So when I originally started this blog I had every intention
to post bi- or tri- weekly to update people on my more daily adventures, but
now this has turned into a monthly post which is sort of like Vogue, but a lot
less glamorous. So here I am writing for the 3rd time since I’ve
moved to Paris and it is on my 3rd monthaversary of being here. I wish I had something really thrilling to
say like I went skydiving in Interlaken, but no I have stayed here in Paris and
enjoyed every minute of it.
The end of October and beginning of November brought
numerous things: Halloween, Les vacances
de Toussaints, and the preparation for thanksgiving. For those of you who don’t
know, All Saints Day is not only a religious holiday but here in France it is
recognized as a national holiday. So naturally, the children get two weeks off
of school for it. Instead of having my normal 4 hour days with the kids, I
worked all day with them. Going into the two weeks I was a little nervous that
they were going to be really annoyed with me or vice versa, but actually the
opposite happened. I accompanied Chloe
and Raphael to their activities for the two weeks (one of which being a
painting class at the louvre) and we talked about anything and everything. They
asked me all about the presidential election and if kids really do egg people’s
houses on Halloween night in the US. In return I got to know a lot about them
like what music they want to hear me sing and what music they REALLY don’t want
me to sing (apparently Justin Beiber’s Baby can even be annoying to a 6 year
old girl). After the two weeks together
I can officially say that I feel like a part of their family, just like an
older sister. They even bring out the French version of Trivial Pursuit just to
make me realize I don’t know everything (Annie and Kate I feel like that is
something yall would do to me).
Now being with the kids all the time I was able to tell them
what thanksgiving was and what it meant to me. I sort of left out the part
where my mom and I sneak into the laundry room to eat all the cake and custard
before anyone else could, but I figured they don’t need to know that side of me
yet. While explaining what thanksgiving
was for the 23rd time I realized how sad I was that I could not be
home to spend it with my family. Normally, we go to Texas to visit my mom’s
side of the family and it is a ball. We have HUGE meals and so much fun
catching up and making fun of each other. I thought of this so much that I
started dreading the week of thanksgiving, but as luck would have it one of my
friends, Annie, works for this wonderful family who invited us over for a
thanksgiving dinner party. And a party it was. We sat around a big table and
eat, drank, and danced ourselves to sleep (literally. We didn’t leave till 5 in
the morning). It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for. I got to
spend my first adult thanksgiving with new friends and loved every minute of
it.
Now it is already the end of November and before I know it
my family will be in town for Christmas, which I am thankful for because I
could not do another holiday with out them. For people like me who have never
been to Paris for Christmas it is a bit of a shock. There were chocolate advent
calendars on the shelves before the end of October and now the whole town is
decorated for Christmas. While going out with my friends the week before
thanksgiving we almost felt as if we were living a fairy tale. The lights are
strung on the trees and the Christmas markets are open in the streets and there
is something so magical about walking around Paris during this time of year. I
cannot wait to spend this holiday with my family so they can hopefully
understand what I mean when I say Paris is the most amazing place in the world.
