Lessons I'm learning in D.C.

I finished out the school year, set up my new classroom, visited my family in Michigan, and then on Monday I was reunited with my husband after 33 days apart.  Frankly, I don't advise 33 days apart if you can help it. It was hard, but now it's over.

I decided I would spend my first day in D.C. as a proper/improper tourist.  What I mean by that is that I dressed up in dark clothes, including a skirt, so I would look like someone going to work, but then I went and visited tourist attractions.  My ruse worked and as I was on my way to my first tourist attraction, a man and his wife stopped me and asked me a question about transportation.  Thankfully, I knew the answer or I would have had to admit this was my first day back in the city after two years, and even then, I'd only been here for three days.

I visited the Smithsonian Castle (which is where the Moongate Garden is), Freer and Sackler Galleries (in a nutshell: Whistler, Leyland, and Asian art), Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden, and Renwick Gallery.

In the Hirshhorn Scupture Garden

The Burghers of Calais by Rodin in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden

Looking at the fountain in the center of the Freer Gallery

Smithsonian Castle viewed from my bench in the Moongate Garden

The Moongate Garden

Lessons I've already learned so far:
CVS does not have a public bathroom
McDonald's does have a public bathroom and the museums
Most museums and galleries open at 10 but the Castle opens at 9 and has free wi-fi
Traffic lights don't really apply to pedestrians; if the way is clear, you go
Try to get a map of the National Mall before you realize you've almost walked by it completely
Asian art is really cool

My second day in DC was a lot less uneventful in terms of sightseeing.  I did the laundry, bought groceries, vacuumed our apartment (for the sole purpose of passing out on the floor in a nap later in the afternoon), vacuumed the common area on our floor and swept the laundry room (I did those rooms in addition to our apartment because 1)I was the only one around and 2)I like to walk around without shoes on when I'm home and I didn't like continuously getting things stuck to my feet), finished Hunger Games and started Catching Fire, took an hour and a half walk in which I got several awesome blisters on my feet and still didn't find my way to the French Embassy, made dinner, went and got a milkshake with Cody at Johnny Rockets, and watched some Studio C skits.

Now with day three, I'll be working on research in two hours, I'm anticipating reading and possibly writing.  I've contacted a friend who worked at a temp agency last year when she was in DC and hoping maybe I can get some leads for that.  I just don't think I can sit around all day.  I mean, if it doesn't work out, I'll just have to be creative...and that wouldn't hurt too much for me to practice that.

People are so nice!

Yesterday a momentous event occurred: My flip-flops that my mom got for me freshman year of BYU from the Dollar Store finally broke.  They should have broke on my way to the MTC yet because Heavenly Father loves me, they did not break until after.

How?  Because my roommate, Em, was nice enough to offer me a ride to the MTC; thus, my flip-flops did not fall apart on the way there and I was able to go into the MTC and be taught by the missionaries because I had shoes on my feet.  As I was leaving the MTC, I got to the corner of University Parkway and 900 E and my one flip-flop totally busted.  So I took off my other one and continued my trek home.  I walked a fairly good distance, enjoying the warm sidewalks and cool grass, and trying to walk more quickly over the asphalt and road areas because those places were hotter.  And then who should pull up to give me a ride but my brother-in-law, Remick.  How blessed am I?  People are so nice!

Then this morning began "Get Lost in Utah County: Part III".

I hopped on the bus around 7:20 to get to my interview in Alpine at 10:20.  I made my transfer successfully and I'm enjoying the ride. As time passes, I know I'm getting closer and closer to my next transfer that will take me to the school, so I turn off my music and direct all my attention outside the window.  As I see the street signs change from N/S to E/W I feel hopeful that I'm on the right track because the All-Knowing-Google directed me that my transfer stop will be at 8:46 at State St and 695 E, and from there I'll walk to 700 E and 17 N.  No biggy, right?

