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
Thursday, March 28, 2013
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
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