Great Scot and Paris Encore!

I've just arrived from a whirlwind of events during the last two weeks. To say Scotland was amazing would be a complete understatement. It's fields are lush and green with cute little sheep grazing around. The air was crisp and despite the fact that the weather was a bit Schizo (which apparently is the norm) there were a few days of sunshine :-) We visited the Edinburgh and Stirling Castle which was a magnificent structure in itself but inside was something to marvel at. I felt like i was part of the Medieval era and i could almost picture women coming out in full on corset gowns and the roman army fighting for their country. I also love the accents. I went as a chaperon so i was with 44 french teens. I actually think that made the experience better because i got to see how some of my students responded to being in different surroundings. Plus they had to use their English and they all did a really good job with that. What i loved most about Scotland was the serenity. I felt compeletly at ease from the very beginning of the trip. There is something about the country that makes you immediately realize that an immense history took place there. I'm learning there are some things that you see in reality that you could never truly feel if you were reading them out of a History book. I did the whole touristy thing and got a Edinburgh, Scotland purple hoodie :-) To sum it up, it was truly an enriching experience and i hope that i get to visit Scotland again someday.

After Scotland i went to Paris again but this time to be reunited with my sister Ami. To be honest, even though this was my 4th time in Paris i felt as though it were my first.i think Paris may be my favorite city in Europe. Quel Surprise. We went to all the usual tourists attractions: Le Louvre, Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower and although at times the weather didn't seem to cooperate with us, we had a very splendid time. I also went to a few places that i hadn't been to before like the Musee D'Orsay, which was absolutely breathtaking. The art was truly something to marvel at. It helped that we were with a wonderful group of people who i would like to personally thank for showing us such a good time. It would not have been the same without them. She left with the same impression we all leave with: "J'adore Paris" (i mean really who doesn't?) I miss her tons but showing her around in my somewhat adopted surroundings was a privilege that i'm thankful for.

In 5 days i will be leaving back to the states. 5 days. That's all i have left of my grand French adventure. It's hard to believe because i really do remember the day i received my acceptance email as if it were yesterday. I imagined so many things then that would happen when i finally got here and some of those thoughts come to fruition and others didn't but all in all this experience has exceeded my exceptions. There were times when i was truly frustrated, lost, and insecure as well as times when i laughed, found my way, and showed them how is done in America. Never in my wildest dreams did i think i would get to see all the places and meet all the people that i have met so far. This experience has given me a zeal for travel and reason to further dive into the realm of international relations. I went to be an intricate part of this international world not a passer-by. I thank Allah for all the fortunate opportunities i have had. It's been such a great ride and although i am sad that it's coming to an end I'm ready to go back and dive into what i remember is "normal" to me.

Bisous,
HK

Refelections After 7 Months

So here it is. 7 months later. What can i say, i did expect it to come by fast but not this fast. I wish i could sum up my experiences and my journey here in a cute little blog post but honestly i can't. I have constant remainders everyday of how my life has changed and how I've progressed in many ways. I really feel like i came into adulthood here and it's strange saying that as a 25 year old but the truth is i found myself in a way. All the things i gripped about in the beginning are exactly what have enriched my experience. I lived in a small town, i taught high-schoolers, i struggled with a language barrier and i didn't see my family/friends for 7 months and i made it. Now it's time for me to head back. I'm totally ready because i know that sometimes I'm too American for my own good but like the saying goes "home is where the heart is". I'm leaving with a new sense of patriotism and a new appreciation for culture.

What i'm looking forward to: Speaking American english, eating at my favorite places (Pei Wei, P.F. Chang's, Chuy's, Chipotle, Hidau, Chik-Fil-A... i suppose you get the point now), relaxing with my friends, having quality time with my family, smothering my nephew with love :-), Driving, having things organized and run on time. Everything....

Things I'm going to miss: 6 weeks paid vacation, speaking French constantly, being a foreigner, teaching my students, eating ANY dessert in France (they are seriously top-notch in this department), being in Paris in 3 hours by Train, Paris itself, all the Fashion and arts, the Eiffel Tower, the southern hospitality, everything......

