1-31-11 (RM, France)
Yesterday, Ben and I decided to walk down to the Chateau de Malmaison (this once belonged to Emperor Napolean) to see the grounds and get some exercise in while it was sunny out. While we were walking down the street, a guy walking his dog passed us by and gave me an extremely odd look. I didn't see this happen, but apparently Ben saw him staring at me. A few seconds later he turned around and said "Hey, are you guys from Oklahoma?" It was then that I realized that he had seen my Oklahoma University sweatshirt under my jacket and he had recognized the colors. Anyway, this guy was an OSU grad in chemical engineer (I think?) who had previously worked for Fina before it merged with Total (the largest French oil/gas company). He had been living in Houston for a while and he had just moved to France over the summer with his family. I think he oversees refining production at two facilities in Belgium and the Netherlands. He seemed like a really down to Earth guy so me and Ben gave him our email information and told him that we should go out for a beer sometime. Small world!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Map Scales Can't Be Trusted in Paris! (from 1-29-11)
1-30-11 (RM, France; Paris, France)
Last night I was supposed to attend a friend's birthday party at about 8:00pm in East Paris. I left Rueil around 7:00pm to ride the RER and Metro into the city and leave myself enough time to find the restaurant. Unfortunately, I had written down the old address (he moved the party at some point during the week) and couldn't immediately remember the new one. After about twenty minutes of intensive thinking and walking around I was able to recall the street name. Following this mental revelation I proceeded to locate the nearest map at the Metro station. The cross street didn't seem to far away (maybe a few blocks?) so I headed off in the direction of the street. I kept looking for the cross street but never saw it. I decided I must have walked in the wrong direction and headed back to the Metro station to head that way. After another fifteen minutes of walking, I turned back again. Finally, Ben and I had had enough and decided to stop and eat a sandwich. After eating we asked the owner if he knew where the street was. He pointed us across the street and down a few block. After over an hour of walking around searching for this damn street, it was literally 100 feet away the entire evening.
Fortunately for me, showing up late was probably for the best. I hate being stuck at crowded tables with no way to stand up or move around. I guess it makes me nervous, crowded, and uncomfortable. Anyway, people were just getting their meals by the time Ben and I showed up. While people were finishing up with their food I was able to give a prepared toast to my friend David in honor of his birthday. My toast was followed up by presents and cake. It was a great time to arrive at the party!
Last night I was supposed to attend a friend's birthday party at about 8:00pm in East Paris. I left Rueil around 7:00pm to ride the RER and Metro into the city and leave myself enough time to find the restaurant. Unfortunately, I had written down the old address (he moved the party at some point during the week) and couldn't immediately remember the new one. After about twenty minutes of intensive thinking and walking around I was able to recall the street name. Following this mental revelation I proceeded to locate the nearest map at the Metro station. The cross street didn't seem to far away (maybe a few blocks?) so I headed off in the direction of the street. I kept looking for the cross street but never saw it. I decided I must have walked in the wrong direction and headed back to the Metro station to head that way. After another fifteen minutes of walking, I turned back again. Finally, Ben and I had had enough and decided to stop and eat a sandwich. After eating we asked the owner if he knew where the street was. He pointed us across the street and down a few block. After over an hour of walking around searching for this damn street, it was literally 100 feet away the entire evening.
Fortunately for me, showing up late was probably for the best. I hate being stuck at crowded tables with no way to stand up or move around. I guess it makes me nervous, crowded, and uncomfortable. Anyway, people were just getting their meals by the time Ben and I showed up. While people were finishing up with their food I was able to give a prepared toast to my friend David in honor of his birthday. My toast was followed up by presents and cake. It was a great time to arrive at the party!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Man, This Song Takes Me Back
1-27-11 (RM, France)
Every now and again I listen to a song that takes me back to what seems like a simpler time. Today's selection includes: The Spin Doctors "Two Princes" aka (just go ahead now). I know this post seems pretty pointless but you can make it better by commenting on what songs you remember from "back in the day?"
How about this gem?
Need more nostalgia?
Not enough?
One about fruit?
Thirsty for water after eating the fruit?
Subsequently, if you have any of these albums let me know :)
Every now and again I listen to a song that takes me back to what seems like a simpler time. Today's selection includes: The Spin Doctors "Two Princes" aka (just go ahead now). I know this post seems pretty pointless but you can make it better by commenting on what songs you remember from "back in the day?"
