Découverte de mon Daily Grind

Bring on the thank-god-it’s –Friday feeling.

I have been re-kindled with a numbed sensation: the weekend sensation. 

The sensation of having a less-rigid timetable and maybe a little more freedom for two days out of the week. It's short-lived but pleasant.

Yeah, I am guess I am whining about having been on 'vacation' for over a month…outrageous!

Thinking back to Geneseo, oftentimes my weekend plans involved reading and writing in the lib, instead of sitting under a tree and enjoying the beautiful weather…and day drinking.  But, c’est la vie…do whatcha have to do, so you can do what you wanna do. That’s easier said then done... especially if the lovely weather is beckoning you to soak up the golden rays. Even in the crunch of mid-term exams hopefully the option of sleeping in for a few minutes or  maybe even a few hours longer, still exists?

I have heard that Geneseo is currently experiencing the same unexpected wave of warmth that Paris felt yesterday. This shock of sunlight after months in the shitty cave of cold/cloudiness, reminds me that we’re all just little earth-things who need, or are unwillingly enticed to pay homage to Mr. Golden Sun.

Well,even if club Milne(Geneseo library) is unfortunately your home-base during this  fortunately sunny weekend…the perpetual weekend, a.k.a Spring Break, is just 'round the corner! 

I am on the reverse-Geneseo schedule. 

I am so down to free myself from this passé vacation sensation and start to do some work.
Pre-warning: I am motivated right now, but isn't everyone kinda excited the first week of classes ( //s to syllabus-week syndrome)? I might be jumping the gun a little. Well, nonetheless...I am enjoying the renowned weekend sensation. Those two days of leniency and perhaps laziness after a week of work is just parfait. 

After a week of internship and schooling, vitamin D has restored my exhaustion! I’m lucky to have not had much carry-over homework this weekend.  Recap: I had a solid Saturday of parc chilling/ Tendon is almost in tip-top shape; I was finally united with my running garb/ and I finally got around to getting a library card, woop!

Paris au printemps is just around the corner, and this weekend was a premature glimpse of the splendor that is to come.

Flashback...to LAST weekend
-Last weekend was the recovery weekend after the Maddie/Katy visit.
-Chilling out/Hanging low.

But also...
WENT TO Musée de l'Orangerie (in the Jardins de Tuillerie; between le Louvre et la Musée d'Orsay) on Saturday w/ Christine.
-Zero line. Zero euro entry for students.

Musée de l'Orangerie.

Rodin sculpture outside the Musée

-Went to see Monet's Water Lillies and Cezanne's fruit bowls!

Monet's Lillies were upstairs/ room was circular.

Cezanne's fruit.

Pont des Arts:

-Crossed this Bridge to get to l'Orangerie.

-It's called the "Lover's Bridge"

-Couples put locks on this bridge and write their names on them. It's...cute.

To the Bureau, Enfin!

Working in the 1^st arrondisement, on the Right bank near the Marais.

Schedy: Mon/Tues/Thurs: Work (9-4pm)/Class (5-7pm)

               Wed/Friday: Class (9-10am)/Work (11-6pm)

Fondation Scelles/CRIDES Intership:

I am working with a lot of open, motivated people who break the stereotype of French people being reserved hard-shells. I am working in the same vacinity as Sandra (research director), Frederic (web master), Francois (publicity), Catherine (researcher/journalist) Caroline (French intern; assigned to write a few articles). 

We each have our own computer and table space but we do our respective work in the same room. It's a library environment, which see-saws back and forth, from social lair to quite research center. I am free to listen to my music while working, which is great when I need to focus. A few days ago Spotify stopped working for me (the free version atleast) so I have been using the "European" Spotify called Deezer. It's not as convenient as Spotify in terms of artist bios and applications, but it's been really nice nonetheless. So...if you are having trouble with Spotify abroad, try Deezer!

Chatting breaks/ frequent tea and coffee breaks are a must.There is an ample supply of mugs/tea/coffee for our disposal. Thank goodness. 

Around 12:30, we all grab food from the grocery store (Franprix/ Picard) and throw our food in the microwave or oven at the Fondation...or we grab a hot crêpe, sandwich or pizza from the quartier. What usually happens is that everyone reconvenes in our respective workspaces; we relax for about an hour and eat our food. France is one of the only European countries that truly respects the hour lunch rule. I'm a fan. Who isn't?

My task: To write a chapter of Fondation Scelle's 2012 book about international sex trafficking which will be published next year. I will be one of about twenty co-authors. It will be about fifteen to twenty pages and in French. The chapter will be about changes in sex-trafficking state legislation and social patterns from the year 2011 to december 2012. The bulk of the research I will be doing will be in English... stacks of articles to read. The archives at the Fondation have been divised according to month. So, I am trying to tackle one month of info per day at this point. Fingers crossed that my work is up-to-par. 

I am enjoying the work so far and am definitely learning a lot about sex trafficking... a subject which can be mentally straining and frustrating at times... I don't know if I am tough enough to do this kind of a work for a living but I am amazed at the people who work here. . It's definitely hard for me to read certain articles...do you guys know the average age for a girl (in the U.S.) to get involved in prostitution, either by force or "willingly," is 13 years old. 

But, once in awhile I stumble across a quasi-funny article. 

For example, an 80 year old senior contacted a prostitute on backpage.com and planned on meeting her at his local Friendly's diner to go over details (article was vague; I don't know why he chose to meet her at Friendly's also what details need to be discussed at Friendly's?! I think he just wanted to take her out for a nice sundae...). 

