Paris Holds the Key

Mindlessly scrolling through tweets the other day, I came across one that spoke to me. We live in a world where it's rare to find someone who's not connected in some way or a coffee shop that doesn't offer free Wi-Fi, so we often scroll through our news feeds not really taking anything in. However, this one piece of 140-character goodness got me thinking. The tweet, written by my lovely friend Wesley (on Twitter: @Wes_Alexander_), read: "Be it a romance, a great friendship, or a love of culture, I want my first experience in Paris to be a story of true love."

As the words went dark on the screen when my phone went back to sleep, I sat there (with little Binx next to me, of course) thinking about my own first experience in Paris. It came to my attention that my month in that city was all three of those things, combining together to formulate the ultimate story of true love. 

A love of culture. I fell in love with the culture all over again, as if I was my fourteen year old self in a high school French 1 classroom learning numbers and "Hi, my name is...". I was constantly surrounded by a people who appreciate art and history and who are immersed in and who make up the glamour that is Paris. The bakery owners and the cute waiters, the museum staff and even the little self-righteous dogs in the park -- they all played a part in making what I thought Paris would be like pre-departure exactly what it was for me when I arrived. Paris: the lights and the sounds and the feeling that there was more to the world than what I'd experienced living in Florida for twenty years, was absolutely everything I dreamed it would be. I feel a connection with that city in a way I didn't think was possible, and I've realized recently that that's where I'm meant to be. My love of Paris is what keeps me going on days where all I want to do is give up and lay on my bedroom floor and sob because I can't get through a book I'm supposed to read for a class or because my parents are upset with something I've said. The thought, no, the knowledge that I'm going back so soon is what keeps me alive. That's true love.

A great friendship. I went to Paris without actually knowing anyone who was in my study abroad program. Sure, I'd talked to a few of them over Facebook chat a few times to discuss airport logistics and whatnot, but I wasn't going there with friends in tow. All of that changed about two weeks in, and I left Paris with more friends than I was expecting. But these friends aren't just travel buddies, these are friends who saw the best and worst of me all in the span of a month; these were friends who experienced with me the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower (Feu d'Artifice) on Bastille Day, all laughs and smiles, and who also saw me drunk and crying 10 minutes before leaving for the airport to go back to the United States. Living in a foreign country together for a month bonded us all for life, and I still talk to and regularly see almost all of them. That's true love.

A romance. After being in the city of love for four days, I met someone with whom I spent several hours exploring the city, lounging on the Champ de Mars underneath a looming Eiffel Tower, and dancing the night away to French pop music. Though it was nothing serious, nor was it true love, I learned through that experience that people will often come into your life so that you can see things from their perspective, and then they'll walk right back out, and you'll be fine with it. Maybe it was a true coincidence or maybe it was the corny cliché that is having a romance in Paris that brought us together for that short time. Whatever it was, I'm grateful for that experience and if I've learned anything from it is that you shouldn't ever have any regrets about things you've done in the past, because put simply, it's in the past. Living in the moment is essential to living fully and passionately. 

True love: that's what Paris was for me, and will hopefully continue to be as soon as I get back there in the next year. My time there taught me so much more than living in Florida for twenty years ever did, and that's how I know it's where I'm supposed to be; that's how I know I'm fully capable of getting myself back on that plane.

Stardust

When I first launched this blog back in February, the idea behind it was that I would regularly post about my travels, specifically the experiences I was to have during my time in Europe and hopefully beyond that as I got older. That idea is still there, though since I'm currently living in Tallahassee going to school, I'm going to focus more on the things that are happening in my life right now and my thoughts as I near my graduation date, travel-related or otherwise. The past two months have been sort of a blur, the highlights fuzzy images of books I've attempted to read and finish, Halloween parties, football games, a special little grey kitten named Binx, and university parking garages. All of these things come with the mundane, though somehow still exciting life I lead as a Florida State Seminole. However blurry my vision might be when I look back on this semester though, this weekend was an eye-opener. It was like going to the optometrist and putting a pair of glasses I've needed since the sixth grade on for the first time. Cheesy? Yes. True? Also yes. I feel like this might belong on Tumblr instead of an actual blog.

This weekend I got to have a few fantastic conversations with a couple of new friends, as well as old friends of course. Topics mostly revolved around travel, experiences while abroad, et cetera. Through all the pressure I've felt this semester regarding what it is I'm planning on doing after graduation (that seems to be the question of the century), it was almost like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders. In the last three or four days, I've realized that no one knows what they're doing after graduation. Especially as a student who is graduating in three years instead of the normal four, that was beyond relieving to hear. I'm only 20! What's that Britney song called again? "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman"? Pop princesses aside, if I met any young woman my age in my situation who knew exactly what she was doing after school, I'd be amazed. I'd also question her sanity.

