The Perpetual Passenger

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All Hail the Prince

July 1, 2011 · by Nikki

So I know I’ve got some catching up to do, but right now there’s only one topic on my mind: PRINCE.

The concert I excitedly posted about about a month ago was last night, and I’m still reeling. He truly is a performer, and probably one of the most talented alive.

He played for 3 hours, and the first hour+ was covers of some of his favorite songs. For some, this might have been less than satisfactory if they were clamoring for all of the Prince hits we know and love, but for me it was amazing. I really enjoy when artists pay tribute to one another, and he did an amazing job. He covered bands from Sly & the Family Stone to the Beatles to Wild Cherry.

And of course he played all my favorites, and left nothing to be desired. Raspberry Beret, Let’s Go Crazy, 1999, When Doves Cry and Sign O’ the Times were all amazingly energetic. Purple Rain was expectedly epic. He ended the show with my personal favorite, Kiss, and his combined dancing and singing during that one had my eyes glued to the stage.

But my absolute favorite performance of the whole night was Little Red Corvette. The spotlights were all turned off, and the only lights were the big-screens with red filters and a few red stage lights. He played a very slow rendition of the song and invited audience participation that went on for quite a few minutes. It was surreal.

This was an experience I won’t soon forget, and one I can add to my list of reasons why 2011 has been a great year so far for me. On my cab ride home from the train station last night I couldn’t help but think about how lucky and blessed I have been. I’m so grateful for all the forces that have played a part in getting me to where I am now, and all the places I’ll be going.

Lots of posts to catch up on! Try not to feel bombarded 🙂

Ciao!

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A New England Sports Fan Abroad

June 16, 2011 · by Nikki

I have a history of being away from home when my favorite sports teams make big wins.

On February 1, 2004, the New England Patriots were playing Superbowl XXXVIII to decide the champions of the 2003 regular season. The matchup was against the Carolina Panthers and it all went down at Reliant Stadium in Houston. It was an epic game with some really great football. So great, in fact, that Monday Morning Quarterback author Peter King dubbed it “The Greatest Superbowl of All Time.” Of course I wouldn’t miss it for the world, being that I live and breathe the New England Patriots. So I watched… on DVD in May of that same year. Because on THAT day, February 1, 2004, I was sitting on a plane that was delivering me and 24 other students to our study abroad destination: Cape Town, South Africa.

Knowing I’d be away for the biggest game of the year, I did all I could to support my team. Given my circumstances, this meant wearing a Patriots Jersey on the entire 18 hour plane ride, and a cowboy hat (the hat was more to let people know that I am insane – it worked).

I had a layover in the middle of the long flight, and the layover happened at right around the time the Superbowl should have been over. Luckily for me, there were two other Patriots fans on the plane (which was extremely exciting given that the flight left from New York), so we eagerly asked the pilot to radio back to the States for an update. The wait for news was brutal. I remember how clearly the anxiety weighed on me, and I nearly pounced on any flight staff that walked by servicing the plan we were waiting on for hint of an update.

And then it came. One flight attendant gloriously approached me and the other student that was making the same wish I was and delivered the verdict: The Patriots had defeated the Carolina Panthers 32 to 29.

I still remember that feeling. It was as good as if I had been watching the entire game.

So this morning, at approximately 4:47am Paris time, I woke up to an alert from my phone reading: Final Score – Boston 4, Vancouver 0. And that little message had nearly the same effect as the flight attendant had on me back in 2004. What a great feeling to have been pulling for the winning team!

Though I saw almost none of the final series (I was in Paris for all of the Stanley Cup games), I still felt just as connected to Boston and to my teams as ever. Though football always has been and always will be my favorite, I’m a New England sports fan through and through, and no distance will ever tear us apart!

Ciao!

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This Week’s 10 Life Lessons from Paris

June 10, 2011 · by Nikki

Outside, no one makes eye contact. Inside, even strangers say hello.
Buying your veggies fresh daily is awesome.
When they say “delivery at 9am,” expect it either an hour early or an hour late.
You’ve probably seen the Eiffel Tower more often than Parisiens have.
Chivalry is alive and well in this part of Europe.
Buy a step-ladder if you’re living in a Parisien flat. Unless you’re approximately 7 feet tall.
Ikea delivers over here. Whaaaat?!
On Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll never stop saying “Bon weekend!”
Paris recycles! (Love this!)
You can get from Paris to Amsterdam in 3 hours by train.

