I'm a "3"

I was thinking during my walk home from the metro today what I wanted to share with you, and just make myself remember. The walk from Porte d’Orleans station to Cite U is not really long, about 8 minutes, but I was in such a trance that I am surprised I didn’t walk into a lamp-post or fall on the edge of the road. Now that I think of it, I don't even remember anything about it, just the ideas I was highlighting in my head that I wanted to touch on in this post.

There were not many cars on the usually busy Boulevard Jourdan (or at least that’s how I remember it), and the lighting this evening is so perfect, so perfect, exactly the type of light I enjoy so much. Not the Summer in-you-face-kill-me-hard light that makes extreme contrast and lots of shadows, that light I hate; but the lighting of Fall and Winter that makes everything look calm around 5 to8ish, with the colors turned down. Actually it's more of a Fall light and not Winter, because things look pastel rather than grayish dull.

After getting my apartment (YES, YOU JUST READ THAT) and walking back to school I stopped by the Luxembourg gardens, and it was the same light. What made it even better was that today I had decided to wear again my meet-the-landlords blazer risking the fact that I would freeze to death and the day turned out to be rather warm. Overall soothing effect, it was really beautiful and it felt so good.

I just felt so good because I was extremely relaxed. I cried a lot like I hadn’t in years this morning because I was really desperate. I felt like I had done truly everything that I could, and luck just was not on my side. Extreme impotence, which increasingly during the past few days specially was driving me crazy. I didn’t want to talk to anyone or entertain myself in any way, I just wanted to figure out what the fuck was gonna happen to me tomorrow. I was also like in a trance, but a different kind, a big denial, I didn’t want to accept I might not get an apartment because that would represent such a big failure to myself. And not only that, cause that I can take and stop feeling sorry about stupid things, but that I was so physically exhausted of waking up early to check apartment listing, running up and down metro lines to make visits in time, trying to speak in French…

I was mentally exhausted because of the effort it took me just to write a text to a person in French, and feeling like shit when people hung up on me, or of thinking, thinking and thinking about different possibilities, strategies making calculation: can I afford this? Should I try to go back to trying to find a place to share? Did I check already this other internet site? Maybe I should try to go to another agency… If I get a place that I can move into until October 10^th, should I ask Livia if I can crash at her place or should I ask Sofie that also has a couch?

I’m so sure I’m going to laugh at this so hard at one point, maybe even tomorrow, and though I understand these things can be so banal they were really crashing my spirit. I just let this whole thing take control over me. The thing is, I really feel like my room is essential to everything else in my life. I know this might be an over-statement, but my room is so important to me, it’s my privacy, it’s whatever I want. I really, really, don’t even want to try to understand what it must feel to be REALLY homeless, I don’t even dare to imagine what it must feel like for the people in the streets. Sam wrote me on Facebook this other day: “You’re not bohemian enough”. At the time I wrote on his wall:

But now I really think his comment his comment is extremely funny, specially cause we are taking a class on Avant-Garde artists together (my respect for you, Sam, I wanna be this witty when I grow up).

This whole housing issue has also made me question so much the things that I need and I don’t. First, for the obvious reason that it is not very convenient to be moving in and out when you are carrying more than 7O kilos of luggage plus shit you have accumulated in one month around. Was is this all about?! How can I possibly own this amount of things, specially when I did an “extremely thorough selection” first when I moved out of Vancouver, and yet a second time when I left Costa Rica… seriously! Haha it’s insane, I have got to stop.

Then when looking at all the listings, which look something like this:

“5eme/2 pieces/3e sans/tv cable/dvd/kitch/canape lit/pas de APL”

CODE

5eme: Fifth arrondisement (city center divided in 20, I have talked a little about how you’re judged based on your postal code)

2 pieces: Tricky, two “pieces” means one bedroom plus another area (usually tiny kitchenette and bathroom, yes, things together)

3e sans: Third floor (etage) sans elevator

Canape-lit: Sofa bed

APL: government subsidy landlords don’t want to sign up for because of the bureaucracy pain plus tax increase

Others: You can figure it out.

