When I lived here, on my first day in the city at the Eiffel Tower, I met a man who was nice to me. As I was naive, I was just happy to be speaking French. Long story short, he attempted to kiss me and as my French was in need of improvement, all I could say was STOP/arretez Monsieur!

And somehow in that year, I was a target for boys who also just tried to kiss me, tongue and all sometimes, even after talking in a bar for like 20 minutes. Needless to say, I was traumatized for the most of the next year and all my time in France.

So I’m not that young anymore and nobody was gonna get that close to me this time…..but then I met a Algerian-French family aux jardins des Tuileries (gardens) and there were three adorable children. The lil 4-yr old was running and catching pidgeons; his older sis was chasing him; and I struck up conversation with the dad and Myriam, the 6-yr old.

–Hi, what’s your name?

–Myriam.

–Don’t be shy. I just want to practise my French.

–How old are you? Tu es tres belle.

–Thank you! No, you are very pretty. I love your curly hair

–(She smiles bashfully.) You like curly hair? I like yours, black and straight.

Her father interjects, “Cathy is from Canada where your aunt and uncle live, but she lives in Vietnam right now, a country even farther than Algeria…”

–We’re going to Algeria tomorrow, taking a train then a plane!!!!!!!

Meanwhile Sammy and Nours chase birds and other park visitors sleep, take in the sites, and partake in other delightful conversations.

OOOOHHHH and it was MYRIAM and her sister, Nours, who kissed me this time, and on the cheek
They were the sweetest girls and family, just taking a park break before strolling les Champs Elysees! Now that is a stylish family outing, isn’t it?

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Hola!

Bref, I lived here in 2001-2 for school and it was def a learning experience.

Coming back after eight yrs had me thinking: what will it be like? Can I still speak French? Will they be nice to me?

Soooooooo despite the everlasting rep of the “difficult” French ppl or Parisians, I found them to be kind, helpful, and cute AND they are speaking English (willingly).

The streets are QUIET and cleaner than before…as in, dog owners pick up after their pets and actually French doggies gleam with shiny coats that even I, a drool hater, want to touch!

Not so many strangers tried to “befriend” me in that odd French “pick up” style and I haven’t heard too many suggestive “bonjour mademoiselle” as I did in the past.

All I can say is that I AM TOTALLY IMPRESSED§ §§§!!

There are motorbikes, bicycles, baguettes and artists galore!

Like Patrick Bruel sings: “Paris je t’aime…..” It’s a good song!

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Wow, it hasn’t even been a full day in Paris but I feel quite alive!!!! Despite this keyboard which will make editing more difficult, la vie parisienne est tres tres belle!

Now if only I could concentrate on work instead of speaking French and dreaming of fresh apricots; soft, Tunisian almonds still in their shells; and all the other Asian products they have here like miso soup in a packet and the Rooster chilli sauce which is a Westernized version not found in Asia (me and Duc “zee artiste” did a quick tour to pick up stuff for lunch)….I’d be in much better shape professionally but alas, that is a “downside” to being a traveling, freelance editor — Waaaaayyy too many distractions abroad!

I’ll give myself five more minutes. I’m staying with a friend of a friend and he lives in the 12th quartier and is VNese and is sooooooooooo fun and open and welcomed me with a jovial laugh when I called him up. He’s an artist working on his PhD “en beaux arts” who paints diligently by day…I’ll take a pic of his work in his studio–a meticulously neat room. He is not the stereotypical, wild and messy artist that one sees depicted in movies. And he keeps all his “tableaux” under his bed. I will get to see them later and will prob be the first person to post them online for the WORLD to see ))))))))))))

Now for those visual ppl, here’s a pic of me and my fave gal, Marisa, in London, the first stop on this tour…..no pics in Paris just yet!

Mmmmm cider! Luv camera timers when no else's around to take ur pic:)

OK overall post on FRENCH keyboard took 15 minutes! Ciao and lots of love!!!!!!!!!

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