Except that as the bus is cruisin' along, I see 300 E and then the next one is Main Street and the bus turns on Main Street and we're perpendicular to N/S again.  Great!  I inwardly freak out, pull the cord, and get off the bus and begin walking in the direction I just came from. Giving myself a silent pep talk about how I still have twenty minutes till the next bus comes to make the transfer, it's only a few blocks over, I'll totally make it.

Yet, as I walk down Main Street to State Street and south on State, the numbers change from 300 E to being in the Souths again. Thoroughly confused and not quite sure where I even am--I could see the G on the mountain so I thought that maybe I was in Pleasant Grove, but I really didn't know--so I began calling people.  First I called Terri because she's superwoman and can do anything. She didn't answer her phone so I left a message telling her I was lost but that I would continue to call other people.  Then I called Ally Gordon.  Then I called my former roommate Ashley Carter. Nothing worked. Then I tried Paige.  And Paige was my hero of the before-interview-time.  She came and found me and drove me to the school for my interview.

The interview went well. :)

Afterword, I was waiting outside because Terri had gotten a hold of me and she said she would come pick me up and take me to a bus stop so I wouldn't need to wait for the bus that would be coming at 1pm.  The girl who interviewed after me, Brittany, came outside. She and I had taken classes together at BYU and chatted for a few minutes.  Then she graciously offered me a ride back to Provo.  I called Terri, informed her of the change in plans, and rode off with Brittany.

I just need to make a public declaration of gratitude to these kind, caring people who have gone out of their way to help me in my car-less, shoe-less, and directions-challenged state. THANK YOU!

Day 41 & 43: Sites & "Getting Lost" in Monaco

On Monday I went with a group of people to several different areas/sites in Nice as a class assignment--Old Nice, chateau (really, they're chateau ruins) and a Russian orthodox church. I love the bright colors of the buildings around Nice. I wish I could have had more background information about the chateau/ruins before we went to find it. The church was really neat though! The iconography is interesting. I told Rachel that it is fun to compare the art of the Byzantine era with the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The changes that came about with the Renaissance with the Roman Catholic church and the continuity and consistency of Eastern Orthodox to Byzantine styles is pretty interesting. After so much time has passed, it has remained virtually the same.

Russian Orthodox Church in Nice

Old Nice

Today Grace, Judy and I went to Monaco. We didn't actually get lost, but we were flaneuses--we didn't have a specific walk we needed to do, we just needed to get a feel for the environment and notice what was around us. It started as an adventure getting to the right bus station and going around Nice with a cranky bus driver. But we did make it to Monaco, standing all the way. Grace and Judy got off and then the doors shut so I got off at the next stop. :) We met up about 5 minutes later. We walked through Old Monaco, through the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried (they have signs everywhere with her picture and captions in several different languages telling what she did at that place), and then we walked around some more. Monaco was cool, it wasn't entirely what I was expecting after hearing that it is such a rich place to live. It seemed pretty dirty and cramped to me. I wouldn't really want to live there, sandy beaches and all. But whatever, to each his own.

I just thought this sign was funny :)

Grace Kelly is buried here

Day 32: Legitimately Lost & Fully Exercised

After class today, Paris, Rachel and I went to the flea market. I was trying to find the same place where we'd gone last time so that I could get some postcards that had been used already and use those for a lesson plan...alas, we never did find that part of the flea market. We were there for about an hour and then continued on with our lives.

I decided to just go back to the Vesinet. However, on the RER back to the Vesinet I decided to stop at La Defense stop so that I could see it. Here are some of my pictures:

(La Defense statue)

(The Grand Arch)

Then I hopped back on the RER and again decided to not get off at Le Vesinet-Le Pecq, but to instead get off at Le Vesinet-Centre, hoping to pop in at a book store, see if they had the new Marie-Anne book by Anne-Marie Desplat-Duc. However this is where the theme of my day starts:

I get off at the station. I follow the people. Do I look at the map of the area? Nope--it's le Vesinet-Centre! It's the station just before my station, I probably ran past this place on my run three weeks ago; I don't need to see the map. Hmmm...yeah. I should have looked at the map.

