Chapter 27: Paris Hilton

nerd blog post #30

I'm in Viktor's room now, and he's sleeping. It's morningtime, it's Paristime, and I'm purring. As I know the average nerd blog subscriber puts aside two to three hours per day to read my posts (thus giving the reader enough time to read, re-read, write down the funniest bits for party stories, and then time to tally their points), I'm sure no one will mind if I'm long-winded, juuust this once! No? Great. Let me back-track then.

I had mentioned on Thursday that there was an English Department staff meeting. I was unaware that this was a General Assembly meeting that was to last two bloody hours. I had zero to say, and sat in the back row like a bad-ass. It was pretty bah-ring for me because nothing had anything to do with me, and sometimes it was too fast to follow. I decided a few minutes into it to try and get the most out of it, which meant letting it be good French practice, which meant concentrating pretty hard. They were speaking at rapid speed and using university meeting vocabulary, so that was a good challenge. Then I got bah-red of concentrating and played another game entitled Who Should Be With Who (don't correct my grammar plz. I know it should be whom, but that's not the name of the game, folks) where I would match up couples in my head and then create problems for them. The neat thing about the meeting was seeing how French peeps have meetings. French peeps are not afraid to show their passion in public (by kissing francais-stlyez, arguing loudly, crying...) and, turns out, same goes for meetings.

After the meeting, there was a pot (Breton reception, pronounced "poe" that I've already talked about in a previous blog) but turns out we all had to wait around an hour for the food. I was starving, but waited it out. As usual, I was happy to take advantage of a pot to have an entire meal and some bubbly-bubbly. Finally, at 530, the pot began. BUT WAIT! First let's have an HOUR of speeches to commemorate the retirement of four profs I have never seen before in my life. Actually, it was very nice, but I was starving. When it was finally food time, I stood at that buffet table like it was my j-o-b. It was catered and delicious and included over a dozen bottles of really tasty champagne. I had a good chat with the heads of department - my bosses. I get along well with them. I also chit chatted with some other profs that I am getting to know a little better.

Riding home (with new hat, no doubt), Cynthia and I decided that we would hit the town after my German homework was finished and I'd packed for Paris. Then we had naps. But don't fear, we rallied back around midnight and danced like crazy. It was a really fun night - the music was good, the men were handsome, and I was excited about my adventure the next day.

Yesterday morning was three hours of German class. Pretty intense. I'm not at their level quite yet, but am able to participate and am less rattled. It's taking less time to get my homework done, which is a positive sign.

At 1:05pm, I boarded the train. Viktor wasn't sure if I'd be able to stay here in the end, because his residence is very strict about visitors. So I actually didn't know until I got here if I'd have a place... I wasn't too concerned, though. Things work out in the end. And I pack light, so carrying my bag around the park looking for the perfect bench would not have been too much trouble. After arriving, I took the metro to his stop, and we connected there. It was great to see a face from home! He then told me the good news, and we went to buy toilet paper. It's pink here, too. Don't worry.

Viktor lives at the cite universitaire, which was built after WWI. The idea of this land is that it's a bunch of residences, each representing different countries. It brings together students (of many universities and clown colleges) from all over the world and then splits some of them up so they meet new peeps. Viktor is in the Belgium one. It (and the rest are the same) is comprised of 70% Belgian peeps, and 30% other. So the guy who thought of this wanted for there never to be another great war, and thought that by bringing young people together, they would learn from each other, thus preventing another war. Cute idea.

Anyways, his residence is lovely. They brought in a bed for me and I slept like a dream. Viktor, on the form, put that I'm his cousin. Upon closer reading, he saw that visitors had to be immediate family. The form looks funny because he scratched out something on that line and put demi-soeur (half-sister), as if he could forget our "relation" to one another. I do feel like Viktor's half-sistah. He's a good friend, a brother from another mother, and a fellow Queen's Drama 07. Plus, he's in clown college. Let's not forget that!

We ate in his cafeteria, which was quite fancy and delicious. It's under $4 for dindins, which is great. Then we took the metro to his school. Walking down a typically French street, complete with cobblestone, butchers and bakers, the Jacques Lecoq Clown College is a blue gate with a small sign. Entering the gate, there's a courtyard, many apartments, and then a door with another sign. We couldn't go inside, but it's where an old bull ring used to be. And there is where he'll be studying intensely for one or two years. This is an internationally renowned school that pumps out very talented performers. I was happy to see that they don't use a massive, flashy building. In fact, that blue gate and small sign were more impressionable than anything else could have been. I'm glad I saw it.

Next, we had a cafe and people watched.

Side note: I just left Viktor to go get some coffees. This place is so beautiful. The grounds are very spacious and well-kept, the different country's buildings are all unique and interesting, the student building is cheap and friendly... If I were living in Paris, this comparatively inexpensive land is perfect! And great for meeting people. It reminds me of a melange of the private high schools and universities that I've seen.. And it doesn't feel like I'm in France as I walk through.. And, like the private high schools and universities I've seen, there are a ton of white peeps going for jogs. Typical.

Okay. So after the cafe, we hopped back on the metro and went to the Eiffel Tower. Every hour at nighttime there's a speshy surprise! I went crazy when Viktor wouldn't tell me what it was (I hate surprises..) but was happy in the end when he didn't, because it was magical! I'm not telling what it was. Anyways, we looked at it for awhile and then went to a park nearby and drank a bottle of wine. It was really fun. We chatted about Queen's and friends and living in France. We couldn't remember how we first met, but it was in the first few weeks at Queen's. We have never been in a play together, but had an intense acting class together in third year, and some others, too. Viktor is a wonderful host.

One neat thing about that park was that we kept seeing huge rats running around! Every time we saw one, we would say, "Ratatouille!" That was a fun game. I didn't tell Viktor this, but every time we yelled that, I would give Pixar 3 points for a hit flick. I didn't see it, but it was a hit with my teen bfs.

We took the metro back here and Skyped Doctor, who was also just getting home.. Then, in true sleepy ovary fashion, we got into our beds and talked until the wee hours.

Today we're still unsure of our plans. There's a lot I'd like to see. I bought ten metro tickets (so much cheaper than the TTC) and am pumped to look around. I was a bit disappointed to be missing TOs Nuit Blanche tonight. Until I found out that it's Nuit Blanche here in Paris tonight, too. Here, where it all began... That's luck. So tonight we're meeting up with some of Viktor's clown friends and seeing some art. I've been practicing my juggling skillz.

I will blog again before I leave Monday morning. This city is wonderful. It reminds me more of TO than Rennes does, for sure, but has something about it that's very, very exciting. And it's even more wonderful to be able to have a friend to poke around with, and a home base to come back to.

I hope this finds you all well.

With love,
Hincks.