So, what it all really boils down to is: what do I want? Truthfully, I want to leave again. I want to travel longer and I want to travel further. So, that's what I'm going to do. After school, I'll find a couple of humdrum jobs so that I can save money, I'll keep blogging, and as soon as I have a few thousand saved, I'm off to Paris again. This is my decision, and this time I'm sticking to it. I owe it to myself to be happy, to live the life that I want instead of being stuck doing something that 's practical or failsafe but that my heart isn't in. 

It's time to live for yourself.

Headfirst For Halos

As I was sitting on my back porch with my 4-month-old kitten, Binx, yesterday, I had a sudden realization. All of the sudden, all of these intense feelings of relief washed over me, and I felt okay. It was like someone just flipped a switch. Yeah, it's been a rough semester. Hell, it's been a rough two and a half years, but I just realized how close I am to being finished with all of it. I've spent the last couple of months finding myself struggling with getting homework and assigned readings done and making failing quiz grades while my personal life crumbles and falls through the spaces between my fingers. All of this for what? A little piece of paper at the end of May that somehow justifies all the suffering it took to get it? It sounds silly, but somehow it's still important. 

But as I watched little Binx look out the screen door at the birds sitting in the trees, his head tilted to the side, I suddenly realized that the worst is over. I've only got about seven months left of this. Some of you might be thinking, "she should feel incredibly lucky to even be going to school" and "why would you want to graduate college in three years?" or maybe even "if you don't like what you're studying, just change your major". I'm not going to delve into specifics about the situation I'm in, but all I'll say is that I tried to take the easy way out back in my freshman year when choosing a major. I chose one that I thought would be easy, that I was good at, and that would help my parents to sleep soundly at night. It seems the only person I didn't make the decision for was myself, and now I'm paying for that. I'm good at what I study. I can knock out a research paper on a book I haven't read in about eight hours, but what is that going to ever do for me in the long run? Absolutely nothing. 

So instead of feeling defeated by my chosen field of academia, I sat down and wrote about the things that, however trivial, I am good at, and that make me feel good, because I firmly believe that I am not the grade I make on a midterm exam or a term paper, end of story. 

I've found that this same sense of defeat and hopelessness has been found among many people my age, and my good friend Madame Sosostris puts beautifully into words some of what I've been trying to articulate here as well: that you are not the grades you make, and that you should find the things that make you happy and run with them. 

After coming back inside from my porch-sit, I wrote down a few things so that I could keep my optimism alive, and that could hopefully inspire some in others, should they read them.

You're 20 years old, the start of a new decade.

You're no good at drawing,

you haven't got the physique of a model.

Hell, you're marginally attractive.

But you're damn good at working alone,

you're good at wearing black,

at dying your hair even when your parents say it looks awful.

You're good at swiping that red lipstick on

without a mirror.

You can call to follow up on that application,

and you're a beer pong champion.

You're a good listener.

You might be alone at 27,

or even 35,

but you'll be alright. 

You're gonna take on the world in a hail of bullets,

figuratively of course.

Just think happy thoughts.

Never let them take you alive.

This post is not going to document a segment of my travels, it's not going to give you expert advice on which Parisian café to choose when looking for the best pain au chocolat in France (I've never had a less than satisfactory pastry of any kind while there), and in fact, it's not even travel related. 

These are my thoughts after several weeks of, pardon my French, being "in the shit", as a hero of mine Gerard Way would say. The past two months being back at school have been full of emotional turmoil, caused by classes as well as a few personal things. For about a month, the only music I've listened to is My Chemical Romance, who I've loved since I was a greasy, awkward twelve year old with glasses and a tragic set of braces. They've always had a way of sticking with me, especially during times when I didn't know what the hell I was doing. Lately, they've served a new purpose for me, and that's inspiration. 

I'm not one to write poetry, so that's not what this is. These are merely my thoughts. Getting this down on paper helped me realize a few things, and I hope that if you too are "in the shit", that they can help you as well.

You're going to be okay. 

You're going to finish school, even if you only scrape by.

Even if you don't know what to do with your life,

You're going to find yourself.

You don't need anyone but yourself.

You're going to create things. 

Important things.

Things for yourself, things for others.

You're going to be the best version of yourself.

You might not always know the right words to say,

or you might not know which door to go through next,

but you've come this far.

