Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

Trying hard not to get as behind as before. Monday - I did a lot of homework. I wrote a paper, studied for a test, went to a photography exhibition, bought some sandals, wrote a paper for the photo exhibition, and did my class readings while sitting next to the lovely Seine...mmm.... school in Paris. Then last night we had dinner with Claude and it was super funny because we tried to explain how we didn't have beach towels to take with us to Nice (only we didn't know the word for towel). So I commenced acting out wiping down with my napkin. It was hilarious - but it worked because between laughter she said, "ooh....serviette de plage"... We all started laughing and every so often we would just say serviette de plage and all start laughing. Oh my - I am really going to miss her.

Today - I went for a quick run, and studied in the morning. Then I headed to school which was great. Then we went on a fun walk where we saw where the tour st. Jaques which was at one time a cathedral but was taken down during the revolution. We also saw were the St. Barthelemy day massacre started. After that fun walk, Me, Mckenna, Paul, Amy, and Rachel did the walk for class. We wandered around the latin Quarter and saw the skinniest street in Paris, Academié Français, along the Seine, etc. While we were walking around I saw a random niche just begging to be a photo spot - so I ran over there and we had a blast trying to fit us all in there! Then we came home and had an awesome dinner (with an AMAZING store bought crème brulé thing... mmmm SO FLIPPIN GOOD!

Super behind...but super epic...

Friday: Thursday night I asked people on facebook if they would like to see the sunrise at Sacré Coeur (because it had been previously suggested but we had never done it) there was alot of excitement even when people found out they would have to get up at about 4:30 am. So Friday morning I got up early, rolled out of bed and mad my way to the metro. Mckenna and I hurried up the huge flight of stairs to see a group of our friends with odd looks on their faces. As we got closer they explained that SURPRISE sacré coeur faces west. There was no sunrise for us despite our portrayal of devotion (through giving up our precious sleep)(but it was still pretty). So.... laughing from the lack of sleep and swaying somewhat we all made our way back to the metro and went home for some extra sleep. Then we met each other again to go to the catacombs. The catacombs were really unbelievable. I at first entered in a joking way (a little scared) and expecting the catacombs in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (with dancing bones and the works). What I found instead was quite different. At I walked amongst the piles of bones I felt that were I was walking was hallowed ground. I think the most obvious shock was just sheer numbers. 6 million bodies creates a lot of bones. And by seeing those numbers I could not help but think just how many wonderful people have live before and will live after me. I was also impressed by the reality of death (not animated or mystified by movies - but what really happens when one's spirit leaves their body). It was not at all scary, more just sad. I could not help but think that this is where we would all be stuck forever without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The other part that I loved was that the crosses every so often reminded one that there is hope because of the Atonement! We can all live again - what an amazing MIRACLE!!

After the Catacombs we continued to the Louvre where I got to see the works of the millions of people who have lived on the earth. My favorite by far is the flying victory. I only did a quick run through but it was super fun to see things that I had learned about in art history classes. Next we went to a café with just me, Mckenna and her friend from when she was little (who was visiting). We had fun just sitting, eating, talking, and taking our sweet time - it was a great French café experience. Then we walked toward Notre Dame and saw some awesome roller skaters doing sick tricks over a bar. We walked around Notre Dame and that area at sunset which was the perfect end to our day (starting with the sun "rising").

Saturday:

I woke up so excited because I got to go get my dad from the train station and spend the weekend with him! I hurried to Gare du Nord and anxiously waited to see his head in the crowd – finally it appeared and I hurried to give him a big hug. Then we made our way to get metro tickets from the machines that I HATE (which of course didn’t work and we ended up buying a not so great pain au chocolat so that we could have the change to get the billet.

Well, then we rode to my apartment and I showed him around he met Mckenna and Claude and got to see my room. It was all super fun! I just really enjoyed having him there to talk to and explain my worries as well as all the wonderful things I had gotten to do. Then we went to lunch at a delicious Café and had the typical French beef and frites and mmmm…. Mustard!