I'm not saying "Adieu" just yet, I'm off to Scotland in about a week, after that my sister Ami is coming to see me and I'm uber excited :-) after about a week in Paris i will return to the south and after that i have just one more week till I'm off to the United States of America. Life is Grand.

Bisous,
HK

Alice has Wonderland, I have France.....

I'm sitting in a booth of a restuarant conveniently located downstairs of the hostel I'm currently lodging at. I'm back in Paris but this time for one night only. Consider it my day long layover until i leave for Athens tomorrow. I am people watching and boy is it a sight to see. The art of people watching is simple. Be inconspicuous, subtle and relax. As i peer innocently through the window i see a woman gently pat a man on the shoulder passing by. She wants to know if he can open a jar for her. He politely obliges and after one try, then two, and finally three. he decides that he's just not strong enough. He waves goodbye and gathers his bruised ego to continue on his stroll. Next i see two little girls with bouncy braids at the end of which are numerous multi-colored beads. They have these long candy pole things and they are playing with a dog and shrieking loudly with delight. Next i see a man softly whispering nourishing words to his infant son as he paces up and down the street waiting for an unknown person. The mother of his son perhaps. Je ne sais pas. I think the most interesting thing i see is the amount of diversity that encompasses Paris. All types of people from all walks of life and different cultural backgrounds are walking past these glass panes giving me a little glimpse of their lives. I'm grateful this, this involuntary gift that each person who passes by has given me. I feel the electricity that keeps Paris alive and i want to capture it forever... I don't want to leave.

Breathing in the New Year

Yes i know it's been awhile but for good reason. I spent a good chunk of my break in Paris with my little sister Hawa. It was awesome. It did however, start off a bit rocky. The second day of her arrival Hawa got sick and although she was visibly ill she quite enjoyed her first visit to the French hospital. Yeah that's right folks I've been here a little over three months and I've never even seen a doctor and she's here all of a day and a half and goes to the hospital. When we arrived it was around 11 at night. The waiting room wasn't packed but it housed a few people suffering from the usual late night maladies. Aside from the dried blood spots on the floor it wasn't all that bad. After awhile some hefty looking doctor type comes in and calls our name. We inform him that Hawa cannot speak French so it may be necessary for me to accompany her but he assures us that he in fact speaks English. Apparently "yes i speak English" is code for "I'm going to find someone in the back who may or may not speak English while i continue to speak French". Altogether now: C'est La France! After a few minutes of my wait in the waiting room in comes the nurse who was the lucky candidate that husky doctor picked to speak English with Hawa. However her English was more like "it hurt here" and "maybe not good" or something similar to that :-/ Lucky for us it was "pas grave" (not serious) and she was sent home with a bundle of medicines and a new-found appreciation for universal health-care.

After all of the Hospital madness we finally got down to business and set off for some sight-seeing. It's funny how seasons make a place feel/look totally different. I'll be honest i hate the cold and avoid it like the plague but Paris in winter is like snowfall for children, You get completely enamored with it. I also happened to notice how the French appear even more French during winter. They pile on their peacoats and scarfs while they march through the cold with and air of sophistication and a touch of indifference. Is all so very interesting to see and that's why i was really curious to see how my sister would view Paris. Of course, like most, she fell in love with the city. It's hard not to when you've got Le Louvre and the Eiffel Tower surrounding you with their charming architecture but due to the cold it was really difficult to get really nice photos, which was a minus... then again that's not really Paris's fault.

