Oh, Champs Elysees...

Good evening, everyone!  Wow, what a day.  I'm so exhausted, but I couldn't go to bed without sharing some fun pictures with you.  But first, a story.

This morning at 9:00, I went to purchase a week-long metro pass from a clerk in my local metro station.  I had a rechargeable ticket (it looks like a credit card), and I approached the clerk with 30 euros.  The following conversation took place in flawless French, I promise.

Me:  Good morning.  I would like to recharge my Navigo pass for the week.  I need metro zones 1-4.  That costs 27 euros, right?

Clerk:  That will be 17 euros for zones 1-2.

Me:  I'm sorry.  I may be incorrect... but I thought it was close to 30 euros for zones 1-4.  That's what I need.

Clerk: (rolls eyes)  Do you need to be in all of the city?

Me:  No, I need to be in zones 1-4.

Clerk:  (pulls out map)  Where do you need to go?

Me: Zones 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Is that possible?

Clerk: (proceeds to ring me up for zones 1-6 and 40 euros).

Me:  Maybe I should buy my ticket at another time.  I only have 30 euros, and I only need zones 1-4.  Is it not possible to just get four zones?

Clerk:  (massively rolls eyes and apologizes to man behind me) It is possible.  

Me:  Great.  I'm sorry for the confusion.  That's what I need.

--Transaction completed--

Then, my poor roommate got up to the counter and said, "I'd like the same..."

The killer is that the card didn't work when I tried to go through the turnstyle scanner.  I had to go back up to the counter...

Me:  I'm sorry, but my card didn't work.  Did I do something wrong?

Then, the clerk buzzed the turnstyle and barked "GO" while shaking her head and rolling her eyes... again... and she let me through.  She wasn't any more rude than some Americans I've encountered, but she was not helping to reverse the stereotype of rude Parisians.  Apparently, several of my classmates had similar problems with metro workers not allowing them to use zones 1-4 (even though it's a legitimate request) and malfunctioning metro cards... I'm just grateful that I am advanced in French.  If I didn't feel at ease with the language, the above conversation would have been impossible.

Today was my first day of school.  I didn't have my first class until 1 PM, and so I spent a huge chunk of the morning writing postcards outside in the Pompidou Center courtyard.  For the person who doubts that Paris is beautiful (and thinks that LA is charming), this photo is for you.  This cathedral was just twenty feet away from where I was sitting:

The picture does not do it justice.  Anyway, I had a great time exploring the city by myself.  I discovered several cool alleys, statues, shops, and ate a goat cheese/chicken/tomato sandwich at a bakery called The Gay Bakery (in French).  The Gay Bakery is right across the street from our church building, which is also where we have classes and institute.  The church building happens to be in a homosexual district of Paris, and the Gay Bakery contributes to the flamboyance of the neighborhood by baking phallic bread and hiring feminine men to work the cash register.  If you've seen The Birdcage, the gentleman who worked the register today reminded me of Agador Spartacus (aka Hank Azaria).

Aww, look.  Mom, this is for you.  "First day of school" picture.  From left to right, we have Amelia, Tim, Ashley, and yours truly.  We didn't plan to wear Valentines Day colors, or to stand in that alternating order.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, check out these delicacies from Laduree, the "rockstar of pastries."  I ate the lemon tart, and it was one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted.  I was also fortunate to try a few bites of the pink creation-- fresh raspberries, sandwiched between to rose flavored macarons, and a rose petal on top.  I took one bite of the chocolate eclair, too.  It was way too rich for me, but delicious all the same.  These goodies were a gift from our program director, M. Olivier.  Seeing as I'll never be able to afford to try all of these pastries (each little treat costs around six bucks!), it was wonderful to have a class tasting.  I also took a picture of all of the students taking pictures of these masterful pastries.  Do you see the chocolate squares down at the bottom?  Topped with gold leaf.  Unreal.

After class, Ashley and I did some errands.  We went to the post office and bought stamps for our post cards.  I couldn't remember the word for stamps (les timbres), but I managed to buy them from the clerk without needing to say "stamps."  I pretty much said, "I have two letters and two post cards for the United States.  How much will it cost to send them?"  Embarrassing situation avoided.  We bought groceries at our local store for the first time.  Then, we met a group of friends at a local metro stop and headed over to the Champs Elysees.  Four sets of roommates: Sara, Caitlin, Emma, Ashley, Angela, Kylie, Danni, and me.  We had a good time watching a horrible hip hop show on the street (featuring Monsieur Affie dancing to Michael Jackson and Inspector Gadget), drinking in the sight of the Arc de Triomphe, dreaming of affording clothes at NafNaf and eating French McDonalds.  I even found the little crepe stand where my mom and I bought our first crepes four years ago.  I didn't get one, though... they jacked up the price!

Ashley and I got home pretty late, and I'm ready for bed.  Tomorrow will be a great day because I have my Paris Walks and photography classes.  I can only imagine fun things...

Bon nuit!  :)