We had a great time chatting it up and then took the metro to the institute building where I have church and school. We looked around and then continued a meandering walk back through the Marais to my house (stopping on the way to see the house of Victor Hugo). Then we went back to my apartment, I chucked some clothes in a backpack and we were off to find the car rental place. Sadly it took FOREVER to get the car, so we didn’t get to Le Mans until late. However the drive was super fun and made me so grateful that I have wonderful parents I can talk to who really care about how I am doing and are willing to talk about themselves as well. When we got to Le Mans my jaw dropped as I looked at the old roman ruins, the grand old wall around the old part and the magnificent cathedral. We went into the Cathedral and enjoyed part of a Saturday night mass, which was fun to experience and then stopped by a crepery for AMAZING gallets and crepes.

Then we walked around old Mans for a while, as the sun was going down. I simply cannot describe how beautiful and un-real it was!

Sunday:

WE got up and prepped for church and then took a walk around/in the cathedral, and a fun market.

We wanderded through the lovely old homes and I was forced to pinch myself and be reminded this was not a movie set but reality. Then we went to church and I tried hard to understand what was going on. It was a fun cute little ward with wonderful characters. One of my favorites would have to be the drunk orgainist who was chugging away in between hymns. It was fun to go to a real ward without millions of tourists. It was also fun to talk to people about my mom and my uncle who were both missionaries there.

Well, after church we had a picnic by the abby that was built by the wife of Richard the Lion heart (cool huh?). After that we drove around and found the big race track for the 24 le mans car race. It was fun to pretend we were part of it as we spead around.

Then we started our drive back and took the senic road so that we could see cute little towns and pass the chartres Cathedral. When we got back we turned in the car and then when to the place where John Taylor first preached in france. That was wonderful to see and also to hear the story of. Next we made our way to the madeline where we also watched some mass. Hen we took the metro back to gare du nord (with hard to aquire tickets- the lady at the ticket booth slammed the door on me when I said the machine didn’t work. And the came out to help me.) It was super sad to say good bye- but what a wonderful visit.

Monday: decided to only speak in french for a week. went for a run to the jardin du luxambourg around them and to the pantheon and then rode the metro back. Walked around notre dame and wanted to go to the conseige but it was not free... hope to go back. Then I split off while they went to st. Denis - I went to the louvre at first they didnt let me in for free either but I went to a different guy and it worked. Man that place is big... by that time my feet hurt, my brain hurt, and I was just not feeling it... So I mean I stayed for at least two hours but then I left and found a place to get a millefeuille and ate it in the jardin de tulleries.

Then I just enjoyed that for a while, then went over to the institute but i was an hour early for fhe so I went to the only remaining renaissance fountain left in paris, and then to the road where herni 4th was killed.... then I went to fhe for the lesson and hurried home for dinner.... which was as always super fun - we talked about what we did over the weekend/today and also about the problems in the world (especially with the economy). Today was a rough day- I am sore, my head hurts and I know that tomorrow I am going to have to get up and speak more french. If it doesnt kill me it will make e stronger, and if I don't hate the french language by the end of this week - I will love it.

oh... also there is a big political riot at the Bastille all the time now (after the riots began in spain) - usually a bunch of young people calling for a revolution like that which started at the Bastille - it is kind of cool to be part of history - right outside my window! Below is a picture of a banner calling for Paris to wake up just next to the Bastille Monument.

Tuesday/Wednesday- I can't remember exactly what I did each of these days so I will just stick to the basics - one of these days I went for a run to Notre Dame. Also I went to an archeology museum which is under the big are in front of Notre Dame - that was so cool because it showed the evolution of paris from pre-roman times. It was fun to learn about the history while walking alongside ruins dug up by archeologists. Both of these days I went to class with our new teacher - Professor Hudson- He is super awesome! Tuesday we all made ourselves sick from eating too much millfeuille - but boy was it good! Then both days I sat in on the 400 level Renaissance class which consisted of some lecture and then some exploration (where Hudson took us around Paris and showed us examples of what we were learning about. I loved that because the added knowledge of the historical/artistic significance gave walking around Paris a whole new layer of significance. Then of course we had our dinners with Claude which were delicious and super fun.

Wednesday we had to eat early because we went to a french production of Peter Pan. It was super hilarious to one watch it in french (but with a bunch of random songs in english - not the songs from the disney movie). Also - the way that french comedy is totally different from American - to what me just seemed super weird was to the french audience super hilarious. Then randomly they said some English curse words but none of the french kids/adults seemed to realize... the whole thing was quite the interesting experience!