So when looking at all the possible combinations of this feature that appeared in my screen I was like: “OK, this costs this, BUT it has a TV! Score!” and then “Ok this is such a good price, I really don’t need a sofa bed anyways… I just need a bed”, and then “Oh sweet! Yeah I’ll pay this for that one cause it has a sofa bed so its great, I can have people sleep over and receive visits from friends abroad!! Yeaa…”

You see where I’m going? This is nothing new but this ability to invent needs and desires really impresses me. I don’t even know what I want, but I’ll think I need it when I have it. Or I don’t wanted until the possibility appears and then I want it so bad I don’t understand how I couldn’t have wanted it in the first place, like a mezzanine (which by the way, fuck yea, I have one!!!!).

I wanted it so badddddddddd… just kidding (but I really have one I’ll post a picture later).

Yeah I could just go on and on about this but you guys all know what I’m talking about: needs, wants, desires and the ontological question. I’m gonna wrap things up because I can’t wait to call my family right now and tell them I got a place. I still feel like crying a little bit but that’s just because being tired has really messed up my emotional state, I would say they are tears of joy to end this post up with a corny line!

Housewarming in Bastille

So after the housing fail, I actually got to have some fun. A couple of friends who live together had their housewarming, they live in an amazing flat right by Bastille. Imagine the scene: about 18 people in a 20 square meter area. Space was limited, fun and drinks were not (Tacky line, might sell it to an advertising firm).


Meet the hosts, Signe from Denmark:



and Hjalte:



Their place is sweet and they both made this awesome macarons Bridgette and I ate almost entirely on our own:




And then meet Bridgette (or the parts of her body I was able to capture):




And Ms. Sofie with our new french friend Chloé:





And then some (proud of the dress I thrifted in Le Marais)...




That's Rasmus in the back by the way, we have 3 classes together! I think I'm diverting the attention from him though.






Ciao! Yes, I still don't have an apartment, the guy from the place I would see on Monday just sent me a "the apartment has been rented" fuck message but I don't wanna think about it so I'll just keep editing pictures and have dreams of beds and IKEAS and beautiful stuff like that.

The Iliad

Such a strange day yesterday. There was a lot of pressure because I felt like it was the last day I could freak out but not FREAK OUT about having to move out on Wednesday, not Thursday as I thought before... Something had to work out.

I got up as usual, 830ish to check the new apartment postings (pap.fr, leboncoin.fr, Craigslist, Appartager, Sciences Po, real state agencies...) and made my daily addition to The List, the sacred paper I carry around that has all the listings and phone numbers.

I had an appointment to see this place on the 14th, Denfert Rochereau at 10am. Did that, and though the area was cool, the building was a dump. The room, or dungeon I should say was in the basement, dark with a tiny window in the corner, and pipes all over the walls that looked like they hadn't been cleaned since the place was built. I politely said merci beaucoup but I'll find closer to my school, because it's the only excuse I can say in French and moved along.

There was another place announced that had an open visit at 11am, so I headed directly there. In the heart of Saint Germain, in rue de Seine, very close to the river and all the fancy stores in the cute little streets around the area. Most people would die for that location, but I always thought I'm gonna be around Saint Germain all day, everyday, surrounded by Saint Germanites and Science Poers and that may be enough. Living somewhere else would be nice, but whatever I don't have many standards these days. Plus its not like this is even an alternative cause I get there and there are about 15 other students and young professionals in line. After seeing the tiny room which the only thing that provides you is the "06" postal code status (for 6th arrondisement), I was getting a little preoccupied with my prospects for the day... A t least I made a friend in the line, a French guy studying at the architecture school, and he was really nice and told me everything I was doing wrong while trying to look for an apartment. Something was essential: NEVER TELL THEM YOU'RE STAYING FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.

Oh, how naive of me! The little Costa Rican girl was being so stupid that she was introducing herself as an "exchange" student rather than a "masters" student, and also saying (when asked) that I needed an apartment until June, instead of saying my masters program lasts two years. That was quite enlightening moment, I thought of all the possibilities I had lost because of this detail, not lying, like the amazinf perfect place I saw in Le Marais yesterday (got kicked out of the visit as soon as I said "huit mois"). At least now I understood something important...Thank you, Michel, you may have just saved my ass! I'll tell you why in a second. I'll continue my story.

