All shapened up

It's been more than 3 months and I'm starting to get really settled in. Last weekend me and my friends painted the walls in my flat, they're all nice and white now. Finally I have to say, was a bit worried it might never happen. But it certainly did and it turned out really well. After a (rather pricey) trip to IKEA last week, I drove (!) btw, yay, the place is now tiptop. Hooray! It's a pure pleasure to come home now, I have to say.
Had a bit of a run-in with the neighbours, they're not that crazy about me apparently, merde. I happened to have put some woodenboards in the recycling-bin and that apparently is a big nono: I risk getting fined and everything! I hope my landlord won't get word of this, what if he gets all angry and throws me out! Wouldn't that be a real shame, especially now after all the fixing-up.
Also, I seem to be constantly sleep-deprived still. I just cannot catch up, it isn't happening. Too much work, too little time. But hey, it's life.
Good news, Sweden trip on the 29th!! Cannot wait to go, staying one whole week so I have lots of time to play and rest and do absolutely nothing at all. Good sweet times.
Am totally hooked on surfthechannel.com aswell, might be that's killing my sleephabits. Nah, who cares, I can rest when I'm dead. Oh. How very morbid of me. Probably shouldn't jinx it like that. Right. Back to Desperate Housewives!!

quote Lynette Scavo "Oh... crap on things..."

Sweet surprises

Who could have known that after having spent almost 5 months in utter financial misery, one would actually get a brake? I don't really know what to call it, divine intervention perhaps, but I know who to thank; the Erasmusoffice. This wonderful organisation just granted me an extra endorsment, an extra little donation for no apparent reason! Thus no need to sweat over all my Swedish bills for the next four months or so, which came as a total surprise, not to mention a major relief! Unfortunately, me being me and therefore not trustworthy with money, I've already started to spend it all in my head (and IRL)... There's just so much I've denied myself these past months, so Monday I had a bit of a pampering day, got myself an haircut (finally!) and bought myself a coat and a bag. I had to. No seriously, I really needed it since I took all my relatively warm clothes back to Sweden in May, seeing as I was sort of planning to move back home... so all I was left with were some measly pathetic excuses for jackets, not enough to keep me warm. And it has gotten a bit cooler, so there, not just irradically shopping like a paria!
Gymboree is now fully on and running like mad, every Sunday morning there I am singing and dancing like nobody's business. Have even done sessions all on my own, which of course freaked me out but finally worked out quite nicely in the end. Surely I do black out every now and then, forget the lyrics or the choreography (yes we do have choreography, you know, up and down, side to side), but all in all it runs smoothly. Except last week when I'd only slept for a couple of hours (for reasons of which I will speak later), and the kids just wouldn't stop screaming and yeah I did forget to sing a couple of songs, but hey, it'll be better! I will do better! It's only my third week for crying out loud.
So, the reason for me being terribly sleep-deprived as of late is, naturally, a boy. I've dated this French guy for a couple of weeks, four and a half to be exact, and it's advancing rather nicely. Or, should I say, seeing as he his French, a bit too fast at times perhaps. But to be fair, I have been single for so long, it's just this whole "exclusive" thing that throws me, or I don't know. Having to share myself with someone else, how does that work exactly? It used to be just me myself and I, doing whatever I wanted whenever. Now I have to consider someone else aswell? Hm. We'll see where this leads. He is a struggling actor, which apparently is really tough in a city like Paris. But dear friends, I will keep you in the loop of things. What would life be without a bit of drama, say?
What else, well my other job's also running really smoothly. I'd even go as far to say that it's become my little haven of peace. No stress whatsoever, if I don't have any costumers I can just chill out, with a book or without, chat with the neighbours and drink some coffee (I have a Columbus Cafe right next door). If there by chance is someone who does want to buy something, they're usually really polite and well-behaved and treats me nicely. So I really can't complain at all! The pay's totally ok aswell, compared to the amount of work I do, plus the benefits are great. Alas, I do tend to eat a lot of candy... very naughty. Haven't done ANY sports since the 14th of July, except last Saturday when I was in Louveciennes, I actually managed to go out for some 45 mins jogging in the woods. Other than that, I should be ashamed of myself. But I'm constantly looking for a gym, there is one at Aquaboulevard where I do Gymboree but it's ridiculously expensive. The quest continues...
Yes, I was in Louveciennes this weekend and saw my kids again, haven't seen them for 6 weeks! It was truly delightful to hug them all again, it scares me how quickly they grow up. Little Valentine speaks like no tomorrow, it's amazing. Felt good to be out of the city a bit, to breath some fresh air and see some nature. Haven't had any real summerish feelings this year, do indeed miss all that. But oh well, that's the price one has to pay for living in Paris, poor poor little estranged Parisian girl.
Totally planning on going home in the end of October to visit!! Hopefully I'll be able to take some days off since Gymboree'll be closed, but that is to be announced. Won't get my hopes up too much though, but just in case, you should encircle the dates 26/10-2/11 in your agendas...