Thursday – We got up super early to get to our professor’s house by 7. When we got there the bus arrived and we all hopped on and commenced our long sleep. We Slept for about two hours and got to Bayou. We walked around the town which was so flippin’ cute.

We walked down little allies and over stone bridges. Finally a bunch of kids stopped for lunch but Sarah and I had brought food so we just found a bench and sat down to have a nice little picnic I was impressed with our ability to have a fun, normal conversation in french …( granted we had lots of problems –but we effectivly got our points across.) Then we went and saw the bayou tapastry which was super cool. I was amazed at just how long it is and also at the amazing story that it told. It was incredible to see that just like with my french I they were able to get their point across though a foreign language – (cross stiching).

After that we got back on the bus and road to the American cemetary of Dday.

That was an amazing expérience. As I rounded the corner of the monument I looked out on the sea of headstones and I had to fight back the tears. There are really no words to describe amazing feeling on those grounds. I slowly walked through the headstones and as I neared them I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. With tears running down my face I thanked my heavenly father for this expérience and for the awe-some sacrifice of these Young men and thier families. I felt so proud to be from a land whose Young men were willing to give their lives for the freedom of others. That in turn made me think of what I do to give/dedicate my life to the lord as well as my fellowmen. Really, there are just no words to describe the incredible expérience to be had there. After leaving there we went to Pointe du Hoc – which was a key battle ground in the dday invasion.

The land was all torn apart with huge bomb holes, and there were still bunkers and gunner posts which we walked through it was really eerie to walk through the areas where the german soldiers would have been shooting from, and try and imagine the brave soldiers scaleling the cliff only to find supply boxes without amunition. The whole day was just amazing especailly for me as a histroy major. I love studying because I feel so connected to the wonderful people who have lived before me. So, to go to a place where évents like dday really happened was just incredible. Well that night we went out to dinner at a fun pizza place –which was delicous and I had a wonderful time laughing my head off with Sarah p., Kara, and Casi. Then we went back to the hôtel.

Friday – Today we drove to Mont st. Michael. As we followed the bends of the road I caught my first glimps of the city and it took my breath away. The huge village rising out of the sand was very reminicent of Hogwarts. Really there are no other words for it than simply magical! We had a wonderful time walking around the cute little town and following different winding stairs upward. Sadly when we reached the abby we couldn’t go Inside because surprise surprise they were on strike. Still, we loved walking amongs the amazingly picturesque homes. Then we decided to go run on the quick sand – smart right ? It was actually super fun ! It was so weird to see/feel the sand rippling benethe you and then feel yourself singking. There were a few times we had to pull each other out which was a little freaky.

But then after a wonderful time down there we were hungry so we went and found a nice little crepery and had gallettes and crepes – YUM ! After that we had to return to the bus and started our drive to Le mans. When we got there we went to a store and bought food for dinner – I got rillettes ! WAhoo !

(Sarah and I got a baguette, rillets, a bunch of little cheeses, and two salads – perfect. Then we all returned to the hôtel and had a party in the hall while we ate our dinners then we played games and had a wonderful time (but sadly didn’t see any of le mans so I was glad that I had gotten to see it the weekend before.

Sat- We got up and had a WoNDERFUL breakfast with yogurt/honey/granolla,/ bread/Nutella/hotc hocolate/ etc. Then we drove to Blois where we got to see the beautiful château and admire the large variety in different acrchitecture peices. After walking through the château Sarah and I went to find food at a street market. We both bought a cool hat, and a delicious sandwhich (italian versioin of an australian bbq).

Then we drove to Chambourge and got to tour that châteaux as well. It was so much fun to run up and down the DNA stairs and try and figure out who was on which stairs. It was also amazing to still smell the smokeness of the air from all the huge fires built in the great fireplaces. We went to the Church and then all sat on the grass for a while just being amazed at the fact that we were really just sitting on the lawn of a pricess castle..

