Dummmm dum dah-dum....

Planning this wedding has been extremely time-consuming and at times very trying on J and I as a couple. Sometimes it's easy to forget what the whole point of a wedding is (to get married!). I know the next couple days will be some of the most stressful of my life, yet some of the most exciting- and as soon as I walk down that aisle and see J's face I'll know it's all been worth it - all 9 months of booking caterers, finding hotels, picking the wedding colors , the cake and the flowers, bridesmaids dresses, everything (and in a foreign country)! Of course I want it all to be perfect but I'm sure all the little details won't even matter on the big day.

Anyhow, please pardon my absence over the next week and a half as I have a very good excuse- I'll be getting married and then spending 8 amazing days in the delicious Italian sunshine. Ciao!

Fout la Merde!

This morning J and I were woken up by 10 French boys screaming "fout la merde!!!"  I happened to already be au courant of what was going on, but suddenly hearing shouts at 7AM isn't quite the way I envision the start of my morning.  You see, J's friends planned an all-day, overnight "enterrement de jeune garcon," what Americans like to call a bachelor party.  They had called me last week to inform me of their plan to kidnap J and bring him to Maastricht, the Netherlands.  I went to bed early the night before mais quand même; hearing there loud voices didn't exactly put me in the best of moods. However, when I saw the huge grin on J's face any resentment I was feeling just melted away.  He looked so darn excited I couldn't help but smile.  On the contrary, I spent the day visiting the florist, buying CD's to burn our playlists, and cleaning the apartment.  Perhaps a normal girl would be angry that her significant other was getting défoncé with his pals while she was busy organizing their wedding- but I'm just glad J's has such great friends that were willing to plan something fun for him.  

*Update*  J just called and said they're already on their way back to Paris.  Apparently they'll be drinking the night away at a friend's house and will go paint balling tomorrow.  Boys will be boys-- no matter what country they're from.

I woke up early this morning to help my sister get a French phone and pack her suitcases.  Her au-pair apartment was finally ready to be moved into so her new employer was coming to pick up her up.  I thought I could help her pile luggage into the car and get an early start on preparing for my interview.  I shuffled a suitcase or two outside and then I heard "clack."  SHIT! I had just closed the door to the apartment sans my keys.  I quickly called J to see if he could come home and open the door for me but-surprise!  He had left his keys in the apartment as well.  His brilliant idea- just go to the interview unprepared in what I was already wearing, which just so happened to be sweaty gym clothes. Hmmm....brilliant idea!  I'm sure I'll be hired on the spot!  

After a small breakdown I decided I would either try to get in through a window (if open) or call the locksmith.  Our apartment is on the rez-de-chaussée (the bottom floor) and is enclosed by a little fence so people from the street aren't able to look in.  The fence actually has a door that opens up to a little garden, but only my neighbor has access.  She, of course, wasn't home.  I buzzed everyone in the building to see if they could help me and finally, a very friendly Monsieur Brun came downstairs with a ladder.  He held it steady while I climbed a very pointy fence, and kept saying "doucement" as [I'm sure] he was imagining the possibility of puncture wounds.  I made it safely over and no, the window was not open.  So I broke it.  I figure it's cheaper to replace a small window than to pay a locksmith.  I guess we'll see. 

On a happy note, I did make it to my interview on time and I think it went rather well.  Here's to hoping I get the job and that I was right about the price of the window......

Today was spent walking partout in the Marais with my sister and two fellow bloggers.  We decided to have lunch at THE fallafel destination in Paris, L'As du Fallafel, located on rue des Rosiers in the Jewish quartier of Paris. It definitely didn't disappoint, and I wouldn't mind making their delicious shwarma sandwich a weekly, ok-monthly ritual.  Afterwards we decided to head over to Place des Vosges, one of the oldest squares in Paris and also the former home of many famous residents (Hugo, Sully, Richelieu, just to name a few).  If the weather permits it's a great place to relax with a book or even peruse the several boutiques and art galleries that enclose the park.  I had to leave to go pick up the girls from school but would have loved to stay longer.  

Tomorrow I have my first of two interviews and I'm trying not to set myself up for disappointment.  If they don't go well, or aren't for me, there are more jobs out there.  And I'm not going to let any letdowns get in the way of the next 2 weeks-my friends and family will soon be here for our big Franco-American wedding and then J and I will be off to Sorrento, Italia!  What could be better than that?  

5 Septembre 2008

A. and R. watching a spectacle

Yay! My sister is here!  J and I picked her up from the airport this morning and to help her get on Paris time, I had her tag along with me as I ran errands for the wedding and baby-sat the girls.  She's pretty much morte but I told her she's gotta stick it out!  When I come back to Paris after spending time aux States I always end up taking naps and then find myself awake during all hours of the night.   Naps are never a good idea when trying to get over jet lag!  

The family I sit for finally found someone to replace me and although I'm excited to continue a new chapter in my life, I'll be sad to say goodbye! I guess it's because I know in my mind that it's probably final this time. I'm 24, almost 25, and it's time to start a real career.  Next week I have two interviews, and I'm crossing my fingers that they both go well.  After having so many disappointments job-wise I've been a bit discouraged but I'm hoping something good comes my way.  I want to be another expat success-story in France, and je croise les doigts pour Sarah too!

Back in Action

After a very relaxing week spent laying by the sea, eating way too much couscous and drinking delicious mint tea from silver-plated teapots, I'm back in Paris.  Although still sans-emploi, I am lucky that I'm able to babysit for the two little French girls I used to watch after school while working as an assistante d'Anglais.  After finishing up an internship in June, the family asked me if I was free to watch the girls during the summer.  Summer has now come and gone and I'm still babysitting.  With my recent vacation in Tunisia and the wedding coming up, it would have been very difficult to start (or even find) a new job and then take time off.  I have applied for several bilangue positions and hope to find something for the beginning of October.  I'm also preparing my dossiers for several French universities as I would like to begin a masters in 2009.   

I really can't complain- my nounou position is just after school and all day on Wednesdays so I have the time to send out my CV, interview, and meet with wedding vendors (ugh).  Today being la rentrée, I had to go meet with the girl's mother so that she could present me to their new maîtresses.  This way, it isn't a surprise when a stranger comes to pick the girls up from school. 

My younger sister will be arriving in Paris Friday morning.  She will spend the year working as a jeune fille au pair and I'm really looking forward to showing her around this beautiful city.  It's hard when you live with someone who's been here his whole life; J doesn't get excited about seeing the lights on la tour eiffel or walking down old cobblestone streets in le Marais.  Even after two years here, Paris still gives me goosebumps.