So that was it, nothing would work, not even my "business look" makeup, responsible and reliable charmant girl smile, Sciences Po folder... not even the blazer, unless I lied and said I would stay here for two years. Once the bail is signed, you're in, and if you just let them know 3 months in advance French law protects you. But still, I felt so bad lying when they specifically ask you, but whatever, the way I see this situation they can just put an ad one day and have someone move in the next. I don't feel bad for you anymore Mister, I'm gonna make up such a good lie you're gonna love me, and then when I move out (or maybe everything couple of weeks while I still live there under contract), I'm gonna write a fake offer on all the possible lodging websites so you get 4356637475 calls a minute and you go crazy!! Just to take revenge on the Parisian housing system. Sorry, future landlord. Oh wait, I wasn't sorry... Then no sorry, future landlord, you deserve it, you're getting served ha!

Ok so after that piece of advise, my day went on. I had seen another open visit on a place in the 10th. I got out of the metro station and was harassed by some random dudes who wanted me to buy Eiffel Tower key chains. What the fuck guys, we're not even close to the tower here... Not a good first impression. After a couple of loud, filthy, jam-packed blocks, and some more harassers later, I arrived at the door. There were some people in line and a girl told me the landlord had just been out, said 50 people had already seen the place, and that if we wanted we could come back at 3:30 (it was around 1:00) because she was tired. Great, I just left because I was just not feeling the vibe of the place as to live on my own there and return home alone in the night.

Ok I was out of visits. I did some more calls, but as usual the numbers didn't reply and I left messages in all of them. Bad thing is for most I had already done that and I had said "Hello, I would like to know if the appt is still available, I'm a Sciences Po exchange student, looking for a place from October to June and I'm very interested in your appt. Don't hesistate to call me, my number is XXXXX". I know this line by hear, I think I even hear it in the radio in my dreams. I called this crazy guy that advertised a room on Craigslist, please take a look at it:

Welcome to Bohemia, Earthlings!

You've heard about it, you've read about it and now you can experience it! The question is, are you ready for it? Are you tired of those well-kept lawns in Massachusetts? Is California just way over the top for you? Have you had it with the efficiency of those German trains? Is the punctuality of the Japanese just driving you batty? Is that smiling old English woman who sells you your muffins in the morning about to make you puke? Are the wide open spaces of Australia starting to feel a bit boring? Is Ireland just a wee bit too small? And how about the engineering of the Swedes? Are you sick of sterile? Have you just about fucking had it? Are you ready for a bit of, well, bohemia?

Are you a law student? Did you study economics? Math? Do you like order and everything to be, uh, well, "tidy?" Then take your mouse and click that little button on the top left of your screen that will take you back to the main page of Craigslist. This ad is not for you. Stay in London or New York or if you absolutely MUST come to Paris then please find something in a double-digit arrondissement like the 16th or the 15th, that would be more your speed.

Available 1 October 2010, but only to the right earthling. No uptight New Yorkers or Mid-West whiners. New Englanders better watch out!

Come and check it out, baby, and Welcome to Bohemia!

HAHAHA!! Yes this guy Shane, quite a character. Exactly what I imagined when I read that. He told me the two rooms had just been rented, but that the girls hadn't given him the deposit, so that I should call tomorrow. He thought it was really cool I was Costa Rican (must've though I could be an exotic addition to his wacko entourage) and also offered me another important piece of advise: "Listen sweetheart if you're trying to find a place in Paris, just go to you bank and get a lot of cash out. The moment you see something slightly like what you want, just give them the money and tie it up. No tomorrows or later, here and now!"

Thanks, Shane, all advise appreciated. Maybe, if the thing (I'm getting there) doesn't work, I'll give you a call. So then I had nothing left, I went to an agency I had payed a small fee to get access to their database and they gave me the offers posted today. 99% outside Paris in the suburbs and the another couple that I had already called and the owners had told me they were already rented. I was so pissed I wanted to scream "Fuck you, you don't even know when the apartments you have are rented, you're the worst fucking agency in the world!!!" But I just left, and sat in the park in front and wanted to cry.

There was an antique sale going on in the park, and I decided shopping might lift my spirits. I saw an amaaazing coat, Penny Lane from Almost Famous (2000), but it was E120 euros and then I though maybe shopping was not the answer to my problems. So I just sat there, and then I realized it was Fall already. It was windy and cool, and everyone was wearing jackets and scarfs. I love Fall, and I'm glad summer is over. Fall is so much more relaxed, less arrogant, just a weird little transition until Winter hits hard. I can't be depressed, I have everything and I can crash with someone until I find a place... The I look at the homeless guy in the corner, and I just felt little a stupid little rich girl. Must go on, and leave this behind. Or must go eat something cause between metro stations and visits I forgot food existed, I thought.

