nerd blog post #115
What a week, what a week! This has been a week full of much news, many surprises, ups and downs and many rounds. I have been thinking of this nerd blog post for a few days, and new things keep happening and I don't know how I'll cover everything........
I guess my fave thing first, The Great Canadian Pub. It continues to go well. For the most part, I love the customers and the staff. I had a very special guest come in last week - Sarah McArthur's mom! McArth and I worked together at the P&CC and lived together last Summer. Her mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world (you too, Liass!) and she brought some to the bar. It was lovely to see her. 60 points.
I have started to befriend a couple of the girls there. One of them is the owners gf, who turned out differently than I expected and I really like her. I'm hoping these new friends will want to hang out a lot. Gel is still my friend, too.
We had a crazy night at the bar the other night. These big guys came in, from all over the world. American, French, Austrian... They were ordering drinks and tipping like it was the last night on earth. They're not allowed to take their drinks outside after a certain hour, so I had to go out and police that at one point. But then, they pulled out their badges! They were the police! It was the FBIs of the world. Very funny and strange. They had guns and I got to hold one. Probably not allowed. Raffi and a clown friend were there, too. We all made friends and stayed open very late. One of the French FBI gave me his card and said that if I run into any problems at all in Paris, to call him. I feel very safe now.
And so, every night at the bar is different and usually very fun.
Next. The other night my key exploded. It exploded into 4 parts and the man at the store said it was unfixable. I am now sharing a key with Adrix and I'm not sure what will happen. I was locked out of here for a long time. It was bad.
Next. So before Raffi came to Paris, he was acting for the American Shakespeare Company which is based in Virginia but tours the country. One of his directors is the text director for the Globe Theatre in London. Every Summer, they hold a month long fellowship where they invite 10 actors from around the world to train at the Globe and then perform to an invitation only audience. One of the actors that had been invited dropped out, so about a week ago, this director suggested Raffi take the place, and he was contacted by the Globe for this opportunity. Obviously, this is a big deal and he leapt at the chance. And so, he is leaving on August 9th to London. I'm very excited for him as this is an incredible opportunity and could prove extremely beneficial to his career. I have been helping him move out of his place (he'll stay at my apt until he goes) and change his flight to LA etc. Very exciting and a big surprise!
And my plans? Well.... I have decided to leave France on September 1st. It will make a full year, to the day, of living here. I will miss France, but there are other opportunities to seize, and I won't have any real purpose here, besides being an increasingly better waitress! I'll go to London on the 1st and spend 2 weeks in England. I'll visit Raffi and see him off to LA, I'll see Doctor (if he is, in fact, going to be there) and I'll see the Hincks family in Birminghamandcheese. Then, on the 15th, I fly to Lisbon. I'm volunteering on a farm for a month. This is through an organization called WWOOF which trades labour for room and board on organic farms. The particular farm I'm going to happens to be a horsey farm that has a riding school. They have no electricity, grow all of their own food, are vegetarians, and obv love horsies. I might get to live in a caravan - I hope so. I'm really excited for horsey camp! I hope to learn some Portuguese and how to jump over well-manicured hedges on a giant stallion.
Doctor arrives tonight for a 4 night visit! I am very looking forward to having him here. My prescription needs filling, and he's the Doc to go to, no doubt.
Hope this finds everyone well!
Much love,
Hincks.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Chapter 108: Return of the Jess-eye
nerd blog post #116
Now, if that isn't a nerd blog chapter title, I don't know what is! I belieeeeve it refers to a Star Wars movie. I haven't seen it, nor will I.
I did, however, see Bruno last night and I hope I lose no nerd blog subscribers when I say I found it less than average. I laughed a few times and then promptly forgot at what.
So, yes, Jess was back this week. She arrived Monday and we joined the Rose Bakery picnic with Raffi and Viktor. I made guac and we also brought watermelon. Everyone that works there is really nice at it was at my fave park. In the evening, we went to the Canadian bar for wings and beer.
