Nutella On My Hands

Photos first.

Battlefield of Verdun

HUGE canon, nbd.

Memorial for the unknown soldiers.

Champagne tasting in Champagne!

I would have gladly become an alcholic for this.

Champagne since 1874!!!

Oh hey french cutie pouring the bubbly. I totally took this photo for you Lilli.

SO... there was a contemporary art exhibit... that had this huge stash of Nutella so of course I had to make love to it. obvi.

Group picture!

In Reims, France!! Oh it was gorgeous!

The stained glass.. I could have sat inside and stared at it forever...

The angels...

I am in my room on a Sunday morning skyping my dear friend Mitch who is getting over the swine flu while hearing whispers in Adrienne's room. Whispers do not make friends. Kidding, Adrienne and Pumpkin are making day plans while I'm in my room being anti-social. But most importantly, I'm here on a Sunday morning. I have missed sleeping in, rolling over to see that my alarm clock will not go off in an annoying buzz because I have nothing significantly important to wake up for. There is this apple festival that Pumpkin and I were supposed to go to but we decided that buying a baguette, shampoo, and turkey at the nearest market was far more important than binge eating on apple pie. I think there is a point in your life when you feel like you have ballooned up like the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka and you have the need for a serious detox... or is that just me?

Paris?

Here is the update:

I am in love. Who needs a man when you have a sea of beautiful men walking the streets in their leather shoes, dress suits, and suave hair? Staring into their hazel eyes when you're standing almost too close to them on the metro... well, there is no such thing as being "too close" when you're in Paris. People used to tell me that I shouldn't visit Paris because it was over-rated--thank god I didn't listen because I have never had more fun in my life. Not only is it a gorgeous city but the people are insanely nice, considerate, and... I just love the craziness of the city. I was standing at the market in front of the sandwich section trying to figure out what was in the mystery sandwiches... when I looked to my right to see a woman in her twenties reading the labels on the pasta... so of course I crept over and tried my best at the little French I did know. I told her it was a pleasure to meet her (she looked so confused and a bit scared) and then I asked her to help me in the bread (yeap. That’s what I said). She looked at me, giggled, and told me she spoke a little bit of English but I really should stop trying to speak French because I definitely said a couple derogatory words. Oops. So we stood there as she told me about the store, the sandwiches, desserts, the fact that there was flan in the store, where she worked, where I could get some cute shoes in Paris, and after our conversation next to the sandwich section, she plopped a seat next to me and we ate lunch together. I introduced her to my wonderful friends that I was with and she began to tell me about her life. Her name was Valerie, but it sounded so much cooler because she said it with a french accent. She explained the train and metro system to me and said that I made a good decision on the flan (obvi.). I think the most beautiful thing about meeting new people is the never ending exchange of smiles and polite jokes.

So yes, people are trendy, nice, and gorgeous. However, they are only polite and friendly if you make the effort to smile at them and give them the time of day... but isn't that the same with every person? You make time for what you think is important.

Which brings me to relationships. I know, I'm supposed to be talking about Paris but I'll get to it, I swear. If you don’t want to read it, just skip this paragraph. Anyway, I was at a pub with my dear Pumpkin and Switz when we had this heart to heart about relationships. Of course. And it dawned on me that men will pursue you and take time of out of their busy day if they want to. If they don't, they're not worth thinking about. Harsh? Oh hell no, I was being gentle. (hah that's what he said. whoops) I remember meeting this guy, let's call him george for now,...so I met George at orientation freshman year in our small groups and I remember thinking, oh my god what a cutie. But of course, I never talked to him because he made me nervous. Most guys I have a crush on make me nervous and I somehow become insanely quiet. Why do I do this? No idea. Anyway, he was nice, quiet, and very handsome. And quiet men always intimidate me for some reason. I think it's because they reminds me of my dad--he's absolutely hilarious once you get to know him but he only opens up to the few people he trusts and building up his trust takes a while. Hm. That's probably why men who are too loud and crazy are not attractive to me. They only speak to hear themselves talk but they never seem to have anything significant to say. They never have the wit or intelligence to keep an ongoing conversation after the second or third time. Ouch. Buzz kill. Anyway, George. We hung out several times and since all of my friends were friends of his, I would always run into him on the weekends. I remember it was about two weeks before school was about to end and he had multiple projects due on Thursday and he was in a competitive sport so he had to practice as well. And I thought, well, I guess this is it. Nice knowing you, I'll see you when I get back from Lux. But I got a text in the afternoon and asked to meet later that night. (Sober/afternoon texts are oh so sexy) It was actually at the library because in Oxford, that's my main hangout spot--pathetic, but I've come to accept it. So he came to hang out for a second while I was studying. His eyes were absolutely bloodshot and he was wearing the same clothes from the day before because he had been working on these projects for days straight. He smiled and said it was okay because he took a Five Hour Energy. He hadn't eaten dinner and it was 10pm. I probably would have shot a turkey if I hadn't eaten a meal for as long as he did. But I couldn't help but appreciate him because he could have easily gone home and slept instead of walking over to King. I just find it so funny because guys always say "sorry I couldn't call you babe, I was busy" but the truth is that there was something more important than you that he had to do. Whether it be another girl or a project, same difference. I think girls have this romantic idea in their head that they can change a guy they are dating. Try and find their prince charming within this less-than-mediocre guy. When in reality, you should probably stop wasting your time and find someone who you don't have to change. You should want to play mario cart with him and binge eat on gummy bears with him, you shouldn't reprimand him for being a sloth and always staying in and eating sugary foods. You should find a good balance with the guy you're with. Women in college always lower their standards because they think there isn't anything better out there. But there is. I was always so embarrassed for never having had a boyfriend in my life but then I thought about it and realized that if I tried to begin a relationship with them for the sake of being in a relationship, I would have been in one by now and it definitely wouldn't have been worth it. Guys will make time for you if they think you're important enough and if you're not then you really need to move on. Don't stand around waiting for a text message that he'll never send, go out and meet new people because in reality, the guy that you meet by chance because you went out to get your mind off of this other pompous ass guy will probably be the one that you end being in a phenomenal relationship with. Life is always about taking chances and random encounters and if you don't put yourself out there then you'll live a life without excitement... and that's just boring.

