Fresh perspective on timing

I'll write later about my trip to Normandy (which was fabulous!). But I wanted to write this down before I forgot:

The Lord knows exactly what He is doing. He knows the right times. He knows our circumstances and what we need and what He needs for us and what we need to experience to become the people He knows we can become.

I was blessed with the opportunity of going to dinner with Grace at the home of the Paris Ward Bishop's home tonight, with him and his wife (their son was sleeping). They gave us an incredibly refreshing view on timing and experiencing life and taking advantage of the opportunities we are given and the seasons that we are in now rather than being anxious about a season that hasn't happened yet. It was so different from what I hear at BYU and from what many of my friends are experiencing right now and it was so in accordance with how I feel.

Figuring out who I am and starting the process of becoming that person is a worthy goal that shouldn't be derided or seen as inferior. There is so much potential that we all have and if we are given an opportunity to develop a part of it, why should we not take it?

Day 22: Jardins au Versailles

Grace and I were joined by Grace's friends Chris and Matthew for a picnic at Versailles today. I'm just going to post some of the pictures from our adventure. Lunch was fantastic (bread, cheese, grapes, pears, chocolate and water--what else do you need?), wonderful company, stimulating conversation, and punny joke sharing. :) What a fabulous day.

(Matthew, Chris and Grace at our picnic)

(View of the gardens from the top of the stairs)

(View of one side of the start of the gardens from the top of the stairs)

(this fountain reminds me a little bit of the scene in HP6 at the end when those scary beings are trying to pull Dumbledore and Harry into the water)
(LOVED this part of the garden. It's in the Jardin du Roi)
(Entrance to one of the smaller gardens in le Jardin du Roi)

(Even the "wilderness section" of the Versailles gardens had order; I think Louis XIV had a control problem...) ;)

(Humongous stump by Petit Trianon; apparently it was Marie Antoinette's oak tree)

Day 21: A happy today

Today I got up, bought a pain au raisin &

a demi-Viennoise baguette for breakfast, sat in on class, then took the RER back to le Vesinet. I was so very tired from staying up late the past three or four nights in a row. As such, I took a three hour nap. I then enjoyed the breeze and sunshine as I worked online, did some homework, wrote some blog posts for class, and started organizing my thoughts for my paper and lesson plans.

For dinner we ate outside in the beautiful evening weather. It was so nice! We had a gorgeous sunset and we have a picnic planned with Nannick for Thursday. And Grace and I are planning a trip to Giverny on Monday with Katherine. How lovely! It's amazing how much nice weather and sleep makes the world seem bright and happy.

Day 20: Opera Garnier

I just wanted to be able to post some of my pictures from my walk-through of the Opera Garnier. That building is so beautiful! Last Friday, Judy had been freaking out because we walked through Victor Hugo's house. I told Grace when we went into the Opera Garnier yesterday that the way Judy had felt about Victor Hugo's house was a little bit the way I felt about the Opera Garnier. I love Phantom of the Opera, the book, the music, the musical. And it is such a beautiful building!

We weren't able to go into the auditorium again (which was a huge bummer), but I'll just have to experience it by watching Phantom of the Opera when I get back to Provo. I loved the grand staircase. I got a couple pictures. Also the ballroom was so beautiful! Grace and I tried to get tickets to a ballet that is performing this week and next, but they were all sold out so maybe when I come back to Paris in the future I can go to something in the Garnier. :)

(Standing at the foot of the grand staircase)

(Main entrance into the Opera House)
(View from the top of the grand staircase)
(beautiful ballroom)

(looking up one side of the grand staircase)

p.s. If someone could comment again sometime, that'd be nice...