Until next time,
love always
C

A quarter of a century

25 years old. Half way to 50. Older but none the wiser. No that's not fair, I reckon I have gotten a bit wiser. Maybe not since yesterday, but looking back at last year, I have indeed matured. 25 is supposed to be a milestone in a person's life, one is supposed to be accomplished to a certain level, achieved goals, gone places. Have I? Yes and no.
To some extent I'm a bit disappointed I haven't moved further in life, haven't reached my goals as of yet. 5 years ago I was so sure I would have been there by now, education done with and grown-up life well and started. Safe to say it has all been put a little on hold. Not that I'm in a rush or anything, I'll try again next year, but opportunities are running short and I'm definitely not getting any younger.
On the other hand, where am I at this point? In Paris, in my own flat, doing my best to stay afloat and actually doing not too shabby. I mean, surely, at times I struggle and it's not always a walk in the park, but mostly I'm truly happy and content with my situation.
I was in Holland again, Wednesday. Only for 24 hours, because my grandma had passed away Sunday morning. It was all really sad but beautiful in a way, I've never felt so connected to my Dutch family before. Peaceful and nice. I know I will miss my Oma a lot, even if we weren't that close, she was a truly remarkable lady. Hats off for her... and for my Dad, lots of love.
Today will be a tranquil B-day though, coz tomorrow the real stuff is starting, Gymboree session number one. The premiere! I'm scared shitless, but I'm sure it'll be fine once I'm there and in the mood. Right know I'm mostly freaking out, what the hell have I put myself into?
Ok, I will now leave my little nest, do some shopping and bits and bobs. More updates to come I promise!!

Bisous xxx

One year later...

The 21st of August, 2007, an innocent Swede embarks the unknown land, totally unawares of what to come. Yes, today it has been a year since I arrived at Roissy Charles de Gaulle. Even though time indeed has passed with tremendous speed, events have been numerous and significant aswell. Every now and then I've asked myself "will it ever stop, will I ever get a brake"? Wether it was a next of kin getting seriously ill, an unexpected bill dropping in my lap or all my possessions stolen and lost, it all was a bit overwhelming. Luckily, I've had tons of support to help me get through the rough patches, from near and far, so I'd like to think I've risen from this a stronger person.
Naturally, not only bad things has happened to me this year. It's been quite a ride, I've met some extraordinary people and learnt tons of French. Mission complete! Paris still blows my mind, I find new things every day to explore and to be amazed by. Would love to expand my horizons even more and travel the country, me and some friends are talking about a road trip to Val de Loire, going castle-hunting (I mean, they're there... we wouldn't have to chase them or anything).
My flat's still a bit run down, haven't had the means to give it a go yet, decorating-wise. But I will, as soon as. Have other priorities first, like food, tooth-paste, boring stuff. As I said before, keep getting unexpected bills thrown at me. The adorable CSN has finally decided to put me under the radar, first bill's been sent and is due at the end of the month, 1000kr already. Yikes! So I dread next week, bill week. Rent week. Sigh and cry.
Work's going really well though, I like it a lot! Lots of spacey people around, never a dull moment, and I keep getting asked out every other day by random men. Hmm... I don't know. Boosts the ego though, so where's the harm, as long as they're kept at an arm's length. Today I had a funny moment with some Hare Krishna monks, they chanted up and down the street outside of the shop, wanted to drop their suitcase behind my counter (as if I looked like a safe-keep), and I was scared to death they'd blow the place up. But they turned out to be rather harmless, just wanted to sing and hand out books about meditation. Oh well. Tomorrow I'll work at Gymboree, do some chanting of my own. Me and my grand voice, try to keep your knickers on!! Speaking of knickers, me and Josefin will take on Showcase tomorrow night, and I'll try to hang on to my belongings...
What else is new? I went to Holland to see my grandma last week, was really really nice. I miss Holland so much, it felt so good to be back there, however short the stay. See everyone again... did me good. Maybe I'll get some visitors from England in two weeks (which also happens to be my B-day, oh dear....)! Yay!

