Acclimating

Un petit mot... just made my first dinner reservation, on the phone, in French, and I succeeded! I've been forcing myself to speak French with strangers, beyond basic phrases I mean, to push myself out of my comfort zone (speaking French with Brigitte is obviously stress-free, sometimes I wonder how she understands what I'm saying!). I was considering asking her to call for me but I sucked it up and did it myself. That's right, this baby is turning 21 in five days, it's time to grow up! I've started asking questions in stores if I'm curious about something, rather than wondering about it in my head. Originally, I was embarrassed because I know I have an accent, but I've been actually quite surprised to learn that the French like the American accent! So many people have told me how "cute" and "charming" it is, and that "it has such a nice sound to it." Hey, if you like it when I butcher your language, allow me...!

Today after classes I went to Brigitte's friend's home because I've started tutoring her sons in English. One is in middle school and the other is in high school, and they spoke English very well. They're self-described Anglophones, and were very curious about the differences between France and America. They also consider the British accent "too pretentious" and said they preferred the American accent. The older son told me he didn't really like the French, nor the fact that he was French, because he felt that the French are nowhere near as nice as Americans (the family's visited America a couple of times), and that both French films and music are terrible (hey, he said it, not me). It was really interesting how he identified so much more with American culture and the American education system than the French. Anyway, we chatted for over an hour/cuddled their strange little cat, who seemed to think any hand that moved was an invitation to play ([s]he also jumped on the table when I arrived and sat right in front of my face and stared at me for an uncomfortable length of time... I basically felt like this). It's a nice way to make a little extra cash, and I'm excited to try and find them some American music/videos, etc., to help improve their language skills!

Of course, to keep said extra cash, one must not spend it five minutes after leaving. It was completely unintentional, I swear! But I was walking back to the métro and just happened to notice a vegan bakery. Yup, you read that right. A vegan bakery, in Paris! They were about to close and almost everything was sold out (they specialize in cupcakes - sweet and savory, apparently at lunchtime all the French vegans come out of hiding and buy savory cupcakes for lunch! Sounds a little strange but if I'm in the area again during lunchtime I think I'll have to try it) but I managed to buy the last few in the display case (chocolate and hazelnut, fleur d'orange, coconut 'cheese'cake, and dark chocolate) and Brigitte and I are going to have a taste test with dinner. Mais oui!

Tomorrow, my dear cute baby-hands roommate, Miss Nasra, is coming to Paris. In typical diva fashion (I expected nothing less, chérie), she wants to see everything there is to see in a day and a half. Naz, I will do my best!! (Hence the dinner reservation phone call from the first paragraph) I'm officially on winter vacation part two (haha, France...) for a week, and I have so many exciting things planned (including spontaneous panic attacks about the homework I will have to squeeze in at some point). Can't wait to share photos soon! Vacation starts...now!

x R.