#IranElection

What a week...and it's only Wednesday! So I started summer session 2 weeks ago and each session is only 3 weeks long. BUT somebody at my school decided that the last week of 1st session and the first week of 2nd session should overlap. Yeah so i'm in class all day every day this week and it sucks. Not only is there class to attend but also readings and a final exam on Friday. Great.

ON TOP of school stuff the Iranian presidential election happened last Friday. And unless you've been living under a rock then you should know that the election was rigged and there have been mass protests in Iran and around the world this week. I went to two of them here in Paris already.

There's a reason I am so distracted mentally by what's happening right now in Iran. I'm 30 years old and 30 years ago in 1979 was the revolution in Iran. My parents left Iran before the revolution and moved to Canada where I was born and raised with my brother. Had my parents stayed in Iran I would have been born there and possibly grown up there. A vast majority of the protesters are students and people my age as an overwhelming percent of Iranians are under the age of 35. I am under the age of 35. I could be there right now. Who knows what your life would have been like if even one thing was different. There's no way to know if I would have been a protester but I think I would have. I've seen protests before but I have never felt this way about any of them until now. I suppose the thought that that could be me on the streets of Tehran is really stuck in my head and heart right now. I want to be there with them, protesting in the streets for freedom. Obviously I don't want to get shot at or anything like that but I think what they're doing is admirable. I feel a sense of connection to the citizens of Iran even though I wasn't born there and I've never been there. My parents are both from Iran, I am Persian and this is my fight too.

There's not much that I can do right now from my little studio apartment in Paris but to go to the protests that I can go to (they're usually during class so it's hard to get there in time). One thing that has emerged through all this is the use of websites like Twitter, YouTube, Twitpic, Facebook etc. These sites have been essential for the people in Iran to spread videos, news and pictures to the rest of the world. Since I don't have a TV I can't watch any news programs but what i've heard is in the first few days main stream media barely covered the story at all. My sense is now that they are covering it but no one can expect the MSM to show the kinds of footage and photos on TV that are truly at the heart of the protest. It's amazing to see on these sites the raw footage from the heart of the situation. To see students' dorms terrorized, see people injured and dead is unbelievable. I'm grateful that the Internet has allowed others to really see the people of Iran fight for freedom.

I feel a little like a kid caught in the middle, I'm both west and east. I'm Canadian and Persian, and I'm proud of it!

So anyways...this week has been really hard and it's only going to get harder. I think I am mentally breaking down a little. Last night I passed out in the middle of my bed/futon with all the lights still on, window wide open and computer on. I was that exhausted! I still am exhausted but I can't even imagine what it must feel like for the students in Iran right now. I hope that all Iranians stay safe but keep on keeping on!

Here's a link to a video i took of one of the protests in Paris. Already has 300+ views!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itibtJg2NHA

Dear Tourists

This is more like an open letter to the tourists that will flock to Paris this year.  Now please don't get me wrong, I was once you, a tourist to this fine city.  And now that I live here and have been on both sides I want to share a few tips.  

1. We all know you're in a new city and you probably have no clue where you're going. Perfectly acceptable, what is not acceptable is when you pull out your map and stop in the middle of the sidewalk.  Just dead in your tracks! Not cool. When you're driving you wouldn't stop in the middle of the street to look at your map would you?  No, so don't do it on the sidewalk either.  Pull over! And if you don't pull over, don't look at me like i'm the jerk because i bumped in to you! You're the one who stopped dead in your tracks. 

2. You're probably visiting Paris with someone, that's great! But if you roll with a large crew, don't take up the whole sidewalk.  The sidewalks in Paris are small enough as is, sometimes barely big enough for one person to walk on, let alone two in passing.  So think about that when you and your crew are walking down the street, it's ok to walk in pairs or even single file.  We all know you're a tough gang ok? You don't need to own the sidewalk, share the sidewalk please.