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Turning a Flat into a Home

June 8, 2011 · by Nikki

This past weekend I started the long and arduous process of turning my empty flat into something a little cozier. This is what I’m starting with:

Bedroom

Livingroom

Kitchen (with lots of cleaning products)

Not a bad canvas, if I don’t say so myself 🙂

All the typical things that have to be done to set up a new living situation are in the works (getting utilities going, cleaning, adding my name to the mailboxes…), but the fun part is furnishing and decorating. Right?! Well it would be if I understood a little more French.

I’d say that although this is a really fun part of transitioning to a new home, it’s also been quite challenging for me. Even if I was fluent in French, the procedures used by utility and furniture companies here are quite complex. I have been relying heavily on my co-workers to help me get things done, which leaves me feeling a bit helpless and burdensome. Though they continue to reassure me that I am not, I can’t help but feel bad that my personal life is taking up so much of theirs.

On the bright side, things are starting to come together. Perhaps in a few days I can post some updated photos of how things are coming along. I think it will be a month or so until enough details are in place for me to feel like this is my home, but progress is progress…

As an aside, my flat is directly across the street from a huge church (read: no sleeping in on Snudays! Ding-dong-ding!) called Saint-Esprit. On Saturday I practiced my paparazzi skills and snapped a shot of a bride and groom making their grand exit:

Nice day for a white wedding!

My co-worker, Sophia, tells me “God put you in this flat across the street from the church so you can get some ideas (about marriage).” We’ll see 😉

Ciao!

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Sites, Sounds and a Place to Call Home

May 29, 2011 · by Nikki

I was riding the metro last week and saw this:

Read: Prince concert. In Paris. June 30.

So I did what any logical person would do: bought two tickets. And that’s how I began my Friday.

My Friday ended with my co-worker and my boss coming into the office I share with very grim looks on their faces. Knowing that they had just called the agency I applied with for a flat I wanted to rent, I resigned myself to the idea that I needed to keep looking. They walked over, each placing a hand on my shoulder, and proceeded to scream “YOU GOT IT!” I pick up the keys on Wednesday.

The task of finding housing was admittedly easier than I expected it to be, but not without the help of my company. They have done so much to accomodate me, and without their assistance I fear I’d be living in temporary housing, er, permanently.

So I had a lot of work to do this weekend to make up for the hours spent away from the office looking at numerous flats. As a reward for finishing what I needed to do this morning, I decided to explore a bit of Paris. You know. Be a tourist.

When thinking about where to go on this beautiful day, I didn’t need much time to decide on the Arc de Triomphe. I’ve been to Paris several times before and had never seen it. So that was my first stop.

Wow!

Breathtaking...

I was truly awe-struck by the Arc. It was a feeling similar to what I experienced standing in front of the Parthenon in Athens. So much history, so beautiful, larger than life…

After exploring a bit, I decided to treat myself to a delicious lunch outside at the Bistro Romain on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées:

Yum!

And since the Eiffel Tower (or Tour Ee-FELL, as they say in Paris) was only two metro stops away, I thought “why not?”

Still awesome, even the second time around

Now I know what you’re thinking.

No I don’t, but it MIGHT be this: “Way to visit all the touristy things!”

And you’re right! But I know that with time I’ll be exploring all that Paris has to offer. Right now I’m still in awe that I’m even here. And am going to see Prince in concert. And have a flat. 🙂

Perhaps my Sunday outings are becoming a regular occurrence? At this point I’m batting a thousand, but who knows where I’ll be next weekend. Maybe somewhere a little more off the beaten path…

Ciao!

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Surviving my First Week

May 26, 2011 · by Nikki

Bonjour!

So today marks the one week anniversary of my arrival in Paris! I know, it’s only been a week, but a milestone is a milestone! And I plan to mark my successes as often as possible. What’s wrong with some positive reminders every now and then?!

I must say that so far my stay has been really wonderful. The missteps I’ve made have been minor (saying “Bonsoir” — which means “hello” during nighttime hours as I was LEAVING a store — instead of “bonnuit” which is more approriate for a goodbye, and accidentally using the wrong entrance or exit to a metro station), and not embarrassing enough to scar me. Give it time, though. I’m sure some colossal mistakes are on the horizon 😉

Truthfully, though, I’ve really been met with a lot of kindness and friendliness here. Despite many warnings about “French people hating Americans” and “no one willing to speak English,” my experience has been quite the contrary. As soon as anyone finds out I’m American, they’re asking me all sorts of questions about places I’ve been in the US, and am I liking it here, and do I smoke cigarettes, since apparently America is seen as a non-smoking country. And as long as I say “Pardon madame/monsieur, parlez-vous Anglais?” I have no problem conversing in English. Of course the plan is to begin French lessons soon so I don’t even have to use that phrase anymore, but I find as long as I’m polite, the effort is reciprocated.

