 5 years. As a 24-year-old throwing snowballs amongst kids between the ages of 6 and 15, let me just say that I had the BEST time.
Within 10 minutes of being out on the street, another 10 kids had joined us. The most surprising thing for me to see was that their parents had come outside too. I don't even mean that they were standing on the sidelines watching...no, these parents were full on involved in this snowball fight. The whole street had become taken over by kids and adults throwing snowballs from one side to the other side. People were crouching behind cars, dodging hits left and right, making runs for the other end of the sidewalk-- it was a top notch snowballfight battle.
I even made some enemies. I say kids, but don't be deceived...some of those kids were out to get me. At first, I only aimed at the torso and I didn't pack my snowballs very hard. By the end, I was legit thinking up strategies and sneaking up on them in order to get a clean head shot. Call me a horrible person, but if I didn't defend myself in a manner that was taken seriously, I'd probably be all sorts of patched up right now.
Before I knew it, two and a half hours had gone by and I came back to my apartment with snow in my hood, pockets, and hair. My fingers were frozen because apparently my gloves don't work properly. Now I know. But I had a great time (despite developing a new deep found hatred for one of the neighborhood kids) and I couldn't remember the last time a snow day had me playing outside for that long. To top it off, my friend Kate and I made some vin chaud (hot spiced wine..) and sipped it until every bit of cold had left my body. mmmm yummy.
Also, nothing against you Patriots fans, but we went to The Great Canadian to watch the football games, and I am so happy with the results :)
bisous xoxox
To my delight, I woke up on Sunday and found that snow DID indeed stick. I live on a small one way street, so traffic is minimal and within the hour, I could hear a group of kids playing outside. Another half hour passes and my roommates and I hear a snowball hit our window. I go to look outside and see the two kids I care for, their dad, and about 10 more kids outside having a snowball fight. Before I know it, one of my roommates is joining the "battle" and after two more snowballs hit our windows (by my kid's dad of all people...) I'm putting on my outdoor clothes as well. The second I get outside kids I don't even know are already aiming snowballs at me. I'm not lying when I tell you I haven't been in a snow ball fight, let alone made or thrown a snowball, in at least 5 years. As a 24-year-old throwing snowballs amongst kids between the ages of 6 and 15, let me just say that I had the BEST time.
Within 10 minutes of being out on the street, another 10 kids had joined us. The most surprising thing for me to see was that their parents had come outside too. I don't even mean that they were standing on the sidelines watching...no, these parents were full on involved in this snowball fight. The whole street had become taken over by kids and adults throwing snowballs from one side to the other side. People were crouching behind cars, dodging hits left and right, making runs for the other end of the sidewalk-- it was a top notch snowball
I even made some enemies. I say kids, but don't be deceived...some of those kids were out to get me. At first, I only aimed at the torso and I didn't pack my snowballs very hard. By the end, I was legit thinking up strategies and sneaking up on them in order to get a clean head shot. Call me a horrible person, but if I didn't defend myself in a manner that was taken seriously, I'd probably be all sorts of patched up right now.
Before I knew it, two and a half hours had gone by and I came back to my apartment with snow in my hood, pockets, and hair. My fingers were frozen because apparently my gloves don't work properly. Now I know. But I had a great time (despite developing a new deep found hatred for one of the neighborhood kids) and I couldn't remember the last time a snow day had me playing outside for that long. To top it off, my friend Kate and I made some vin chaud (hot spiced wine..) and sipped it until every bit of cold had left my body. mmmm yummy.
Also, nothing against you Patriots fans, but we went to The Great Canadian to watch the football games, and I am so happy with the results :)
bisous xoxox
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