Day 19: Picnics, Cemeteries, & Talking to Family

After church on Sunday, a group of us (some from study abroad, some from the ward), went to a nearby park and had a picnic. It was really fun and really relaxing. We had some bread, cheese, sauscisson sec (which is kind of like beef jerky only better), yogurt, chocolate, and oranges to eat. Overall, not a bad turnout for a rather last-minute-notice picnic. I got to know two people better that day: Camille & Todd. Camille is here in Paris going to school as a study abroad experience. She goes to school in Georgia normally and she is from Rexburg, Idaho. We had a good conversation about what is publicly acceptable in France as opposed to in America, which may actually help me with my 445 paper. Todd is here on an internship. He graduated from Utah State in December with a business degree. He went to school with Kris Kelley Cutler and Jeff Barrus, which I thought was pretty fun because of the different ways that I know both Kris and Jeff. He did mention that he had a teacher with my last name at South Jordan Middle School and asked if I was related; I said I wasn't sure, but I didn't think so.

After the picnic, Grace, Judy, Katherine, Camille, and I went to the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, one of the most famous cemeteries in Paris because of all the famous people buried there. It is set up so it is kind of like a little city, with mostly upright tombs and pathways and street names. Much different than the cemeteries in Michigan.

(Pere-Lachaise Cemetery)

(Pere-Lachaise Cemetery)

There was a tomb that had two crying statues that I thought were beautifully made, and while the statues may be crying because those who had the tomb built didn't understand that death was not the end, it also reminded me of how we can and should and have covenanted to mourn with those that mourn. That even with our understanding and our testimonies about life after death, there is still a mourning process and even just being there and weeping with them can help people through that process.

(One of the crying statues)

I also really liked the Monument aux Morts which was created on behalf of all the dead in the cemetery.

(It is interesting to note that there is a man and a woman entering together on the top half of the monument.)

(The inscription goes along with the title: Monument aux Morts and reads: "on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light shines.")

I had to cut my visit short at the cemetery so I could make my way to a computer so I could talk to my family. Todd lives somewhat close to the cemetery (much closer than the Vesinet) and he had a computer with a camera and mic capabilities so he said I could use his computer. We made it as quickly as we could, but we rely on public transportation so we didn't arrive at his apartment until 5:10. I was on the computer by 5:15, but I was 15 minutes late. I was a little bit sad because no one was on and I thought I wouldn't be able to talk to my family that week. But I managed to eventually sort of talk with my Dad, but we decided to just try to talk later that night when everyone would be back from church--which would be 11pm my time.

Accordingly, at eleven I was online. We managed to make it work. At one point, Dad's face froze up with a hilarious expression and I could not stop laughing. It was so funny. Even when I think about it now, it makes me laugh. Mostly I was just happy to see and talk to my family. It had been a long week, I'd had an unusual amount of time to think and observe and self-evaluate and I just needed people who know me and love me. Even though I was tired, I was really grateful to talk to my family.

Day 18: Fontainebleau & thoughts on Villette

Today was a beautiful day to go to Fontainebleau!

(Fontainebleau)

It was sunny and warm and wonderful! A nice change after the rain and cold and wind that we've experienced on our last two group outings. We all split into little groups to spend our 5 hours in the city, castle, and gardens. I spent my time with Grace and Judy. We started by going through the castle. We saw Napoleon's apartments, Francois I apartments and some other ornate rooms. Fontainebleau was the one castle that all the kings and queens of France (and one emperor...Napoleon) have lived in at some point. The Hall of Francois I was the inspiration for the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.

(Beth standing in the Hall of Francois I)

(View from the Hall of Francois I)

(Diana Gallery created by Henry IV for his wife so she could take

some "leisurely strolls" according to our audioguide)

After going through the chateau, we went out into the gardens. We spent our time in the Jardin Anglais. Judy and Grace frolicked a little bit. My legs were sore from running the other night and I was kinda tired from staying out late last night, so I didn't frolick. But I did keenly enjoy the scene around me. It was so beautiful! I know I keep using that word, but it feels like it has been such a long time that I've been in such a secluded, nature setting. I definitely need to go on some hikes or spend some time in parks when I return to Provo. I would have greatly enjoyed spending the rest of our time wandering the gardens, if it hadn't been for becoming hungry...

(Pond/body of water just behind Fontainebleau)

(In the Jardin Anglais)

(In the Jardin Anglais)

So for lunch we decided to go to a real French cafe and order ourselves some lunch. I ordered a croque monsieur, which had a green salad that came with it and we received a basket of three pieces of a baguette which were delicious. Then for dessert I ordered a mille-feuille. So good! So good.