Then we drove home to paris. We played some fun games on the bus but when we arrived in paris I think everyone was happy to be « home ». Sarah and Mckenna and I decided to go home to our apartment and make dinner. So we went to the store and did the best we could to buy ingrédients for Taco salad. Then we went home and made it. It was super tricky b/c there was no taco seasoning packets in the store so we tried to make it with the spices we had and it must have been pretty close because as the smell wafted to our noses I got SOOO EXCITED. I did not realize how much I love some things about amaerica until that smell reminded me. The food was gréât but not really taco salad. The meat tasted really different and the salsa was closer to indian chutney than salsa…. But all the same i twas yummy and we ate a lot. I had also gotten some premade crepes from the store and we downed the package of those without too much difficulty (with lemon and sugar/Nutella…mmm) Then Sarah had to go home and I went to bed.

Sun- I loved going to the Ward in Le Mans so much that I decided I really wanted to go to a different Ward again (because it just hard with so many byu students, tourists, etc to have the same feeling as a real Ward). So I decided to go to Versailles b/c my mom was a missionary there and one of her companions also lives there. As I talked about it I also convinced Sarah, Mckenna, Toni, Paul, and Caleb to go with me. We all met at the train station and rode down there together. Then we walked to the Church building and got there in time for Sunday school and Sacrament meeting. When Sunday school was over (which was a super good lésson by the way) I talked to the office elder that I knew freshman year (Elder Ellis – who was there and sitting right in front of me) and asked if he knew a sister Rivoire or the Demur family – he got out his Ward list as said that the sister missionaries were over the Demur family and he didn’t see a Revoire. I then went and talked to the sisters (this is all in french by the way b/c it was my last day of only french). Then pointed out the Demurs for me. I went over to them and tried to explain who I was. They seemed to not hear me/ not understand – totally rejecte I went back to my seet b/c the meeting was starting. As the Sacrament was passed I prayed that if they were the right people/ if sister Reviore was there – that my lack of ability to communicate would not hinder me finding them and that I could find them. Just as the first talk began a woman walked back to me, squatted down and said (in really excited french) you are MaryAnn’s daughter ? YES !! I said- and we arranged to meet after the meeting. MIRACLE ? i think yes ! After Church we were given flowers for mothers day – which was also a miracle b/c now we can give them to claude and don’t have to break the sabbath to get her a gift. Then I went and found the Dumers and tried to help them find my mom on face book. I talked to them about why I was there, the fact that I lived in France when I was little, and the sad truth that sister Revoire is not longer active. It was super fun in a kind of akward way (b/c I didn’t really know who they were and they didn’t know me but we bonded over loving MaryAnn Homer.

Well, then our little group headed out walking back to the train station. We had a fun time just talking and laughing and then on the train had a great conversation about dating/dating stories (super hilarious – but important at the same time) we shared our thoughts about what is important and what is twisted through movies/poor perseptions etc. Then I came home ate a whole bunch and have been trying desperately (sitting along the banks of the seine – so don’t feel too bad) to catch up on this blog.

Finally I would just like to say in regard to my week of french – WOW IT WAS HARD ! It was hard on my brain which was constantly trying to think of how to say things. It was hard on my mouth constantly trying to prounounce odd sounds. It was hard on my personaltiy not to have the ability to portray those things I wanted to and feeling traped by the language barrier. It was hard socially because when everyone else jokes and laughs in English you just feel like a retard studdering your way though french. AND YET- it was worth it. Not because I received the gift of tounges and no longer have to practice my french – NO I AM A LONG way from being fluent. But- because of what it taught me – 1. That I can do hard things – when I stick my mind to something – BAM- Done. 2. Sympathy for those who feel for what ever reason isolated, misunderstood, or even just tierd. 3. That when we work hard/sacrifice the Lord doesn’t just make it easy (like I had kind of hoped for an make us automatically fluent) but rather he gives us the strength to make it through so that we can learn the important lessons there to be had. What a wonderful experience !

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.

Wednesday:

We were going to meet up to watch the first pirates of the Caribbean (in prep for the 4th one) but then there was some mix up and no one showed up, so Mckenna and I split up (she went to find a bathroom/go home cause she doesn't have class until 2 and I went to check out the college de la france in the hour and a half I had before class. Well, on my way there I found two of the guys from my group who were running late b/c of train problems. We decided to run and try to catch Mckenna b/c I had seriously just left her. So we ran all the way back to my apartment and she wasn't there! We could not understand how we had missed her (later we found out that she had found the other girls who were also running late b/c of train issues!) crazy morning. Well, then we had class, after which Mckenna and Rachel and I walked around the Latin quarter, did some bargaining, bought a pastry and a huge sword size baguette. Then we went home and did homework until dinner (which was as usual fun, delicious and wonderful!)