Okay. Paris. Kait, Pumpkin, and Phoenix took the entire day visiting the Arc de Triumphe, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and shopping. It was brilliant. We found this hole-in-the-wall vintage shop with the most gorgeous belts, boots, coats, and dresses! Oh Paris! You make my life. And then when we got back to Kait's apartment exhausted and ready for a nap. But of course, we had a couple bottles of wine and champagne ready for us. So instead of napping, what did we do? Opened up all the bottles and had ourselves a party. Then headed out to a discotech in the beautiful city of Paris. I wore the skankiest, tightest, black dress with the new black shoes I had bought and I thought to myself... how nice, I won't see anyone I know and I could have myself a ball tonight. Oh the freedom. :) We never really made it to the discotech but the journey was a blast. There isn't anything/anyone to dress up for in Luxembourg so I wear my sandals everyday and I feel like sasquatch going to class. I can never wear dresses when I travel on the weekends because my backpack always makes my dress ride up and before I know it, there is a panty-preview showing for the public. I guess that's another reason why I loved Paris. I was never rushed to get ready because it was a group of girls, taking their time to look nice and get ready. Dresses, heels, and curled hair... oh I loved it.

Pumpkin just came downstairs from her room and moon walked across my floor. Hahaha I love her.

Speaking of Pumpkin, she recorded this video on her camera of sautrday night in Paris when I was passed out on the bed and she was washing my face and taking the Nutella off my hands/face. Because of course, we had a conversation over Nutella and pretzels that I vaguely remember and I was so frustrated with Pumpkin that I stuck my entire fist with my miniature pretzel in the bottle of Nutella and I ended up having Nutella on my hands and face. Being the great friend that she is...she took a good 20 minutes to take off the nutella from every crevice I managed to put on my body. She’s the best.

Reims, France

Instead of going to Oktoberfest, we decided to go with the school to Reims, France. We went from the battlefield of Verdun to champagne tasting to a brewery at an abbey to a citadel. I was absolutely exhausted. Highlight? New friends, as always. At the last bar we went to, there was a group of three people sitting at the table next to us from Belgium. This woman named Virginie scooted on over and introduced herself and I instantly knew I was going to have a great night from there on. I mean, at the first pub there was a table to men sitting next to us that I began talking to but after about an hour the man sitting next to me was whispering French things into my ear and I got an awful feeling that if Kensie and I did let him and his friends buy us the drinks they insisted on getting us, it would not end up being a good night. At first, the girls thought it would be a good idea to make some new friends with the locals and I was all for it until the local started to get all up in my grill. The two men that sat at our table said they were 19 and 21. Booshit. The guy with the man satchel was probably telling the truth but the man sitting next to me with the aftershave that smelled like evergreen trees was most definitely in his 30's. Ugh. Kensie and I had a couple laughs while they taught me French and I played Charades. But it was at the last bar where I met my new facebook friend Virginie! She is in her early twenties, a psychologist, and lives in Belgium. She has these large, piercing blue eyes that become enormous when she gets excited. She was fabulous. We got along so well that we exchanged information and promised each other that we would meet up again if she ever came to Ohio or Los Angeles and if I ever went to Belgium again. Apparently there is supposed to be a huge festival coming up? Is it time for the party pants to come out of the closet again? Oh yea. ;)

Now I’m listening to the Postal Service thanks to Phoenix for letting me steal her music. J Our classical music class is flying to Venice on Wednesday until Sunday to explore the tranquil city. We learn about it in class and go on class trips to the places we’ve learned about. I know, it’s awesome. Why Venice? Because it’s the heart of music during the Baroque period. Not to mention our professors here are so sweet. We spent Saturday night getting one of the business professors hammered because it was his birthday. By the end of the night he was slurring his words and smoking a cigar. It was classic. Then there were other nights when I went out to dinner with my American Studies professors and had a beer or two. Oh but my music professor is the best. He made me this great cd with 20 of his favorite piano concertos and I just laughed because only in Luxembourg will your professor call you “sweetheart” and say “oh I will keel you” if you start talking when he is lecturing. Oh he’s great. Shoot, I have to start my AMS paper. Au Revior mon cheri!

J.