So I went into a supermarket to get a yogurt, salad, cheese and a 2 euro bottle of wine when my phone rings... it's a landlord and I'm fucking paying!! I was able to think in the moment and say "Can I call you in 5 minutes?". And so I did, and turns out he was the guy from this amazing 21 square meter apartment in the 5th, around the Jardin du Luxembourg. SCORE! Except he wants me to see the place on Wednesday afternoon, the day I have to move out. I tried fixing a meeting before but he's out of town. Ok at least one possibility!!

But I felt like I had to be more proactive, otherwise this place would slip away, and by this time it was already 4pm. So I made a panic call to Camille <3.

And then... I had another moment of enlightenment! An even more enlightened one!

I had called this place yesterday that was just perfect. I t was just amazing and I had seen pictures and it was beautiful, but the guy said he needed one year minimum to sign a contrac. So I asked Camille for her to call, and to tell the guy she was calling for a friend blabla... Of course I would she would not mention it was for the same girl that had already called, I was a diffeetn person: Milena Salazar the very responsible Master student who would stay in Paris for two years. The guy was skeptical and asked if I had called before and of course we said no... He seemed to let it go and said I can come see the place Monday! I feel so sneaky...

But a gurl gotta do what a gurl gotta do.

I hope I can write in big letters Monday night that I got it. Please send me the good vibes :)

Saturday Morning Video

HAHA this people are awesome, just wanted to share this video. I've doing nothing else than calling landlords and visiting places and feeling stupid that I can't understand the addresses they give me so this was a nice break... I can feel it! I'll get a place today!!... Or tomorrow.

Photographs

I signed up for Photography as an arts elective (Photographie Avancé, bitch pleaaase). It's great. At the beginning I felt extremely intimidated because the class is completely in French, so the only time I opened my mouth was when we had to introduce ourselves. I had been freaking out about that moment for my 4 hour break and practiced what I was going to say 40 times in my mind. Then when it was my turn I just said it very casually with my best accent on, trying to pass unnoticed ("pasar desapercibida", I just realized I don't know the equivalent of that awesome little phrase in English... Sweet, the fact that I went for this phrase means I'm still thinking in Spanish).

Bad thing about doing that is that then people will think you actually speak French and then talk to you and all you hear is KSADHFJDKBGGGGHHHHHGHHHHHERFSRGFJJJJ and then I just stand there with my eyes about to pop out and smile and say, "Pardon?". Then they go for it again, I smile again, and then my mask is out, I just have to go for Enlgish again. But honestly, I'm trying, I even called this girl who put up an ad on a notice board saying she needed help with Spanish. Now we're meeting twice a week and we talk in Spanish and then she helps me with French. How proactive of me!

Ok so, aside from the language barriers, the class is great. I'm glad I signed up for advanced and not "debutants" because begginners is extremely technical, stuff I did with Barry (again, Iri and Chris, BARRY LOVE!). And this "avancé" is more analytical, we have a presentation of a different contemporary photographer each class, done by a student, and then the prof who is also a photographer talks about this person's work and how it is relevant to the discipline nowadays. I stopped feeling intimidated with the class when I realized I was familiar with lots of the artists we would study, and plus the first class was on Jeff Wall, a very well known Vancouver photographer! I raised my hand and proudly said he was a Vancouverite, did his Bachelor's in UBC and was a friend of none other than our beloved Barry (once more, BARRY LOVE!). The prof was impressed, now I am the teacher's pet, hellzyea.

The prof is really cool too. I went and talked to him after class and explained that if I wasn't participating enough in the discussions it wasn't because I was not interest, but because I had difficulty expressing myself in French. He was very nice and understanding, and let me choose the date I wanted for my presentation so I could have enough time to prepare it in French. He also told me had grew up in Guatemala! So we talked in Spanish and now we're BFF's basically. i decided to do my presentation on Cindy Sherman (click me), I'll write some more about her later, I'm on my research period right now, on the few spare time I have between freaking out about readings I haven't done for classes and looking for an apartment.