For the rest of the week, we mostly chilled. Jess had done a lot of touristy things her first week here, so we sipped cafe, visited the Luxembourg gardens, had breakie feasts, and enjoyed hanging out together. We saw Gel a few times, too. She's nice. We went to a 3euro beer bar one night and it was really fun. We also threw a dinner party where we made pear and camembert risotto and a big salad and roly poly appys. We invited a few peeps, but only Raffi and Gel came. It was a nice group. Then we drank wine at my place before heading to a 2euro wine bar. Bruce, whose room I'm subletting, joined us there. This morning, Jess headed on her way and still has four more weeks touring Europe!
I went into work today to see that I average 2 shifts a week for August. That is NOT enough. I'ma talk to Pascal and get some more, or else get another new job. Two new jobs might also be fun!
I have started thinking about the Fall this week. In about 40 days, I have no home or job so I figured it was time. 40 days is painfully long when you have given up chips for Lent, but less long when you are a bit directionless. Actually, I'd rather think of myself as directionfull right now, as there are many things I'd like to do. But which!? I am making exciting progress organizing my Fall, but will keep you in suspense until things are clearer. So with this planning comes, of course, some anxieties, and this week has been a roller coaster of doubt and nerves and also the rare and exciting feeling of being able to go where the wind blows. More to come!
Hoping this finds you all happy and healthy!
With love,
Hincks.
Now, if that isn't a nerd blog chapter title, I don't know what is! I belieeeeve it refers to a Star Wars movie. I haven't seen it, nor will I.
I did, however, see Bruno last night and I hope I lose no nerd blog subscribers when I say I found it less than average. I laughed a few times and then promptly forgot at what.
So, yes, Jess was back this week. She arrived Monday and we joined the Rose Bakery picnic with Raffi and Viktor. I made guac and we also brought watermelon. Everyone that works there is really nice at it was at my fave park. In the evening, we went to the Canadian bar for wings and beer.
For the rest of the week, we mostly chilled. Jess had done a lot of touristy things her first week here, so we sipped cafe, visited the Luxembourg gardens, had breakie feasts, and enjoyed hanging out together. We saw Gel a few times, too. She's nice. We went to a 3euro beer bar one night and it was really fun. We also threw a dinner party where we made pear and camembert risotto and a big salad and roly poly appys. We invited a few peeps, but only Raffi and Gel came. It was a nice group. Then we drank wine at my place before heading to a 2euro wine bar. Bruce, whose room I'm subletting, joined us there. This morning, Jess headed on her way and still has four more weeks touring Europe!
I went into work today to see that I average 2 shifts a week for August. That is NOT enough. I'ma talk to Pascal and get some more, or else get another new job. Two new jobs might also be fun!
I have started thinking about the Fall this week. In about 40 days, I have no home or job so I figured it was time. 40 days is painfully long when you have given up chips for Lent, but less long when you are a bit directionless. Actually, I'd rather think of myself as directionfull right now, as there are many things I'd like to do. But which!? I am making exciting progress organizing my Fall, but will keep you in suspense until things are clearer. So with this planning comes, of course, some anxieties, and this week has been a roller coaster of doubt and nerves and also the rare and exciting feeling of being able to go where the wind blows. More to come!
Hoping this finds you all happy and healthy!
With love,
Hincks.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Chapter 107: Hello Gel-O
nerd blog post #115
So, I've been back in Paris for a week now, and things are going well. I am still very happy with my apartment, roomie and work.
I still love my job, and I wish I was working more. But upon return from Portugal, I saw that I had fewer and fewer shifts! Turns out, there's a chick who was working there and then quit, which is when I got hired. Now, she wants to work again. Unfair? Yes. BUT she is dating and lives with the owner, so she does whatever she wants. Drama. Anyways, I'ma talk to my boss and make sure that in August I'll be working full time (as was promised) and if not, I'ma get another wee job as well. I want to be busy and right now I'm not working enough to feel very busy at all.
