Belgian bliss

She went, she saw, she was... moderately impressed. Yes, I went to Brussels. It was alright, I guess. Unfortunately, it's a bit difficult to feel at all swept away by any place after spending six months in Paris. I mean, the first three weeks here, I just walked around with my mouth wide open, in awe, staring at all the pretty buildings. It's magnificent, clean (except for all the doggy poo that is, bien sûr) and structured. Brussels is sort of... not. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, the beer's the best in the world and the chocs to die for. To be honest, my expectations weren't that high anyways, which kept disappointmentlevels low.
After a quite intense Fridaynight; Anika and Damir's terrific "Back to Paris"-party which lasted well into the wee hours of the morning (went to bed around sixish), it's safe to say I arrived in Brussels already feeling a bit rough around the edges. But since I wouldn't let that bring me down, me and my dear au pairing friends took on the town, had lots if not too many drinks, went out clubbing at a très chic boîte called Le You (nice anglicised touch there, don't you think?), and then moved on to some bars to kill some more time in sleepless drunkenness. And also, since the staff at the hostel where we were staying were complete, and I say this with utter respect, ASSHOLES, they wouldn't let us back in between one and seven in the morning, well, we were just forced to stay out until then. Which we did, of course. Me and Amanda, contemporarily known as "the Brave ones", had some greasy Greek (food, nothing else) around 6.30am, and moved directly on to the complementary but ridiculous brekkie served at the hostel (after sneering at the receptionist in a spiteful manner). Slept for about two hours, checked out and accompanied the rest of the voyageurs to a little Belgian town near the coast called Brügge. This little picturesque village is also called the Venice of Northern Europe, which I sort of disagree with, only I shouldn't since I've never really been to Venice in the first place so I have no clue what it's like, but none the less it was rather cute and cosy. Had lunch (pizza - being hungover like an egg), did some touristing, and then we steered our vehicle back to Paris.
All in all it was a satisfying weekend, regardless of the lack of sleep and malturns with the hostel. Met some really cool people and was vacantly amused, so I guess a good 7 out of 10 wouldn't be an exaggeration.
I'm free from au pair and class work this week, the Mottes went to London this morning and there simply aren't any classes this week at la Sorbonne, so yay to me, I'm free! Going to Cannes Thursday morning as planned and will stay there until Sunday. Hoping to catch some beams, my skin hasn't seen proper sunlight in eons. Look like an asparagus, oh... right, the white kind I mean. Anywho, that about sums it up. Tomorrow I will engage myself in one more "sortie" with my beloved friends, perhaps even catch some after work at le cercle suèdois, who knows?
Take care you all, puss och kram!

Merde alors...

So after much faffing about it seems as if though I won't be able to run in the Gothenburg race after all... The sign-up closed January 31st, and me being me, I totally flunked out. Even though my boss was nice enough to include me in the corporate team, confusion and miscomprehension mixed together - long story short - I lost my spot. What can I say, I'm really disappointed. Hoping now for nothing but divine intervention, I will go home that weekend anyway (16-19 May). Have to do some stuff for school, so I might just aswell.
Speaking of school, Sorbonne's treating me nicely, it is indeed tough at times but I think (or rather I hope) I will manage to get through it. Have met some really awsome people (classmates in picture, in the metro) and I'm enjoying myself a lot. Many parties, though, I wonder why that is (ha!) - a bit rough healthwise - guess I'm not 20 anymore! Oh, yes indeed, the glorious 25 is approaching with speed! A bit frightening, I have to say. But that means I can have a great big bash this September, and actually me and my cousin have talked about throwing an enormous party (25+25=50), so keep your peepholes open for info about that!
What's more, this week and the next, the kids have their winter schoolholidays, which at times means more work and at others less (some days I work all day, for example). This weekend is of course dedicated to mine and Amanda's Big Belgian adventure to Brussels, and also Damir and Anikas "Welcome back"-party on Friday!! Yay! It'll be a good one...
Next week I'm off to Cannes for a couple of days, maybe will be able to catch some sun, who knows. All in all, it will be a nice break from the Parisian greyness, today it's pouring down and I really do not feel like heading out again... but alas! I must.
GROS GROS BISOUS

