May 29th
Hey kids! Good news I finally have the internet at home! The biggest french accomplishment other than the bank of course. Doesn't seem like such a big deal you think? Well, I just spent an hour this morning downloading this bad boy in all french. I must say my french must be improving b/c not only is it working but my computer has not blown up! So, since we have last updated my parents were here visiting last week. We had so much fun. I had to take two days to recover from the record amount of full tourist guide, good daughter trying to get job activites. Oh, before I forget I had a really good job interview week before last? I can't remember now. Anyway, it is in Montrouge which is on the edge of Paris at the end of line 13 on the Metro. Not that means anything to you guys but it is an easy commute. Only 45 mins door to door. It is an internet start up company that connects/matches bulk cell phone buyers and sellers. The president is very nice french of course and speaks good/decent english. I would be selling primarily to Western Europe (in english of course). The interview went very well until I dropped the whole I am not legal to work in this country bomb. He took it well but had no idea what to do to get a visa for me. So, he called me as I was walking to my apartment and asked me to do the legwork and send him the info so he can forward it to his accountant. Okay! I sent him a barrage of information off the French consulate website and now am sitting on my hands hoping he does not throw in the towel due to the amount of paperwork he will have to do to get it done. Will keep everyone posted if this actually happens...
Insert new Title here: Kendall went to church!
I tried to cut and paste this one but I can't do it on this blog so you guys are getting a long one.
Oh, so much to catch up on! I also (everyone hold their breath) went to church a few Sundays ago. I know, it is sacreligious of me to be there but I went anyway in search of friends etc. Believe or not the church did allow me inside and it was a really nice service. It is the American Church in Paris and it is beautiful. I ended up going to a meeting afterward the church held for an update on a new french proposition on expats trying to get the illusive carte de sejour (legal residence card). Not good news for me but won't go into the dirty details for you guys just more french red tape. But, I did sit next to a really nice girl who spoke fluent french and is from New York. She and I talked and exchanged numbers. Yeah, friend number 2! I am really making headway huh? I called her the following week...no response. 2-1=1. Am I back to 1 already??? So, not ready to give up still, I go to the American Cathedral in Paris 2 weeks later. Guess who is an usher??? My new don't return my phone call friend! I am going to get her to like me now! I wait until service is over and stand at the back of the church hoping I will see her. No? Then decide to go to coffee hour/social in the back of the church. I look cool standing around bymyself while everyone exchanges kisses in french and english. Okay, decide I am not strong enough to stand alone and wait so I go to put coffee cup on table and a woman introduces herself to me. Thank you!!! She is very nice and wearing a tag that says "welcoming committee". God, I feel so stupid. She has two kids in tow running around her skirt and screaming which makes the conversation limited at best. Eventually, we run out of conversation and she has to chase the kids so I let her go. Okay, now I am leaving. As I turn to walk out here comes my soon to be new friend that must have forgotten to return my call. Her name is Christine and walked right up to her and she recognized me right away. Yeah! We chatted and she apologized for the not returned phone call which I have totally forgiven her for now. She asked me if I had anything to do later (what do you mean of course not! I only have one friend and a pseudo french boyfriend my schedule is wide open!) and if i would go to a flea market with her. Heck yeah!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
French cooking school avec Stephan
May 16
Okay, more scoop on Stephan. He is the manager of very posh hot restaurant/nightclub on Champs Elysees. He also went to french cooking school. Big brownie points. After successful bank day he volunteers to cook for me. We go to the Monoprix (french Target) but gourmet food too. We buy tons of food and head back to my apartment. He starts cooking about 4pm and insists that I watch and write down what he is doing. No problem! I open a bottle of my new favorite wine called Sancerre. It is white and very good wine for summer. Sancerre is a small town/vineyard just 60miles south of Paris. They make some good stuff. I set up at my bar with wine in one hand and pen in the other. He is cooking/ chopping and explaining in french and I am guessing what the ingredients are in English. Thank you mom for not just making me mac and cheese and bologne sandwiches. I am looking at spices and smelling and saying oh that's dill, and cumin etc. We argue a bit about word for pot. Can't remember french word b/c still not sure if it is skillet or pot. Anyway, he makes me a starter of crawfish salad with avocado, tomatoes garlic onion etc. He chops it all up into perfect squares and then neatly places back inside avocado shell and proceeds to make a lemon swan out of the rind. Oh how I love the french details! It was the best salad I have ever had! Then we moved onto the main course. Chicken with lemon and olives. It was awesome and I made it a week later for myself and it was delicious. If I stay with Stephan I can open up my own restaurant in the states when I return (if I return???)