Raffi's last visitor left on Wednesday, and he is feeling relieved to have his space and life back. We have been enjoying time together. Most notable was going to a fair near the Louvre. We rode a ferris wheel and it was the best view of the city I have ever seen! The difference between that and other high places, is that when you're standing on a high thing, you don't see that high thing. But the ferris wheel isn't a Parisian special, it's just a temporary high thing, so it was great. Then we had a treat and I chose barbe a papa! Delish.
Tuesday was Bastille Day and in the evening, I went to see the fireworks with Raffi, Viktor, and some of Raffi's Armenian friends. I can't describe what this was like. I saw the Y2K fireworks in Toronto, and these made that look like sparklers at a child's birthday party. They told a story, using lights, music and thousands of fireworks. They made the Eiffel Tower look as though it was spinning, dancing, and every different colour. It was one of the coolest spectacles I have ever seen. It was also with a million or so other people, and when the f-works were over, it was madness getting home. Due to the overwhelming amount of people, the metro stops closest to the Eiffel Tower were closed, and police had blocked off all but one entrance to the stops further away. We ended up walking for quite awhile before piling onto an incredibly overcrowded metro for the ride home.
I have a new friend named Gel. She is from Australia and we work together. Yesterday, we met to hang out. We discovered we live about a ten minute walk apart, and we went to a bar near her place that has 2Euro glasses of wine and 9Euro bottles! It's a cool, hipster place and I'm bound to return. I really like Gel. She makes me miss Cynthia in the way that she is fun and nice, but kind of quiet. She has only been in France for 3 weeks and doesn't speak French, which I think is brave. We have plans to go to the fake beach on the Seine this week (it opens today) and for wings at the Canadian pub tonight. Meeting for a drink yesterday turned into a 6 hour evening, and we have made some preliminary plans to travel together in the South of France and to Prague.
After a couple of weeks in Portugal, Jess has decided to return to Paris and arrives today until Friday. We have no set plans, but it will be nice to have her back. I'm not working until Sunday, so we'll have lot's of time to do all we missed her last time here.
Hope all is well in Canada! Sending my love..
Signing off,
Hincks.
So, I've been back in Paris for a week now, and things are going well. I am still very happy with my apartment, roomie and work.
I still love my job, and I wish I was working more. But upon return from Portugal, I saw that I had fewer and fewer shifts! Turns out, there's a chick who was working there and then quit, which is when I got hired. Now, she wants to work again. Unfair? Yes. BUT she is dating and lives with the owner, so she does whatever she wants. Drama. Anyways, I'ma talk to my boss and make sure that in August I'll be working full time (as was promised) and if not, I'ma get another wee job as well. I want to be busy and right now I'm not working enough to feel very busy at all.
Raffi's last visitor left on Wednesday, and he is feeling relieved to have his space and life back. We have been enjoying time together. Most notable was going to a fair near the Louvre. We rode a ferris wheel and it was the best view of the city I have ever seen! The difference between that and other high places, is that when you're standing on a high thing, you don't see that high thing. But the ferris wheel isn't a Parisian special, it's just a temporary high thing, so it was great. Then we had a treat and I chose barbe a papa! Delish.
Tuesday was Bastille Day and in the evening, I went to see the fireworks with Raffi, Viktor, and some of Raffi's Armenian friends. I can't describe what this was like. I saw the Y2K fireworks in Toronto, and these made that look like sparklers at a child's birthday party. They told a story, using lights, music and thousands of fireworks. They made the Eiffel Tower look as though it was spinning, dancing, and every different colour. It was one of the coolest spectacles I have ever seen. It was also with a million or so other people, and when the f-works were over, it was madness getting home. Due to the overwhelming amount of people, the metro stops closest to the Eiffel Tower were closed, and police had blocked off all but one entrance to the stops further away. We ended up walking for quite awhile before piling onto an incredibly overcrowded metro for the ride home.
