salut

lundi 2 juin 2008

So, here I am, sitting in the apartment, writing the final entry for my blog in Paris, packing my bags, and watching the French Open on TV at the same time.

As quickly as the journey had approached, it has departed, taking me along the way to enjoy this magnificent ride.

I wish I had something witty and insightful to say at this moment, but the words escape me, even my thoughts have fled elsewhere, probably the consequence of trying to do three things at the same time.

What to say about Paris?  After a total of five months here (including three in 2006), it's a beautiful city, a city with a monumental past and a present filled with tremendous wonder and yet a lonely sadness.  Tourists flock to the city of the Seine for good reasons, but those who inhabit and work in it often share the same feeling of hopelessness in the city of lights.  Perhaps it’s like this in any city where those who come overwhelm those who stay, but after all, people are people, we have the same desires and goals, no matter if we live in Paris or elsewhere.

In the past two months, I have shared these feelings of wonder, excitement, anxiety, loneliness, and sadness.   In the end, I am leaving very content, having accomplished all I had wanted.  Even though I still don’t know Paris in and out, I know it well enough now that at this moment I don’t have the desire to return for another long engagement.  Of course, I will return for visits to see friends and to enjoy the atmosphere and the food, but it’s time to move on.

For 2009, I’m hoping to spend a couple of months in Taiwan, exploring my native country, something which I really haven’t done.   In the short term, I will continue to study French and to start a film project with a friend in New York that will launch my film career and take me back to Taiwan next year.

I can’t define precisely what I am taking back to San Francisco, other than the two suitcases that have nearly the exact same content as when I arrived because the exchange rate between the dollar and the euro has discouraged me from making any significant purchases in Paris, except for several additional French books.  But in my mind, what accompanies me on my return is a new attitude about myself, a belief that I am not necessarily who I think I am, and that is a good thing for someone who doesn’t often see clearly into the mirror.

So it is with great content that I pack my bags.  Unlike last time, there is no more anxiety.  Even though I can’t always dictate what happens in my life, I look forward to the next challenge, as long as it isn't a hike in the mud.

I am happily moving on.

you don't say!

vendredi 30 mai 2008

Sometimes I surprise even myself.

Other times I just roll my eyes in disbelief.

This time I'm still wondering how it all happened.

Quickly, I think. When my friend Rick arrived in Paris six weeks ago, we talked about our plans in Paris, mine for two months, his for five. I told him it would be cool to do something really liberating, something I never thought I could ever do. We came up with something outrageous (for me); I thought it would be nice to work toward that, knowing that I would never be able to do what we discussed, not to mention that one doesn't come across such an "opportunity" everyday.

Fast forward to six weeks later. Incredibly, this opportunity came up this week. I hesitated, accepted, and did it. Sort of a modern version of veni, vidi, vici.

Incredible, it wasn't as difficult or embarrassing as I had thought it would be. I don't know what this means for me in the future - I suspect nothing, except now I've done yet another thing that I didn't think was possible for me.

What exactly did I do? I'll just end with this:

What happens in Paris stays in Paris.

after the rain...

mercredi 28 mai 2008

roland garros

mardi 27 mai 2008

Game, set, match - the rain.

Yes, it was the rain who won today, my only day at the French Open.  Despite having reserved three tickets for the main courts, I was only given a ticket for the outside courts today.  But what can you do?  Like my teacher said, it's a mafia.  I suppose she's right - all the major sporting events are mafias, the biggest one of which being the Olympics.  With nothing but money in sight and in pocket, they can do whatever they want.

But I digress.  The matches were scheduled to begin at 11 am; I dragged my lazy butt into the rain and arrived at 11:30 am.  What welcomed me was not a welcoming receptionist saying 'bonjour,' but a huge crowd of people, a sea of umbrellas, and busloads of smoking teens.  I don't know what was worse, kids blowing smoke into my eyes, or 80-year-old women nearly poking my eyes out with their umbrellas.