Okay, more scoop on Stephan. He is the manager of very posh hot restaurant/nightclub on Champs Elysees. He also went to french cooking school. Big brownie points. After successful bank day he volunteers to cook for me. We go to the Monoprix (french Target) but gourmet food too. We buy tons of food and head back to my apartment. He starts cooking about 4pm and insists that I watch and write down what he is doing. No problem! I open a bottle of my new favorite wine called Sancerre. It is white and very good wine for summer. Sancerre is a small town/vineyard just 60miles south of Paris. They make some good stuff. I set up at my bar with wine in one hand and pen in the other. He is cooking/ chopping and explaining in french and I am guessing what the ingredients are in English. Thank you mom for not just making me mac and cheese and bologne sandwiches. I am looking at spices and smelling and saying oh that's dill, and cumin etc. We argue a bit about word for pot. Can't remember french word b/c still not sure if it is skillet or pot. Anyway, he makes me a starter of crawfish salad with avocado, tomatoes garlic onion etc. He chops it all up into perfect squares and then neatly places back inside avocado shell and proceeds to make a lemon swan out of the rind. Oh how I love the french details! It was the best salad I have ever had! Then we moved onto the main course. Chicken with lemon and olives. It was awesome and I made it a week later for myself and it was delicious. If I stay with Stephan I can open up my own restaurant in the states when I return (if I return???)
Denied and 3 days later she was resurrected!!!
May 16th
Hi all! So much has happened. Where do I start? Well, got denied by HSBC. F the French banks! Of course, I asked why, response " in france we don't have to tell you why"...bastards! I got mad then thought, I can do this everything here takes at least three trys before you get anywhere. Another reason I was so pissed I got this news while I was sunning in the park/garden at the Eiffel Tower and it ruined my day. I am so spoiled! So, I had just gotten a call from my new friend James that I met at the meetup.com event to invite me to an art show in the 13th. I called him back and said count me in! We met on the metro and made the trek to the 13th which is quite a haul from my secluded 16th. It was set up inside of an old church and was beautiful setting. Most of the artists were American and one was from Chicago. None of it was my taste but it was a good experience and met some other members of the group. After a glass of wine and enough chat I got back on metro and stopped by Slim's bar for a glass of wine and friendly chatter and continued my trip back to the 16th.
So, my predicament now is how does one pay the rent (on time) with no french bank account? CASH! I pulled out my 800 euros and hopped on the bus to the 7th to the CIC bank for the agency I am renting from and asked them to take my money for rent. No! They are only a commercial bank but they referred me to another CIC location and so I got back on bus and went there. Of course, no one spoke english and after three tries in bad french they understood my predicament and took my money for rent. YEAH! I decided they knew I had money so I asked if I could get a bank account with them. Yes, but have to make an appointment. So, I made an appointment the following week with Benoit. I asked what artillery of information they would need for this one and they only asked for passport and apartment contract? Is it so??? I have been to probably 5 different banks in france and this one only needs two things. It is too good to be true. Appointment day arrives and meet with Benoit. All goes well and it seems he set up the account on the spot? I met with Stephan (his name has not been changed b/c he is not going to read this) and he translated my stack of french paperwork from bank and he confirmed I have an account! One more point for the American team! All I need now is to put money into said account.
Hi all! So much has happened. Where do I start? Well, got denied by HSBC. F the French banks! Of course, I asked why, response " in france we don't have to tell you why"...bastards! I got mad then thought, I can do this everything here takes at least three trys before you get anywhere. Another reason I was so pissed I got this news while I was sunning in the park/garden at the Eiffel Tower and it ruined my day. I am so spoiled! So, I had just gotten a call from my new friend James that I met at the meetup.com event to invite me to an art show in the 13th. I called him back and said count me in! We met on the metro and made the trek to the 13th which is quite a haul from my secluded 16th. It was set up inside of an old church and was beautiful setting. Most of the artists were American and one was from Chicago. None of it was my taste but it was a good experience and met some other members of the group. After a glass of wine and enough chat I got back on metro and stopped by Slim's bar for a glass of wine and friendly chatter and continued my trip back to the 16th.
So, my predicament now is how does one pay the rent (on time) with no french bank account? CASH! I pulled out my 800 euros and hopped on the bus to the 7th to the CIC bank for the agency I am renting from and asked them to take my money for rent. No! They are only a commercial bank but they referred me to another CIC location and so I got back on bus and went there. Of course, no one spoke english and after three tries in bad french they understood my predicament and took my money for rent. YEAH! I decided they knew I had money so I asked if I could get a bank account with them. Yes, but have to make an appointment. So, I made an appointment the following week with Benoit. I asked what artillery of information they would need for this one and they only asked for passport and apartment contract? Is it so??? I have been to probably 5 different banks in france and this one only needs two things. It is too good to be true. Appointment day arrives and meet with Benoit. All goes well and it seems he set up the account on the spot? I met with Stephan (his name has not been changed b/c he is not going to read this) and he translated my stack of french paperwork from bank and he confirmed I have an account! One more point for the American team! All I need now is to put money into said account.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
My first french haircut - sans scissors and standing??