I have a new friend named Gel. She is from Australia and we work together. Yesterday, we met to hang out. We discovered we live about a ten minute walk apart, and we went to a bar near her place that has 2Euro glasses of wine and 9Euro bottles! It's a cool, hipster place and I'm bound to return. I really like Gel. She makes me miss Cynthia in the way that she is fun and nice, but kind of quiet. She has only been in France for 3 weeks and doesn't speak French, which I think is brave. We have plans to go to the fake beach on the Seine this week (it opens today) and for wings at the Canadian pub tonight. Meeting for a drink yesterday turned into a 6 hour evening, and we have made some preliminary plans to travel together in the South of France and to Prague.
After a couple of weeks in Portugal, Jess has decided to return to Paris and arrives today until Friday. We have no set plans, but it will be nice to have her back. I'm not working until Sunday, so we'll have lot's of time to do all we missed her last time here.
Hope all is well in Canada! Sending my love..
Signing off,
Hincks.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Chapter 106: Sesimbra Tropicale
nerd blog post #112
My time in Portugal was, as Terry would say, "to die for." Terry is Jessica's dad, and he and his wife, Maria, are two of the most hospitable people I have ever met in my life. People sometimes tease me for saying that every trip was the best, that every person was the best host, and that every day was a fave. But I will say right now that Portugal is my favourite European country, and that my time there was one of the best of my life. That bold statement made, it will be very hard to nerd blog about the five nights spent in Sesimbra, Portugal, just South of Lisbon. But here we go...
Jessica and I partied the night before we left, one last time, joined by Marni, a good friend from Queen's. As our flight left at 7am, we only caught one hour of sleep before making an epic journey to Lisbon, which included a six hour layover in Madrid. Luckily, Jess and I both have the lucky ability to sleep anywhere, so we found a sketchy nook behind ATMs, lay down our beach towels, and snoozed our faces off.
Arriving in Lisbon, we were met by Terry and Maria, and Maria's best childhood friend, Louisa. Louisa doesn't have much English, but her dancing and spirit shone through so clearly that words weren't really necessary to be her friend. We drove the forty minutes to their place in Sesimbra.
The house is on top of a huge hill/small mountain above the fishing village of Sesimbra. The "village" is more like a town, though, with a long and beautiful beach and lot's of bars and restaurants. While the tourist industry is growing, it still feels very local, people don't speak a lot of English, and we were always basically the only white peeps on the beach. Their house is beautiful and we spent most of the time there on the big terrasse, lounging with drinks, chatting, and eating delicious food barbecued on the outdoor, built-in, stone BBQ. It was paradise.
Terry was a dream with driving us around. We were chauffeured to the beach and back, and they toured us around the area. We visited a bigger city where we ate cuttlefish at a really good restaurant, we visited a castle atop a mountain, we went to a beach called Meco which had the biggest waves I have seen since Africa, and we drove along beautiful countryside, up windy mountains, saw an ancient monastery built into a cliff (and still in use), spectacular views of the land and ocean, and always stopped regulariy for coffee or beer. I thought, once again, of how much beauty I saw as a kid, before I could really appreciate it. I wondered how many mountains my parents took us to, while I slept in the backseat or refused to get out to take a look.
When we weren't touring around, the three of us were on the beach. I have turned a light shade of black and am now putting Parisian tanners to shame. We all love swimming in the ocean, and braved the freezing Atlantic temperatures to swim around and enjoy the salt water. We also went downtown three of the nights. One night we did karaoke! What a treat. I love karaoke. We also went to a nightclub on the beach, though no one was dancing, so we sat in beanbag chairs in the sand, looking out over the water. Beer was 1 Euro, so we each had one per night.
My favourite times were before dindins. We had drinks (one of which Terry invented and we named Sesimbra Tropicale), and talked a lot. Terry and Maria met working as flight attendants for Air Canada (Terry is now retired). They have seen so much of the world and have really interesting stories. They also have neat backgrounds - Terry is Greek but spent a lot of time in Australia, and Maria moved to Montreal when she was a teenager. After these chats, we would eat copious amounts of fish. I have never eaten so much before in my life. I think I gained 1500 pounds.
