My last day in Paris

I really can’t believe that I’ll be on a plane headed home tomorrow. This has been such a wonderful experience for me – in more ways than I could possibly describe. I’m sad that I am leaving but I am thankful to be headed back to a wonderful life in Eugene.

Today I took the metro to the stop nearest the Arc de Triomphe. I walked around the base and marveled at its façade and massive size. I bought a ticket to go to the top (Rick Steves book said it was free on the first Sunday of the month – but I found that it wasn’t), and then walked up in through one of the tower pillars up, up, up, 284 steps. It was hot and humid – but the climb wasn’t too bad. It was well worth the prize at the top: the view. It was so neat to see the streets jutting out from the arc – the city looks so orderly, symmetrical and gorgeous from up there. I took a lot of pictures. I even attempted one of myself (see shot of my face - not a good picture) which was hard because it was so bright – but I wanted to have proof that I was there. It was very cool to be there.

Rick Steves writes: “Paris has the highest density of any city in Europe, about 20 times greater than that of New York City”. – I didn’t know that. I thought of this as I gazed out over the city.

After a while on the top, I walked down the stairs, spiraling down, down, down until I was released once again into the fresh air. Whew! I walked along the Champs-Elysées past the fancy car showrooms, designer boutiques and expensive restaurants. I walked by the Place de la Concorde, and then I veered to the left and walked by the Church of Ste Marie Madeline (see the picture of the Roman-looking building – it doesn’t look like a church does it? – it does inside – it is magnificent) and then I went on to the Opéra Garnier. All of these massive amazing structures!

At the Opera, I took the metro to the 15th district to try to find a store that Kim told me about – a large grocery store that accepts the restaurant tickets we get from the library. I have a couple left over and I thought it would be a good way to bring back some preserves or things like that for family – but unfortunately, I found that the store was closed (of course – Sunday! I didn’t think of what day it was) – so, no luck there. I’ve found that the stores near where I live do not accept the ticket (I’ve tried about five different places – and Kim said that was common – but she knew of one that did). So, being denied that, I wandered around the 15th and wound up grabbing a late lunch in a little Italian restaurant that accepted the ticket. It was really good! I had some pasta with zucchini and tomato sauce. I had enough ticket left over to have an espresso afterwards too – perfect.

I walked back to the foyer, by the military school, through the Champs de Mars – lingered by the Eiffel Tower and said goodbye (I was sad then), walked by the library – and to the foyer. Tonight I am going to walk down to the Seine once again and stroll along the banks and over some bridges. It’s hard to say goodbye, but I’m sure I’ll be back again – some day.

Thanks for reading my blog – for sending me sweet notes and helpful hints, and for staying close even while I was far away.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you again.

Sincerely,
Melissa

Foyer room clean-up: check! And a sunburned afternoon in the Luxemburg Gardens

A couple of days ago I checked my mailbox and noticed an official memo from the foyer offices stating (this is after I translated) that I will be able to have my room inspected on Saturday instead of Monday, even though I wont be leaving until Monday morning (it read much more beautifully that that – but you get the point), I was very happy and thankful to the secretary. It turns out that one of the women who works at the foyer as the person in charge of activities, who has been gone on “holiday” almost the entire time I’ve been here (I met her the first week I arrived) – she’s returned just this Friday and she usually works the weekends – so they arranged for her to inspect my room.

The time on the memo for the inspection was 16h (4pm). I woke up and started cleaning and finished pretty quickly (like at noon – with a relaxing breakfast before hand) – the room wasn’t very messy, but I had to deep clean because I didn’t want to fail the inspection (I didn’t know how closely they inspect). Since I finished so early and the sun was shining outside (and it was hot and stuffy in my room (and had wet floors with a cleaning product smell) I wanted to get out of the foyer as soon as I could to enjoy the day, and I didn’t really want to worry about making it back by 4pm if I didn’t have to. So, I went down to the woman’s office (Myriam) and she was on the phone – but I politely asked her if it would be ok if we moved the inspection up to as soon as she had the chance – and she was fine with that – but I waited outside of her office for 40min. while she talked on the phone, laughing with (what seemed to me to be a casual, non-work related chat with a friend). I was getting tired and antsy (but because I was asking for a favor, I didn't want to be pushy or rude) – I was thinking we misunderstood each other – so a walked by the doorway a few more times, and she’d say, “Oui, un momento” – and continue with the conversation – finally, she hung up and I was a little annoyed but very happy to get this done with (and thankful to her for moving the appointment up for me). She came up, was buisness-like, but nice, she inspected – wrote things on papers, stamped them – told me to return the keys to the security guards Monday morning, a few more logistics details – and it was done!! YAY!