Rather than "popping in" to a bookshop, I ended up getting seriously and legitimately lost. I was in some random neighborhoods in le Vesinet. I did see some lovely houses though.

As you can see by looking the map, the black X is where the bookshop was (though I didn't find that out until several hours later) and the green X is where Nannick's house is. And as you can see by looking at my path (there was a bit more meandering in the neighborhoods that is not reflected on this map), I had absolutely no sense of direction and where I was going. I crossed the Seine. TWICE. I crossed it once because the street signs in the neighborhood were now saying "Le Pecq" and I remembered that when we went through le Pecq with Nannick last week we had to cross a bridge to leave le Vesinet to go through le Pecq. Ha. Yeah...

Instead of the 1.8 miles from the Vesinet-Centre stop to the Vesinet-Pecq stop, it took me about 4.5 miles.

Just above the point where I first crossed the Seine was a big sign that said "Vesinet" with an arrow pointing in the direction behind me. Did I see it? Of course not! Who looks up? Granted, it was raining by this point, but still...

So I crossed the Seine once, walked a little bit on the other side, finally found a map of le Pecq and saw that I was on the wrong side. So I crossed back over the Seine, and noticed that on my right was a store--Leader Price. I needed to stop at Leader Price to get some ingredients for a salad and since I was passing by now, it would save me a trip of going to the one by where Nannick lives when I returned. I figured I couldn't be too far away since I was in the Vesinet now. Then I entered the store and realized it was the store by Nannick's that Grace and I have gone to twice. Ha. Wow, I had no idea it was just down the street from the bridge over the Seine. I'm so observant.

I bought my food, returned to Nannick's, ate some lunch, then headed out again, this time hoping to find a bookstore. Here is a map of this journey, because yes, again, I had no idea where I was going:

(Black X: Nannick's house; Green X: Bookshop; Two Blue X's: the 2 RER stations, the one by the black X is the Vesinet-Pecq stop, the one by the green X is the Vesinet-Centre. So yes, I was so close the first time I got off the RER only I went in the total wrong direction. And yes, I should have just taken the RER to get from Nannick's to the bookshop. Instead of a 1.5 mile walk to a bookshop, it was 4 1/4 miles)

I walked and walked and kept thinking--there's a McDonalds, there must be a bookstore nearby...there's a Carrefour, there must be a bookstore nearby...Nope. However, I did see two rather strange things on my way to where I turned around and on my way back that I took a picture of:

(Yes, that is a real peacock. And yes, it is really in someone's front yard. In fact, there was another one on the front porch)

(I kind of wished I could have bought this car for Jacob; he would love to drive a car like this)

(This is there sign that basically means: Watch out there are kids here because there is a school. However, what it says is: Be careful, 500 children. I think that is hilarious.)

So then I decided to just walk the way that I took a run a couple weeks ago--straight down Boulevard Carnot. I'd run by some restaurants which meant some kind of a downtown, right? Of course! I walked and walked...I ended up following an older lady when I got closer to the "downtown" part of the Vesinet because she looked like she knew where she was going. And what do you know? She pretty much led me to the bookshop!

I ended up getting some of Moliere's plays in French because the new book by Desplat-Duc wasn't there. I also got two of the Petit Nicholas books. I paid and left the bookshop fully intending to walk back down Boulevard Carnot. But again! I am directionally challenged here without mountains to guide me. Instead I turned away from that street (without knowing it) and then I turned and what did I see? The Vesinet-Centre RER station. ha. If I had just gone to the other side of the RER station when I had first gotten off four hours previously.

So what did I learn today?

1. Open my eyes and read signs, even if they are behind me, if I have no idea where I am

2. Look at maps before exiting an never-before-visited RER or Metro station

3. It's a good thing I brought my tennis shoes to France

4. Even though I prayed to find the bookshop when I first got off at the Vesinet-Centre RER station (and then proceeded to get lost...twice), my prayer was answered because I did make it to the bookshop in the Vesinet before it closed.

