Digitalism and a Weekend Entre Filles

So this past weekend, which I am starting on Thursday, was awesome!! Thursday night my favorite DJ duo, Digitalism, played in Paris at the Social Club. I knew I wanted to go from the moment I saw they were scheduled to play, only problem was finding people who would join me. Well sure enough, it was Thursday night, and I still didn't have anyone planning on going, so I headed over there myself. But sure enough, at the very last minute, my buddy Matt decided to join me. It was an awesome show! I shoved my way right to the front so I could watch their every move and become plastered with other peoples sweat as well as my own. It was awesome. Seeing as how clubs don't usually close here till 5 or 6 am, I proceeded to catch the first metro at 6am, and get home around 6:45 am. Lets just say that I was very tired during class the next morning at 10 am!

Friday was the last day of my PLP (Preparatory Language Program) and that evening all the students as well as our teachers went out to a lovely celebratory dinner on a boat on the Siene (river that runs through Paris). It was so nice!! The food was delicious, the ambiance was perfect, and they had karaoke!! Of course, I had to get up and sing a few songs, with the help of my friends. It was a really wonderful night.

Saturday, was a day of repose. I went to meet some of my friends at the Eiffel Tower for a little picnic and to just take in the beautiful weekend we were having. It was so nice to see all the tourists walking around trying to get in line to go to the top of the Tower- and for us to be laying on the grass like typical Parisians, sipping our wine. I felt quite cool, if I say so myself. After that, I headed over to my aunt Nicole's house. Shortly after I arrived we left to go out the the "banlieu" or suburbs, of Paris. My cousine Martine lives in a very cute suburb called Arcueil. We ate a delicious dinner at her home, followed by the most decadent chocolate cake I have ever eaten. I can not even begin to describe the explosion of flavor that happened in my mouth- just know that it was amazing. Quickly after eating, we rushed out the door to get to the theatre in time for our play. We were going to see a play called, "Le Malade Imaginaire" written by Molière. The play was really wonderful. The parts I could understand, I really enjoyed. After the play, Nicole and I returned back to Paris and I spent the night at her house because we were going to the movies the next afternoon,

Sunday, we went and saw this movie- I forget the name, but it was a British film, and it was about Queen Victoria and her reign in her young years. It was a really cute film. After the movie, we ate some yummy chinese food, and I returned back to my gloomy studio. But fortunately that night, I got to go visit my cousin Alex, who lives very close to Paris, and had a wonderful evening spent with him.

This weekend, I really realized how glad and lucky I am to have family here. Its so nice to be surrounded by people that you care about and that care about you. Its comforting to know that I have a "family unit" here.

Quelques Nouvelles

As most of you can tell, I kinda fell behind of the whole blog thing, and I have been like writing these entries for the past 2 hours lol, but I promise from here on out- no more of that business. Basically I am kind of retelling you what has been going on for the last 3 or 4 weeks (give or take).

After 3 weeks
I am finally becoming Parisian (not really)- I have a cell phone, internet, monthly metro pass,
my student card,and a devellpoing taste for wine. The only thing that's missing is my studio!

The French classes have been going good- a little over whelming. Over whelming in the sense that looking for a place to live and trying to do good in a class is not that fun. But all in all, it has been a very fulfilling experience and I think my french has most definitely improved this month.
I really am loving my time here in Paris. Its truly amazing. And I am so lucky to be surrounded by my wonderful family here who has extended about every hand they have to help me in my déménagement à Paris (move to Paris). I think this year will definitely be crucial in building my relationships with my family here- it's exciting! So at this point, I think we are all up to speed: Madison loves Paris, Madison has been to Belgium too many times in one month, Madison is going to write on her blog once a week (eekkkk, cant promise that), and Madison is still looking for a place to live.

I miss all of you so much and know that I think of you often.

Gros Bisous (big kisses)

OMG MOM- your going to freak. I eat goat cheese now!!!