On the Saturday, they had a lunch party that lasted until the wee hours. It reminded me of how my grandmother described their parties. Lot's of middle-aged Portugese couples who drank and smoked and danced like I've never seen before. There was enough fish to feed a small country, and enough wine to drown one. The peeps there were neighbours, childhood friends, and flight attendants. There were a couple of their children there, that were our age, but they were far less entertaining than the energetic older adults.
I left Portugal Monday morning with Piri-piri powder, a hot Portuguese spice, a deep desire to become a flight attendant, and a massive appreciation for Portugal and its people. If Canadians are warm, Portuguese are burning hot. I have never felt so welcome and at home in a foreign country. I was sad to leave, but so grateful for the hospitality and the chance to see an authentic side to such a beautiful country.
Love to you all,
Hincks.
My time in Portugal was, as Terry would say, "to die for." Terry is Jessica's dad, and he and his wife, Maria, are two of the most hospitable people I have ever met in my life. People sometimes tease me for saying that every trip was the best, that every person was the best host, and that every day was a fave. But I will say right now that Portugal is my favourite European country, and that my time there was one of the best of my life. That bold statement made, it will be very hard to nerd blog about the five nights spent in Sesimbra, Portugal, just South of Lisbon. But here we go...
Jessica and I partied the night before we left, one last time, joined by Marni, a good friend from Queen's. As our flight left at 7am, we only caught one hour of sleep before making an epic journey to Lisbon, which included a six hour layover in Madrid. Luckily, Jess and I both have the lucky ability to sleep anywhere, so we found a sketchy nook behind ATMs, lay down our beach towels, and snoozed our faces off.
Arriving in Lisbon, we were met by Terry and Maria, and Maria's best childhood friend, Louisa. Louisa doesn't have much English, but her dancing and spirit shone through so clearly that words weren't really necessary to be her friend. We drove the forty minutes to their place in Sesimbra.
The house is on top of a huge hill/small mountain above the fishing village of Sesimbra. The "village" is more like a town, though, with a long and beautiful beach and lot's of bars and restaurants. While the tourist industry is growing, it still feels very local, people don't speak a lot of English, and we were always basically the only white peeps on the beach. Their house is beautiful and we spent most of the time there on the big terrasse, lounging with drinks, chatting, and eating delicious food barbecued on the outdoor, built-in, stone BBQ. It was paradise.
Terry was a dream with driving us around. We were chauffeured to the beach and back, and they toured us around the area. We visited a bigger city where we ate cuttlefish at a really good restaurant, we visited a castle atop a mountain, we went to a beach called Meco which had the biggest waves I have seen since Africa, and we drove along beautiful countryside, up windy mountains, saw an ancient monastery built into a cliff (and still in use), spectacular views of the land and ocean, and always stopped regulariy for coffee or beer. I thought, once again, of how much beauty I saw as a kid, before I could really appreciate it. I wondered how many mountains my parents took us to, while I slept in the backseat or refused to get out to take a look.
When we weren't touring around, the three of us were on the beach. I have turned a light shade of black and am now putting Parisian tanners to shame. We all love swimming in the ocean, and braved the freezing Atlantic temperatures to swim around and enjoy the salt water. We also went downtown three of the nights. One night we did karaoke! What a treat. I love karaoke. We also went to a nightclub on the beach, though no one was dancing, so we sat in beanbag chairs in the sand, looking out over the water. Beer was 1 Euro, so we each had one per night.
My favourite times were before dindins. We had drinks (one of which Terry invented and we named Sesimbra Tropicale), and talked a lot. Terry and Maria met working as flight attendants for Air Canada (Terry is now retired). They have seen so much of the world and have really interesting stories. They also have neat backgrounds - Terry is Greek but spent a lot of time in Australia, and Maria moved to Montreal when she was a teenager. After these chats, we would eat copious amounts of fish. I have never eaten so much before in my life. I think I gained 1500 pounds.