Ok, since I now have an internet connection (which actually works) AND a landline (if you ask me nicely you might get the number even), I promise I'll keep my blog more updated.

Lots of love, C

Happenings!

July is coming to an end, it’s hard to grasp that summer’s almost over. Paris is subdued to a heat-wave of tropical measure, and waking up in my little bird nest is not that pleasant at the moment. Sweaty sheets twisted in all directions. Hm. However, I should probably start from the beginning and elaborate on my current situation, rather than go on about my morning sensations (ha! Easily misinterpreted, but totally meant to be unsexual I'm afraid).

So here goes. I moved into a little studio flat in Paris on the 5th of July, it’s situated in the 18th arrondissement, on rue Fauvet no 12. It feels so unbelievably good to finally live in the actual city itself! Although, I wasn’t intent to move as early as I did, my plan was rather to find work and stay on for a bit in Louveciennes. That way, I would have made some money for rent and have enough time to find a little place of my own. As it happened, a friend of mine fell upon an announcement on Facebook that her friend was leaving Paris, namely the girl who occupied my present accommodation. So there it is, an opportunity too good to resist! Unfortunately, that left me rather bare-scraped for some weeks (still am), and every day since has been a bit of a struggle.

Work has been found though! Wasn’t too worried about that in the first place, have been told that there are quite a lot jobs here in Paris, and indeed, that’s affirmative. I started off with Gymboree, an American invention which can be defined as a centre where kids come to play and sing, but not as a crèche or anything but rather a baby-gym (check out website www.gymboree-france.fr). I’m hired as an animatrice, someone who activates the kids, sings and plays with them. I’ll be in charge of the English sessions on Sunday mornings, all in all I’ll be working 6 hours a week. Moreover, I’ve also signed with a souvenir shop called Plaisirs de Paris, also in Montmartre not far from where I live. It’s not a regular souvenir shop with t-shirts and such, but I’ll be selling chocolate, champagne, candy and cognac! Yeah. Could be a bit hazardous, seeing as I do suffer from a major sweet tooth-problem. Oh well. I’ll be doing 30 hours a week in the shop, so it all adds up to a full-time employment. Hurrah! Which means, hopefully, that my days of tight budgeting soon will come to an end? At least, I hope so. So sick and tired of having nothing but pasta and ketchup for dinner…

Gymboree doesn’t start until the end of August, and the contract at Plaisirs starts Monday the 4th, so in the meantime I’ve been doing different stuff, mostly baby-sitting for various families, some in and some out of Paris. I’ve also worked in a (proper) souvenir shop in Montmartre, right next to Sacre Coeur. And to put it mildly, it has not been pleasant. Dreadful hours (it’s opened until midnight), drunk and obnoxious tourists and really unfriendly co-workers. So that job, nah, not for me. I’ll get my pay-check and leave ASAP. Never happened to me before, that I feel that uncomfortable with someone that I can’t stand staying, I’d like to think of myself as someone rather easy to deal with but in that place I just feel malplacée. Maybe I’d felt more inclined to give it a chance had I not been offered another job. It all just feels so disorganised and hap-hazard, the hours were sort of just distributed one day in advance. I can’t live like that, I need to be able to plan ahead!

However my other two jobs are more than organised, I was really amazed by the level of seriousness, me having to sign proper contracts. I even have to go and do a medical check-up before I start working! So I do feel taken care of there. And how I am looking forward to my first real pay check! Ah, like you wouldn’t believe...

My work-out and running scheme has suffered a lot these past weeks, haven’t worn my running shoes in so long! They might not even fit me anymore. But that’s going to change, as soon as I’ll be getting some routine back into my life I sure will pick up my old (good) habits again. And me thinking I’d be so healthy and sporty living on my own, ha! Quelle blague, quoi. But no no, seriously, living on my own comes with a great responsibility – it’s me and no one else who’s in charge of whatever I put in my pie-hole, so I better keep a leash on my indulgences. Starting today then. Right.

Unfortunately, since I now consider myself an employed and dedicated woman with tons of responsibilities, I can’t just pack up and leave the country as soon as I feel like it. Have to stick around for a little while longer, maybe even a whole year. So coming back to Sweden within the nearest future is not an option. I do hope I’ll be able to come home for a visit soon, maybe in October/November around Halloween (Gymboree is closed), but I’m not going to count on it. A must though; I will fight to the last drop of blood for time off during Christmas and New Year’s Eve! X-mas cannot be spent anywhere else but in Sweden. That is a fact. New Year’s plans have already been set, it’s leaning towards Edinburgh in fact. Dear old Dani set my mind to it, so I reckon that’s where I’ll be going. More about that later, after all I have 6 more months to change my mind numerous times.

