Finally--a break

I've survived my first semester of university.
*collective sigh of relief*


These last few days I've had the chance to really reflect on my time spent here. Just the other day I rediscovered the email I received from NYU telling me of acceptance..kind of.

The first lines read :

"We have just completed our review of your application to New York University and though we are very much looking forward to offering you admission and having you here at NYU, we are unable to offer you direct admission to the College of Arts and Science.  I am, however, eager to share with you that we can offer you admission to NYU's Liberal Studies Program, with a freshman year space reserved for you at one of our global academic centers in either Florence, London, Paris, or Shanghai"

It seemed like a backhanded compliment. Like I wasn't what they were looking for to be part of the New York campus so instead they sent me away to their tiny branch in a foreign city.

But I honestly couldn't have asked for anything better. Of course there have been times when I miss my family and friends (and cat and Chipotle..) and wished I was in the United States, but i have realized I have my whole life to return to Westerville, Ohio. Never will I have the chance to be here in Paris for such an extended amount of time. Had I not taken NYU up on their offer I would have never in my life had the opportunity to learn French. I think how long it took me to learn several tenses in Spanish (I'm talking several years...) and in just three months j'ai appris beaucoup des choses! 

And in less than a week Mike, Shelley and Michelle Schultheis are coming to me!

I have created a list of my favorite restuarants, attractions and shopping in Paris so that they can select a few things on their proitity list. I think I will post a copy of it so should you ever come to Paris, you have an insiders view .


I intend on updating on things like food and travel since the semester has flown by but I hope you enjoy the holiday season and get to enjoy it with the ones you love!

Here's a little catch-up..

a few pictures from November to early December.

Thanksgiving dinner on the Eiffel Tower..it was incredible.L to R : Moi, Matthew, Michael, Federico, Ryan, Bethany, Komal

A cute French spin on American Thanksgiving

Cranberry sauce, a turkey medallion filled with stuffing, potato au gratin topped with sweet potato casserole, and the most DELICIOUS gravy I've ever had. 

I commend you, France.

A pumpkin-y squash tart

Inside the belly of the beast

Heaven?

 Look who came for a visit! Salome! 

Nothing says Christmas like guacamole.

So there's only 15 days until Christmas, and as a way to celebrate/apologize for being a terrible blogger I am imparting upon you my favorite recipe for guacamole.

As if that wasn't inciting enough it is inspired by Chipotle's insanely delicious/addictive guac. So if you're like me and in a remote part of the world where no Chipotle has dared to venture...this recipe will more than make due.

Maybe throw in some cherry tomato bits and you have a very festive holiday side dish!

Joyeux Noël! 

 

The World's Most Delicious Guacamole 

 

Ingredients:

 

2 ripe Hass Avocados (ripe means black skin..not green)

1/4 Red Onion, chopped

1/4 of a Lime's juice

1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced 

2 tablespoons fresh Cilantro, finely chopped 

1/2 teaspoon course Salt

Cut the avocados in half and remove pits. Keep these saved aside for later. Scoop the green deliciousness and throw the skins out.

Mash avocado until a nice smooth consistency.

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. If you like spicy guac, throw in the seeds from the jalapeno.

Serve with tortilla chips and refrain from just eating the elixer of God with a spoon.

If you for some reason have left overs, which in my opinion is impossible as you can easily consume with one friend it in a sitting, here's some ways to keep it fresh and dandy.


Put the pits back in the guacamole. Don't ask me why but something about the pits slows the process of the avocado turning brown. Of course take them out when ready to serve.


Place a layer of plastic wrap directly over the surface of the guacamole. This will act as a barrier from the air that turns guac the ugly brown color. 


Refrigerate! This one is self explanatory.

Joyeux Hallowe'en

Cheers to my favorite holiday! It's the one night a year where you can be anything or anyone and get away with it.
A few weeks ago, friends Matthew, Steph and I ventured into the Parisian Catacombs--the burial cite of 6 million people. The skeletons of these people were moved from burial cites on the outskirts of the city, into this mine so that they could have a proper---and sanitary---resting place.