How about this gem?
Need more nostalgia?
Not enough?
One about fruit?
Thirsty for water after eating the fruit?
Subsequently, if you have any of these albums let me know :)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Dear French Government - Bugger Off
1-26-11 (RM, France)
Despite already having two medical insurance policies, including one specifically designed for international travel and mandated by OU, the government of France thinks it would be a good idea to extort 200 euro from me so that I become part of their social security (medical) system. Thanks guy, but I think have it covered already.
I will try one last ditch effort tomorrow to explain to the bureaucrat at school that I don't want to be part of a system that I derive no benefit from now or in the future. Me being here for 6-7 months without a government health care policy isn't going to bring down your way of life or destroy French democracy. Please just leave me alone already! I just want to go to school, learn about petroleum, hang out with my friends, and be left alone by the local violence-monopoly. Is that too much to ask? Do me one solid for once....
Despite already having two medical insurance policies, including one specifically designed for international travel and mandated by OU, the government of France thinks it would be a good idea to extort 200 euro from me so that I become part of their social security (medical) system. Thanks guy, but I think have it covered already.
I will try one last ditch effort tomorrow to explain to the bureaucrat at school that I don't want to be part of a system that I derive no benefit from now or in the future. Me being here for 6-7 months without a government health care policy isn't going to bring down your way of life or destroy French democracy. Please just leave me alone already! I just want to go to school, learn about petroleum, hang out with my friends, and be left alone by the local violence-monopoly. Is that too much to ask? Do me one solid for once....
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
OMG Food-gasm
1-25-2011 (RM, France)
This post isn't really that exciting or glamorous, but I thought I would take a few minutes to talk about what I am eating tonight. I really love the fact that you can get baguettes at different lengths. I am alone in the apartment so I usually get the one that is about one foot long. It is delicious bread and only costs about .42 euro cents. Next, I decided that it would be a good idea to have some spread for the bread so I picked up a few individual packages of goose liver mousse. Yum! For my entree I went with beef stuffed cannelloni with tomato sauce. Despite the fact that it came from a frozen foods store, it was excellent as well. Picard (the frozen foods store) is probably my favorite store in the history of the universe. Everything is fresh tasting and ready to cook. What more could a single man want? No pots and pans, no messes :)
This post isn't really that exciting or glamorous, but I thought I would take a few minutes to talk about what I am eating tonight. I really love the fact that you can get baguettes at different lengths. I am alone in the apartment so I usually get the one that is about one foot long. It is delicious bread and only costs about .42 euro cents. Next, I decided that it would be a good idea to have some spread for the bread so I picked up a few individual packages of goose liver mousse. Yum! For my entree I went with beef stuffed cannelloni with tomato sauce. Despite the fact that it came from a frozen foods store, it was excellent as well. Picard (the frozen foods store) is probably my favorite store in the history of the universe. Everything is fresh tasting and ready to cook. What more could a single man want? No pots and pans, no messes :)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sacre'-Cceur and Moulin Rouge 1-23-11
1-23-11 (Paris, France)
Today a small group of us (me, Nikita, Maria, and Mattieu) went to see the Basilique du Sacre'-Cceur. Not only was the church beautiful, but the view over Paris was amazing as well. Next we walked around the Montmartre area, where there were many small shops and restaurants.
Since we were in the area, we decided to see the Moulin Rouge and the surrounding red-light area. No big deal really, just a bunch of strip-clubs and porno shops. It was an odd mix of smut and nice restaurants.
Look, pictures!!!
Today a small group of us (me, Nikita, Maria, and Mattieu) went to see the Basilique du Sacre'-Cceur. Not only was the church beautiful, but the view over Paris was amazing as well. Next we walked around the Montmartre area, where there were many small shops and restaurants.
Since we were in the area, we decided to see the Moulin Rouge and the surrounding red-light area. No big deal really, just a bunch of strip-clubs and porno shops. It was an odd mix of smut and nice restaurants.
Look, pictures!!!
At Least Half my Evening was Cool (1-22-11)
1-23-11 (RM, France; Paris, France)
Where to even begin? Yesterday was incredibly long and filled with many ups and downs. First off, David, Valerie, Anna, Nick, and I went to the Pompidou modern art museum in Paris. Most of the exhibit was boring and repetitive crap on canvas, but they had a few good pieces which I found worthy to be in a museum. Usually students are given a free ticket to enter the main exhibit but I guess my age disqualified me from getting the discount. I grudgingly had to shell out 12 euro. Nick commented that, being a modern art museum, there were going to be plenty of giant vaginas and breasts on canvas. Funny because it's true.