So the point being, photography is not intimidating anymore, it's awesome! Classes are keeping me sane in this city. I've only had two classes of each subject (= two weeks of school) but there are a couple which are just amazing: Photo, The Age of the Avant Garde in Paris and the one on the Chilean Dictatorship (we're gonna have a major Chilean singer, Angel Parra, in class next week). The others, IR Theory and International Development are a little meh.

Now wrapping this thing up and going back to what I ended to write here in the first place (got a little carried on, as usual), I have to bring some pictures I've taken to the class next week. I spent hours checking all the pictures I had on my computer, selecting a few, editing others, etc. and I realized I had such beautiful memories in my pictures. I also browsed through lots of black and white prints I had developed last year and chose a few I'm going to take to the class. I think my choices reflect a little bias towards the content of the photos rather than the actual quality of the prints, because I chose mostly portraits of my friends. Oh how I miss you! I'm os happy this pictures exist, and that I brought them here with me. Just wantd to share a few of my favorite portraits:


COLOR DIGITALS

Chris Angel Mindfreak

Clarita

Miss K

Ma <3>

y la Monguis

BLACK&WHITE FILMS

Dan the Blind Man

Favorite Project Model!

...and who else than my muse! haha

I have so many more, it's hard to make a selection of my favorite photos, but these are definitely on the list!

Big kiss to you all, good night.

Homeless

Very homeless, in 5 days I have to move out and I don't have an apartment. It's making me so very anxious this thing I think I already hate Paris a little bit.. oh yeah, and the girl I was going to share a flat with just got a studio this morning, fml! I can't write anything else because for to days I've existed just being a house-hunter zombie, and those French landlords are so andry and rude, it's awful! I'll make a happy post once I know I won't have to move into someone's couch (everyone's studios by the way, are the size of my Fairview room, bathroom and mini kitchen included... most depressing thing ever!)

No need to comment on this, I just feel like bitching about life right now.

NEON INDIAN

Oh, hey there.


Went to my first concert (and skipped my first class... the first day of classes) on Monday, rebel.

The chosen one: Neon Indian.
Place: Small bar in the 19th arrondisement in the middle of nowhere.
Mission: Get there early to have some drinks by a canal nearby and then head to the venue ~9pm

And so we did.. Sam and I got there really early, went to a corner store and got two 500ml bacons (http://www.baconorbeercan.com/) each plus a pack of cheap cookies.

Honestly that "dinner" is like a microcosm of what my food universe is right now: nothing nutritious, nothing fresh, it's awful.. And still I've lost so much weight in an unhealthy way just cause I don't eat! I'm either doing other stuff and always say "I'll have lunch when I finish this" or I'm trying to find someplace nice and affordable but all I think is "no sista you ain't gettin 6 euros from me for that piece of old baguette with butter". Then I give up, come back home and have a yogurt or something.

Ok well I was talking about the concert, the beer and the cookies. We followed the plan and went on with our mission. The place got full in a second and the environment was awesome.. both Sam and I felt a little like we were in Vancouver minus the fact that people were speaking French. Everyone was so into the concert, that the tiny venue soon turned into a hot box and we all got high. Ha no, I'm kidding, it turned into a sauna and we all got wet. Like veeeeery grossly wet, but who cares it was so much fun! Then we got sick the next and it wasn't that fun anymore. But hey, again, look how fun it was (before I knew I would get wet and sick) in inverse order to make it more trippy:




On our way back to Cite U (Chatelet, huge metro station that looks like an airport and is very annoying!)




Getting it ON!


This is the kind of pictures you get when they're playing songs that only say "should've taken acid with you", etc.
The hot girl

This is for Cem <3 style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzddwCug6myO81SotDqM-BacJ6DA-t7RQklUwEVmahUGOw0pnDOYVMMMUXFeBZogSRPdtWSkRuBjqKUpGv7JsRbIU1SqvkHZRG-qhX1EPxMgRd96IjRyzmwiThYYBRKQcCWQ8bcLcZow/s200/DSC_0867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517655095470923890" border="0">
This is for me



I still have a little obsession with bathrooms, I found the urinal pictures I had taken for my series today!