Very Halloween-y, and very spooky.

Enjoy the best holiday of year.

A very foreboding well of water...

Just hangin' out with the locals

I don't even want to know how people this wall contains.

"It is an impiety to insult the dead" Can't escape Homer...he's everywhere.

Salut!

Well I've been in France for over a week and I honestly don't know how to put my experiences so I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking (or I'm just to lazy to type sentences...)

I arrived on Monday the 29th with my German host family graciously moving me into my humble abode.

Salome and I in Paris!

L'Arc de Triomphe!

I spy with my little eye..something metal.

The grave marker of the great Jim Morrison.

“People fear death even more than pain. It's strange that they fear death. Life hurts a lot more than death. At the point of death, the pain is over. Yeah, I guess it is a friend...”--JM

A few new friends at a super swanky restaurant/hotel during an excursion to Chantilly, France. During this meal we had a 3 course lunch...ya know just saving room for the 4 course dinner we had later that night....

And here's where we stayed..

Just kidding. That's the castle in Chantilly, which we did in fact tour.

A picture from a scavenger hunt we did this week. Even though there are only 50 students in the program we represent 14 different countries. Here's just an example..

(L to R) Singapore, India, USA, USA, Canada, USA. 

AND FINALLY... the pièce de résistance.......

My Dorm Room

I have my very own apartment in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, which once held the Bastille. It's more like an apartment since I don't have a room mate and many (lovely) French students live in the same complex as me. Unfortunately I'm at the skill level of a 14 month old French baby, so my go to sentence with Frenchies in the elevator is "Desole, je ne parle francais tres bien." and they go "Oh so you're one of the Americans? New York University, right?". 

I might as well tattoo Uncle Sam on my forehead.

Anywho...

Ain't she a beaut?

My very own bathroom--or salle de bain.

My closet filled to the brim and photos mounted to the door.

Like in MTV's Cribs..everyone wants to know what's in the fridge. Well here ya go...Fanta, ice, and a lemon. The essentials.

Aside from stepping in dog poo the other day, I haven't had many bad experience so far in Paris (knock on wood) however I was quite horrified when I opened my suitcase and found...

THIS....

RHINO LOST HIS HORN.

This is what you get when you pack a wooden carving.

Final thoughts:

So far it just feels like summer camp. A fun trip, getting to know everyone, running around everyone's dorm rooms. But I know college will set in soon. Today was the 2nd day of intense French language boot camp, essentially. For the next week and a half, I have French class 4 hours a day, which is awesome and a bit overwhelming at the same time. My professor is fantastic though and I really am beginning to communicate en Francais. 

Phrases of the Day:

Boulangerie--bakery. Literally you have no chance of surviving in France without knowing this word. And for .85 euro for a fresh more-than-foot-long baguette you will find most of your time is spent in one.

*Explicit Content Below*

Va te faire foutre!--Fuck off! This is essential for the subways--another place where you will spend a ridiculous amount of time. Just today my friend got a little more booty grabbing in the subway than ever appropriate. Feel free to spat this at anyone trying to put their fingers on your hot crossed buns.

Hope you found this enlightening and informative.

All my love,

Leah

Greetings from Germany

It is hard to believe it has already been 2 days since my plane arrived in Frankfurt, Germany.

As a final goodbye to my friends, my family threw a lovely "going away/Thanksgiving in August" party this past Tuesday. It was amazing to have so many good friends in once place. We had a big turkey, cheesy potatoes, sweet potato casserole, Honeybaked ham, green beans, and many other American-y dishes. I have many photos but alas they are on my mom's camera and will be posted later. I really kept myself together until some kind words from one of my best friends set off the water works. Many many mixed emotions about leaving.

The next morning my family + best friend Kate loaded up the van and shipped out to Cleveland. It was great to meet up with my mom's brother's family in Akron for a little comida Mexicana.

The Orr Family

On Thursday 8.18.11 I flew from Cleveland's Hopkins airport, leaving behind a teary family + a sister that kept saying "make us proud"--hopefully I will, Michelle. ;)

*Lesson of the Day*

Just because it fits in your suitcase doesn't mean you have to take it.