And that was my exciting day of becoming lost and walking 8 miles in the Vesinet and the Pecq. :)

Day 31: Flâneuse

Being a flâneuse means that I am a loiterer or an idler, which in some situations may be a bad thing; in this case, it is not because it shows that I am taking in the city and this experience.

Instead of sitting through 362 yesterday, I read my book Des Colombes du Roi Soleil: Olympe Comedienne. I really wasn't feeling like I could sit through class again (I took 362 last spring, so technically every day when I've gone to class it has been to sit through a class that I've already taken; I don't have to do any homework or tests, but I need to be there most of the time so that they know I'm safe). It was a good book! It is at a 4-6 grade level, which is perfect for me because that's about where I'm at with my French reading--if I'm going to be reading with ease and quickly, like I have been with the past two books I've read by Anne Marie Desplat-Duc. I can read and comprehend harder and more complex texts, but for enjoyment purposes, it's nice to read children's/young adult books.

After our interviews with Drs. LeBras or Erickson, I went with Paris and Rachel to the catacombes. At least, that was our intention. However when we arrived we were met with this sign:

My hope of going through the catacombes has been buried because we leave Monday morning and it won't open before then. By this time it was about 3:30, a lot of day left, so I hopped on the RER, didn't stop at the Vesinet-Pecq stop and went to visit Saint-Germain-en-Laye since Dave and Leslie had told us they enjoyed it there (Dave is the bishop of the Paris ward). It was a really cute place. I wandered around the city, taking some pictures, bought a gelato, some guy asked me where a certain boulangerie was and I had to tell him I didn't know--but the fact that he'd asked me made me feel more part of the woodwork of Paris, rather than just as a tourist.

(Bust of the bishop of the Saint Germain en Laye parish; he died for France during WWII)

(Close up of the words on the bust; in English it says: "Put God first in your life")

(Cool castle/church building just by the RER station in Saint-Germain-en-Laye)

(It was a gorgeous day!)

(Sometimes I pretend I'm a photographer...I like doors, shutters, and gates in France)
(Blue door)
(I thought this door looked quite classy)

(The facade of a building)

I returned to the Vesinet and then left an hour or so later to go with Grace, Judy, Katherine, Mathilde, Eloise, and Theo to eat dinner at a Chinese restaurant. I ordered something I've never had before.

(Maison crabe farcie)

Day 29: Books, Dress, Graves, Flowers and Dinner

Today after class I went with Grace, Ryan and Judy to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant; it was my third time going there. After eating, Ryan and I stopped at a patisserie on the way back to the Institute (to use the bathrooms) and I bought a beignet framboise. So good! It's like a huge raspberry filled doughnut, only better. I wasn't able to get a picture because I ate it.

This mini-adventure was followed by decision to hop on the metro and see where it went. It ended in Marie-des-Lilas. A more urban neighborhood part of Paris, though on the outskirts of Zone 1 (maybe 2...). I was able to buy a cute dress for 12 euro, 1 book (also for 12 euro...) and was able to enjoy a local cemetery.

After enjoying Marie-des-Lilas, and seeing that it was about to start raining, the Metro was again sought and this time the end destination was the Anatole France stop (because I've wanted to go there ever since I saw it the fourth day I was here). The city where Anatole France is located is so pretty! It's still in the city, there are still buildings and such, but there was a beautiful public park that was really well kept up, with a water play place for kids to play attached to it. I also stopped at a book store and bought three more books...

Since I had so many books and a dress, I came back to the Vesinet, dropped off my stuff and then headed back into the city for our group dinner. What did I have to eat? The pictures are below and it was all delicious.

(Entree: Escargots; actually quite good. Not terribly filling, but they didn't taste gross)

(Plat: Tartiflette avec sa salade verte; all I could see at this point

was that there was cheese on top)

(Come to find out there is also ham and potato and some kind of special sauce; delicious)

(As you can notice, I really enjoyed it. No, I did not lick the plate/bowl; I used

my bread to get most of the sauce left over)

(Dessert: crepe au chocolat et sa chantilly; basically a crepe with chocolate and whipped cream. It was good, I enjoyed it)

Days 9-11: Des promenades à Paris

(Warning this is a really long post. I apologize in advance; it covers three very full days)

Day 9: Thursday, 6 May 2010: Latin Quarter, etc.; Institute

This was the Latin Quarter walk day. It was funny because my first thought when I heard the term “Latin Quarter” was a place where there would be those from Latin America with spicy food. This Utah/Western schema was quickly changed as I read through the description of the walk.