Anyway, the man had hearing difficulties and while dining with the woman he kept asking her to "Speak up" because he couldn't hear what she was saying. This request to "Speak up" startled those dining around them...and led to one of the neighboring tables to overhear the conversation and to call the Police. The police showed up at Friendly's...

After reading many articles of young girls being manipulated into sex-trafficking, the Friendly's story provided me with some needed comic relief.

le Président: Yves Charpenel is the President of Fondation Scelles and he stops by the office everyday and shakes our hands. He is a magistrat of France and a well known crimminal/human rights lawyer.He is very approchable and optimistic like the others at CRIDES. 

Premier jour du travail: My first day of work, the Fondation organized an event Monday night, at 7:30pm, in the Palais de la Justice. 

There was a competition for the best highschool or university level: documentary on human trafficking, visual on human trafficking, slam about human trafficking and article about lobbying related to human trafficking. It was in an amazing location in la Bibliotechque des Avocats (Lawyer's Library). The library was breath-taking. I didn't take any pictures but here is what google has to offer:

Below is some video-footage of the event. You can't see me in the video...I am sitting right where the video begins shooting.

After the ceremony there was some bubbly/appetizers/and mingling. I was introduced to many students, activists and human rights lawyers after the event, which was amazing. I felt out of place in the official environment but was glad that I had the chance to be there! 

Ionesco: La Cantatrice Chauve

-Ionesco's first theatrical play.
-Has been on stage since 1950.

-Focus is on two couples...
-C'était surréaliste!

-Went to see it with my French Civ. course Wednesday night au Théatre de la Huchette.
-It wasn't 'bad'...but I wouldn't see it again.
-Not a big fan of the play.
-It was a little too blunt...it didn't leave much to interpret. 
-Not that funny.
-Social satire on the 'unspoken' lulls in intimate relationships...and friendships.
*I liked Rhinocéros though!

Random coïncidences?

About 6 of the 60 people living in the Foyer are American. There are two Americans on my floor (including myself). The other girl is named Julie. This is the weird coincidence...

Julie went to my highschool in Delmar and her mom was my softball coach in middleschool! I didn't stay in touch with her in highschool and she has been studying in Iowa... but she's living two doors down from me, in Paris! Quoi? We have accepted the strange coincidence after a week or so.  We're busy during the day , but it's so nice to randomly get dinn, just vent or go on long walks and speak in English. 

Julie was in Budapest,Hungary this weekend staying with Eszter from our floor and she just came to my room and gave me a forith! Yay, coin collection!

Speaking of foreign travels, Lauren S. and Lena were also abroad this week. Lauren is not starting her internship until next Thursday and so she had an early vaca in Cadiz,Spain. She's coming back tonight!

Lena was in Berlin and Prague this week with some kiddos from Skidmore. Lena and I caught up Sunday...her pics were beautiful...Both places are culturally rich; Prague is a fairyland complete with many castles and contemporary art and Berlin is also filled with cool graffiti murals along with hearty food( quick recap, from Lena's perspective).

NOW,to my Favorite Place in Paris: Les Jardins de Luxembourg.

-I love being here... in the snow/rain/and especially the sun.
-This past Saturday I spent the whole day there...I woke up early Saturday to try to give blood in the neighborhood (Place du Panthéon). There was an incentive in the paper to give blood and win a free meal ticket to a fancy resto.
Check it out: http://www.mylittleparis.com/don-du-sang-tour-dargent.html

En fait...Red Cross people weren't there when I signed up to donate so...I hit up the Jardins bright and early. Christine joined me in the Jardins.

From the Foyer...to the Fence 

( Fence surrounds the 1.5km circumference of les Jardins)

Walk on in...

I love running by this fountain...

and hearing French babies bantering...

and watching the old hommes playing pétanque...

and being surrounded by sweet, honeyed nature...

and meeting new creatures...

Vergeuil (Comma) the Turtle Pt. 1

Vergueil (Comma) the Turtle Pt. 2

and sitting on a bench 

doing nothing but enjoying my surroundings...

Photo reel.

Statues galore:

(Including the first model of the Statue of Liberty)

Here is my favorite tree in the garden:

and some other beautiful ones:

Senat house. In the center of the Jardins.

 

Les jolies fleurs:

 C'est mon petit morceau de Paradis.

Now it is Monday...I passed out around midnight last night and didn't finsh up the post.  Michevious Mother Nature was playing some tricks on Paris....it was in the 60s and sunny this weekend and today was a blustery snowy/rainy day. The flowers that were in bloom in the Jardins have been iced over by Jack Frost. 

Well, I guess I am discussing the weather right now because it is really the only out-of-the norm thing I have to say about today. It was a good day. I was a little annoyed I couldn't run because of the snow...but I danced on the squeaky wooden floors in my room. And speaking of my room, my roomie made a guest appearance last week. She returned from Nantes Wed. and Thurs. night to party with some friends and grab some schoolwork. But she headed back home for another week. She's pretty much floating through schoolwork with her classmate's help...she's got some decisions to make; I hope it works out for her. In the mean time, I can look forward to squeaking up the wooden floors at 7 A.M. without worrying about waking up Anne-Sophie. 

I went on late grocery run tonight for a little breakfast present to myself, I wanted a change up from the oatmeal and banana jam. I got some blueberries, yogurt and museli. Tonight the regular check out guy said, "à la prochaine (till next time)" instead of the typical "au revior (goodbye)"...it was nice. So, I am re-iterating the "à la prochaine" to you! Good luck with your daily grind. Thank you and goodnight.
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