I've learned this one the hard way. Initially I wanted to write a posting about how to properly pack 2 suitcases for a year's worth of use..however after having one bag be 21 pounds over weight + the other 14 pounds over weight...clearly I'm not qualified to write such a recommendation. So instead I'll tell you what not to pack...

1) A hammock. (However my mom pulled that out of my bag before I left...I'm still devastated)

2) A wooden carving of a rhinoceros' head. I don't want a boring dorm room after all.

3) Five bottles of perfume..and one that leaks...

4) Your entire jewelry collection, including the hand painted wooden box you keep it in. 

5) Every item in your closet. Naturally every type of shoe imaginable. 

Perhaps had I left these in Westerville we wouldn't have paid $150 dollars in fees...$150 less to spend in the Parisian boutiques. :(

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES.

Damn you rhino head..

After an excruciatingly boring layover in JFK airport, we boarded the Singapore Airline's 747...only to sit on the runway for almost three hours. Rather than departing at 9:00pm, we took off at nearly midnight.

Slick runway and a lightening laden sky all cause for a delay.

I sincerely enjoy flying with Singapore Airlines as their service is top notch.

Aaaand they serve free cocktails. :D

Reasonably good airline food, and do note the bright pink Singapore Sling cocktail!

 Frankfurt is the midway stop between JFK and Singapore, so lucky me that this is my second time riding with them. (The first was last summer when I went to Stutensee, Germany for a short term exchange through the Rotary) And even luckier me that I get to return to the haus of my former host family---The Langs.

My host sister Salome and friend Sarah picked me up from the airport and we had lunch in Frankfurt--which I learned is the location of the German equivalent of Wall Street. It's apparent from the business people + skyscrapers that this is surely a professional city.

Everyone always complains about the terrible jet lag when traveling internationally...however I believe I have uncovered the fountain of wonder..the secret to not falling under the spell of jet lag.......

PARTYING.

Maybe it's the loud music, happy hour cocktails, attractive men, or good company...or perhaps a combination of all of these that help to immerse yourself into the German timezone (and lifestyle for that matter). 

And I have big news.

I'm in love. 

With the German language.

I know what you're thinking.."But isn't that a little rushed? Leah, you hardly know what you're talking about! It's so harsh and ugly."

Nope. I love it and it loves me. I said probably my most difficult sentence to date today.

Mein kleiner bruder ist nichts so klein.

My little brother is not so little.

Not bad for an American that's never taken a formal German class.

It's going to be difficult starting French when I know my true love is just across the boarder and a short train ride away.

Greetings from Germany! Friedbert (with Lola the dog), me, Salome, Silas, and Martina

Tomorrow I take the Deutsche Bahn to visit an old friend in Pisek, Czech Republic. I'm really looking forward to seeing a new country and capital city--Prague.

Tschüß!

Leah

A fleeting thought--

Blogging is...strange, to say the least.

In this moment it feels like those times when you're surrounded by company, engaging in some form of conversation + you're on the edge of your seat waiting to share your thoughts. You start to speak up--only to be talked over by a friend's words. Looking around the room you hope to lock eyes; you hope to see the light of recognition that someone must be listening. But apparently not.

I am not sure if anyone will read my day-to-day musings. 

  

+ I suppose that's alright with me. At the very least I can use this at a diary or journal of my year spent abroad.

I chose to wallpaper the background with a flock of birds in flight. More recently I have cultivated an interest in the conceptual meaning of birds. What they symbolize + the kind of hope they bring. Perhaps birds will become a thread throughout these postings--weaving these fragments into a greater cloth. 

So I leave you with one of my favorite bird related quotes from a great movie. I challenge you to name which film before taking a peek.

"I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are just too bright...and when they fly away, the part of you that knows its was a sin to lock them up does rejoice, but still the place you live is that much more drab and empty that they're gone."

Sixteen days until departure.

Tchao for now.

-Leah