(Croque monsieur, salad, bread basket, water)

(Mille-feuille)

I slept on the bus ride back to Paris. This was the sunset that ended this wonderful day in France. :)

(Sunset from the bridge over the Seine by Musee d'Orsay)

On the Metro ride back to le Vesinet with Grace we had a nice conversation. I rose the topic of conversation because of some of the things I've been thinking about because I finished Villette last night. It was definitely written by Charlotte Bronte. And it both pleased me and disappointed me. I recommend it for those of you who like Charlotte Bronte's writing. It was different from Jane Eyre and I don't think it surpasses that novel in my love for it, but it did touch me and affect me in a different way than Jane Eyre. Critics say that all of Charlotte's novels were autobiographical to a degree; if that is the case, then I think that in some ways, Charlotte and I could be considered rather similar. I was trying to explain my thoughts on Villette to a girl in the program this morning and the best way I could say it was that Villette was for a different part of my life than Jane Eyre. However, I do think that in Villette Charlotte Bronte does the best job I have ever read about describing loneliness, patience, and hope, especially as it pertains to a young woman. I may reread Villette when I/as I return to Provo. I need to think about it some more, give it some think-time, but then another perusal may be in order in the coming months.

Day 17: Marais & Saint Sulpice

Grace and I were very ambitious today. We were able to accomplish three of our required Paris walks--Marais walks 1 & 2 and the Saint Sulpice walk.

On the Marais 1 walk we were able to see the Hotel de Sens, one of the oldest buildings in Paris,walk through Saint-Paul Cathedral, Hotel de Sully, Place des Vosges, Victor Hugo's house from 1832-1848, and the Hotel de Lamoignon (which now houses the historical library of Paris). It was a pretty full walk. I was impressed by the Hotel de Sens, I thought it was a beautiful building, very princess-type building.

(Hotel de Sens)

The cathedral was also beautiful, though smaller than some of the other cathedrals in Paris. I also really enjoyed going through Victor Hugo's home.

(Victor Hugo's room)

However, I think that my favorite part was le jardin that we found by accident when we were searching for Victor Hugo's house. We left the Place des Vosges and walked through a door and then entered a very well manicured garden. I thought it was beautiful! And if it had been a pleasant, sunny, warm day, I should have liked to sit on one of the benches and finish reading the last 50 pages of my book.

(Garden we found by accident)

In between the Marais 1 and Marais 2 walks, Grace and I went to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant that was a good price with good food. Only 5 euro for my lunch, which not only was a healthy amount, but also tasted good and was healthy, unlike Pizza Hut.

(Yummy Vietnamese food)

On the Marais 2 walk, Grace and I explored the Jewish quarter. We ran into some of the others from our program at the Jewish elementary school eating falafels.

(Eating falafels)

The elementary school had a sad history--165 students from that school were deported during WWII and were killed in the Nazi camps, and their teacher was able to save some dozens of his students at the risk of his life.

Grace and I visited the Musee Cognacq-Jay. We were able to see lots of Rococo art...which may or may not have been ridiculed or ruthlessly made fun of by myself (thank you, Fili!)...though there were some pieces that I did genuinely like. But more than the pieces that were on display, I loved the museum itself. It is set up in an old house (from the 1500s) called the Hotel de Donon.

The Saint-Sulpice walk didn't actually start at Saint-Sulpice, it started just outside Hotel Lutetia, a place where many famous guests have lived, such as Picasso, Matisse, and where Charles de Gaulle went on his honeymoon. Very cool.

(Hotel Lutetia)

We saw some other neat places on the walk--such as Poilane Boulangerie, the Theatre du Vieux Colombier, outside of Village Voice bookshop, Abbaye Saint-Germain, and of course the Saint-Sulpice Cathedral itself. The cathedral is undergoing some renovations, and as such, some of the facade was blocked off with plastic and construction materials. On this walk, I really liked the Abbaye Saint-Germain. I wasn't able to get any pictures of it because it had begun to rain and I didn't want to destroy my camera, but it was a beautiful little nook in the corner of Paris. It was a peaceful place, with a little public garden that was just quaint.