Pre-drinking at the canal




By the way I officially invite you all to my wedding with the drummer, we're engaged and we're very much in love. Sam is marrying the hot girl on the keyboard. The band was extremely nice, they were so thrilled we had seen them in Sasquatch and Vancouver.

Good night!

Tomorrow: First Day of School

I couldn't find a picture of me on my first day of school, just of little Ms. Princess of Spain but I did find this: I think I beat the crap out of that blondie.




I finally start school tomorrow, after being here for almost a month! Insane, I arrived on the 20th, doesn't feel that long and it makes me feeling kind of like a failure in the language department.

But I'm not too worried about that cause I'm more concerned right now about the apartment department. I'm being kicked out of Cite U in... 19 days! Ok that's not so bad, I'm sure I'll be able to find a place but it's just that everyone here is so obsessed with apartment hunting that I almost feel like I have to as well.

I arranged some visits, and also helped some friends from the Welcome Program look at flats this weekend. Basically we looked at ridiculous 650 Euro, 10 square meter rooms (again, freaking center for ants), then a place right next to a creepy cemetery and finally a place in front of a smelly fish market. Yup, not so glamorous!

This city is so dense, that in the city center people are just piled up like sardines in apartment buildings, renting 10 square meter rooms with a kitchenette and toilet in that same area which just makes me claustrophobic to even think about it! But I know I'm a lucky girl and I know I'll find something (applying The Secret right there).... so it's ALLLLL GOOOOOD.

Now back to the real thing, class start. Tomorrow, 12pm: Violence, Memory and Amnesia in 20th Century Chile. Wait, what?! Yeah, I didn't even know I had registered for this class until yesterday! Haha, because registration was a mess. Maybe its not the smartest thing to come to Paris to take a class on Latin American politics but whatever, I'm still interested in the issue, plus... there's nothing I can do (no add/drop policy in this school, they don't know nothin').

Then I have something more predictable: French Politics and Society of the Twentieth Century. Nice, reasonable, safe class. But tomorrow, oh yeah, tomorrow I have the best one: The Age of the Avant-Garde in Paris. Art History elective that I'm extremely excited about. It's just that in here I can almost only take boring comparative politics classes that I'm not too excited about, but the electives are amazing. For example, I'm taking Photography and YOGA for credit.... Hahaha!

*Don't worry Mom&Dad I'll graduate, eventually.

Yes, YOGA for credit, that's quite something. So I'm gonna go to bed early like the good old days and have nice dreams about getting on the school bus and making cute little friends...

Please Sciences Po don't crash my spirit or you're going down betch.

Lazy night

I'm having a lazy night tonight, and it's awesome.

I''m not doing anything. I mean, I'm doing lots of things, but none of the ones I should do so I feel like I'm being a rebel against myself, and again, it's awesome.

I finally have time tonight to just sit on my bed, listening to music (Vancouver bands because I'm missing it a little now), eat yogurt, and start a book that I've wanted to for so long but I was always doing something else. Well, actually I'm not starting the book write now because I'm writing this (duh) but, I have this feeling, I know it... I WILL START IT TONIGHT!

The book's called "The Idea of the University" and it's a photography study and essays by Vancouver photographer Ian Wallace. He was a prof at UBC in the 90s I think (Barry generation, Barry love! *wink to* Iri and Chris) but anyways, here's why I haven't been able to start. The first lines read:

"The concept of 'the idea of the university' is an abstraction. Its Hegelian/Platonic tone implies a universality of the university; that it is a value in itself and for all time."

Umm, yeah, I always find something else to do.

I found it in a really amazing store in Vancouver called McLeod's which, as a read somewhere, is the definition of an organized chaos. It's so amazing a full of interesting stuff, but sadly I heard from a friend that it closed? (Anyone in Vancouver knows?) That's very sad, and we still have McDonald's everywhere.

I'm just writing stuff about Vancouver because I've been seeing Vancouver everywhere today. Walk into a store and they're playing Tegan and Sara, overheard some people in the street saying "it's so nice out, aye?", and then while looking at a notice board at school I started talking to this girl which ended up being from UBC.