3. It's ok to ask for directions! Yes, I know I look scary and mean (moi?!) But if I can help you, I will point you in the right direction, even though most of the time I have no clue! But the point is that most Parisians will actually help you with directions, they're a lot nicer and friendlier than people think. 

4. Yes, I know most North American cities don't have an underground metro system and figuring out the Metro can be tricky at first.  The ticket buying procedure can also be challenging for first timers so please do us all a favor, if you and you're posse could just take up one of the stalls and leave the others open for us who have places to be that would be great, thanks!

5. Don't tip! I know, it sounds crazy especially from those of us North Americans who are used to tipping.  The tip is included here and it's absolutely not necessary for you tip.  IF you want to tip a few coins, like your change that's fine but none of that 15-20% stuff here.  That's a rip off, don't get ripped off.  Do however, tip your bell hop if he brings your bags up.  Don't tip the waiter or the cab driver unless they were awesome.

6. If you're near the Champs de Mars (the grassy area by the Eiffel Tower) or on the Champs Elysee and some woman comes up to you and asks you if you speak English, say NO.  You'll think they're asking YOU for directions or something but they're not.  They will show you a picture of some kid who is "sick" and "needs surgery".  This is a scam, they will try to get money from you either by your guilt or my stealing it while you're distracted. 

7. Also, if some guy is walking towards you and suddenly bends down to pick up a ring off the ground then comes to you and asks you if you dropped it, say NO.  First of all these guys are idiots, if they are walking towards me and see a ring on the ground IN FRONT of me then how did I drop it?  Did I throw it? No, these are scammers stay away.  

8. If you visit the Montmartre area (the artsy area & near Moulin Rouge & Sacre Coeur church) if some guys want to show you a "trick" with string, say NO and walk away fast.  Their trick is to tie up your hands somehow and while you're mesmerized by their magic they rip you off. 

(None of these things have actually happened to me {knock on wood} but i've seen them)

9. Pointing to order food is perfectly acceptable! Don't be afraid to try to speak French but throwing in a point to the food or the menu won't hurt either.  At least there's no confusion!

10. Meat is not fully cooked here! I got sick one time from a hamburger at a restaurant because i'm not used to meat being so rare.  It's ok to ask for it well done (Bien cuie) It's better to have the meat cooked than be sick after, at least in my opinion it is!

11.  ENJOY Paris!  Eat lots of bread, cheese and chocolate! Drink lots of wine! Go shopping! Explore! Smile! I promise I will try to do more of these things too ok? 

Bon Voyage!

In The Metro

There's one metro station that has this long people mover thing which I love!  We were on it the other night and I took video.  I'm not in the video but you can hear my voice so that counts!

Video includes Ashley, Amy, Leanne, Jenn, Megan, Kasey & my voice!

Protest in Paris

Today as I was out around the Montparnasse area I witnessed my first ever French Protest!  This one however was different than the usual ones you hear about.  Usually you hear about the French protesting job wages or something like that.  This one was about genocide in Sri Lanka.  I couldn't understand what they were chanting but they were loud and they had signs with some horrific images on them.  The line of protesters went on and on.  They were marching down the street where I was waiting for the bus and since the bus wasn't coming anytime soon I decided to snap some photos and I took a video of the protest.  

blah blah blah

I'm sick.  I don't feel like talking to anyone.  I just want to stay in my little hole in the wall and just be by myself today.  I have a shit load of laundry to do. I have a shit load of reading to do. I have no food at home and the stores are closed on Sundays.  Ok? So can we all agree that Nilo gets to be in hibernation today?  Thanks!

I know I haven't written about my trip to London yet and I got back on Tuesday and it's already Sunday night.  I had a great time in Londontown, I got to visit with Suz & Molly and that was better for me than anything else right now.  I really really needed to see some friends.  Not that i haven't made friends while I've been here but seeing my friends from home is on a whole other level.  There are a few more people from home that i would give anything to see right now but unfortunately i can't.  But seeing Molly & Suz made me feel way less homesick and it was awesome to just spend time with them.  We didn't do a lot of touristy stuff we just hung out and it was the best!