Of course being in fabulous Paris doesn’t quite make up for the things I’m missing from home. I’m not having any extreme homesickness (yet), but I do wish I could I could share this amazing experience with the people I love. For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos of what I miss most:

These guys!

These girls!

This girl!

These people!

And of course many more… so get your passports ready! Because after I find a flat and get settled, I’ll be expecting company 😉

Ciao!

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A Sunday Stroll in the Parc

May 24, 2011 · by Nikki

I’ve been very fortunate that my time in Paris so far has been sunny and warm. This helps to offset this seemingly unshakeable cold that has moved into my throat and nose. So after sleeping in as late as I possibly could this past Sunday (an astounding 11am – so late for me!), I thought I should get up and spend some time basking in the sunshine and getting exercise.

After doing some cursory research, I decided to hop on the metro and make my way to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumontt. Although I’m proud of myself for navigating the metro system without issue, I must admit it’s pretty easy, so it’s no great accomplishment. 🙂

The Parc turned out to be an excellent choice for a brief escape… warm sun, picnic-ers and beautiful views went a long way in making me feel better about the physical state I am in. Here are some of the sights I saw:

What a place for a picnic!

Wouldn't want to swim in it, but it's nice to look at

Wave to the people in the temple!

After making my way around the parc’s numerous walking trails, I finished my day with an outdoor dinner composed of a beer and a salad at a nearby cafe. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday…

Ciao!

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What Do Vegetarians Eat in Hamburg? Protein, of Course!

May 22, 2011 · by Nikki

Though my trip to Hamburg, Germany this weekend was brief, it was still pretty interesting. I was there to watch a focus group testing some protein substitutes for a segment of the population with protein allergies… Needless to say, the samples weren’t the tastiest things I’ve ever tried, but it’s all in the name of research 🙂

I did manage to have a yummy outdoor lunch while I was there, and scoped out a few (read: very few) of the sites in this small city. Here are some pictures:

A view from my lunch spot in Hamburg

Hamburg City Center, or so I'm told

A nice-looking tower in Hamburg

Despite the fact that I didn’t get to spend much time there, I really liked Hamburg. The city is historic and charming, but with lots of trees and is on the smaller side. It actually reminded me a bit of Boston 🙂

Not only was it a beautiful place, but a friendly one! I had one of those experiences that reaffirms my faith in humanity: As I stood there looking puzzled and glancing back and forth from my map to the surrounding buildings, a lovely (and gorgeous) woman approached me and asked me something in German. Typical American that I am and having no working knowledge of the German language, I replied “Sorry, excuse me?” to which she responded “Are you okay? Can I help you with something?” in perfect English. I showed her the address I was looking for, she pointed me towards the building, patted me on the shoulder and said “Have a great stay here.” Thank you, gorgeous blond German woman. I will. And perhaps I’ll even come back someday.

Next up – images from the stroll around Parc des Buttes Chaumont in Paris that I took earlier today, and maybe an update on apartment hunting, or “flat finding” as it’s called here. 🙂

Ciao!

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Safe and Sound

May 20, 2011 · by Nikki

Je suis arrivé!

So I successfully made it to Paris, despite coming down with a cold the day before I was set to leave. For those who travel, I’m sure you can sympathize with how awful it is to fly when you’re congested and stuffy. So much for sleeping on the plane!

But I made it and even survived working a full day after arriving at 6am on little to no sleep. It worked out pretty well because I think I’m already on Paris time 🙂

Anyway – that’s it for now. Next stop – Germany! I venture to Hamburg on Saturday for a quick day trip. Not sure I’ll have time to explore as I’ll be there for work, but if I do I’ll write about it.

Ciao!

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Preparing for Paris

May 12, 2011 · by Nikki

It’s official: I make the move to Paris on May 18.

While excited, I’m also starting to feel overwhelmed with all of the things I need to take care of before I head out. Aside from packing, there’s paperwork, cleaning, getting new phone numbers, getting rid of old numbers… the list goes on.

In the meantime, I’ve been trying to see as many people as I can to say my farewells. It’s been a very hectic last few weeks, but also so great to see all those familiar faces again. Although it’s too bad that it takes someone leaving to bring people together, I’ll take any excuse I can get 🙂

My plan is to keep this blog updated regularly (at least once a week) so friends and family can see into a little window of my world while I’m away. I know I’ll be traveling a lot, so that goal might be ambitious, but worth it if I can pull it off! I’d love to share photos and anecdotes from my new adventures…

In the meantime, I’ll be passing on my contact information to anyone who’s interested, and my address once I’ve found a permanent home in Paris. Don’t be a stranger!

Ciao

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