My apartment was sooooo cozy inside and it was just so cold and well…wet… outside, I didn’t really want to leave

View from my 6th floor, overlooking downtown and snow

Space needle to the left!

As you can see, very white! There was probably about a foot of snow in my area from about Tuesday until just last night. It’s gone now, the rain washed it away, but according to the news, about 100,000 p eople were left without power! Fortunately not one of them!

So I did have to leave the house, I have a new job that I started this week – nannying for a family. Although I had to work, the kids didn’t have school. They didn’t want to go outside and play in the snow (I wasn’t complaining!!) so what did we do? We made a snowman inside…

snowman cake

We made a “snowman cake” from a white box cake mix and then I frosted it and let them decorate it. kind of like a gingerbread house…. for winter. See that ‘carrot nose’? She put probably a fourth cup of frosting on there! I think they liked it, I came back the next day and they had eaten the head !

The snow didn’t inconvenince me too much except Thursday when there was a full out icy rain storm, I called out of work for that one ! I spent the day though cleaning my apt and organizing my stuff – still things to unpack and put away ! When I left later for hot yoga, I realized just how icy and slushy it was out there!

On my way back I just barely missed some huge chunks of falling ice and snow and tree branches – it was pretty scary! – falling off a building. Luckily, I did miss them, but it could have been bad.

Have you had any snow storms this year? Do you like it or not? I like it for a little while, it was more peaceful and quiet in the city than usual, but not for too long, I get so stir crazy!!

XOXO,

Jac.

ps. I have a new addiction.  My friends introduced me to it a few weeks ago and I’m officially hooked. Funny that I hadn’t really been to Mac Dos (what the frenchies call it) in years, and now I fork over a dollar for my iced tea fix almost every day!

Mac Dos unsweet tea with stevia. Amazing.

So a lot has gone down since ! Christmas, ringing in the new year, MOVING into a new apartment!!

I officially moved out of my parents house [where I had been just a few weeks since Paris, for the holidays] into an apartment pretty much downtown. I am so stoked and looking forward to living there for the next six months.

The view out one of the windows

I love the Inspiration boards I have seen for year’s goals, hopes, dreams, etc. I did one last year and definitely have a few things up my sleeve for this years’. Still working on it…. but better late than never?
Twenty twelve [ 2012 ] will be a good year for me, I am thinking. I have a lot of good ideas, and good things in store and things I really want to do/achieve. Graduating college, beginning *real life* and job hunting, hopefully more traveling, visiting family, continuing old friendships and hopefully starting new ones, and much, much more on the agenda…

Oh, also on my month’s schedule is another 30-day challenge. Remember last years?? I found a great new studio downtown and already love the vibe, teachers and classes.

Sorry it’s been solong since I’ve checked in, but things are all good here I’m happy to have found a new place to call home, and having a lot of fun getting settled in. Decorating/organizingstravaganza is taking place at the moment.

Year’s off to a good start, with more to come……

Best thing to happen to you so far in 2012?

What was your New Years like?! 

Last Saturday afternoon, I took a flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Philadelphia. Nine hours later Morgan was waiting for me at the airport. I spent a great few days with her – including a day trip up to NYC – and got back to Seattle Wednesday night. It has been unpackstravaganza over here since.. but today I finally put away my last suitcase and my room is looking a little more orderly.

In other news, I went apartment hunting yesterday, saw a friend and had dinner out with my Dad. Other things I have been loving about being home include doing laundry (with dryer sheets and good-smelling laundry detergent!), showering standing up (of course), sleeping in my own bed and using my own kitchen, yoga (!!) and returning to “real life.”

Of course I do miss Paris… In fact I still have a 3-5,000 word French composition due (tomorrow!) and another long paper due for a Comparative Literature class. Although our classes finished over a week ago, I guess the professors’ thought they would give their students time to reflect and get home before making these long papers due… Off to go do that.

It’s crazy how fast this year has flown by. It really is; so many things have happened this year, from Vancouver in January to Vegas for my birthday to the East coast for the family reunion, to Philadelphia for HLS and Baltimore for FitBloggin, and of course Paris, Berlin, Geneva and the South of France…. 2011 has really proven to be my year of travel, which is what I really wanted it to be. I have no idea where I will be or what I will be doing at this time next year.. which is kind of crazyscary, kind of crazycool.

But for now, I’m glad to be home, glad to be typing this from my bed and looking forward to what the next month will bring.

managed to fit all of my (three months worth) into my (checked) bags,

had a great (but probably too-late) night out with the group last night,

finished my last final,

and now I’m just so so SO ready to be in Philadelphia,

see Morgan,

shower standing up, get REAL Starbucks, charge my (US) cellphone, go to an Apple store (my computer is on its very last limb), hang out for a few days, to be out of the hellhole that I was living in for the past 90 days and my crazy and abusive host mother and just relax.

Can’t wait. 

Morgan: On my way! Flight is on time!

….except that in like forty eight hours I know I will absolutely completely miss Paris and (most) everything about it and want to come back…..

I decided: Berlin for twelve hours?  Pourquoi pas? Why not?

Sunday night, I hopped an overnight train from Paris L’Est to Berlin. I left at 7 pm and got in a 9 the next morning.

But what a beautiful morning it was in Berlin.

walking along the river

I had an amazing day overall. Funny that I spent twice as long getting there than I spent being there, but that’s besides the point..

Saw the German Parliment,

Walked along the old Berlin wall and through the famous gate,

..Happening upon a Christmas street fair,

Where for the first time I tried a German specialty “hot wine”,

Along with chocolates, and other German specialties. Lots of shopping, people watching, strolling, and Christmas present shopping was done!

