February 3, 2007
Salut,As you may know, I am spending the semester in Paris. Upon my grand arrival Monday morning, I have teamed up with my will and my ego in the efforts to translate inhibition into education. The metaphorphis, I am proud to say, has begun to take shape. As the only male in my group f/ American (notice I use the adjective, not America.) And about 3 out of the 45 students I've seen in the program. . My host family, by no stretch of the imagination, is traditional. My host mother is a. sweet and an erudite professor in 18th century history. She speaks little to any english whatsoever. My host father on the otherhand, has once been able to speak fluent english, though sadly, he is now in a bedridden state of M.S. The room next to me, lives a fellow student as well. A french 19 year old, just beginning the rigors of med school. The mother and father have three beautiful children who have recently moved out. For those familiar with Paris, the appartment is located in the affluent arrondiessement 16 on the very top floor over looking la avenue de Mozart.As far as tourist activity goes,I've so far taken a boat down the Seine and have just returned from a run around the Eiffel Tower. In the evenings, I often meet with my good friend and long standing summer resident of Gloucester, Oliver Horvitz, who also is studying here for the semester. The French women are so consistenly attractive, my neck aches with pain in its constant rotation. My mother was also right in that the Parisians wear black and only black. I swear it seems as if everytime some one departs the subway, they are headed to a wake or funneral home. And as many of you may know, black is not the paramount color in my wardrobe, so I am often times, the white sheep in a herd of black.There is so much more to discuss, but I must go outside while it is still sunny. And Believe me,the sun is as rare here as the english language. Please feel free to email me, I am sure to respond instantously (sp) with this new blackberry gadget. For those receiving this email who are inhabitting Europe at this given moment, beware, I will visit. This may include my sister Gabrielle in Geneva and my British friends, jonathan & veronique and gracey t! Rob Gillis, I think I added you to this email chain, in which case, I wish you the best in your return to America and look forward to some major catching up this summer.To the nevada house, I hope things can be evn more crazier without me hassling you to clean the dishes. My benley buddies, thanks for entertaining me over break!The mudbox gang! You know who you are. I still expect a visit.Many more beatiful people I hope receive this email, and I hope those who do are running, smiling and most of all, dancing!Love and miss you all,
Richard, Alec.Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
February 15th, 2007
Bonjour,I hope your backs don't ache in pain from what I've heard has been a super- snow-shoveling past few weeks!!!!I revisit you now in what could be my third week in Paris. I can not explain how much I enjoy the abroad experience and the state of mind that follows. Though I love and miss you all, I may have inherited the similar wanderlust gene that has landed in a few Ross' and Bell's over the years. Let me begin with my utmost appreciation for the French's emphasis on mayonaise! At all times of the day, I can dip any food from french fries to carrots without any of the mayonaise taboos that I've been confronted with in the States. But you do wonder between the cigarettes and mayonaise, how these people live to see their children graduate highschool.Yes, wine and champagne are often cheaper than the water, but wine is not as pervasive as I had envisioned. My family drinks not a sip a week, and often the cafes and bars are filled primarally with coffee and beer drinkers. It may just be my experience. Also, another popular cocktail, which can be found on most menus is the “Hurrican Katrina” I suppose the mediteranean hasn't stirred up anything too severe to induce any feeling of empathy into the French people.Have I become amuned to gorgeous, stylish and super confident women? No...have I built up somewhat of a tolerance? I suppose. You have little choice if you continue to ride the metro every day.Monday through Friday, from 8 to 10am, I have my intensive french class at the Sorbonne. As an American, I am finally a minority. Each morning, in a classroom where any other language except french is forbidden, I am surrounded by Spanish, Sweedish, Mexican, Turkish, Brasilian, Japan, Chinese, Canadian, and Lebonese. Begininning this week, I have been going out for coffee after class with an ecentric southern male spanyard, a kindhearted Bolivian and a curious Chinese girl. With each of our native backgrounds, we have little hope of communication unless we apply our intermediate French. I sit impatient for tomorrow's rendez-vous.At the American sponsored institution, I am taking a French culture and civilization course and a class a little more up my alley, called Islam in France, taught by a