Sierra Leone Adventure

I am embarking on a two week trip with 14 other students from the Monterey Institute of International Studies to Sierra Leone in January. Most of us are completing a Masters in Conflict Resolution studies. This trip will be an excellent opportunity to transfer what we have learned in the classroom into real life situations. While there we will be conducting field work which will examine peacebuilding processes in this war torn country. We will be interviewing a number of grassroots organizations, government officials, and civilians who were victims or soldiers in the 2 decade civil war.

We have already begun to keep a blog on our reflections over a number of horrific documentaries we have watched on the conflict. This blog will be continually updated during our trip and afterwards as we compile the information we have gathered. Please visit our blog to see what we are up to!

http://blogs.miis.edu/miisinsierraleone2010/

Ice Skating in Yosemite for Thanksgiving

Champignon Picking in Monterey

Jellies

I Wish for Fish

California Fires

Taken from Monterey, CA

Someone told me that this was a controlled fire by the military

Strasbourg

The train station was completely enveloped in this glass structure. Made me wonder if in the future entire cities will have to be covered in glass bubbles to protect them from noxious pollutants in the air.


Two adorable gargoyles.


Crossing into Germany.


Cider beer!






The last weekend before leaving France, Gaby took me to Strasbourg, a beautiful Alsacian town, right on the border of Germany. We rented bicycles and crossed the border, only taking us about 20 minutes! Quick beer and pretzel in a local cafe in Germany, and then we headed back to Strasbourg, to meander around, eat some regional cuisine (www.marymagellan.blogspot.com), and then right back to Paris on the TGV. Only 6 hours in Strasbourg was far too short, but on the other hand, because of the time limit, every moment we spent was so delectable and joyful.

It is funny, despite the annoyances of living in France and having to deal with grouchy Parisians most of the time, the last few weeks before my departure was like I had just moved to Paris all over again. I started to notice all of the cutsey romantic things like the cafes, the beautiful buildings, the clothes...and I began to reminisce even before I had left.

The last day before leaving I got myself over to Musee d'Orsay to have a leisurely, but brief stroll around on the top floor with some of my favorite impressionists. These were the two paintings that I couldn't take my eyes off. It was as if France itself was saying goodbye to me.

Au revoir Paris

My French adventure came to an end last month and I have returned to the states, Monterey, California, to start graduate school. It was hard to leave behind the nice Parisian life I had setup for myself over the past 2 years, but I know I will be back and that the experiences, friends, jobs and travels that I had will not be forgotten.

I will still continue to post while here in California, but for now I might just keep adding some of my last France pictures until I run out!

Au revoir et a bientot!

Night Wall

Graphiti Expo

Fondation Cartier

French Bookshelves

Mas Gouge, Uzes, France


Paris, France

for Patricia

Caen

My friend Dick and I took a day trip outside of Paris last Sunday to go up to a town in Normandy, Caen. It is close to the DDay beaches and was heavily hit during the war, explaining why it lacks the old European style buildings. Fortunately, the Abbey of William the Conquerer was preserved and has been around since the 11th Century!


Eglise de Saint-Pierre


Hotel de Ville


Abbaye aux Hommes


Inside the Abbey where William the Conquerer's tomb is

Marche d'Aligre

I didn't take any pictures of the market because I feel like once you have seen a few markets in Paris they are all quite similar on appearance. But Aligre is set apart from the rest because all of the vans that transport the goods are covered in crazy graphiti.
Location: place d'Aligre 75012 (in between Bastille and Gare du Lyon)

Le Select

Don't believe I have many or any posts about cafes I go to.

Blvd. Montparnasse at metro Vavin

Elysee Montmartre

Last night I finally got to go to the historic Elysee Montmartre concert hall to see great reggae artists Johnny Clarke and Horace Andy.

Monet Murals

(l'Orangerie)

Some of my favorite things...

in my boyfriend's parent's flat.

Matisse

(l'Orangerie)

Can You Ever Take Enough?

Comings and Goings

Isle de la Cite, Parc Monceau, Marais, Corner of rue de Sully and Boulevard Henri IV (in no particular order)

Oh the things you will do for the places you go...

I am coming to the end of my stay in Paris and I thought that a brief recap of the range of jobs I have undertaken here would help to summarize part of my experience...

Arrived January 9th, 2008

Jan 11 Bartender in an Irish pub in Pigalle. Quit the next day.

Jan - Apr Babysitter in Toulouse for annoying, crying and unpleasant French kids.

Mar Sandwich maker at Cosi, 54 rue de la Seine, 75006.

Apr - Sept Waitress at Macéo, 15, Rue Petits Champs 75001, a French brassérie by Palais Royale.

Apr - present Babysitter on occasions

May - June Assistant Social Secretary (notice the initials) British Embassy, Ambassador's Residence

A week in June Production Assistant for Kodak photographers in Nice, Gorges de Verdon, St. Tropez, Cassis, Cannes, Martigue, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence

July - present Private Tennis Instructor

Sept- Oct Grape picker in Carainne, Côte du Rhône for the wine harvest

2009

Sept 08 - present Assitant/Organizer to photographer/writer

Nov 08 - Feb Social skills reeducation helper

Nov 08 - June English Teacher for two French children

Feb 08 - June Assistant to an American Accountant, Horton Tax Services

Not Your Typical Acordian Player

(thanks Vanessa - http://le-cahier-paris.blogspot.com/)

Birthday Night Out in Montmartre

This past Saturday was a celebration for my friend, Eleanor's, birthday. We all went to eat at Relais de Gascon, 13 rue des Abesses 75018. Had a great time eating gigantic salads with fois gras, magret du canard, escargots, entrecote and deliscious frite en d'ail (thinly sliced potatoes covered in garlic).

Afterwards we went down the street to a dive bar where we got served taffys and drank mohitos and pints of relatively cheap beer. It was swealtering in this bar though, as well as everywhere else in Paris now because nowhere has air conditioning and they don't seem to know how to use fans either. When we would go outside to get some air, the bouncer was constantly telling us to be quite for fear of neighbors complaining (another typical nuisance when going out in Paris).






When the bar closed at 2, we headed down to South Pigalle to an old Lesbian cabaret/club, Chez Moune. This is just a dance club in the basement now. Music was a mix of bad 80s beats, with some random Michael Jackson, JTimberlake and other bad hits thrown in there. It was twice as hot as the last bar and the bouncer was an asshole. I ended up not being allowed back in once I went out to get air because the bouncer kept yelling at everyone to be quite outside on the street and I guess he didn't appreciate my sassyness.

All together, a fun and adventurous night out with lots of laughter and good friends.

Wedding in the South