I for one discovered something new about myself, that alas, i can speak French. I'm sure you're wondering, what have you been speaking this whole time.... i would call it a little mix of sign language, French, and a scoop of English. But now it's different, don't get excited I'm nowhere near fluent but i have a better grasp of the language than i did 3 months ago and what better way to test this theory than to become my sister's personal tour guide. I was able to master the metro system, ask for directions, order food for my sister and i, and politely decline (or maybe accept ;-) jk) the occasional cat-call. It was a reminder of how French my world has suddenly become and how well I'm (finally) adjusting. Hawa also got to practice her French being that she took some classes in high school and in college. I think she adapted quite well. Towards the end of our week in Paris we started thinking of New Year's eve plans. We had this huge elaborate idea planned but of course that vision didn't exactly happen. However, New Year's wasn't a complete disappointment. A friend who was heading to the Eiffel tower asked us to come along and of course we gave the most appropriate response of a resounding "Hell Yeah" and we were off. We left a bit late so we actually celebrated the new year in the midst of a huge traffic jam but as the car horns went off and i could see the skeletal outline of the Eiffer Tower in the distance, i realized there was no other place i would have rather been :-) We did eventually make it out of the car and took a walk near the Eiffel Tower and every person who passed greeted us with a "Bon Annee".

After spending a week in the North we were ready to venture down South to Bollene. As I've mentioned several times Bollene is no Paris but it's got it's charm. Hawa really loved it and it was covered with snow when she left but that made it a bit more quaint (albeit freezing but quaint nonetheless) Hawa had the great fortune (sarcasm) of attending my classes. I'd like to say that i'm a whiz when it comes to teaching but who am i kidding. None of the kids were very movitavated and to be frank, neither was i, we had just returned from a long break afterall. For the most part they were well behaved, except when a student asked for my number :-S Hawa was very useful in taking questions and helping me out. We took a few day trips to Avignon and Orange but i wanted Hawa to see what i feel the South is all about: Tranquility. Mission Accomplished. It was hard to see Hawa leave, i had so much fun with her..... the plan of the Konte takeover of France was almost complete..... oh well there's always the summer :-) Love you Hawa!

Another reason i haven't written in awhile is because i have recently moved. I now live in Orange, France with a French family :-). It's been a little over a week now and i love my new surroundings. It's really nice to have that sense of family and bonding again. Plus Orange is a bit bigger than Bollene and 3 other assistants live here including my good friend Jerome. I have so many good things to say about my move but I'll do so in my next post. Also in my next post I'll talk about my future in France.... ah yes the story continues... :-)

Channeling my Inner Fashionista

Salut Faithful Readers
not surprisingly i didn't exactly keep my promise of updated this blog weekly but at least it hasn't turned into a month :-S So picking up where i left off, i had an excellent time at the Fête des Lumières. Lyon is a magical place. it seems to be fashioned after Paris but it has it's own engaging charm. It helps to be around awesome people when you are setting out on an adventure and i truly was surrounded by great friends. We all piled up into what we call "The Tank" and drove a couple hours out to Lyon. Once there we tried to figure out exactly where the fete was..... easier said then done. Since everybody and their mom, dad, brother, and dog decided to come it was majorly crowded on every street corner. All 7 of us attempted to get on a light rail but quickly realized that that was going to be impossible. Therefore, we split up into two separate groups and and we were packed like sardines (literally) in this rail car. This was by far the most cramped i've ever felt in my entire life and let's just say i felt my waist being grabbed several times by unidentifiable passengers. I feel if you're going to feel me up I at least deserve dinner :-S After several minutes of following crowds and random maps we finally reached our destination: Hôtel De Ville and the light show was amazing :-) here's some pics if you don't believe me:
The cool thing about this festival is that it last about 5 days and each day there is a different light show and things get more and more elaborate. It's really something that can only be fully appreciated when you see it up close and personal. I'd like to give a special thanks to Jerome for driving everyone out there and dropping us off :-)


In other exciting news, I'm anxiously awaiting my sister's arrival which is only 10 days from now! Strangely enough i just can't wait for her to see me in my environment because in some crazy way i think I've kinda figure out my French life a bit. I'm not the distraught girl who stepped off the train station in from Paris 3 months ago. I'm a self assured, world traveling and (kind of) French speaking woman..... at least that's the impression she'll get ;-) Along with that comes the fact that i will be revisiting Paris once again :-) My heart has ached for it ever since i left it that faithful day in September. So all of this has got me thinking. I need to let loose my inner Fashionista, After all it is the city of lights. If you've ever been to Paris you know exactly what I'm talking about... you know those gorgeous girls (and guys for that matter), with all the right clothes and looks. It's almost as if the girls in those glamor magazines have left the pages to live in Paris. The girls in Paris remind me of the Kanye West song "Flashing Lights" especially these lines:

"She don't believe in shootin' stars,
but she believe in shoes & cars
Wood floors in the new apartment,
couture from the store's department"

Believe me, I'm not saying I'm going to try a become one of these chain smoking, anorexic, material obsessed girls De Paris but it wouldn't hurt to let some of that Sophisticated fashion rub off on me. For example below is an outfit I've been eyeing at H & M and it's actually under 100 Euros:

So this is what is to follow in the coming weeks: seeing Paris lit with Christmas lights/Decor, Shopping with my Sis, Eating authentic Crème Brûlée and Maybe this time I'll climb to the top of Eiffel Tower.....Paris I hope you're ready for me..... Again.

Bisous,
HK

I'm going to make it after all..... Hopefully ;)

So im in Bollene sitting on my hotel bed trying to get use to this Mary Tyler Moore moment i've got going on. To give you keen insight on the state of affairs of my life right now, here is a picture below
However i will say thus far Paris/France has been such an enriching experience. Something that stands out in my mind was actually part of an email sent by director of The Assitantship program. She wrote "a lot of you will be entering the real world for the first time and this world will be French" I honestly didn't fully grasp what she meant until now. From the signs in the Airport to the casual conversations on the street, all my senses are engaged in French. And that's ok with me :-) in fact Paris for me was like a person you meet for the first time but for whatever reason you feel like you've known them you're whole life. it's familiar yet grossly different. I'm still waiting for someone to pinch me.....Thankfully no one has.

So instead of going on a long lecture about my Paris experience i will just give short observations:

1.) The cars here are the size of the cars you find at the bottom of your cereal box. Cute... yes...efficient not so much. In this sense i totally adopt the American attitude of Bigger is Better. If i can't get two large suitcase and a carry on in a car without feeling like Gumby....Houston we have a problem.
2.) If you visit make sure you have your walking shoes on. Parisians do alot of walking and when i mean a lot i mean your feet are screaming at you by the end of the day wondering what they did to deserve this type of torture.
3.) However they're metro system is beyond awesome! you can ride any metro, bus, or train for as many times you want throughout the week for about 27 euros a week.
4.) Parisians tend to be thin. After much consideration I've narrowed it down to 3 reasons: a.) Their portion sizes are ridiculously smaller in comparison to the U.S. sizes (which i think is a great thing) but meals are much more expensive (which makes me cry a little inside) B.) They can't shake their cigarette addiction. I mean seriously i think the Surgeon general needs to have a talk with our French counterparts. C.) The walking as i detailed in observation #2.... i mean get a look at the stairs i had to climb
5.) France is truly the epicenter of the Arts, Fashion, and Architecture. but I'm sure you already knew this. However, hearing about it and seeing it are two different things. One of the friends that was showing me around goes to school in a building from the 18 century. It's decked out in pillars and marble and I'm thinking wow if i went to school somewhere like this maybe i would have paid more attention (ok who are we kidding LOL)..... i mean it beats some of those old U of H classrooms where it's damp and resembles the lair of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Below is a photo of inside the school:6.) Apparently the 10 years i spent in school learning French meant absolutely zilch.... in fact as soon as i return to the states i'm demanding that U of H give me all of my money back.... somehow i think this request will be denied. Who knows, maybe i'm just too American for my own good. Case in point: i'm opening the door to walk into a room and a little boy (about 8) is right behind me. I open the door for him and in his adorable voice he says "Merci" i then say "You're Welcome" and then he's staring at me like i'm crazy. Quickly i fumble and say "De rien" and he smiles. I guess you can't shake certain habits.... i guess i'm going to have to learn.

Of course i have more observations then 6 but i'm getting kind of tired and i'm ready to start my adventures in Bollene :-) will give you more then.... a toute a l'heure! oh and for the record i think the most important question i had to ask myself was "is France everything you dreamed it would be?" and the Answer is "yes.... that and more" :-)


bisous,
Hali

Oh My Paris!