She's super cool, she's 25 and we have some classes together. I don't know why I feel like I should write her age but it's just funny how I have ended up befriending 25 year olds (Sofie, the girl from Sweden I'm always with is also 25). We talked just for a little bit and then Sofie and I had to go to the bank, so we said good-bye... but she made such a good impression on me I gave her a call later and asked if she wanted to get dinner or something. We ended up talking a lot about Vancouver, and Paris and life and it was great. It's been hard finding people I truly like and not just people who are nice and you can hang out with. She's so cool, I'm really glad I met her. Sofie as well, but I am the grown up in our relationship haha she's gonna kill me if she reads this.

Sofie, if you ever read this, I just have two words for you: FO SHAZZLE.

So back to the lazy night, the possibilities are endless! I can just continue writing this thing until I fall asleep, read the Ian Wallace book OR a magazine in French to practice (not happening), or read the Costa Rican newspaper just cause I haven't checked it since I got here, or not unpacking (which has been a favorite activity of mine), or Skyping, or checking out apartment listings... no that's too boring but the pont is, I COULD do it, there are so many things I could do tonight. What I'm not gonna do is go to the club under the bridge some friends are going tonight because I'm an old lady and having a lazy night is the most awesomenest thing ever.

Ok I'm inspired ciao, I have to go start that book or I KNOW I'll never get past the pictures.

Oh wait, here's a photo of McLeod's:




And I'll post a picture of me eating a Falafel when Sofie sends it to me. Hahaha it was so good honestly I can't believe I never had one before. Falafel = <3

Good night.

Con la mentalidad Edgar Silva

Woo!

What a great day, it's not even 9am and going to the Poice Station is my plan for the day... but nothing can ruin my mood.

Since I had my mini-passport breakdown I talked to or heard from so many people that I miss so much: Skypee con Dani, Claris me escribio un TLC, le llore en el telefono a Luci, Cokis es el mejor promedio de Arqui en la Veritas (!!), Mari vive en un reality show, Pupi se va a cortar el pelo como MUGATU, Della me ayudo a tranquilizarme, etcetc.

Me hace tan feliz hablar con todos ustedes no tienen idea. A veces uno esta tan enredado en la rutina que no entiendo poerque se siente mal hasta que habla con la familia/amigos y se da cuenta que es que le hacen dm falta! Pero de una manera buena, no triste!!

Ok este es un post dm sentimental asi que aqui lo termino.

Tengo que aprender a meterle musiquita a los posts para poner efectos especiales. Digamos, musicalizaria estas fotos con algo bien cheesy y poloncho como la cancion de los anuncios: "I'm walking on sunshine... WHOAAA OOOHH.... I'm walking on sun-shine.... WHOAAAA OHHH"

La Belle Vie

This video must be watched to understand this post: CLICK ME.


Ok so a wise man called Christopher Klassen recently reminded me again of the phrase "pictures speak for themselves" and that they might save up some writing time; so what better moment than now (that my head is very tired) to limit my word content and give you a photo tour through my current situation.

Actually, I ended up getting down and jiggy (yes, people still say that) and had some fun practicing facial expressions.

Today:


Cherry on top of a sucky half-week: I lost my passport.


I looked everywhere... seriously, why would it be in my blankets? great now my bed's a mess and I don't want to do it again.




I've been oversaturated with information, but there's a strange force in my body that just forces me to keep collecting pamphlets.



And maps, I have so many I converted it into, hmm, art (?). The walls are too white.


Everytime I take a shower the room floods: "What is this, a center for ants?!?!?!" (For the Zoolander fans)


I haven't unpacked!!! Agh my rooms a mess



I have a freaking schedule of errands for each day... and the list is so long I don't even feel that beautiful satisfaction when I cross something out!! I'm starting to choke, to drown....


ITS TOO MUCH! THE PASSPORT, THE SHOWER, THE INFORMATION, I HAVE TO GO TO THE POLICE TOMORROW, SOMEBODY'S STEALING MY IDENTITY IN THIS MOMENT, I LOST MY CANADIAN VISA, IM SICK OF EATING QUICHE BUT I DONT WANT TO COOK...


I ALSO LOST MY STUDENT CARD THE DAY I GOT IT, AFTER LINIG UP FOR TWO HOURS!! I GOT LOST IN THE METRO AND I HATE MY RINGTONE AND DONT KNOW HOW TO CHANGE IT!!!!!

La belle vie................ NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That felt good, it honestly feels so good to bitch about life doesn't it?