La Sorbonne

Well well well. Life as a studious student of the Sorbonne has officially started. And... I like it! However, it kicks arse big time, I'm literally positively lost at most of my lectures. Don't think that the professeurs would give you any slack just because you're a poor foreign student - oh no sir! But I'm content, have met some awsome people and it feels so good to actually be doing something useful with my days. Not just hanging around at the Swe church... tsss...
Yesterday the Erasmus association threw a bash - une soirée déguisée (costume party) with the fancy theme "carneval". Me and my new-found friend Danni (from England) bought ourselves some pink featherboas and silvery masks, very dressed up indeed (à la Pride Parade meets trannies). It was all good fun, although I had to leave around midnight Cinderella-style to catch my last train before I turn into a pumpkin (or was I a pumpkin before? Hard to tell, really).
Weather's really nice, we've had lots of sunny days, perfect for pick-nicks in parks and whatnot, strolls in the city - aaahh la belle vie! I do have lots of work though, it's like this big fat clowd of worry, hanging over my head. But I've decided to finish my last Bovary-essay this week, or else! It HAS to be done! Also, since I'm not sick anymore, I'll pick up my excercise-regime, that is a must. Cannot go on like this anymore, or I will turn into a pumpkinshaped piece of meet. No fun whatsoever...
For you guys with Facebook, check out my pictures in the Parisian-album! For the rest, tough shit you won't see any pics...
Alright, until next time, be good!!
Gros bisous

Sick!

Oh, have mercy. After six days of absolute acute sickness, I have returned to the land of the living. Can honestly say I've never been this sick - ever! It started Tuesday afternoon with slight quezyness and aches and pains all over; classic flu-symptomes. Had to stay in bed Wed-Sun, couldn't even muster the strength to watch TV, now that means trouble! Saw a doctor Friday morning, coz I couldn't hack it any more, and he said; Madame, this is no ordinary cold, you have "une GROSSE grippe", good luck with the French ferocious flu. So, yes, I was mighty sick, but now I'm feeling a tad better so there's still hope for the poor old girl.

Right, so that's my week so far, Sorbonne's closing up fast and that takes its toll on my nerves, but I will persist and be brave. Wish me luck. Hopefully I have nicer news with the next blog...



Cheerio!

Balzac - Bastille - Bovary

Winter's back! Temperature's crept down to seasonal standards; around 5ish degrees. Which I guess is alright, alTHOUGH it was quite delish with +12 and sun. My lungs hurt yesterday when I went for a run (read: dragged my derrière around the forest) - less pleasant. But hey, gotta keep that exercise-regime tight, or else NOT a successful GBGvarv at all...
Friday night was spent in front of the computer until two AM (while baby-sitting, I am a fan of multi-tasking) tapping away at one of my two remaining bookreports; Balzac. I did get a lot done, so I'm quite content, however dead I was the day after. A day which, on the other hand, was spent in a quite morbid fashion; me and Amanda went touristing and visited Père Lachaise graveyard, where the tombs of all the greats can be found; Molière, Chopin, Piaf, Apollinaire and of course Morrison. Visited monsieur Honoré de Balzac himself, and read some to him out of Le père Goriot (one of the books I'm working on), hope he enjoyed it. Sure he did. He seemed pleased enough. But man was it spooky there! Even had crows sitting in the trees, crowing away. You'd think they added them, just for effect. It worked.
Saturday night we explored le Bastille, said to be known for its many bars, but we didn't really find...that many. Bit disappointed actually, although we weren't really in the mood for great party-tricks anyways. Took the last nighttrain home, around 12.30, rather reasonable hour I do say! No, I haven't gone dull, it's my non-existing economy that wears me down. No money=the biggest partypooper ever. This weekend is pay week-end though; thus I will reclaim my old self and go out big time.
Have started on my last project on the B-course; a "dissertation" (don't know the English word for that, critical essay perhaps?) on Madame Bovary - classic! It's quite a fun read, so I'm excited, but rather antsy to get it done - as are my teachers I'm sure! Breathing down my neck to get all these effing essays in... Well, take a number.
Furthermore, la vie parisienne is great. Have a few weekendtrips planned in Spring, for example Brussels on the 1st of March, don't know what I'll find there, but I guess it's just one of those places one has to see? And perhaps going to Cannes the WE after, more about that later.
So, it's not just all work and no play for me, which is good since I'd probably die of boredom otherwise. Some Very Important Dates (VID) for me, in the nearest future, are:
11 February - Sorbonne courses start (yikes)
15 February - Dad gets his brainscan back (anxiety)
1-2 March - Brussels (but you already know that)
18 April - the Test (with a capital T), entrance to my masters (not at all nervewrecking)
28 April-4 May - going to St Lunaire, Bretagne
16 May - going home to Sweden, 17th is D-day for the Varv (oh yeah)

There, now you know what's up. I'll add if there are any changes. Keep reading and I'll keep blogging (a bit more frequent, I promise).