Thursday:

Today, I started off my day right: with a wonderful run over by gare d'australitz. Then I just walked over there for about 2 hours. It was great! I saw the Jardin des Plants/museum national d'histoire naturelle (which is a lovely jardin/zoo thing that I would love to go back to (but I only saw briefly from the outside.) Then I also saw the beautiful Mosquée de Paris, and walked along Rue Mouffetard (one of the oldest streets in paris - b/c it dates back to Roman times). I walked around St. Medard (a mid 15th century church which was fun) Sadly, I was never able to find the remains of the medieval city wall, but I did find the big roman arena (Arènes de lutèce).... that was pretty neat!

Then I rode the metro home just in time to hurriedly take a shower, get dressed, buy some food at the market, and race to class. I wanted to get to class early because there were rumors about a photography exam (but that didn't end up happening.. thank goodness!) Well, at the institute today there was a huge zone conference thing going on with all the missionaries - which was fun because I got to see a guy from my freshman ward and say hello. Well, after class we went to a really fun vintage store to look around (it would be so fun to just do a huge fashion show there, trying to make the craziest outfits!... my favorite items where the bathing caps! - so fun! Then we checked out St. Eustache (a beautiful cathedral) and hung around Les Halles.

Following that we went to see Pirates of the Carrabien 4 (which was kind of bizare but fun.) Then we headed home for dinner. When I got home I still had some time so I decided to go read by the Seine (it was so pretty with the warm sunlight and all the lovely little boats, people at the near by café, and painters...) Well, I pulled out my french and English books of mormon and started trying to read the french one while sometimes (alright often) consulting the english one.... well, while I was sitting there a random guy came up and sat next to me. I continued to read but he said: hello, to which I nodded and continued to read. Then after a pause he said it was a beautiful day and I agreed and continued to read. A minute later he said he liked how peaceful it was. I agreed again, and he asked my name. I told him, and he told me his. Then we started talking about where he worked, where I went to school, general things like that. I was excited because it is hard to practice french when I am always around american students. So I was happy to try and practice.... but eventually I said I should go.... he asked why and I said I had dinner. He said, "oh no, don't go".... which made me even more determined that yes....it was surely time to go. So I got up and started to walk away, and he got up and was like "attendez, attendez". I kept walking and he kept walking with me. He asked me if I came to that spot everyday and I said no. Finally he said something about a phone which I didn't understand but I said I didn't have a phone. Eventually it ended by him giving me his number (which he had pre-written) and telling me to use a pay phone (or something) so we could meet the next day. I said I wasn't going to call, but he gave me the number and I walked away..... SERIOUSLY - this is ridiculous - I didn't even do anything! How am I supposed to practice my french when the only french people willing to listen to my babblings are sketchy guys! Anyway, then I came home I had dinner (ratatouille, couscous, and cheese stuffed chicken...mmm.) our conversation consisted of how/why crocodiles eat people, and words that are hard for us to pronounce in french and her to pronounce in english. It was pretty histarical because we had mangos for dessert but she just gave us the whole mango and a knife on these nice china plates (at first we attempted to cut politely, but mangos are very tricky little things manger). So pretty soon there we were with mango junk all over our hands trying to cut up this huge mango, while also sounding retarded as we attempted trick french lingo, and laughing our heads off the whole time. I love my Claudian dinners!! Well, gotta get up early - I am planning to watch the sunrise at sacre coeur tomorrow.

