There's S#!% Everywhere!

Note: I preface the profane name of this post with reason.

Another day in the books in this horrible, awful, ugly place I'm currently calling home... I know, my life is tough. I am thankful to say that each day has got better and better the more acclimated I've become. Today was a success for several reasons. A) I FINALLY slept through the night for the first time since I've been here! B) I was able to navigate on the bus, metro, and tram all by myself (okay, Leslie helped me a little on the ride back). C) I found a lost little dog and called the owner who came storming down the street to take Chanel back (okay, 10 year old Sam had to do all the talking on the phone). D) 2 year old Josh now knows my name without help and can scream it from anywhere in the house (at a beautifully high pitch)! Those all count as "successes," right?

One of the best parts of being an au pair is daycare. No, did I just say that outloud? All kidding aside, Josh is a cutie but it is funny to think I'm the family's au pair yet their kid is in daycare. What I meant to say in regards to my favorite part is the fact that I have all day to do whatever I please. Today was the first day I decided to venture out on my own... I'm growing up! After flipping through my tourist Paris guidebook (thank you Yenjean!) in hopes of choosing a place I wanted to check out today, I ended up more overwhelmed by all the possibilities than actually finding a destination. I had to peel myself away from the book and as I tend to do, decided to just wing it. After a bus ride and metro train, I was spat out smack dab in the middle of Place de la Concorde (pictured below) where I heard 3 Americans speaking English. I immediately was so excited to hear something I could understand I went up and made small talk... they're here on vacation but turns out they're from Los Angeles and 2 had just moved up to the Bay Area; one in Menlo and the other in Lafayette! Talk about small world! They took a picture of me and then went on their merry way. I preceded toward the Arc de Triomphe in, needless to say, complete awe of the beautiful surroundings. Walking the streets of Paris is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Extravagant, enchanting, and extraordinary are just a few words that come to mind when thinking about what it's like... or more like trying to be clever using all words that start with the same letter (all true nonetheless). Majestic, baffling, and carefree are few others I was considering... Ejestic?

As soon as I made it to the Arc de Triomphe (which by the way takes a solid 25 minutes on foot... on a map it looks like it's right next to the Concorde!) (other side note- Parisians walk EVERYWHERE. Possible reason they're all so skinny even when eating chocolate at every meal) I got a text from Leslie. She told me she was meeting up with a friend visiting from London for the weekend and asked me to join. Thanks to my handy dandy Blackberry map, I navigated directly back from where I started and ended up at a famous Parisian cafe, Angelina. Leslie informed me their infamous hot chocolate was like 10 melted Godiva chocolate bars melted in a cup... YUP. Delish! The 3 of us each had a cup and split several pastries. Divine would be an understatement. The food here is truly unlike anything I've ever tasted before. Before we knew it 2 hours had past and it was time to head back in time to pick the kids up from school.

My afternoons consist of getting Sam from his school at 4:30 (yes, school goes much later here) then head over just a few blocks to get Josh from day care. No one at the day care center speaks English so we've set up a system of using a journal for them and Thom and Sadia to communicate back and fourth. Hopefully in a few months time I can start to understand some conversational French and ditch the journal. Depending on their moods (and the weather), we usually go to the nearby park that almost every kid goes to after school... Let them run around and tire out then take them home, I like their style.

On the (you guessed it) WALK home, which is about 15 minutes, uphill.. pushing a stroller.. a horrible smell crept up my nostril. Sam informed me that this area is exceptionally smelly due to all the dog poop. Yes, dog poop. I was SHOCKED to see how much dog do-do is on the sidewalks. Going on a jog is like a human game of minesweeper, constantly trying to avoid landing on a bomb. Apparently it's not their forte to pick up after their animals? Luckily this is the case more in the suburbs than in the actual city. Anyways, as Sam was trying to figure out how to describe this stench in English to me, he stuttered a bit and finally blurted out "there's shit everywhere!" I immediately started bursting into laughter. Once I quickly tried to compose myself, I asked if he knew that was a bad word in English. He said "well yeah, I hear my dad say it when he gets mad. And when I say it I get in trouble." After a nod in agreement and quick attempt to change the subject he chimed in, "sometimes I call my brother a shithead." God love him. I know you should never have favorites, but can you blame me?

Map of the Metro... all I know is whenever in doubt, Yellow Line/Line 1

Metro!

Place de la Concorde :) 

Rue Royale and the Hotel de Crillon

Cute Fruit and Crepe stand on the walking path

Path from the Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe

Cute corner cafe and apartment building

The Lafayette Statue which reads: "Erected by the school children of the United States in grateful memory of Lafayette Statement Soldier Patriot"

One of my most favorite pics I've taken

Pastries @ Angelina

nom.nom.

Leslie with her hot chocolate and Paris-New York pastry!

Cheeeese

Sam is all about taking pictures on my Blackberry- this is in the area where he goes to school 

SAM!! It's scrub Friday... normally this child is dressed impeccably well 

Joshie... and the beloved stroller

Stud.

"Ball"

Sam told me his favorite hobby is climbing things... along with playing drums and break dancing (not kidding, he takes classes for the latter 2)

Part of the playground we go after school... run kids, run!

Wanting to be like his brother

Peek-a boo!

As I sit hear writing this blog and half listening to Diary of a Whimpy Kid (funny movie actually), I eagerly await the adventures and stories I'm sure to come this weekend. Thanks for all the continued love and support back home! Miss you all!

Cheers,

Aubree