Amanda in Paris

NYU Junior in Paris for Fall 2013

[amandainparis]

Being here I had the amazing opportunity of watching the French soccer team qualify for the World Cup at the Stade de France! It was an amazing experience where I was able to see the French regain the glory of their soccer team, and was probably the largest display of patriotism I have ever seen. The French team needed to beat Ukraine by 3-0 in order to qualify after having been beaten by them in Ukraine by 2-0. No one really thought it was going to happen, and my friend and I entered the stadium with the expectation of coming out losers. In fact, France played their way fantastically to glory and the enitre stadium applauded and erupted in song, waving their blue, white and red flags in the air. Being there and being a part of this monumental moment really made me feel more "French" than ever. 

[amandainparis]

For Thanksgiving, NYU rented out the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower for us. They made us a Thanksgiving themed dinner, consisting of a stuffing stuffed turkey breast, potatoes au gratin, and fresh cranberry sauce. What a French way of experiencing an American holiday!

[amandainparis]

Je parle francais

I am happily reporting that in my time here, I have improved my French by leagues! I have been able to converse with people much more fluidly and am really getting there with my grammar. I cannot wait to see how far I will progress in my six remaining months, especially since all my classes will be in French next semester. I am really hopeful based on how well it's going!

[amandainparis]

We decided that a good Halloweekend activity would be to visit the catacombs! Not in the least bit disappointed!!

[amandainparis]

Us in front of Giotto's bronze doors in Florence!

[amandainparis]

Me in Venice, the most beautiful city in the world!

[amandainparis]

Italia io ti amo!

So as previously posted, I took a weekend trip to Italy. We went to Bologna, Venice, Florence, and Pisa all in three days! It was a fantastic trip, offering the opportunity to exchange the cold weather and even colder locals for a warmer climate and happy, welcoming people. The food was just fantastic; the pasta, pizza, and gelato were nothing like you could ever have in imitations outside of Italy and the shopping was even better. We also went to so many museums in this time, and I still made time to experience Florence's nightlife. We were able to see famed works of art such as Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo's David right before our eyes. One specific difference I noted in Italian art as compared to French was that it was inherently more religious, and it was hard to find other subjects on display other than religious subjects. I was also intrigued by how homogenous the people seemed to be! Furthermore, I was able to use and improve my conversational level Italian which was a huge plus for me. It was my first trip in Europe outside of France, and if this is how the rest of the continent is, then I am thrilled to see more!!

[amandainparis]

This weekend I went to see the George Braques exhibit at the Grand Palais. It is open until January, this I highly suggest it to anyone here or coming here. The piece above, entitled La Musicienne, turned out to be my favorite.

The questions it evoked in me on this day are as follows: Where does the musician end, and the music begin? Is there a difference between the two? 

The answers, which I have since formulated: There is no defined line. In creating art, you are imparting yourself into this art and placing it into the outside world, thus also sharing yourself with this world as well. In being an artist of any sort, I believe Braques is saying, you become your art and your art becomes you.

[amandainparis]

Italy!

Just booked my tickets to Italy in November. I am so excited, because even though I've been to Paris three times, I have never seen anything else in my adult life in Europe. Study abroad is a fantastic opportunity to do stuff like this, and I hope everyone takes advantage of that fact!!

[amandainparis]

Here we are wine tasting in a vignoble outside of Lyon. 

[amandainparis]

Reverse Culture Shock

While in Lyon on NYU's school trip this weekend, I met a bartender from Arizona, studying in Lyon. She was very nice and we chatted quite a bit. In the end, what I took away most from this encounter was her warning about going back home. She told me and my friends to beware of the fact that we will experience reverse culture shock upon returning. This concept will remain in the back of my head until my departure in May. 

[amandainparis]

Lyon

This past weekend, I went with the school trip to Lyon. It was absolutely gorgeous and the people are 100x nicer that they are here in Paris. The trip truly showed me another side of France, and allowed me to get closer to other NYU Paris kids at the same time. Overall, a weekend well spent.

[amandainparis]

Once a Year

Once a Year, Paris has a weekend in which it opens up specific government buildings to the public.  This weekend is called Les Journees du Patrimoine, and it is one of the most spectacular occurrences I have seen thus far. My friend and I visited a few sites. The most notable, here, is the French Senate, located in the Jardins du Luxembourg. The tour included several rooms of the palace that were only open for these days, and a short informational video. Another notable site was Hotel de Ville, the Parisian city hall. This "heritage day" was incredible, as there were tourists and French people alike, gasping at breathtaking architecture while learning a thing or two about the way the state functions. 

[amandainparis]

This Weekend

This weekend I am going on the NYU trip to Lyon and I could not be more excited! I will surely share some photos here when I return :) 

[amandainparis]

Real Work...

So it's finally come to the time in the semester where we have real work to do. Not just a little bit of it, like a whole whole lot. This summer was so relaxing I forgot how to do that. Hopefully Paris won't distract me too much, I'm trying for straight A's this semester! 

[amandainparis]

A piece from the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at the Pompidou.

[amandainparis]

Depaysement

Depaysement: the French word for the feeling brought on by not being in one's own country. 

This feeling finally hit me when I was grabbing some school supplies at Monoprix (the french equivalent of Walmart or Target) and realized that the paper in this country is all marked with horizontal AND vertical lines. Confused and disoriented, I felt like I was having that "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" moment for the first time here. Fortunately, one of the things I enjoy most is pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, something my year here will never cease to offer me!