Mass at sacre coeur was really neat. It was really nice to get to witness people worshiping without participating so much. I would like to think that I have as much faith displayed in my face when I take the sacrament and listen to talks. Their sermon was about the good shepherd and how if we really understood that He is in our hearts we wouldn't make as many poor choices and would be more charitable with our fellowmen (that is what I got from it anyway). On a totally separate note though here is a CRAZY story... I was meeting other BYU kids at the church building so that we could go to mass at a big cathedral together. While we were waiting for people to arrive we started talking to the elders about people we knew who were in the paris mission. I had three names (Ben Coburn and Sean Decker from my ward last year and Jace Brady from my ward back home - they totally knew all of them it was super fun.) Then Elder Ellis asked if we knew anyone else in the paris mission I was about to say - "yeah actually there was a guy I knew freshman year who I played signs with a lot" but I couldn't remember his name and then as I thought that I looked at Elder Ellis and thought "and you know you look a lot like him". I was standing there staring at him trying to figure out if it was him when he finally said - "K this is weird but I totally think i know you." Then we both explained that we had hung out freshman year and I had actually given him and his roommate some really gross french bread (ironic huh?) and then when he had announced his call at tunnel singing I had ran over and told him how excited I was for him b/c of my mom going to that mission and everything. Anyway he was companions with Jace Brady and the whole thing was just so weird that he said he had to take a picture. So he grabbed his camera and then said "I think we can stand.... this far apart" So it is a super awkward picture where we are just standing with about a foot between us... HAHA!! Sadly I didn't also get a pix... but anyway....Small WORLD! I tell you... my life is just one crazy experience after another!

Well, Monday was also fun. I went to St. Germain which is a cute little town with a beautiful chateau thing that is now an ancient artifact museum. We looked around there, got lunch, hung out in the park, and just had a wonderful time. I had a great time trying to get a group photo by lying in the dirt and having pigeons flock around me... it was quite the adventure. Then I went home did some homework, and ate dinner. Following that we went to FHE at the institute which was super fun. Paul and Caleb from our group taught the lesson, and then we played the animal noise game. It was super hilarious, except when I was finally pointed at they said chien or chat but I was not sure which and so I just made an in between really weird sound and it was kinda embarrassing.... but its moments like that, that I live for because they make life exciting.... ROOF-MEOW!

Today I got up and studied some more for my 202 test which I took this morning and did alright. Then we had culture class where we ate chocolates - seriously my favorite class! and then photography.. following that we walked around the jewish quarter and looked in a fun vintage shop, washed our hands with magic softening salts (which most of us then didn't buy) and then I split a baklava and some gelato with Sarah. YUM!! WHAT A DAY!!

Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.

Sorry blogger stopped working for a while and then it deleted everything I had written...

Monday:

I went for a lovely run along the Seine (didn't get turned around this time - wahoo). Then I came back and had my favorite delicious french breakfast- bread, bread, fruit, and bread, oh and hot chocolate! Then I ran of to the institute building where I met up with some kidos from the group who were going to some flea markets. We walked around there and it was super cool. There was so much old antique stuff (all way out of my price range but fun to see)... We just don't have anything like that in the US.... not enough family heir looms to make it worth it. At one of the shops I saw something cool that I wanted to get my sister (Annilyn) but it was too expensive to I played the game.... I asked the lady how much it was and then looked very disappointed so she dropped the price. Then I said that it was very pretty but still to expensive. So I walked away. But then I came back and offered a new price, she countered but I stood my ground and got it for more than half its original price! Yes I felt skilled (and yes this was all in french). Then the group headed over to arc d'triumph - we wanted to go to the top but it was closed. So we then went to the pompideu center and checked out a bunch of cool modern art pieces. Attendez... who am I kidding - modern art is just really not my thing. There were some that were neat... but most of them I was just kinda like - are you serious? Then I headed home but I was starving so I stopped at a patisserie and got this huge donut thing filled with nutella - so good! finished up some homework and had dinner with Claude (which was delicious! - it was some meat stuffed with cheese and then fried...mmmm...) During dinner we had a good conversation about geneology. Finally after dinner I reminded her about my french paper that I had told her about and asked if she would edit it for me. Well that was an adventure because I had to think, read, speak, and listen in french - all at the same time! Plus she would tell me editing words that I didn't know - so then it became like a charades game. AAAHH!! so stressful - but very helpful and Claude was super nice and cute - my goodness I love her!