Shed your yellow and take my hand, 

always remember to keep running,

and never let them take you alive.

What a bunch of life-saving goofballs.

Parisian Fashion: What to Pack

Salut, mes amis!

Before I start delving into all the little stories and experiences I have from my time in the fabulous city that is Paris, I thought I would start my series of Parisian posts with a topic that I had to address when I was packing my suitcase: what do I wear while in one of the most fashionable cities in the world?

This is a question women (and men) have been fussing over for years now, and I think it’s safe to say that there are a few key things to know before you go and blow all your money on a whole new wardrobe to take abroad. The first thing, which I can say from experience, is that no matter how hard you try, you WILL look like a tourist. To follow up with that, if you are American, most of the French can see that even before you can utter a word of your Franglish.

This next bit is directed at the ladies: let’s be honest, unless we are born and bred in Paris, there’s no way we’ll ever have the same graceful sophistication and aura that is exclusive to French women. So before you twist your ankle in those stilettos while walking the cobblestone streets, why not pack a few pairs of strappy sandals and some elegant looking flats? If heels are necessary, I recommend pairs that have a thick or even a wedge heel. Trust me, your feet and your dignity will still be intact by the end of your trip!

Before I left, I did lots of research regarding what is acceptable to wear while in the streets and while sightseeing. Many of the articles I read suggested floral print sundresses, linen trousers, cardigans, black pants, lots of neutral colors, etc. These are all things that I packed, and they all worked for me and helped a little when it came to “blending in”. The single motif I saw while browsing online though was the constant condemnation of denim cut-offs. Having grown up in Florida, I practically live in shorts, it’s too hot for anything else! While I don’t recommend “booty” shorts per se, I don’t see anything wrong with short denim cut-offs, and I wore them all over the place while in Paris! However, if you’re planning on going into any of the cathedrals, (Sacre Coeur especially, they have guards to make sure anyone with inappropriate clothing isn’t allowed inside) I suggest mid-thigh length as the shortest you can go in terms of shorts and skirts, and maybe covering up your shoulders.

A perfect example of denim cut-offs AND flat shoes, and she looks perfectly put-together!

Note: when in doubt, black is ALWAYS in style!

I promise, dressing well in Paris isn’t as difficult as it may seem, because everyone does it! As long as you’re not wearing a fanny pack or a pair of running shoes with your socks pulled up to your calves and a nice Hawaiian print shirt, you should be okay!

Questions or comments on this post? Feel free to shoot me e-mail at katieanne93@gmail.com!

Note: None of these photos belong to me.

Paris - July 2013: Overview

Bonjour à tous!

I haven't written since early this summer, but I am happy to say that I'll be posting a little more regularly from now on, school permitting.

That being said, I cannot WAIT to share with all of you (by all... I mean all 3 or 4 of you) my stories and experiences from the most beautiful city on Earth: Paris! Words simply cannot describe how entirely perfect my month abroad was, but they'll have to do. In the weeks to come I'll be writing about all the places I visited, all the different foods I ate, as well as some of the shopping I did. 

Below are a few of the highlights from my trip, and I promise there are more to come. I cannot express enough how perfectly beautiful my time in Paris was, and just how much I fell in love with this city. As strange and dramatic as it may sound, if I were to get on a plane back tomorrow, I'm convinced it would feel like going home. 

"America is my country and Paris is my hometown." - Gertrude Stein

All of these photos belong to me.

Pond Hopping

I woke up almost half an hour early this morning, which is strange for me because usually I try to catch every last Z that I can before waking up and trudging into my summer classes which start relatively early. There was a little pit in my stomach that felt like a big weight, though it wasn't a bad weight -- it was an excited one. I checked the calendar on my phone and counted the little boxes to find out that my trip to Paris is in eleven days. Eleven. What? It feels like just yesterday was the day I booked my flights, and now it's time to start getting my things together and pack my suitcase! This is all too strange, and it still doesn't really feel real. 

I'm going to Paris, France for a month to study abroad. I feel like I'm going to wake up and it will all have been just a dream. Just writing this I'm getting the heebie jeebies. 

Not only am I going to Paris, I'm also bought train tickets to spend a weekend in Geneva, Switzerland! I'm hoping to maybe find a good place to hike, because according to my research, you can see Mont Blanc from the highest point in the city. I'm also excited about that because I've never set foot on a train...that will definitely be an experience!

