On the Plane to Paris!

Bonjour! I’m on the plane to Paris! As I write this, I’m watching the sun set beneath the edge of the earth after having finished my first French meal! And guess what?!?! I even ordered in French :)

My first French meal! Pretty good for plane food, huh?!

When I first boarded the plane, I was originally assigned to seat 20C, an aisle seat next to a pleasant older couple. Soon after takeoff, however, the flight attendant asked me if I wanted to move to a row of seats that only had one other person! So, not only did I get a bit of extra leg room, but I also lucked out with a window seat! So here I am, full of super delicious food, compliments of Air France, gazing out over the sunset :)

I’m off to listed to a little bit of la musique de francais before I try to get some rest. Tomorrow is my first day in Paris!

Au Revoir Myrtle Beach! See you in July!

A.2: Ce Que Je M'attendre

         Sur mon première journée en France, je m’attends à noter est la différence dans le langues. Je me attends à noter le francais le plus. Ce sera différent parce que je ne vais savoir pas ce que le gens parlent. Je vais comprendre un peu, mais ne trop pas. Je veux s’améliorer mon français, mais il vas prendre le temps.

         Une autre chose que je m’attends à noter est le grand population de Paris. En Clemson, il n’y a pas beaucoup personnes. Paris est une grande ville, n’est pas le petit ville de Clemson. Myrtle Beach n’est pas trop grand, non plus. Mais Paris est énorme avec beaucoup personnes. Pour ca, il est similaire à autre grandes villes comme New York, mais je n’ai jamais habité dans un grande ville avant, si il vas être different. Je sais je m’attends l’attitude de les gents de Paris et les differences culturelle, aussi.

Je ne sais pas que me attends à noter le moins. Il sera difficile à noter ce qui n’a pas mon attention. Peut-être il sera le trafic parce que nous l’avons en Clemson. Ou peut-être il sera le nourriture. Je ne sais pas. Nous devons attendre et voir pour mon première journée en France!

A.1: C'est Si Bon!

         The other day, I received the most wonderful package from my friend, Julie, who lived in France for a year as an exchange student. In the package was a Paris travel book (en francais!) and a copy of Le Petit Prince en francais aussi! It is one of my most favorite books, and I’d been planning on getting a copy in French while in Paris, but Julie beat me to it! With it was a note that said that when her host mom, who was from Germany, first moved to France, her would-be host dad gave her French copy of Le Petit Prince, along with a train ticket to visit Paris for the first time. When Julie first visited Paris, her host mom also presented her with a copy of Exupery’s beloved novel. Now, Julie has kept the tradition alive, and so, not only do I have a ticket to Paris, but I have my very own copy of Le Petit Prince! Needless to say, I absolutely adore it and Julie :)

         I’ve spent some time looking through the travel book she gave to me, in addition to a few others, and I’ve found a few more places to add to my must-see list, after Cupid and Psyche, of course! :)

         One spot I’m dying to see is Monet’s house. Elle est très charmante! It appears to be the cutest little cottage covered in vines, surrounded by a quintessential French garden. It literally looks like it’s straight out of one of Monet’s paintings! All it needs now is a white picket fence! Luckily, we have a day-trip planned to Giverny to see the house after our day at the Louvre! I can't wait!

         Another spot I want to go visit is the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise. It is where Chopin is buried, as well as Jim Morrison, and numerous other famous people. Also, according to the pictures I’ve seen, there are really pretty avenues going throughout the cemetery. I’m not sure a cemetery is somewhere I’d want to eat lunch everyday, but still. It’s a must-visit!

I simply must add this second picture. I can't resist! Maybe I will eat lunch in the cemetery after all! :D

Bon Chic Bon Genre

        Although sightseeing is a huge part of visiting any foreign country, so is experiencing the culture and the people. And for many Parisians, fashion is the name of the game. It is for a good reason that Paris is one, if not the, major fashion capitols of the world. Luckily for us Americans who can only dream of such fashion, there is hope.

         The innate sense of chic fashion French women seem to embody is commonly dubbed as "Bon chic, bon genre", which roughly translates to "Good style, good attitude." (It is also where the designer BCBG got it's name!) Women seem to be able to combine any piece of clothing and make it just, well, work. So what is the secret of french girls? (I'll bet this is one secret Victoria doesn't have.) 

        In a 1980's Cosmopolitan article, Ellen Wallace writes that "Elegance is different than chic; elegance has to do with money, with leisure time, with upbringing, and education. The chic woman looks natural, not dressed up. Chic is not a matter of money. Chic means that, from head to toe, there is a sense of proportion.” She also says that the main difference between the way American women and French women dress is that when American get dressed up, it looks like they've made an effort. With French women, they get dressed up everyday, so that it becomes a natural, effortless habit. This is reflected in their style.


        According to Wallace, girls are taught by their mothers what works and what doesn't. They learn which colors work well together, which fabrics work well together, and which types of garment work with their body type. They then embellish their wardrobe with accessories to create an individual sense of style.