May 3
I forgot to put this in the blog earlier. I got my first french haircut. Quite intresting. I went to a place in La Marais (my old hood). I got a recommendation from Katie that her hairdresser speaks English. Yeah! Her name is Aude and she was so nice. So, she asked me what i wanted and I said cut it shorter and do whatever you want. She stood me up and used a razor. they do not used scissors and only cut (shave) when you are standing. It is the cutest haircut I have ever had! It is also very inexpensive. I got a haircut and intensive treatment for $58 american dollars! Would have been cheaper but dry hair needed some love. I wish i had pictures b/c of course I cannot do it like she did but it is still cute.
Also, met another French guy out on Saturday night with Katie. His name is Stephan. he and i went out on sunday. We met at a cafe near Opera for coffee, then beer, then the worst guacamole I have ever had and then left to go to his friends restaurant. it was moroccan and awesome! we had couscous, lamb ( I think), some other stuff that i don't know what it was but very good. We had a hookah and mint tea! Ended the night at a loungy night club on the Champs Elysees called Le Paris. Very cool very expensive!!! He paid thank god! 15 euros for a mojito!
Also, went to a meetup (expat group) at Alcazar in the 6th. That place was also very cool. It is in a book that I have of Paris' coolest bars/restaurants. It was the best mojito I have ever had and it was only 12 euros! YIKES! Met some really nice people. Will keep in touch with a few for some contacts and networking. I met a guy from Minnesota that has lived in Paris for over 20 years. he seems to be well connected so we exhanged information and will be going to some other events he told me about.
Guess what? I went to church last sunday at the American church in Paris! I met a very nice girl from NY and hopefully will see her again soon.
I also had my first french/english exchange. I met a french girl Isabelle that is looking to perfect her already very good english. She is very nice and we spent two hours talking to me like I am 3 yrs old and then i just talked to her about regular stuff since she is quite fluent but was still a good experience. It is also free so that is a big perk!
Went to HSBC today for the french bank account and actually have some hope I might get a carte bleue! It is the french ATM/visa card that is used everywhere and no fees! I am getting very close to being somewhat legitimate here. who knew????
I forgot to put this in the blog earlier. I got my first french haircut. Quite intresting. I went to a place in La Marais (my old hood). I got a recommendation from Katie that her hairdresser speaks English. Yeah! Her name is Aude and she was so nice. So, she asked me what i wanted and I said cut it shorter and do whatever you want. She stood me up and used a razor. they do not used scissors and only cut (shave) when you are standing. It is the cutest haircut I have ever had! It is also very inexpensive. I got a haircut and intensive treatment for $58 american dollars! Would have been cheaper but dry hair needed some love. I wish i had pictures b/c of course I cannot do it like she did but it is still cute.
Also, met another French guy out on Saturday night with Katie. His name is Stephan. he and i went out on sunday. We met at a cafe near Opera for coffee, then beer, then the worst guacamole I have ever had and then left to go to his friends restaurant. it was moroccan and awesome! we had couscous, lamb ( I think), some other stuff that i don't know what it was but very good. We had a hookah and mint tea! Ended the night at a loungy night club on the Champs Elysees called Le Paris. Very cool very expensive!!! He paid thank god! 15 euros for a mojito!
Also, went to a meetup (expat group) at Alcazar in the 6th. That place was also very cool. It is in a book that I have of Paris' coolest bars/restaurants. It was the best mojito I have ever had and it was only 12 euros! YIKES! Met some really nice people. Will keep in touch with a few for some contacts and networking. I met a guy from Minnesota that has lived in Paris for over 20 years. he seems to be well connected so we exhanged information and will be going to some other events he told me about.
Guess what? I went to church last sunday at the American church in Paris! I met a very nice girl from NY and hopefully will see her again soon.
I also had my first french/english exchange. I met a french girl Isabelle that is looking to perfect her already very good english. She is very nice and we spent two hours talking to me like I am 3 yrs old and then i just talked to her about regular stuff since she is quite fluent but was still a good experience. It is also free so that is a big perk!
Went to HSBC today for the french bank account and actually have some hope I might get a carte bleue! It is the french ATM/visa card that is used everywhere and no fees! I am getting very close to being somewhat legitimate here. who knew????
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