I left the foyer with a kick in my step – purchased a sandwich at a little deli place I love on Rue Cler near the foyer – and took the metro to the Luxemburg Gardens where I was, once again, in awe of the scenery. The sun was blazing! I sat in the sun near the pond on one of the neat green chairs and ate my sandwich. I could feel myself getting a lot of sun and I kept thinking – it’s OK – I’ll move into the shade once I finish my sandwich – and I really was not in the direct sun for longer than 30 minutes. But I am so sunburned!! I should have known better, I know – I’ve had this skin all of my life and have seen burns a lot – but I kept thinking – it’s only for a few minutes while I eat my sandwich.

After I finished the sandwich I moved to a shady spot, with a nice chair and read a book – I was there for about four hours!! Finally I walked around the park and then I decided to forgo the metro (I’m being conservative with my last remaining tickets) and I walked back to the foyer, winding through streets and window watching. I used some of my meal tickets for dinner at a Brasserie (where I really noticed my burn). This is the intense-type of sunburn that gives you goosebumps and the goosebumps hurt – you know that kind?? It makes you feel kind of woozy??

I walked back to the foyer – stripped down and took a really cold shower, which felt good until I dried off and then it stung! I gazed in amazement in the mirror. I lay down for a bit thinking – its ok – it’ll die down – the throbbing will go away. And then I started fantasizing about putting aloe vera lotion on…(and I kept having thoughts of my mom, remembering how she used to put a large white tee-shirt over cool layers of aloe vera when I was young and had a bad burn). I got up and quickly dressed and went to the nearest pharmacy. These are tiny little places (they are all over in Paris) with a big green plus sign out front – like the Red Cross sign, but green. Many of you told me about these before I left (Dad, Diane, Jim, Edie, Marilyn - thanks!)– and what you said was right – I was only inside for a few minutes (it was kind of late and not crowded at all) and the pharmacist (I’m assuming) spotted me looking at a few of the shelves which displayed lotions, etc. And he came right up to me and let out an audible wince when he saw the state of my bright red skin. He pointed to it and I nodded. I asked if he spoke English and he said a little –and I said I’d love to have something to make this feel better. And before I could get any more words out of my mouth he began to sort of examine me – almost like your doctor would do in the privacy of your exam room – he lifted my skirt a little to see where the burn stopped (and maybe to see the normal whiteness of my skin in contrast to the red) then he even pulled the front of my shirt down (which kind of shocked me – but he exuded the air of a doctor so much – and he was looking with such a worry – that I let him continue, trusting his expertise) and he kept saying “Oh – why did you do this??” and I told him I was only in the sun for about 30 min. and he couldn’t believe me – he said, “Non, four hours!” and I said “No really, just 30 min.” (He was such a nice man – very concerned about my skin!) – And he swiftly walked behind the counter and said – “Biafine.” and handed me a white box with BIAFINE written starkly. He proceeded to wrap it up in a bag and I asked him how much it cost – and he said 7 euros. I thought – gosh Melissa!! Why did you do this?? I paid – he gave me instructions in the most serious way on drinking a lot of water, applying it regularly, cold showers – etc. And “stay out of the sun!” So I humbly thanked him and walked back to the foyer and applied Biafine. It was instant relief! I would have paid five times the amount for the way it made me feel. I read the medical information inside the box and it is cream made in France, to be used on first and second degree burns. What a relief. I’m so happy I went to the pharmacy.

Overall – even with the sunburn, it was a nice day. I’m glad I got to spend more time at the Luxemburg Gardens before I go.

Only one more full day left in Paris (tomorrow) and then I'm off on my (something like 24 hours total) travel home (Monday)! I can’t believe it’s almost over!!

Love,
Melissa

Open air cinema - Parc La Villette

Last night I met up with Kim (the reference librarian), Helen (the children’s librarian) and her new husband, and two of Kim’s friends. We all met at the Parc la Villette to watch a film outdoors – just one of the really cool things that Paris offers every summer.