Gros BISOUS from Paris

Deadline

Awkward word, deadline. Morbid enough, atleast. To tell you the truth, I've never taken a liking to it. Officially, I had one last Friday, deadline that is. I was supposed to finish the B-course and start fresh on Saturday with the C-course, move forwards/upwards on my academic ladder. But alas, I'm afraid I did not finish. However, I do adore the University of Gothenburg and their grants of expanded submissiondates. My dear teacher gave me some slack, maybe she felt a bit sorry for me, or was she used to having students breathing down her neck around the 18th of January, I shall never know.
So, whilst being still submerged with work (have still 2,5 bookreports to finish), I toil onwards. I did take a break this weekend though, went out on Friday night and enjoyed the clubscene of Paris; Showcase next to the Seine which offers pretty much anything a girl could ever wish for (except ridiculously overprized drinks!! Preposterous!). I actually ran into a boy, or rather crashed into his abdomen, since this boy in question was two meters tall! I know, it's unheard of; a Frenchie actually taller than me?! Anywho, I was quite taken aback, so my performance was rather poorish, leaving me there bouche bée (gaping mouth). Did dance a lot though, had to stay awake to catch the first morning train at 6.30. Me and Amanda went for a late night snack at Quick, and then camped out at St Lazare (our trainstation), all-in-all it was an excellent night. Saturday was not as active, quite the opposite in fact. Stayed in bed all day (only woke up at 4pm) and ate bon-bons. I mean, why not? I had a rough week...
Sunday was spent at the Swedish church (I know right?), not to pray even though I might need some divine intervention, but to watch a Swedish movie the church-crew screened in the common room; Se upp för dårarna. Excellent film, you should see it. Went for sushi afterwards and spent my last 10 euro, so now I'm officially deadbroke. Quite bad, seeing it's only the 21st and I don't get paid until next week Friday... it's going to be a quite boring week.
The reason for my sudden and coincidental poverty is the Erasmus office, who has issues with paying the scholarships. Apparently there's some kind of delay, what do I know. It has seriously messed with my life though, since it left me unable to pay my bills. Grrr... but I shouldn't be too cross with them, I am indeed very grateful, don't believe otherwise. Just... a bit... antsy...
Other sad news, situation in Holland not improving, rather getting worse and with that my worrying increases of course. To tell you the truth, I'm a wreck over the whole thing. It has left me utterly out of means of action. But we strive on... :(

Right, so instead of being a rebelious blogger I shall return to my duly delayed bookreports and I will let y'all know what's going on a little bit later this week.
Ta Ta, C

Bonne année et bonnes études

Happy new 2008! A new fresh year, with loads of prospects and promises of prosperity! There's no end to the possibilities, as I always love to exclaim.
Have been home over the Holidays to catch up with all my beloved ones, the days went by far too quickly. Alas, I won't go back until the 16th of May, since the 17th is the D day for me scurrying my little derrière around Göteborg, in a wee humble race nommé Göteborgsvarvet. That's right, Sweden will be Carro-free for the next four months, so...enjoy I guess?
After a bit of a roundtrip through some major cities of Europe (train from Gbg to Copenhagen, flight to Amsterdam, train to Rotterdam and THEN Paris, phew exhausting I'll tell ya! Next time, definitely direct-flight), I finally got back Sunday night to Louveciennes, and now after a couple of days it feels as though I never left. However, I've been restrained to my chambers most of the time (not by the fam! On my own accord...) due to a massive laziness during the holidays which now resulted in me having to study like a maniac. I have a deadline next week on the 18th, when my course officially ends (FYI it's a French distance-cours I'm taking from the University of Gothenburg), thus I need to finish whatever work I have neglected, which pretty much entails everything. Book-reports, book-analyses (Mme Bovary, that'll be a good read), etc etc. Atleast I sent one of the rédactions off last night (at 11.30 pm) after tearing out my hair over Marguerite Duras´ silly little bravado of her escapades in the Far East.
So, it's not all wine and baguettes here in la belle France. On the 11th of February I will join the masses of Sorbonne University and study French, with the French. Oh, I'm scared. They will tear me apart and have me for lunch! Frenchies are known for their ferocity, especially against the meek and foreign. I mean, even the little 8 year old at home laughs vividly at my accent; "Why, I do say, you have one of those Swedish accents when you speak French, how could that be?" How about you try speaking Swedish, child, and we'll see about accents. There!
Naah, the kids are sweet. I mean, they're kids right? Although, being an au pair is without a doubt the best birthcontrol conceptory-pill in the world. 'Course every now and then you get the occasionally "Ah, I'd love one of those little sweethearts, isn't he cuuuute" and then you get yourself together and think about last night when the sweetheart nearly ripped his brother's pyjamas apart, hurling on the top of his lungs. Yes, being an au pair surely gives you perspective on things.
As I said, I won't be coming home to Sweden until Spring has arrived and all the pretty flowers and birds have woken from their wintersleep and whatnot. By the looks of it, Winter won't even come to Paris, we've had +7 degrees and rain all week. Good though, mild weather enables running outdoors. HA! As if that would spur me to go jogging... I really should, ah we'll see, this afternoon I might.

Ta ta, à bientôt! XXX