social week

Embrace, this is really long. photographs at the bottom. 

This week was a much better work week than the last. Wednesday was bearable because we were busy with true packaged American cooking making, the grandparents, a doctor visit, and the polo club tour with the whole family. It was quite a Wednesday and I wish it was that busy every week. With that said, I am now a temporary member at the Polo de Paris Club. I would have provided the link in case you felt like browsing, but the site is for members only and I cannot get it. A members only site? What happened to advertisement? This club is known for pretty snobbish upperclass, says Benedicte, but I can see what she means: As I entered the club in my Wednesday grubby wear, I see a group of suit-wearing men, trendy-cute mothers with their children clothed in white, only white, sport apparel for sports that include, fencing!, tennis, gold, swimming, polo, karate, and a few others. And all I am supposed to do is go to the park inside the polo club with the polo pass.

On the other side of work, I have been new instructions and more responsibilities at the house. I do not mind it because I would rather be told what to do instead of feeling like an idiot for something that was not done and it being my fault. I can thank the flakey housekeeper, Cristano, for my new responsibilities. I really really dislike it when he does not come because I do not find out that he did not come until I arrive with the boys. When he does not come I have to rush to do the ironing, bed changing, clean up, organizing, plus all the regular taking care bit of the kids in four hours. Seems doable, but I am not a regular at this. Plus, I am no good at ironing. Maybe I am good at the napkins, but psh, the tshirts, I definitely add in a few more creases into those shirts. I commend those who love to iron and those that can do it well.

This week was also social week in Paris. Katie had three CalPoly friends visit Paris, Chris, Amit and Robby. They wanted to live up Paris for all that it was worth and they certainly succeeded. They were a lot of fun. We went to bars during the week and hung out at my place for a nigh. Luckily the boys happened to be all engineers, and with their great knowledge of math and physics, Robby fixed my internet at my flat. After two weeks of a subscription and a struggling connection, Robby was able to get me connected. For my own prideful sake, I followed the directions and found that the problem was beyond my and the instructions capabilities. So thank you Robby for loving computers.

On Thursday and Saturday I hung out with Westmont friend Leah Berry and her family. It was really fun to finally see Leah since our relationship is based of a lot of talking of hanging out and never really doing it. Thursday we went to the Notre-Dame, inside and out. It was beautiful and really fun, plus it was my first touristy activity. Pictures below. I was supposed to go to Versailles with Leah's family on Friday, but could not go. I would have been able to, but my au pair duties were called upon. I was already on the metro heading to the RER to meet the Berry family, but received a phone call from Benedicte asking me to take Jean-Baptiste's little backpack, his sac a dos, filled with his stuffed animal and pacifier tatine to school for afternoon nap time. I wish I could have said no, and I could have, bt if I did not take it and Benedicte would have to, I would have guilty. It is my job to be on call. So instead, I ate a guiltless almond chocolate croissant and watched an episode of Sex in the City. I do not know I really like that show, but we owned the whole series in Fresno, so it was something free to watch.

And on that note, I went on a date this weekend. I hate calling it that, but if I do not call it that, people will give me crap and I will be the girl that does not call dates dates. So it is what is was, and its over. On Thursday, I went to the fish market and tried to speak French. I could not remember how to say that I wanted the fish cleaned and gutted, as I was dying over my words, the fish guy saves me and asked if I spoke English and tried to explain to me what I wanted. He asked me lots of questions and asked for my number. I do not know my number yet, but he gave me his and I was to call him to see the night life of Paris. I always get nervous here when guys talk to me because I have no idea what their intentions are, especially in this city. Boys and I have always been friends and I like that. But now I guess I am in real world where boys will ask out girls. Katie says, I should just go on a lot of first dates so they get easier. She has a lot of good advice like that. I seriously love it, she's a pro.

Anyway, I did not call him, plus I was too tired to go out, so I text him telling him we can hang out another time. I text him the next day because Katie had a date so I thought I would make one too. After several texts, me writing in French, him in English, we were to meet up at the Notre-Dame since that morning I would be in the area hanging out with Leah and her parents. It was a lunch date thankfully instead of the intended night date. I really did not want that, not knowing his intentions. Sorry, but I was not excited at all for this meet up, I was kind of over it since I did not really like him in the first place. I just really wanted to find friends for myself, even if they would be pretend dates for me. Plus, it is not nice to hang and be dependent on Katie and Katie's friends. Just for my sake, I need to do some things on my own. Anyway, we meet up and just walk around. I really think he thought I was a total newbie at Paris and I kind of let him believe it, showing me places and monuments, as well as being kind of jerkish and saying oh I have done that before, just so that he would not ask if he could take me there. We walked around a few gardens and went through the Palais du Justice police car exhibition. Our lunch date was cut at three o clock since he had to go back to work and I went home to take a nap. He insinuated another date or hang out, but he kind of got the message and told me to either call him or stop by the fish market again. So all in all, it was fine, but nothing to even be friends. Not even picture worthy. sorry.

Saturday night I stayed in; I needed to recover from the date and the looong night out with Katie and Robby. We stayed out all Friday night since we did not want to pick up the Noctillien or pay for a taxi. We just hung out at bars and talked to people. Made friends with some Australian brothers, a cool DJ who bought us a round, and two gross black men with these attitudy US girls that obviously wanted to get more than just a drink, who believed in getting a girl then leaving her the next day, and amongst other things. One of the black men wanted my number and wanted to know where I lived and I just lied. There was no way he was going to get anything from me. Those are the types of guys I am worried about. His icky cooing and trying to make conversation was just bad and made me uncomfortable. Katie is always there and she would get me out of a situation if it need be, but luckily I snuck out on my own.

And today Sunday, I talked to my family, my grandparents, cousin, and aunt all via skype. It was quite the family gathering. Thereafter I headed to church. I have been going to the American Church of Paris, acparis.org. I like it, have not really met anyone, but I like the messages, the liturgy, the atmosphere of an old cathedral church, and its members being from all around the world coming to be at one place. I go to the traditional service with the families and grandparents, but maybe I will try going to the contemporary service. The only thing with the contemporary service is that it starts at one thirty in the afternoon and thats eat time and nap time. And fellowships are in the evenings when I work. Not the best times. I may just be an attender and have to meet people elsewhere.

This week, Elizabeth and Ann are to stay with me. It should be a good week.  

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