I met them all after I rode the metro (the most crowded ride yet – my touching bodies to everyone and having to breath slowly and focus due to claustrophobia – not just next to people touching, but seemingly on one another, pressed up like sardines – it was kind of intense for me actually) – the park is out in the 19th district, so it was kind of a long ride, made longer by my body pressed up against strangers, but well worth it. The park is in a cool setting, near a music conservatory, a museum, and other music-related venues. Kim told me that the music school is the “top notch one” – the best of the best go there (Kim and her friend that I met (the scholar) both grew up in the same town in the north of France and have known each other since they were young – they both went to a music school, Kim is a pianist).

We set ourselves up on the lawn and started our picnic. When we arrived (at about 7pm) we were joined by other early picnic people, but there were large gaps between each blanket picnic. This went on for quite sometime (until the sunset) and the place filled up – before I knew it – I looked up from the good picnic food and great conversation to see that were surrounded by similar gatherings – people here sure do know how to picnic!! Champagne was popping, wine uncorked, fancy cheeses, fruit, bread – you name it! There was a wonderful comfortable vibe – shared by all. The people I was with thought of everything! There was even hot coffee for us all after our main meal of homemade quiche (Kim made is) – there was so much food – and they took it all by either metro or by motor cycle!!! The eating and drinking just kept going and going – I adored it. They tried to talk me into trying some pork spread (see picture - and by the way - my pictures aren't the greatest here - I didn't spend a long time on it and didn't really capture the picnic well enough to give you the full effect) and they cracked up that I politely declined. I didn’t make a big deal – but I really did not want to try it. What a fun group of people! They were saying – “why are you leaving so soon!??” –“you haven’t been here long enough.” (see pictures of the meat – they all wanted me to share photos of the meat with my American friends – and they made sure I knew that it was not pate and it was not foie gras – it’s something altogether different – and of course, your silly swept up friend forgot what it was called (but I'm sure some of you know)– where’s my notebook when I need it??! – and by the way, I have wonderful pictures of the group which I’ll share with you the next time we see each other – for now – here are food and surroundings pictures). The group spoke in French most of the time – with translations here and there for me – this is similar to what I’ve been used to when I hang out with some friends from the foyer – usually the girls I’ll hang out with will speak French – and then one girl will translate and they’ll speak a little English with me here and there. It’s been a good lesson in listening and trying to pick up what I can. Of course they always go out of their way to include me – everyone I’ve spent time with has been extraordinarily friendly – but I always insist that they carryon with their conversation – no to worry about translating all of the time – it seems that I get more of a relaxed and real vibe when that happens. It’s been very fun.

The movie: La Folle Ingenue (Cluny Brown) Ernst Lubitsch (1946), this was apparently a rare treat. The people putting the show have one of the last copies (so they said in French – the group translated for me) available for viewing. It was a fun black and white film – there were French subtitles, the movie was in English. We lay on our blankets. The crowd was vocal through the film, laughing, or saying “oooh and awe!!” It was a great night. I am so happy that I was invited and when I walked back towards the metro, everyone kiss-kissed and I invited them to stay with me in Oregon whenever they like – and I believe Kim will take me up on that – she comes to America often – but has mainly focused on the east coast previously. I have met some really nice people – of which I hope to stay connected with.

All for now.
Love, Melissa

[note: sorry for this scattered post - I wrote it last night after I got back to the foyer. I could edit it, but I've decided to leave it as is because it sort of captures my rambling and scattered excitement after I got into my room at the foyer - I wrote this at about 2am]

Library work, a goodbye party, and out on the town.

American Library in Paris:

Today was my last day working at the American Library in Paris. It has been an amazing pleasure for me and the experience is fantastic! In addition to my reference work I have had the chance to do original cataloging of books and videos. I created bibliographies and compilations of articles for university students passing exams on American History and Literature (I ended up compiling three booklets (and even bound them - see picture). I created the streaming video of the author talk to be used on the library's website. I helped out in the Children's department a little bit. I learned the process of ordering, cataloging and processing serials for the library. I was able to assist Simone each morning (the man who does everything!) as I arrived always arrived early (and he was always already at the library working at his normal quick pace). I admire Simone a lot and learned so much from him, indescribable really (not to say that I didn't learn a great deal from each staff person that I met - I did absolutely). Simone and I connected very well - he loved that I always wanted to work hard, to learn new things, have something to do (and he always laughed at my eagerness to move and lift things - even in a skirt!)- I learned a lot of history from him as he has an endless amount of stories - he is a wise and charming man, I'm going to miss seeing him, but I'll never forget him - I can always carry that with me. Relating to library work - we talked a lot about acquisitions, weeding, cataloging and organization. I remember the day, a few weeks ago, when we were down in the basement together, talking about the order of things. He was telling me that there was no more space in a specific spot to accommodate a new acquisition, he was worried about space issues in general and he was fretting about it and (using my stacks management skills -(hehe - SPC/UA staff!), and my muscles) I was able to suggest a solution and he was so happy we arranged shelves shifted, and it worked out well. I was thrilled to be able to help a man who is the one with all of the answers - it was so great. After that, I arrived many mornings to find little tasks that he deemed me "good enough" to do - I was honored.