Have to get on with mine now, will meet up Josefin for lunch. She's been in Bretagne for 10 days so we have some catching up to do, and this afternoon I’m working 4 hours in another souvenir shop at rue de Rivoli, same owner as the one next to Sacre Coeur but a bit nicer personnel. Doesn’t mean I will change my mind concerning leaving though, it’s still shit!

Until next time, look after yourselves and I’ll do the same. Ta ta.
C

Complete change of plans!

As it turns out, I'm not going home in July as planned. In fact I'm staying put here in Paris. Have already found a little studio (very tiny) in the 18th arrondissement and will be able to move in asap! Yay! All I need right now is a job... Which might sound terribly tricky put I'm not too worried. Or should I be? I'm not sure. All in all I have a very good feeling about this though. Am really excited, have never ever lived on my own before. Only with friends or in residential college. So this is definitely going to be a good experience. I'm thrilled!
Will be able to stay on with the family for a while longer, luckily. It'll mean I atleast have some form of income next month. But fret not, I am determined to get myself out there and look viciously for work. Any kind of job really, so if you hear anything about an opening in the Paris area - let me know...
Me moving to my own place of course also entails me being able to house visitors anytime for as long as I wish - thus feel free to come and see me! Only be aware that it's a studio we're talking about... Nothing grand. But I absolutely love it.
School's finished, and so is most of my Uni work, hopefully (depending on my teacher if she'll pass me). Have a couple of things I need to sort out this autumn but that's a later project. I'm to set on finding a job right now, it's hard focusing on other things.
This week-end's Midsummer's and I'm going to Sweden, hurrah! My Mum's sister is getting married on Friday (yes I have indeed bought a dress for the occasion), and on Saturday I'm going out to Brännö to meet up with some dearly beloved friends, a couple of which I haven't seen since before Christmas! My word. Really really looking forward to that.
So I'll try to keep this blog updated on my situation, whether I find work or not, but I should think so. If not... I guess I'll just have to come back home... Naaaah!!

A la prochaine!

Two months to go

Woa, time... so swiftly gone by. It's quite hard to grasp that it's nearly June. Last weekend was spent in la magnifique Suède, it was more than gloriously lovely. A bit short, but I reckon I managed to meet up with quite a bunch of people. Did the little half marathon aswell, finished at 2.05 - really pleased and content! Next year I'm aiming for the magical 2 hour limit, oh yeah. Had an inspiring chat with my prof last Monday about my essay on Les Misérables (huge source of concern), she has faith in it, which made me feel a bit more calm but still... there's a long way to go. Gotta finish before my next Sweden-visit (Midsummer's, hurrah!) so hop to it chop chop!

Also, I was totally and unexpectedly blasted with a virus on my MSN not so long ago! Spread to Facebook aswell, so now I'm sorta panicking, I'm useless and crappy with computers, what the F shall I do? If anyone has heard of this before (me sending random links to my contacts while being offline) please tell me. Grateful for any kind of support and tips on that one. And also, should I suddenly start sending something to any of you - delete asap! And I'm sorry, it's not intentional...

Sorbonne classes are almost over, only one more week to go. Feels weird but good that that's done, and sad too. One course went really well, the litterature one, managed to do all the work without failing, but the other one... not so good. Studies on the French language from Antique to contemporate times! It's really complicado, so not entirely unexpected either that I didn't pass it. Even the Frenchies said they had trouble figure that one out, so I'm not the only one.

Speaking of failing, I didn't pass the translation exam either (the 5 hour one), which means my whole future came crashing down in one blow (dramatic). Thus, since I'm not accepted into the translation program for next semester, I have to rethink the next 12 months, find a job wherever, a place to stay... preferably well-paid with great hours and lots of stimulation! Any suggestions? Thing is, I really could do whatever wherever. No real preferences. Simple as that. Yep. Reeaaal easy huh?

On to the good news from Holland; the treatment in Cologne turned out to be rather succesful, with a slight reduction of the tumour! Unbelievable and fantastic news! Still a long way to go, but some hope is restored which feels very good for everyone involved. Phew.

Right, so I have to resume my quest for tickets... might end up leaving France by the aid of my thumb on the side of the road. Intriguing indeed... to be announced!



A plus!