After the museum we walked over to a cathedral that was right in the area. I'm not even sure which one it was, but the architecture was beautiful and for some reason I just felt like we should go inside and check it out. As luck would have it, a free concert was about to commence inside. Two pianists were going to perform various pieces by Brahms and Schubert. Our group stayed for a few songs as well as an organ performance. It was definitely a treat.
Following our encounter with the divine, the group decided to get smaller and more rowdy. Nick, Anna, and myself went to our friend Mattieu's apartment in Paris to have drinks, eat pizza, and mingle with friends. The night turned into an impromptu karaoke event when Anna asked me, in a oh-so convincing way by batting her eyes and smiling at me, to sing her a song. I chose the classic, Piano Man, as my first live performance piece. I also had a request from Aleksandra to sing Moon River to her.
Due to the size of Mattieu's flat, it was actually really fun to try and cram as many of our friends into his place as possible. Later in the evening, Mattieu insisted that we all leave and go to a club party located on a boat parked along the Siene. This decision later proved to be, well, mixed.
As many of you probably already know, I hate clubs. Hate 'em. At least being with my group of friends made it more pleasurable than it otherwise would have been and there wasn't a cover charge for IFP students that night. Things went down like they usually do in clubs, drinks got made and were overpriced, people danced, some people tried to dance, etc. Damn it all though when everyone wanted to leave and wouldn't wait for me to get my coat at the coat check. For no particular reason, it took maybe a good 20-30 minutes to get my coat when there were only 6-8 people in front of me in line. Only Ben and Dounia remained outside to wait for me. Thank goodness they did, kind of. The next hour or so was spent walking from the club to another district in Paris trying to find a taxi that would actually take us to Rueil. French taxi drivers apparently hate making money by driving slightly outside Paris. Dounia was finally able to convince one driver to take us all back to Rueil.
Where to even begin? Yesterday was incredibly long and filled with many ups and downs. First off, David, Valerie, Anna, Nick, and I went to the Pompidou modern art museum in Paris. Most of the exhibit was boring and repetitive crap on canvas, but they had a few good pieces which I found worthy to be in a museum. Usually students are given a free ticket to enter the main exhibit but I guess my age disqualified me from getting the discount. I grudgingly had to shell out 12 euro. Nick commented that, being a modern art museum, there were going to be plenty of giant vaginas and breasts on canvas. Funny because it's true.
After the museum we walked over to a cathedral that was right in the area. I'm not even sure which one it was, but the architecture was beautiful and for some reason I just felt like we should go inside and check it out. As luck would have it, a free concert was about to commence inside. Two pianists were going to perform various pieces by Brahms and Schubert. Our group stayed for a few songs as well as an organ performance. It was definitely a treat.
Following our encounter with the divine, the group decided to get smaller and more rowdy. Nick, Anna, and myself went to our friend Mattieu's apartment in Paris to have drinks, eat pizza, and mingle with friends. The night turned into an impromptu karaoke event when Anna asked me, in a oh-so convincing way by batting her eyes and smiling at me, to sing her a song. I chose the classic, Piano Man, as my first live performance piece. I also had a request from Aleksandra to sing Moon River to her.
Due to the size of Mattieu's flat, it was actually really fun to try and cram as many of our friends into his place as possible. Later in the evening, Mattieu insisted that we all leave and go to a club party located on a boat parked along the Siene. This decision later proved to be, well, mixed.
As many of you probably already know, I hate clubs. Hate 'em. At least being with my group of friends made it more pleasurable than it otherwise would have been and there wasn't a cover charge for IFP students that night. Things went down like they usually do in clubs, drinks got made and were overpriced, people danced, some people tried to dance, etc. Damn it all though when everyone wanted to leave and wouldn't wait for me to get my coat at the coat check. For no particular reason, it took maybe a good 20-30 minutes to get my coat when there were only 6-8 people in front of me in line. Only Ben and Dounia remained outside to wait for me. Thank goodness they did, kind of. The next hour or so was spent walking from the club to another district in Paris trying to find a taxi that would actually take us to Rueil. French taxi drivers apparently hate making money by driving slightly outside Paris. Dounia was finally able to convince one driver to take us all back to Rueil.
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