TechnoParade

Where to begin. Techno parade was nuts! Stephanie came from Maastricht, NL to partyicipate in the weekends festivites. Friday night we went to a little party with my cousin Alex at his friends home. We made crepes which was kind of fun. Then afterwards Steph and I headed out for Social Club where we were meetibg up with my friends for the night to see a Brodinski play a set. It was a cool club but the opening djs were horrible- like so bad I considered never listening to electronic music ever again.
Anyways, once Brodinski finally went on it was awesome and like 3 am. So around 4am Steph and I decided to go home, but the metro was closed, so we ventured to the NIGHT BUS! It was amazing. Super fast, convienient- minus the one covered in barf, and the drivers were really helpful too. So needless to say, we got home around 5am and had to sleep so we could get up in 6 hours and party at TechnoParade. Well, let's say that when the alarm went off at 11:30, we were not too excited to get up until we realized there was a bottle of champagne in the fridge waiting for us! We met up with a bunch of people from my program and had a really awesome day. All of the music was amazing, the people were rowdy, the floats were huge and the overall ambiance was good. Going to technoparade was a blast but I think that lovefest in sf is better. I am so glad Steph came for the weekend and got to experience a little bit of the craziness Paris has to offer.

*Photos Courtesy of Nadia

Chambre pas Bonne

So while house hunting has been interesting it has also been difficult. Paris is an old city and along with that comes old buildings and chambres de bonnes- maids quarters. The kind of studio that most students find are these maids rooms. The rooms usually come equipped with a shower with no room to move, a really tiny kitchen some sort of futon and the toilets are in the hallway. Basically, they are small and often on the 6th floor with NO ELEVATOR- buns of steel eat your heart out!

So about two days before we had to be out of the hostel, I was freaking out because I had not found anything yet. Well that day I was going to look at a room in the 16th arrondissement. When I saw the room, I thought it was cute, clean and close to school- so why not? It wan not until after I had already paid the firsts month rent, the deposit and moved in that I began to realize I made a big mistake. The room I picked was 8.3 meters sq (small), on the 6th floor with no lift, no window, and no interphone. After seeing my neighbors room that has everything mine was missing and was 100 euros less...I decided it was time for me to continue the house hunt.

So I am back to square one, but with a better idea of what I want and I'm keeping positivity on my side. Here is hoping for the best - and a building with an elevator =)

Fontainebleau

So this weekend our MICEFA group (all the study abroad students from the CSU's) went on a little field trip to the Chateau at Fontainbleau, and it was amazing!! Such a beautiful place. Fontainebleau is a château located about and hour out of Paris, in the forest. Fontainebleau was created so that the french royalty could have some place to stay when they went hunting!! This beautiful, amazing château was built as a hunting-vacation home?!?! Gotta love the french =)

Anyways, it was really lovely getting to see the beautiful gardens, architecture, decor, and overall ambiance of the Château and even the cute little town.

*Pictures Courtesy of Jason

Belgium...Again

Okay okay okay, I know what you might be thinking, "Jeeze Madison, will you ever spend one weekend in Paris?" And the answer is yes, next weekend =)

But I had a very good reason to visit Belgium- Dorus is leaving for Africa...and it was his going away party. Dorus (my 2nd exchange student or mijn broer...figure it out) is going to do an internship in South Africa where he works in the wild with ELEPHANTS and other amazing safari animals. I am sad to see him go, but so excited to see his pictures and hear about his adventures. Another reason I went was because I will not get to see him at I Love Techno (which will probably be the best post of this year....keep waiting) because he will be sitting at the aeroport in London waiting to catch his next plane =(

Long story short, it was a magical weekend of seeing old friends, having some good laughs, good drinks, lots of dancing, and minimal amounts of sleep. If I say so myself, a recipe for a great séjour (weekend trip).

Le Touquet

Things in Paris have been good so far, minus the fact that I have a horrible cold from my festival festivities, all well worth it =) I have a really great room mate at the hostel (Emily) who is from Sonoma State. It's nice getting to meet everyone from the CSU program and even meeting some really cool people from State who I never knew.

But although it was a good first week, it was stressful (we began looking for housing, placement exams, classes starting). Fortunately I had an opportunity to escape the madness, and I jumped on it! Alex invited me to spend the weekend in Le Touquet with him and his cousin Etienne. So glad i Decided to go. Le Touquet is a super cute coastal town where all the Parisians and people from the north go to get away.

We all had a great time, and it was really wonderful getting to see Alex's grandma, Jean Marie. She is such a sweet lady who always tells these great stories from her younger days (a lot of these stories having to do with my dad and his parents). I think my favorite things from this weekend were moule-frites (again), bar hopping with Etienne, dancing in the street with Alex, and the discovery of my new friend Leffe =)

Back to Paris =)