I loved la Cathédral de Saint Severin. I had gone to see this cathedral on Saturday with Grace and her friend Catherine, but I hadn’t taken any pictures then. I was grateful I was able to take some pictures this time around. I also loved the Cour de Commerce Saint-André. While the oldest café was a remarkable treat, I just loved the milieu of the place. It was extremely quaint and poetical. It was pushed back from all the rest of the busy streets. If I really lived in Paris, I would probably frequent that street often because of the feeling that was there of knowing I was in Paris but not part of “the busy the millions” as e.e. cummings put it.

(Cour de Commerce

Saint-André)

I was extremely disappointed that the religieuse place was no longer there. We hadn’t looked at the errata sheet during the walk until we got to this point in the walk, so I had been anticipating getting a delicious religieuse, only to be let down. That’s okay; I was able to get a sandwich later.

I went to Institute later that night. It was such a great experience! I didn't speak much (as I would have in an English-speaking Institute) except to the woman sitting next to me, named Naomi. But I got to listen a lot. The lesson was on Ether 6-15. We covered so many different topics and scriptures. It was fabulous. I need to be more bold because after Institute cookies were served upstairs but I didn't really talk to anyone... The group went over to McDo's after the cookies (it's their tradition) and I talked with Lehi on the way over there, but it was in English, probably because he figured I'd be more comfortable speaking in English (which is true, but not the reason why I'm in France). Next week I'll make sure to speak to others in French...and not just be silent.

Day 10: Friday, 7 May 2010: Jardin du Luxembourg, Saint-Roche, Sacre Coeur

Today I went with Paris and Rachel on this and the following walk. It was a little difficult at first to find the skyscraper Montparnasse because we were standing right underneath it, but then we looked up and realized that we had found it. I really enjoyed the detour to see the statue of Alfred Dreyfus. When I took 362 last spring term my group did research, a presentation, and a synthèse on Alfred Dreyfus. It was great to actually see it, explain the significance of the statue and the event to Rachel and Paris, and to get a picture with it. It really is out of the way and no one really notices it.

(Standing by the statue of Alfred Dreyfus)

We did stop at the gelato place mentioned in the walk. I felt really proud of myself because I ordered my gelato to have half of one and half of another and the woman totally understood me and didn’t speak to me in English and gave me exactly what I’d ordered. I was really happy at that moment.

(Rachel and me with our gelato)

Les jardins du Luxembourg were beautiful! Even though it was overcast and somewhat dreary, it was still such a beautiful garden. I think that was my favorite part of the whole walk. I really loved the statues of the twenty queens surrounding the esplanade. I wish I could have gotten a picture of each one of them, but instead I only took two up-close pictures. The detail and majesty of the statues is amazing! I was intrigued by the statue of Laure de Noves because it was mentioned in the walk, but also because I thought it was beautiful and she didn’t have a title with her (like Marguerite D’Angouleme, Reine de Navarre). I looked her up on Wikipedia and it seems that they don’t have much information about her at all, though they think she is the Laura that Petrarch was in love with and wrote lots of his poetry to. Interesting. I think her statue is beautiful; it has a lot of grace and dignity.

(Imitating the Duchess d'Orleans statue)

(Laure de Nove)

(Standing in front of Palais du Luxembourg)

(Flowers in Luxembourg Garden)

Paris, Rachel and I followed the Luxembourg walk with this walk because we were incredibly motivated and there was a lot of day left. We had a probably with directions (perhaps because our feet were tired and our brains weren’t working and there were a lot of people on the street) so we walked about ¾ of a mile in the wrong direction, then turned around, walked back, then walked about ½ past the place where we were supposed to turn onto Place Diaghilev. So we had to turn back again, then we walked all the way around the Opéra Garnier. We wanted to walk around the Opéra but there was a rehearsal going on so we wouldn’t have been able to see the auditorium. However, in the future I am planning on going in there—whether it’s just on a self-directed tour or if I go see a ballet while I am here.