Today I was working on finding some duplicate books to pull and weed from the collection for Simone. It was early, before the library was opened. All of the staff was there tidying up (something they do every August). I was in the Shakespeare section and was navigating on my knees through the tiny call numbers, looking for a specific book - and then Adele (the assistant director) came by and said, "Melissa, I know where that book you're looking for is." I thought that was odd - but these people are pretty amazing, and maybe Simone had told her what I was searching for. So I was walking with her, believing her all the way, ready to find the book (gullible me) and we walked into the break room (it's very tiny) and it was full of all of the staff and they had a present for me on the table, a card, and Adele had baked some goodies the night before, and brought them with her on her morning commute via train! Those of you who know me well, know how emotional I can be and I really had to hold it in - i was stunned (but no, I didn't cry)!!!!!!! I was not expecting anything and I was so touched - beyond belief. They told me to open my gift, and I started with the card which is signed with a little note from everyone! I had a big lump in my throat - it is so sweet! They all said such nice things and were all so sad I was leaving, I was touched. Then I opened the gift which is a American Library in Paris book bag - yay! It's so great. We all drank orange juice and ate Adele's sweets. And then we went back to work.

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Dani (the volunteer who I had dinner with previously) took me to lunch in a sweet little place (that was fancy) on Tuesday and Adele took me to a cool Parisian Brasserie (she told me it's one of her favorites) just around the corner from the library yesterday. I will never forget these kind people and I hope to stay in touch with them. What a great way to end an internship.

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At the close of the work day, we were all leaving together and I had a handful of books that Simone had given me for my flight (he has supplied me with good reading throughout this trip - he personally handed me "A Moveable Feast" - by F.Scott Fitzgerald just a couple of days ago - about his time in Paris - and I loved it because I had walked by several of the cafes mentioned and it was interesting and fun to read). So I was standing there, with my books, on the receiving end of many double kisses - while I gave hugs too - and then Simone wanted to give me another bag - to check for my flight, to accommodate the many books and extra stuff (not that I have a lot - but, you know how things expand) - this was preceded by much discussion by everyone (I couldn't get a word in and before I knew it I was standing there with an armload of things, and a bag and a fancy wrapped little gift.

I walked out with everyone (leaving Simone behind - still working, of course) and Kim asked me out for some drinks. We went out and I had a great time. Kim being French was able to order and relate to the waitstaff and we received excellent service, great drinks and I got to learn all about the aperitif. After that, we hopped the metro and went to a restaurant that is (apparently - Kim told me) famous. Since we had been drinking and walking a lot - and I didn't have a lot with me (and Kim's accent is kind of strong) I can't for the life of me remember the name!!! I'll write about it again though, because she and Helen (the Children's librarian) invited me out to watch a movie in the open air cinema (Hey Jim, thanks for the tip about this too!) 'Cinema en plein air - park La Villette. We are meeting up tomorrow night. They are inviting friends and Helen just recently got officially married to a French man (she's Greek and Canadian) and so she has some friends in town too - and Kim is going to cook - it should be a fun picnic and cinema experience - so I'll catch the name of the restaurant tomorrow from Kim and I'll try to write about it soon - but just a little highlight: I ate snails!! They were good (I was actually probably mostly tasting the delicious butter and herb sauce - but the whole dinner experience was great and I am really happy that Kim and I had a chance to go out on the town - what fun!

I'll talk to you all soon. I still have a few days left in Paris!

Love,

Melissa

p.s. I've posted pictures from the library. The images from the outside represent the back and the front of the building - notice its proximity to the Eiffel Tower! And I took pictures of the staff that I'll treasure, but I am respecting their privacy by not posting them here - I can show you the next time I see you. I also posted a cheesy picture of me at the reference desk - the only one. I felt awkward when Adele insisted she take it - notice my stiff smile (too bad it wasn't an action shot - but you don't often have a camera at the ready while providing reference service - right?).