Continued along my way,

Passed a riot (oh you know, that whole economy crisis thing….apparently it really is universal right now),Walked and walked and walked and shopped and shopped….

and then it was nighttime in Berlin, almost time for me to go home

One last stop through the street fair. No I didn’t go on any rides..but I was considering ice skating

Berlin asked to borrow our Christmas tree this year, so I obliged…

This Thanksgiving I will not be celebrating like most of my fellow Americans; with family, friends, a big Turkey dinner or four-day weekend and Black Friday on the horizon….

Instead I will be in Paris, with no signs of “Thanksgiving,” turkey or anything pilgrims and traditions…..but with piles of papers to write and Proust to read. No black Friday sales or sweet potatoes in my near future….

But, just like last year, I am still so thankful for so many things in my life.

I am grateful for My family, who especially lately have shown me so much support and love,

My amazing friends, both here and back home,

This incredible study abroad - while at times has been difficult and definitely pushed my limits – has been such a crazyawesome and truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,

Which has also made me especially thankful for the beautiful place I get to call home, and return to in a few short weeks,

I am thankful for my extended family and being able to see it grow,

For great food,

And great fun.

Most importantly, I am thankful that nine weeks ago today, MY world didn’t end. I am grateful for just another day to be here, on this Earth, surrounded by those I love.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011 (America)!!,

Love, Jac

What are your Thanksgiving plans this year?

PS: Go hug your loved ones today and tell them you are thankful to have them in your life, take a long walk on the beach for me, eat way too much sweet pototato casserole and then cancel it out with pumpkin pie, decide that you will just stay home tomorrow in lieu of batteling the crowds on black Friday, rub your dog’s stomach, take a nap instead of working out, watch a movie…………..but please don’t forget to go hug your family and friends today, and tell them that you love them.

Notes from the week….

1. Maybe going to Geneve on a whim wasn’t the best idea…. yeah, so Sunday in European cities always equals one thing: tout est fermé everything being closed. The museums, the stores, etc…Lesson learned. And because of said lesson, I will be staying another night here, so I can actually see the city tomorrow

2. My French has improved ten fold since I’ve arrived just a few short months ago. The other day I was in line at a store and heard the vendor telling the woman in front of me how much she owed for her purchases. I realized that I first understood the amount in French, then English. Numbers and calculating in French has never been my forte, so, I took that as a good sign

3. Number 1 is resulting in a dwindling savings account on my part…. Happy now that I worked so hard this summer so I have money to blow spend wisely, notso happy that said money is being spent (so quickly) before my eyes :O

4. Met a friend today from two summers ago, when I lived at Zetes, with her Australian friend. They are working in a small French town just twnety minutes from Geneve. Even though most things were closed, we had fun visiting a small museum, getting cafes and drinks and a Cathedral here. Mostly, just good to catch up and see a familiar face :]

5. I can’t, as in, can.not. believe that I only have about a week and a half left here. The time is going to fly, I know

6. I’m so, so excited to go see Morgan { again } on my way home to Seattle. Hello Philly and hello hanging out for a mini vacay trip before actually returning to my “real life”

7….speaking of, finals week; whether here or in Seattle, is upon me/us. Lots of papers / oral presentations / reading on the agenda

8. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is Thursday! Has not even crossed my radar, until my conversation with my sister yesterday, whose going home Wednesday for her four-day weekend

8.5. speaking of four-day weekends…….i’m going to miss those !

9. Geneva is pretty cool. Especially the fountain. And I like that I have free internet and BBC TV in my room, especially when I am Sleepless in Geneva, But……..kind of very sketch. Let’s leave it at that.

10. I really, really miss the following (in no paticular order) :

sushi, my bed, my kitchen, my friends, family, Gaston, my car (maybe just a little, but when I do miss it, I miss it a lot), income (!), hot yoga (!!!!), Target (how random?!), things being open on Sundays (!!), movies and TV being in English and free online, Whole Foods, grocery stores being open on Sunday and in the middle of the night, the rain (did I just type that???), being able to order what you actually want to eat or drink at a restaurant or bar, Facebook friends actually being awake at the same hour as I am, laundry (oh, how I miss laundry, with dryers and….fabric softener!), and……vegetables.

That’s all (for now) folks.

Lots of love,

J MONEY

Found myself here again, 

Madeline !

But it was a little different…

this:

versus, this:

……..miss my parents being here!!

…Tonight…..i decided to venture outside of Paris. After all, I have this Euro rail pass, ten days within a two month period…..so drop a pen on the map and see where it lands………

It landed on Geneve.

Here I am, after a three hour train ride,

walking around the city,

and getting a good deal on a hotel room at 10:30 at night……

will report back !

XOXO,

J Money

Only music.

And pictures.

Was aaahhhhhhhmazing. That is all.

I have witnessed parties in the metro, been to a huge street festival dedicated to wine history and tasting, have discovered a lot of Paris, been to the top of the Eiffel tower, more than once, had an amazing week-long visit with my parents, seen some amazing places with my class, like Chatres Cathedral, the Louvre and Combray Illiers, and went to a Parisian Birthday party, among other things…

It’s interesting to think that this is my life, right now. Here in Paris, a world away, nine hours ahead… of my family, my friends, my “real life” (is this real life?!)... Of course, sometimes I miss home. Sometimes I miss my friends, family, cat…..having my own bed or kitchen… but I am just trying to soak this all up, soak it all in before I leave in less than one, short month. (Oh and btw, I have my plane ticket, leaving December 3rd; I will stay a few days in Philadelphia with Morgan before going back to Seattle) in the next month.

I have been trying to think the past few days of what I have done here – accomplished – and what still needs to be “checked off my Paris bucket list.”

This really has been an amazing, unreal experience, I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

Tell me: If you have been to Paris, what can I absolutely not leave without doing or seeing? If you have never been, what is one thing you wish you could do here?