Tues:

• walk in the morning to an awesome medieval building that is now a library.
• Class - macaroon testing - yum-- so very good- my favorite was the carmel, but closely followed by the asparagus-hazulnut...mmm!
• We tried to go to the Louvre but we remembered on our way there that it is closed on tuesdays.
• So we went home and I did homework in the park across the street and got to watch some french teenagers get in a fight where they were yelling in french and being dramatic - super hilarious.
• Then I went to a free concert that night they were holding at bastille - it was a fun cultural experience with everyone drinking and smoking but at the same time playing with their kids - Rock concert - what a family event! I later found out it was put on in celebration of some anniversary of the socialist party. Oh.. and the music- lets just say there is a reason all the stores only play American songs.
• Then I ran home for a yummy dinner where we talked about christmas traditions (claude is not a fan of santa clause) and her kids/grandkids. She told us a super cute story about her 3 miracle granddaughters who were born because of in vitro. She told us the story of their birth but it was kind of hard to follow seeing as pregnancy terminology was not covered in 201, and was kind of off my vocab radar.

Wed-

• That morning I went with Rachel, Toni, and Mckenna to do the metro walk for class. We chose to do line four which I was disappointed to discover was not at all sketchy. Then we went to class following which we decided to visit the Arc de triumph. That was super cool! It was maybe my favorite thing I have done so far. We have these nifty art history student cards that let us go places for free, so we got to go up to the top for free. The view was amazing. I loved watching all the tiny cars and just waiting for them to crash into each other.
• On our way down I was talking to some of the kids about how amazing history is and someone brought up joseph smith. Following this from behind us came the question are you guys mormon. This was especially funny because only a few days before, on the metro I had spied a group of people whom I could tell from their accent and the woman's shade shirt were from Utah. I bet the other kids traveling with me that they were from utah and so someone asked where they were from - when the reply was utah we all bust up laughing. So when I met some more mormons on the stairs of the arc de triumph I couldn't help but laugh because apparently I am a mormon magnet.
• Following the arc, we walked along the champs elizee and looked out for something to eat for dinner. Finally a group of us decided to just go to the monoprize (kind of like target).
• I went in, grabbed a pound cake muffin thing, and some delicious gummies and sat down with Kara to eat our dinner on the stairs inside the store while we waited for the others. We were just talking to each other while snarfing food, when this guy came up to us and said, "you are from America? I lived in New York for a long time" His accent was super strong so it was kind of hard to understand but he seemed nice enough. He started saying something about baseball, and then he moved on to a new subject. He asked if he could buy us anything. We said no we already had food, holding up our half eaten items. He laughed and said well you should come to dinner and dancing with me. At this point we were really taken back. We explained that we were already hanging out with people. So he said "oh well, tomorrow then" pulling out his phone. We said we didn't have phones and we weren't really interested. "how long are you here?", "just a short while" I said. "Well when do you go home?" "TOMORROW" Kara replied. "Oh well maybe I will see you tomorrow" "VERY UNLIKELY" we said (in our heads thinking - if you see us tomorrow we will be so freaked we will call the police). Then he left, but we saw him sitting on a wall thing as we left and so we ran quickly through the crowd w/out him seeing us... SERIOUSLY? WHAT IS THE DEAL?
• Anyway - following that adventure, we went to the movies on the Champs Elysee because the tickets were on sale for super cheap. We saw Minuit à Paris - which was super fun because we had been all the places they were walking around. Also - when they showed the Champs Elysee we could say - we are right there!! I am not sure if i would have liked it nearly as much if I wasn't in paris, but because I was it is now one of my favorite films! It did an awesome job of reinforcing just how awesome Paris really is!

Thursday:

In the morning I went for a run and a little turned around. I ran to Notre Dame - who else can say that?!! So cool! And I just walked around it for a little bit and was awestruck by how many sacrifices were made to build that edifice to God. Well, then I tried to run back to the bastille but must have gotten turned around because the next thing I knew I was back at the Notre Dame! That made me a little miffed, but it turned out being cool, because I found an awesome little church that I stopped in at and just sat with those praying to Mary. It was amazing to feel the power of their faith, and wondering how much more faith they might have if they had all the knowledge I had. It was kind of humbling to consider that. Well, I still had to find my way home, so I ran in what I thought was the right direction, and eventually figured out where I was. Unfortunately I had to be at class really quickly after the time I got back to my apartment. So I raced to get ready and ran out the door. This day we had class at Prof. Oliver's house which is next to the Effiel Tower. Following 202, we all split up into teams to buy ingredients for an amazing picnic. I helped by the fruit (AMAZING STRAWBERRIES, cherries, and bananas) from some cute fruit venders on Rue Clare. Then we all brought the goods to the Lawn by the Eiffel Tower and had an AMAZING Picnic. We each got an amazing Patisserie (mine was a orange-ish- tart thing- that was TO DIE FOR!) We also had amazing jambon, fromage (tons of different types), and baguettes. Oh... and we had delicious juice which was across between juice and a smoothy - their juice here is far less concentrated. Well, after that we tried to go to St. Chapelle but they were closed. So instead we went to the Musée Dorsey. After that Mckenna and i went home for dinner - which was again with Claude's daughter. She spoke to us about differences between France and America, especially those regarding transportation issues. All in all - wonderful day!

Friday - Took a train to Versailles. We were supposed to meet other byu kids there but the train took longer than we thought and so by the time we got their they had gone in. Also, there were TONS of people everywhere so it was super hard to even try to find them. Anyway - the Chateau was fun to see, but kind of hard to take because of all the shoving crazy tourists, and all the crazy decorations. It was all a little overwhelming. I much preferred the jardins and Marie Antoinette's disneyland farm. They were super fun to walk around a see. Walking around Versailles was mind blowing because of how much historical events occurred where I was taking each step- so crazy!

Saturday: Hanging out with ma tante!

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's tomb

Dagobert's tomb

So, I was awakened at 5am by a guy blasting music from his car and singing opera-ish

type music, outside my window. Wow, what a start to my day! I met up with Lori at the steps

of the Bastille opera and then we went walked back to my apartment, I showed her around a bit

(oh! I forgot Gloria was over- so on friday we had some crazy fun with photo booth). Then lori

and I went in search of some fruit for breakfast. We ate it in the park by victor hugo's house. Next

we hurried back to my apartment to grab lori a jacket because it was actually chilly (which was weird)

From there we took the metro to Sacre Coeur. That was super awesome! We climbed all the way up

the bajillion stairs and had a wonderful view of paris. Then we walked around over there a bit. Following

this we tried to get bikes from the little street stands. Sadly after much effort, and the generous help of

two passers by we were forced to give up because our credit card's didn't have chips on them. So intead

we rode the metro up to St. Denis (I should mention - Lori had a FREAKING huge blister on her foot

this whole time). We thought we got off at the right stop but the church next to us was very small and

rather disappointing if it was it. It looked like it was called by a different name but we couldn't find the

actually basilica. We walked around for a long time with no luck. I asked a bunch of different people for

directions but somehow we just kept missing it. Finally after stopping for orangina and asking for directions

at a small café and after I saw a little girl go to the bathroom on a street corner using rubbish for TP, we found

the church. And boy - it was worth the wait. The cathedral was incredible, and the tombs of tons of kings were

even cooler. Highlights- tomb of Catherine de Medici, Dagobert, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the heart

of one of the other Louis - yeah... you could actually see his shriveled up heart in a jar! SO cool. Well, then

we were super hungry so I had salad, crepes, and a quiche loraine at a cute cafe from which we watched about

4 middle eastern couples get married - they had crazy costumes and music.

After this we took the metro back to Lori's hotel so that she could rest her poor feet while she told me

about her trip to Peru. Then we walked to a pharmacy where I talked to the lady about medication for

blisters and she got us some stuff that worked pretty well (apparently). We sat by the Eiffel Tower for a

while an then decided to go get more food in the Latin quarter. We selected an awesome Greek Egyptian

place where the waiters were hilarious. We decided to order a manager's special kind of thing meant for two.

We thought they would just choose something to feed us - but instead they just gave us a HUGE HUGE HUGE platter

of MEAT. WE had squid, beef, sausage, chicken, prawn, salmon, some other fish, moussaka, etc. And this was

after having already eaten a greek salad and some falafel. We ate ourselves sick and then had them rap

up the rest which I carried home (it was seriously the weight of a small child).... wow what a day.

Sunday - Church, and then lots of catching up on blogging and then I am going to leave in about thirty minutes to go

to mass at Sacre coeur!