On the Saturday, they had a lunch party that lasted until the wee hours. It reminded me of how my grandmother described their parties. Lot's of middle-aged Portugese couples who drank and smoked and danced like I've never seen before. There was enough fish to feed a small country, and enough wine to drown one. The peeps there were neighbours, childhood friends, and flight attendants. There were a couple of their children there, that were our age, but they were far less entertaining than the energetic older adults.
I left Portugal Monday morning with Piri-piri powder, a hot Portuguese spice, a deep desire to become a flight attendant, and a massive appreciation for Portugal and its people. If Canadians are warm, Portuguese are burning hot. I have never felt so welcome and at home in a foreign country. I was sad to leave, but so grateful for the hospitality and the chance to see an authentic side to such a beautiful country.
Love to you all,
Hincks.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
THE NERD BLOG IS BACK!
by popular demand.
I had considered stopping the nerd blog upon return to France, but this city is too nice to not write about, and nerd blogging has become so much a part of my time here that I want to continue.
Much has happened since I landed a week ago at about this time. Canada was amazing. I can't sum it up except to thank everyone I saw (and thought of dearly) for a great three weeks. To say that it was tough to leave would be a huge understatement. I felt so much at home and it reminded me of what a great city Toronto is and how much I love my fam and friends. So thank you.
Back in Paris, I have been busy and happy and getting used to a new chapter of my life. There is much to report on, so here we go:
1. The new appy is wonderful. My new roomie is Adrix, a Mexican man who has been here a few years and works as a nurse at a hospital. Our paths rarely cross, but when they do, I practice my French and enjoy his company. He's a good roomie and a nice man. The appy itself is in a nice, trendy neighbourhood. The street I walk down every day is a pedestrian market street and I buy all my fruit and veg from the local vendors. I like that. The building has the smallest elevator I have ever seen - fun! I feel safe and happy here and it has everything I need. No complaints whatsoever about this new land. I love that I can have guests here, that I have my own space and can have my own agenda. For large and expensive presies, my addy is:
Emily Hincks
chez FAUVEAU
5, rue Salneuve
75017
Paris France
2. I love, love, love my job. I make good tips, enjoy being Canadian all of the time, and like getting better and better with carrying trays, mental math, etc. The customers are a real mixed crowd of regulars, Frenchies, tourists... I speak French to almost half of the customers, and English the rest. The staff is all really, really nice and I have made a couple of friends that I will hang with this Summer. Canada Day was very memorable. I worked from 6pm-4am and wouldn't have been happier doing anything else here. I am so glad to be working there and am already looking forward to my next shift!
3. Jessica Derventzis, a close friend from Queen's landed on Saturday. We have been having a great time so far. Lot's of tourist things, the highlight being my first time up the Eiffel Tower! We went at night and saw the city of lights from the top, and it was very exciting. We have also walked around a lot, had micmics, partied with other friends, and have eaten delicious crepes. Today we are going on a tour of the opera house and on a boat tour. And tonight we are having a party with all the peeps I know in the city. Maybe 10, including Marni hopefully, another friend from Queen's who happens to be in Paris right now with a gorup of students.
4. Eamonn is a friend from Queen's who is doing a med school placement here in Paris until the end of July. I met him my first afternoon back for beers on the Seine and we have seen each other almost every day since. He is living with his sister and brother in law here and doesn't know many peeps either, so we are good friends. It's awesome to recionnect with him and we've been having a good time. He's also joined the Jess/Emily train these past few days and has had 2 sleepy ovaries at my new place.
5. Raffi is great and trying to work as much as possible. He got into the second year of clown school, along with Viktor, which is great news for them both! Raffi has been full of visitors these days. His two sisters are here, as well as a friend from back home. Jess and I have hung out with them quite a bit, which has been nice. These are the first peeps from Raff's life back home that I've met, and they're all very sweet girls.