magnificent and brilliant Iranian woman.Outside of class, I hang out with a lot of Parisians, Swedes (studs and the rest of the Nevadians can empathize with Swedish presence) and ofcourse, Americans, including a large Georgetown contingent, who I look forward to continuing friendships with as we one inevitably find ourselves in Washington .My fellow gloucester friend Oliver and I have still preserved our pact we made prior to our arrival in which we vowed we would only speak to each other in French. So within a few social networks and my host family, french emersion is taking place. However, I still have ways to go. I have my first date with a Parisan though on Sunday, so maybe a pretty teacher is just what I need!!My running routes are breathtakingly sureal. In my many running routes in gloucester and DC, I have yet to run directly underneath the Eifel Tower. Now here in Paris, I use the Eifel tower (I must say it truely is the most incredible manmade creation I have ever seen) as just a helpful navigational reference..I have booked my Spring vacation. During two weeks in April, I first fly to Debrovnik, Croatia. After a few days on the beach, my friend and traveling partner, Kate from AU, hope to head even more south to Montenegro via Bosnia. A night in Bosnia and a few more days on the beach in .Montenegro, we should be ready to head even more east, with a visit to Belgrade, Slovakia and then Budapest, Hungary. We fly back out of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. So yes, these places may seem to be bizarre spring break destinations, but what's an adventure without actually making it an adventure!!My family's great. She is a weathered chef, with a diverse selection of dishes each night. The fellow french student who lives with me as well is a cheerful and intelligent fellow, who often uses me as a listening ear to the latest english he learned in school that day. I have so much more to discuss!but I am sure you all either have a class to attend, another email to read, or a pot-roast in the oven (the latter is more directed specifally at my mother) However, I still want to continue to hear what's new with all you guys. Please feel free to forward my emails to anyone who knows how to read, I could only locate so many of your email addresses.Feel free to visit! And you can call me anytime at 063 711 6774 and I think the country code is 33...not too sure though. I will double check.Enjoy the rest of your day,
Love Richard
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Salut,As you may know, I am spending the semester in Paris. Upon my grand arrival Monday morning, I have teamed up with my will and my ego in the efforts to translate inhibition into education. The metaphorphis, I am proud to say, has begun to take shape. As the only male in my group f/ American (notice I use the adjective, not America.) And about 3 out of the 45 students I've seen in the program. . My host family, by no stretch of the imagination, is traditional. My host mother is a. sweet and an erudite professor in 18th century history. She speaks little to any english whatsoever. My host father on the otherhand, has once been able to speak fluent english, though sadly, he is now in a bedridden state of M.S. The room next to me, lives a fellow student as well. A french 19 year old, just beginning the rigors of med school. The mother and father have three beautiful children who have recently moved out. For those familiar with Paris, the appartment is located in the affluent arrondiessement 16 on the very top floor over looking la avenue de Mozart.As far as tourist activity goes,I've so far taken a boat down the Seine and have just returned from a run around the Eiffel Tower. In the evenings, I often meet with my good friend and long standing summer resident of Gloucester, Oliver Horvitz, who also is studying here for the semester. The French women are so consistenly attractive, my neck aches with pain in its constant rotation. My mother was also right in that the Parisians wear black and only black. I swear it seems as if everytime some one departs the subway, they are headed to a wake or funneral home. And as many of you may know, black is not the paramount color in my wardrobe, so I am often times, the white sheep in a herd of black.There is so much more to discuss, but I must go outside while it is still sunny. And Believe me,the sun is as rare here as the english language. Please feel free to email me, I am sure to respond instantously (sp) with this new blackberry gadget. For those receiving this email who are inhabitting Europe at this given moment, beware, I will visit. This may include my sister Gabrielle in Geneva and my British friends, jonathan & veronique and gracey t! Rob Gillis, I think I added you to this email chain, in which case, I wish you the best in your return to America and look forward to some major catching up this summer.To the nevada house, I hope things can be evn more crazier without me hassling you to clean the dishes. My benley buddies, thanks for entertaining me over break!The mudbox gang! You know who you are. I still expect a visit.Many more beatiful people I hope receive this email, and I hope those who do are running, smiling and most of all, dancing!Love and miss you all,