I loved our visit of Saint-Roch! I would have thought that my interest in cathedrals would diminish or that I would think “Oh look, another cathedral” as I go from cathedral to cathedral, but my interest actually increases. Saint-Roch is a beautiful cathedral! It has white walls (well, comparatively white; it is probably what Chartres used to look like before it got all covered in ash and dirt) and beautiful ceiling paintings.

I loved standing in the main aisle and looking down—you can see the depiction of the manger scene and then behind that is Christ on the cross with His mother at His feet. It is just beautiful. I may start researching more into cathedrals when I have free time…or when I make free time.

(Painted ceiling in Saint-Roche)

(Manger scene in Saint-Roche)

(Crucifiction scene in Saint-Roche)

Our walk ended with a statue of Jeanne d’Arc, one of my heroines. I want to research more into her life too.

(Joan of Arc statue)

After this walk, I went and sat in the gardens by the Louvre and read my book, Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't be Wrong. I'm almost done! I waited for Grace, Catherine and Mathilde who were going through the Louvre. A group of us went to eat at a Thai restaurant over by Sacre Coeur last night. Good food! I had to climb under the table (very gauche) to get to the bathroom because I was boxed in, which meant that I had to climb back under the table to get back to my spot. Even though it was gauche, it was really fun too. After our Thai restaurant adventure, a smaller group of us went to Sacre Coeur to see the basilica but also to see the city at night and watch the glitter/light show at la Tour d'Eiffel at 11pm. It was pretty; I love the basilica! I didn't walk through it because they were having a service, but I did see the inside from the far end of the building. I'll go inside it on one of my walks.

Day 11: Saturday, 8 May 2010: Palais Royal & think time

I went on this walk with Grace, Judy, and Catherine (Grace’s friend). It was a beautifully warm day which definitely enhanced the beauty and enjoyment of this walk, even though it was not a strenuous walk at all. I loved the double colonnade in the Palais Royal and even though the black and white sculptures are controversial (or were when they were added in 1986)I loved them! It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland or a giant game of checkers (with the larger statues being king pieces).

(Beth and the controversial statues)

(In the Palais Royal courtyard)

I also loved the fountains with the huge spheres. There was a cute boy who was running around one of the fountains but became upset when he saw us taking pictures because “Il n’aime pas des photos” said his mother.

(Spherical fountain)

(Little boy who doesn't like to have his picture taken)

After looking at the Bibliothèque nationale (French National Library), we ended up going across the street from it and spending an hour and a half in the public garden with the fountain there.

(the fountain at the public garden we stopped at)

It was definitely worth the stop for me. Like those who work on their dissertations in the Bibliothèque nationale who spend hours pouring over books and journals and documents and spend thousands more hours thinking, planning, and writing their dissertations—I used my time in that public garden to soak in some sun, write in my journal my thoughts and impressions of being here and my goals for life. I was also able to think deeply about my purpose in life and what it is that I need to learn here in France and what I have learned already. It was a perfectly timed tender mercy that we stopped at that park today on this walk, being surrounded by grandeur and nature, and reflecting on where all of that fits into the Plan and into my own specific plan.

On the RER on the way back to le Vesinet, I didn't have anything to read (because I just brought my journal with me to Paris today, not a book to read) so I was watching people. There was a father there with his two sons--one in a stroller, probably about 1 1/2, and the other was probably about 3. They were adorable, with curly hair and dark brown eyes. The little boy in the stroller was asleep and every once and a while he would rub his nose or eyes in his sleep and then try to find a comfortable position to let his head fall in. It was so cute!

I can't wait for church tomorrow! I love church. :)