Note: I do not own any of these photos.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg by katieanne-1 featuring a nude lace dress

Dorothy Perkins nude lace dress
$61 - dorothyperkins.com

L' Autre Chose flat heels
yoox.com

Jenny Bird crossbody messenger bag
pinkmascara.com

Dolce and Gabbana RTW Fall 2013

I’ve already seen so many posts about Dolce and Gabbana’s RTW Fall 2013 show in Milan last week, but I couldn’t help myself once I saw all the beautiful detailing, especially in the shoes, bags, and other accessories! I’m not really one to go for big brands like Dolce and Gabbana, but this show was to die for! Here’s a look at some of the shoes:

 

The detailing with the vines and the little flowers is spectacular! I can’t even begin to imagine how long that took. These shoes have a sort of fairy tale feel to them, like they’re fit for a princess!

 These shoes are just…I can’t even find a word to describe them with! Awe-inspiring, supernatural, spectacular, extraordinary! Can’t you tell I used a thesaurus?

 This pair, like the first one, makes me think of princesses and enchanted castles! I would take these over glass slippers any day!

Appalachian Adventures

Bringing your attentions back to the United States (for now), I present to you the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located in the east of Tennessee, hugging the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. This magical place holds lots of personal and sentimental value for me, as I’ve been camping there every summer with my family for as long as I can remember. Spending a week of every summer plunging into icy rivers and rinsing off a thick lather of Dr. Bronner’s (all natural) peppermint shampoo, horseback riding through rolling hills and forests, and playing charades with cousins by a campfire while the crickets sing has truly been a treat. If I ever have children, I plan on taking them up to the mountains so that they can experience the magic too.

Thousands upon thousands of people visit the National Park every year, whether to hike in the park’s nature trails (some of which lead to breathtaking waterfalls), or to camp in one of the park’s ten frontcountry campgrounds, which provide restrooms, cold running water and flush toilets as well as 5-amp electric hookups in some sites. For the adventure seeker, there is also backcountry camping for backpackers.

There are so many beautiful sites to see while visiting the Smoky Mountains! Located within the National Park, Cades Cove is the sole destination of many. An eleven mile one-way road takes tourists back in time to when the area that is now the National Park was first settled, featuring the original log cabins, barns, and churches that were built over a hundred years ago. Cades Cove is also known as a prime spot for wildlife enthusiasts, and is abundant with white-tailed deer, black bears, elk, and a variety of other woodland creatures.

Even in the midst of all the tourists, park rangers, and structures present in the park, there is definitely a sort of ancient, wise, untouchable magic that is present in those mountains. While taking a stroll through the woods, or sitting on a boulder by the rushing Little River surrounded by greenery and wildlife, this magic becomes very real. 

Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photo by: Cydney Bergdorf

Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photo by: Cydney Bergdorf

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photo by: Cydney Bergdorf

Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Les Rêves de la Ville de la Lumière: PARIS

Ever since I made my flight arrangements for my study abroad trip to Paris this summer, I literally have not been able to stop thinking about it! The thought of leaving the country for a month helps me get through the day, and keeps me from sleeping in my classes! Unfortunately, this semester requires my full attention, and all this constant daydreaming could become detrimental to my GPA if I don’t keep myself in check. So I thought I would just write it all out here, and get it all out of my system (yeah, like that will last).

 My mind is constantly wondering what it will feel like when the plane is making its descent onto the runway of Charles de Gaulle airport. Is that when I will catch my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower? I can almost feel the pang that I’ll feel in my chest when I see it for the first time. I can imagine the cab ride to my dorm after leaving the airport; all the beautiful Parisian architecture I’ll see, people walking leisurely with their dogs, cigarettes clutched between their fingers.

 I can’t wait until I can wake up early on a Saturday morning and walk to the nearest open-air market in my floral sundress and pick up what I need for that night’s dinner, and maybe stop by a little patisserie or a wine shop and indulge in little treats, just because I’ll be in Paris.

 One place I will make sure I go to while in Paris: Ladurée. I’ll buy myself a small box of little pastel-colored macarons and a little cup of tea and enjoy it in the original Ladurée café, built in the Baroque style over a hundred years ago.

 A simple thing I’m looking forward to: just walking around the city, taking it all in. I want to walk through the gardens and parks: Luxembourg and Tuileries. I want to walk down the little side streets and find all the secret cafés, tea shops and bookstores. I want to spend a day in Shakespeare & Co. just wandering around, and picking out all my favorites.  I want to have a picnic which is inclusive of all the French staples: du pain, du vin, et du fromage!

 Somehow I feel like every scene I have described in this post needs to have accordion music playing in the background. But, alas, that might be very American of me. There is so much more I think about when my mind wanders to Paris, I could go on for days!