B-I-N-G-O! Part I

I have worn black every day for a week
Not yet, but I am sure it is coming.

I bought Le Monde even though I can't really read it
I am a complete newbie in French. I had Spanish all through high school and college, but never spoke a word of French. Interestingly, reading French has come rather easily. I have studied and practiced (intensive French lessons start in a couple of weeks) and can pretty much read my way through a magazine or Pariscope. But, alas, when someone starts speaking to me I generally have no idea what they are saying....

I drove the car!
I am not afraid of driving in Paris. I am afraid of parking in my garage. The garage here is subterranian....down a loooong ramp, around a winding corner, down the end to my parking space which is teeeeeey, tiny. So, I picked the car I wanted (Nissan Qashquai) but had to explain to the car salesman that I wasn't sure if it would fit in the garage. Would he mind driving it over to our flat to see if it would fit? Yes, you will? Fabulous. Would I like to drive it in the garage myself? No, thank you. I will ride along. It fit!
I have since been told by FF (French Friend) that it is not customary for car salesmen to make housecalls. Apparently they make exceptions for American women.

I told someeone where I live and they gave me that "Aren't you fancy" look
If you Google '16th arrondissment Paris' you will get a sense of where I live. Salma Hayek's kid goes to my kid's school. I saw Carla Bruni on the street today. I was a little sad that Nicholas Sarkozy was not with her because I find him to be delightful (again, French hair!). This conversation I had with the neighbor gentleman sums up the 'hood:

Neighbor: How do you like the 16th?

Me: Well, they say it is the best neighborhood in Paris and we agree!

Neighbor (scoffs - people scoff a lot here. I like it.): It is NOT the best neighborhood in Paris.

Me (apologetically): Oh, no?

Neighbor: It is the best neighborhood in the world.

Ah, yes. How could I have forgotten. And, yes, I am the American lady with the J Crew/Banana Republic wardrobe who looks totally out of place.

I heard someone use the word Sympa....
I have NOT heard someone use the word sympa, but likely because I hang out with moms. And the grocery store delivery boy. (Just seeing if you were paying attention - tee hee).

B-I-N-G-O! Part B

Well, I know you are all jealous because I have the coolest bestie in the world -- Annette Benning. Prior to departure she made me a fun 'I Moved to Paris' Bingo game--really, she is that creative. Here is the card and status of each from the "B" Column. Additional columns to follow each day this week....

I said 'oui' and had no idea what I agreed to  
Actually, this happens pretty much daily. I got my supersaver grocery discount card this way. I also had to pay 20 cents for a plastic bag this way. I think it is all part of the learning process. A major language moment was when the grocery clerk asked if I wanted my groceries home delivered, I actually understood the question, and I answered with appropriate 'non'!
Since then I have learned that the grocery delivery is done by young, well-dressed men with the perfect hair that only French men (and Patrick Dempsy) possess. I believe they also provide special services (hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge) on request. 

I've had baguette at every meal today  
You already know the answer to this one.

I crossed the street in the middle today  
As I am trying to model good behavior for SJ, I have not yet done this. The Paris Dad is back in the US leaving me and SJ here alone. I do go into regular 'what-will-SJ-do-if-I-get-hit-by-a-bus-in-a-foreign-country' panic attacks. While I am competent and independent, living alone in a foreign country requires an entirely different set of contingency plans. We have done a lot of 'what-to-do-if' drills. And I am masterful with notecards. Robert Pattinson look-alike doctor did give me his home and cell numbers in case I need anything at all since 'poor madame' is living in Paris alone. I wonder what constitutes "anything at all."

I met the lady with the dog from upstairs
Sadly, there is no lady with a dog upstairs. The lady upstairs is a stunning, chic French woman that has about six shopping bags permanently affixed to her arms. I am fairly confident she shops all day, every day. She also has her groceries delivered.

I have, however, met and become attached to many interesting neighborhood pups....the teeny dachsund; the intense shiba inu; the dachsund/schanuzer mix which makes an odd looking dog; and the multitude of maltese.

I had a classically French dessert in a French restaurant in France  
This restaurant is supposed to have one of the best mousse au chocolat in Paris. I agree. It rocked. I already have a reservation for Annette Benning and I to go back when she arrives in October!

 

 



The Movies

I have long been a huge fan of going to the movies. The last movie I saw in the US was Madagascar 3 with a good friend and the kiddies. Obviously, not a cinema classic, but I adore the entire experience....the hit-you-in-the-face scent of popcorn when you walk in the door; the slightly sticky floor; Junior Mints....ahhh. I think that at this particular movie (which is all of 80 minutes in lengh) 'good friend' and I finished off two tubs of popcorn.

After a couple of months here in Paris I really needed a movie. This requires significantly more research than in the States, because we need to look for movies that are labeled "VO" (version originale - meaning they are in English). I was forwarned that the only people who attend VO movies are expats (yeah!) and snooty French people who insist on seeing the VO even if their English is not stellar. Okay, I can handle that.

So, SJ and I agree on The Amazing Spiderman (for those of you who know me, you know I was not all jazzied up about another Spiderman so soon, but was quickly taken by Andrew Garfield, not so much with Emma Stone) and set off for the theater on Champs de Elysee. Upon arriving at the theater you are greeted  by an electronic ticket purchasing machine which I navigated pretty quickly despite my limited French. Then you enter and are ushered to a bit of a holding room to wait for your movie to start. Now I am begining to get concerned. I do NOT smell popcorn. About five minutes prior to the start of the film, an usher-type person comes to the holding cell, uh - room, and announces the number for your theater. Everyone bolts to the theater. There are no snacks. There is no popcorn. And the word of the day is....crestfallen.

The theater was pristine and immensely comfy --- I could have fallen asleep in the overstuffed chairs. But, again, no snacks. At all.

 So, I brought the matter up with my new French Friend (FF) and the conversation went a bit like this:

Me: The movie theater experience is quite different here than in the US.

FF: How so?

Me: Well, there are no snacks. No popcorn.

FF: But aren't you there to see the movie? Does everyone eat in the US?

Me: Actually, I go for the whole experience...there is nothing better than the smell of movie theater popcorn! Not everyone eats, but I guess most people do.

FF: So they just sit and eat? Like farm animals?

Me: Uh, yeah.....like farm animals.

FF: Maybe that is why Americans are so stout.

Me: Stout?

FF: Fat seems rude.

(As an aside, FF was not trying to be rude....I have found that the French are very direct. I kind of enjoy this, and they truely mean no offense. Cultural difference.)

Perhaps, FF was accurate....but popcorn would be delightful about now.