September 22, 2009

I’m writing this blog on the plane in hopes of posting it as soon as I arrive in Paris. Here is where my story will begin: I half expected my first journey to France to be quite uneventful but I keep forgetting that Halima K. always has to have a little twist in her adventures. Let me just give you a fun little recap on the start of my French adventure: I wake up this morning full of nerves. Obviously I didn’t get a good night’s rest but I really wasn’t expecting that. The truth is that last week’s trip to Albuquerque made leaving the U.S. even harder. I forget the majestic beauty of the Sandia Mountains, or the crisp fresh air free of humidity, and most importantly the neighborhood that shaped me from drooly toddler to obnoxious adolescent. It’s amazing how you carry pieces of the places that have impacted you in your heart and like a sudden whiff of a pungent smell it all comes flooding back to you. I missed Albuquerque and I didn’t realize how much until I went back home. Moreover I missed my family. I took the lectures from my parents about French boys and nighttime clubbing with much more ease because I knew I’d even miss this. I laughed with my sisters and played a little rock band with my little brother. I visited my older brother’s new home and said a warm “Hi” to my niece or nephew in my sister-in-law’s tummy. When it was all said and done I cried and my family cried and they wished me Bon Voyage. Then it was off to Houston for more sadness. All my H-town peeps came over and we just talked, laughed, and waited until it was time to say goodbye…… Again.

When we arrive at the airport I held my breath as they weigh my luggage. I should add that my sister convinced me to bring 2 large suitcases, one small carry on, my backpack, a heavy jacket and my computer. In the end it all worked out because my luggage was (thankfully) more or less 50lbs. When it was time to say the final goodbye there were more tears from my sister and two best friends. I then made the lonely trek to my terminal. As soon as I got there I plopped myself on a seat and tried to relax by listening to my Ipod. Only problem was I started crying every 5 minutes. It didn’t matter what song it was, one minute The Fray next minute T.I. and I’m just balling. I think it’s pretty sad when your listening to hip hop and your eyes are streaming with tears. Needless to say I think people thought I was having a nervous breakdown and in all fairness maybe I was…. But don’t worry things got better. I should mention that before I actually took my seat I noticed a tall cute lanky kid (19ish) wearing a blue shirt. It strange because I noticed that I based my judgments of people on their vibes or energy. I can tell if I’m going to like/dislike you in 5 minutes. It just so happened that for whatever reason i was getting a good vibe from blue shirt boy. So as I’m trying to compose myself I noticed that my “on time” flight to my layover in Washington D.C. is suddenly not so “on time”. Matter of fact instead of leaving at 11:55am it is now leaving at 12:45pm….. this made me have about a 10 minute window to catch my flight. So I’m fuming at this point and decided to have a little talk with the “not to be bothered” clerk. As I’m in line I noticed blue shirt boy. Suddenly he’s asking about the flight and what time it’s to be departing and that’s when I notice his not so subtle French accent. And Bien Sur (of Course) I ask him if he’s flying to Paris and yes he is. After a tiny bit of small talk I find out that cute French blue shirt boy has a name. Bruno.

I talk to the clerk and there is one seat left for a flight from Chicago and another seat for a flight having a layover in Frankfurt. I, completely dreading the thought of an International layover, quickly scoop up the Chicago flight and make my way over to the adjacent terminal. Moments later Bruno is next to me and apparently there was one more seat left after mine and he’s assigned the seat next to me. We sit and talk throughout the flight and I find out that Bruno was doing an exchange program and living with a host family in New Orleans. He had to return home after learning that his mother was ill. He also gave me the 411 on things to watch out for (thieves and rude people) and cool things to be interested in (soccer and the obvious tourist sites to visit) On the flight to Paris we got split up but I do appreciate Bruno and his openness. It really put me at ease :-)

So now I’m here and all I can say is Paris is amazing and all so new to me. I feel like someone who is seeing things for the first time….. I’ll report more later….


Bious,
Halima