6. Tomorrow morning Jess and I leave for Portugal, where we meet Doctor. Jess' dad and step mom have a beach house near Lisbon and we'll be staying with them. I'm reeeeaaalllly excited for the heat and ocean. I'll be there for 5 days (no internet) and it will be a great little vacay! I'm back Monday morning for work that evening.
Phew! Those are the important updates. More to come, no doubt. I hope this finds you all well. Lots of love to Canada!
Signing off,
Hincks.
I had considered stopping the nerd blog upon return to France, but this city is too nice to not write about, and nerd blogging has become so much a part of my time here that I want to continue.
Much has happened since I landed a week ago at about this time. Canada was amazing. I can't sum it up except to thank everyone I saw (and thought of dearly) for a great three weeks. To say that it was tough to leave would be a huge understatement. I felt so much at home and it reminded me of what a great city Toronto is and how much I love my fam and friends. So thank you.
Back in Paris, I have been busy and happy and getting used to a new chapter of my life. There is much to report on, so here we go:
1. The new appy is wonderful. My new roomie is Adrix, a Mexican man who has been here a few years and works as a nurse at a hospital. Our paths rarely cross, but when they do, I practice my French and enjoy his company. He's a good roomie and a nice man. The appy itself is in a nice, trendy neighbourhood. The street I walk down every day is a pedestrian market street and I buy all my fruit and veg from the local vendors. I like that. The building has the smallest elevator I have ever seen - fun! I feel safe and happy here and it has everything I need. No complaints whatsoever about this new land. I love that I can have guests here, that I have my own space and can have my own agenda. For large and expensive presies, my addy is:
Emily Hincks
chez FAUVEAU
5, rue Salneuve
75017
Paris France
2. I love, love, love my job. I make good tips, enjoy being Canadian all of the time, and like getting better and better with carrying trays, mental math, etc. The customers are a real mixed crowd of regulars, Frenchies, tourists... I speak French to almost half of the customers, and English the rest. The staff is all really, really nice and I have made a couple of friends that I will hang with this Summer. Canada Day was very memorable. I worked from 6pm-4am and wouldn't have been happier doing anything else here. I am so glad to be working there and am already looking forward to my next shift!
3. Jessica Derventzis, a close friend from Queen's landed on Saturday. We have been having a great time so far. Lot's of tourist things, the highlight being my first time up the Eiffel Tower! We went at night and saw the city of lights from the top, and it was very exciting. We have also walked around a lot, had micmics, partied with other friends, and have eaten delicious crepes. Today we are going on a tour of the opera house and on a boat tour. And tonight we are having a party with all the peeps I know in the city. Maybe 10, including Marni hopefully, another friend from Queen's who happens to be in Paris right now with a gorup of students.
4. Eamonn is a friend from Queen's who is doing a med school placement here in Paris until the end of July. I met him my first afternoon back for beers on the Seine and we have seen each other almost every day since. He is living with his sister and brother in law here and doesn't know many peeps either, so we are good friends. It's awesome to recionnect with him and we've been having a good time. He's also joined the Jess/Emily train these past few days and has had 2 sleepy ovaries at my new place.
5. Raffi is great and trying to work as much as possible. He got into the second year of clown school, along with Viktor, which is great news for them both! Raffi has been full of visitors these days. His two sisters are here, as well as a friend from back home. Jess and I have hung out with them quite a bit, which has been nice. These are the first peeps from Raff's life back home that I've met, and they're all very sweet girls.
6. Tomorrow morning Jess and I leave for Portugal, where we meet Doctor. Jess' dad and step mom have a beach house near Lisbon and we'll be staying with them. I'm reeeeaaalllly excited for the heat and ocean. I'll be there for 5 days (no internet) and it will be a great little vacay! I'm back Monday morning for work that evening.
Phew! Those are the important updates. More to come, no doubt. I hope this finds you all well. Lots of love to Canada!
Signing off,
Hincks.
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