For a tournament this reputable and this rich, they sure were unorganized.  Now, if I were in charge...

I digress again.  Since I only had a ticket for the outside courts, I couldn't watch Amélie Mauresmo fighting her nerves nor Rafael Nadal constantly tugging at his shorts as if someone had given him a wedgie.  I chose court #5, featuring Feliciano Lopez, for obvious reasons if you know me.

I sat in the rain from noon to 1:30 pm, at which time the rain lightened up and attendants began to prepare the court with acceptable efficiency.  I think Feliciano was not happy to play under these conditions; he showed up ten minutes after his opponent did and looked grumpy the entire first set.  

After over an hour of play, the rain returned, and so did I, at 4 pm, figuring it would be at least another hour or two of delay even the the rain stopped soon.

So, overall, even though it was a short and wet experience, it wasn't bad.  I'm happy to say I've waited through the rain at the French Open, even happier to say I wasn't stupid enough to buy any of the exorbitantly priced items there.  And after seeing some players live, I do believe that TV idolizes people.  In person, they're just that - people; they're not all that.

The best way to attend these events though, is as a VIP.  How, you ask?  Stay tuned, give me about ten years...

the world in paris

dimanche 25 mai 2008

Yes, it's true, the world is in Paris.

Since the beginning of May, I hear more people speaking English than French in the streets and restaurants.  A reminder that I'm still in Paris?  The banner of a boulangerie as a sponsor in a dance club.

Since I have but ten days left in Paris, I decided to take a stroll along the Seine toward the east side of the city which I haven't explored much.

Walking on the South Bank, I came across four separate areas (semi-circles) along the river, one after another, where random pedestrians stopped to enjoy some music and dance.  At the first semi-circle, there was a small group of musicians in traditional French costume playing folk music.  As I walked further, the music changed to Salsa, then hip hop.  This international festival of spontaneous Sunday afternoon merry-making concluded with the waltz at the fourth semi-circle.  

In case you're wondering, I didn't join them. 

A bit further along the river, there as a small group of picnickers enjoying the sun.  They called out to me and invited me to join them for some wine and pastries.  Having all the time in the world, I gladly obliged.  I spent about half an hour chatting with them and discovered that they were from France, New York, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Russia.

I can't think of anything more appropriate to conclude my journey in Paris.

fantasie #2

jeudi 22 mai 2008

One of my projects in Paris is to work on the second draft of my script.  To be honest, during the first six weeks, I worked on it twice - by scribbling down random ideas that popped into my head every now and then.

Luckily, I got sick two Sundays ago.  Luckily?  Yes, since it forced me to stay home, very close to the restroom, if you know what I mean.  And since didn't go to class the following day, I made good use of my time by (finally) starting work on the second draft.

As the ideas came and the juices flowed, my fingers typed, in between bathroom breaks of course.  Sorry for the image, I hope you're not eating while reading this.  The next day, I thought of skipping class just to continue writing; I didn' skip class, but I did keep writing.  Now, in just ten days, I've finished the second draft.

Much work remains, but for now, I'll put it aside for a few months, until when a little voice reminds me again that it's time to return to my Parisian Phantasie.

je t'aime

mardi 20 mai 2008

Last week, to learn the structure of cause and consequence in French, we read mini-letters of love and break-up in class.  The homework of the day was to write our own.

So here is a sample of what we read, including my homework.  Warning, this is cheese beyond cheese, so read at your own risk.  Guess which one I wrote.

"Je te vois dormir

Je te vois lire.

Je te vois sourire

Je te vois reflechir.

Et puis, j'ouvre les yeux, mais tu n'es pas là.

Ne te voyant pas, je ne te vois qu'avec les yeux fermés."

"Tu me rends fou !

Tu me fais perdre la tête !

Je perds la raison à cause de toi !

Ne me demande pas pourquoi,

car je ne le sais pas."

"Ce n'est pas parce que je ne t'aime plus que je te quitte,

C'est parce que j'en aime un autre plus que toi."