Richard, Alec.Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
February 15th, 2007
Bonjour,I hope your backs don't ache in pain from what I've heard has been a super- snow-shoveling past few weeks!!!!I revisit you now in what could be my third week in Paris. I can not explain how much I enjoy the abroad experience and the state of mind that follows. Though I love and miss you all, I may have inherited the similar wanderlust gene that has landed in a few Ross' and Bell's over the years. Let me begin with my utmost appreciation for the French's emphasis on mayonaise! At all times of the day, I can dip any food from french fries to carrots without any of the mayonaise taboos that I've been confronted with in the States. But you do wonder between the cigarettes and mayonaise, how these people live to see their children graduate highschool.Yes, wine and champagne are often cheaper than the water, but wine is not as pervasive as I had envisioned. My family drinks not a sip a week, and often the cafes and bars are filled primarally with coffee and beer drinkers. It may just be my experience. Also, another popular cocktail, which can be found on most menus is the “Hurrican Katrina” I suppose the mediteranean hasn't stirred up anything too severe to induce any feeling of empathy into the French people.Have I become amuned to gorgeous, stylish and super confident women? No...have I built up somewhat of a tolerance? I suppose. You have little choice if you continue to ride the metro every day.Monday through Friday, from 8 to 10am, I have my intensive french class at the Sorbonne. As an American, I am finally a minority. Each morning, in a classroom where any other language except french is forbidden, I am surrounded by Spanish, Sweedish, Mexican, Turkish, Brasilian, Japan, Chinese, Canadian, and Lebonese. Begininning this week, I have been going out for coffee after class with an ecentric southern male spanyard, a kindhearted Bolivian and a curious Chinese girl. With each of our native backgrounds, we have little hope of communication unless we apply our intermediate French. I sit impatient for tomorrow's rendez-vous.At the American sponsored institution, I am taking a French culture and civilization course and a class a little more up my alley, called Islam in France, taught by a magnificent and brilliant Iranian woman.Outside of class, I hang out with a lot of Parisians, Swedes (studs and the rest of the Nevadians can empathize with Swedish presence) and ofcourse, Americans, including a large Georgetown contingent, who I look forward to continuing friendships with as we one inevitably find ourselves in Washington .My fellow gloucester friend Oliver and I have still preserved our pact we made prior to our arrival in which we vowed we would only speak to each other in French. So within a few social networks and my host family, french emersion is taking place. However, I still have ways to go. I have my first date with a Parisan though on Sunday, so maybe a pretty teacher is just what I need!!My running routes are breathtakingly sureal. In my many running routes in gloucester and DC, I have yet to run directly underneath the Eifel Tower. Now here in Paris, I use the Eifel tower (I must say it truely is the most incredible manmade creation I have ever seen) as just a helpful navigational reference..I have booked my Spring vacation. During two weeks in April, I first fly to Debrovnik, Croatia. After a few days on the beach, my friend and traveling partner, Kate from AU, hope to head even more south to Montenegro via Bosnia. A night in Bosnia and a few more days on the beach in .Montenegro, we should be ready to head even more east, with a visit to Belgrade, Slovakia and then Budapest, Hungary. We fly back out of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. So yes, these places may seem to be bizarre spring break destinations, but what's an adventure without actually making it an adventure!!My family's great. She is a weathered chef, with a diverse selection of dishes each night. The fellow french student who lives with me as well is a cheerful and intelligent fellow, who often uses me as a listening ear to the latest english he learned in school that day. I have so much more to discuss!but I am sure you all either have a class to attend, another email to read, or a pot-roast in the oven (the latter is more directed specifally at my mother) However, I still want to continue to hear what's new with all you guys. Please feel free to forward my emails to anyone who knows how to read, I could only locate so many of your email addresses.Feel free to visit! And you can call me anytime at 063 711 6774 and I think the country code is 33...not too sure though. I will double check.Enjoy the rest of your day,
Love Richard
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
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