       Thanks to Ellen's article and Dead Fleurette, here are some basic French fashion tips:


Think Neutrals: Navy, Black, White, Cream, and Beige. Oh, and the occasional blue button-down and navy & white striped shirt are permissible. (This is going to be especially hard for me! I love color!)

Think Simplicity: The more, the less. Make an outfit pop with accessories, not with individual pieces of clothing. Avoid donning too many accessories, though.

Think Quality--Not Quantity: Try to buy classic pieces that will last at least 5 years of wear and tear. Don't try to follow current fashion trends. Buy only things that you love 100%. If you don't love it, it's a waste of money and closet space.

In keeping with my immersion as a Parisian, I am going to try to dress like one. Tonight, I peeked through my mom's closet and found some wonderful pieces to borrow for my trip! (Thank you, Mommy! Happy Mothers' Day!)

 A round-faced watch with a leather wristband. Très classique.

 A feminine grey blazer from Ann Taylor. Très chic.

 A black floral skirt that coordinates with a purple top she gave to me. Très femme.

 A brown floral skirt, although I'm not sure I'm bringing this yet.) Très jolie.

 Three scarves to accessorize my outfits. Très pratique.

 A pair of black ballet flats almost exactly like the one in this picture she got in Paris aved my Dad.  Très magnifique!

These items will definitely be in my suitcase, in addition to my dark wash skinny jeans, black and white basic tops, a pink floral scarf from New York & Company, a black jersey skirt that I can either dress up or dress down, black capris, a khaki skirt, a denim jacket, a dark brown leather cross-body bag for evenings, and a taupe-with-brown-accents messenger bag for everyday use for class. (I'm not sure if my sorority's knock-off Ray Ban sunglasses are on the list yet. Just kidding. While I love my sorority and the plastic sunglasses with our letters on them, I'm not sure Paris is the right place for them. I think I'll stick with ye old black "bug eyes" sunglasses. Be sure to look at my future pictures to see what creative combinations I come up with during the course of my stay! On my bucket shopping list for Paris: comfortable ballet flats a.k.a. "fun shoes" and a floral dress like the one Carey Mulligan wears in Paris in An Education. After all, that's what summer jobs are for, right?

         From what I've read, French fashion reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in her classic wardrobe and her innate ability to create outfits. Her performance in Funny Face (or any movie, song, or book involving Paris)makes me excited to see and experience Paris. Just over two weeks!

         Speaking of Audrey, like many American girls re-create the infamous breakfast scene in front of Tiffany's store windows (yes, I have done this), perhaps the next Hepburn reenactment should be that of her in a LBD (Little Black Dress) with a bouquet of colorful baloons on the streets of Paris. (What do you think, Clemmy Paris Ladies? Should this be on our liste de godet (Bucket List) pour Paris? Sorry, Michael. It's a girl thing. We might have to recruit you to buy baloons . . . or take a group jump shot with the baloons!) But seriously. How much fun would this be?!?!

So for a few weeks I can pretend to be a French fashionista while I meander around the streets of Paris, learning the way to a better fashion sense and finding the way to a better me.

Ohé Paris!

In only 21 days, I will be bound for Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. 21 days! I can't believe the trip is this close, and I don't think it's hit me yet that I'm even going. But nevertheless, I can't wait! My first trip to Paris!

Paris! The city of love. Of art. Of history. Not to mention the food, the culture, and the fashion! And I'm going to be there! For five weeks!

Over Spring Break, I spontaneously decided to apply for a summer study abroad program with Clemson's French department. (Go Tigers!) I'd always wanted to study abroad and this program seemed to fit the bill. Much to my delight, I was accepted into the program and started preparing for the trip right away.

Now, as final exams draw to a close, my first trip to France seems just around the corner. It's so close I can almost taste the cheeses, the wine, and the desserts. Yes, this most certainly will be a wonderful summer!

Did I mention that I will be taking classes at the Sarbonne? Mais oui! As I am a French minor, I will be taking the equivalent of a fourth-semester French course at the Sarbonne in addition to a French immersion course with my Clemson instructor. Elle est très amusant! Needless to say, I am looking forward to improving my French speaking skills.

One of our first assignments is to read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, his memoirs from a writing apprenticeship in Paris in the 1920s. In it he states,

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."


Like Hemingway, I know that my memories of Pairs will most certainly be with me for the rest of my life.

The thing I am most excited to visit is not the Eiffel Tower. Nor is it l'Arc de Triomphe. I've been dreaming--and at this point, dying--to see Canov's marble masterpiece of Cupid and Psyche, Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, which was first commissioned in 1787. The love story surrounding this work is my favorite mythology story of all time. I simply can't wait to see the statue in person; it's just so elegant and graceful! I might even try my hand at sketching! (After all, who isn't an artiste when they're in Paris?!)


But, alas, finals are not yet over and I must return to leave my Parisian dream world until next time. Let the countdown to Paris begin! Bonne nuit!