This is us at Suz's birthday party, we all had to dress up representing a country. I was France, Molly was like Caribbean or Bahamas (Somewhere tropical!) and Suz was Russian (A Russian spy to be exact)

I'm back!

I'm back in Paris! It's already 2 am so i'm not writing a full blog tonight but I will soon...had a great time in Londontown!!!

xoxo

I got lost today...surprised? Nope!

So today I decided to get out of the house (apartment) so I went to the train station to print out my ticket to London.  I know it's a week early and I know I could've gone the day of and just printed it but I wanted to make sure I have it in hand and there are no problems...plus I needed somewhere to go today.  So I did that and then I decided that I would just stop by the Louvre because I have not seen it yet since i've been here.  So I got off the metro at Louvre stop which I didn't realize let's you out right inside the lobby area!  Neat!  I walked around and then went up the Jardin Tuileries (ps I don't know how to spell any of these places) anyways, I sat a bench and tried to read a chapter for school but it started to drizzle so I got up and started walking towards the pyramid.  I took some pictures (see below) and then just decided to start walking.  I didn't really know where I was going but I was walking along the Seine and I could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance.  Then all of a sudden I was at the bottom of the Champs Elysee!  So I figured since i'm here I might as well walk up the Arc side and then home.  Well, once I got to the Arc I decided that I would go passed my street and go to the other side of the Arc to see what's down those streets.  Well the street I went down there wasn't much there.  A lot of motorcycle shops and men's clothing stores, I decided to call it "Man Street".  haha I crack myself up! Anyways, of course going home from Man Street I decided not to go back the way I came and instead thought I could figure out my way.  Well, eventually I did figure out my way but not before I officially felt lost and started to panic just a little bit.  But eventually I saw the Arc in the distance and I know I live by it so then I found my way home.  Yay me!  The walk was nice but i'm not sure how long it actually took me to do it because I wasn't paying attention to the time, maybe 45 min?  Not sure but it's a nice walk and next time I'm going INSIDE the Louvre!  I've been before but I want to go again.   When I got home my landlady called and she was telling me that the plumber is coming tomorrow because she thinks something is leaking and we started talking and now I know what she does, she's a painter!  And she said she occasionally gets invites to the openings but she doesn't go anymore and she said next time she gets one she's giving it to me! How cool is that?!  Love her!  

Here are pictures from today, there are more up on Facebook if you want to see...

Today was better...

Well today was for sure better than yesterday.  My landlady for realz did ring my doorbell this morning and not the weird Chinese guy.  So she told me somebody was coming tomorrow at 8:30am to check something that has to do with the roof but they need to check something in my apartment to.  Anyways I brought up the incident and she said that Ericka my other neighbor called her already and told her what happened.  So Madame Landlady said not to worry that she would handle it and that apparently this guy has been living in that tiny closet oh sorry I mean apartment for 20 years and he hasn't been a problem.  So dude what the hell's the problem now?  Anyways I feel better about it now and Madame Landlady also told me that if I ever need anything to call her and even if I needed a ride in the middle of the night her and her dog "Monsieur" (seriously her dogs name is Monsieur!) would come pick me up, how nice is that?  I love my landlady she rules.  

Ok so two more days left till I am officially on Spring Break!  And ONE more week till I go to Londontown!!!  So super super super excited!!  And Suz's birthday is on Tuesday any ideas what to get her? Something French perhaps?  hmm...I need inspiration I think I will go to Galleries Lafayette they have a really cool section with some fun stuff.  

Ok time to watch this week's episode of Heroes online and then sleepy time.  

Oh and PS Ericka my neighbor and her boyfriend were having sexy time again tonight!

I'm Just Not In To This Day.

So I've had a really weird day and I'm so glad it's almost time to go to sleep because I'm so OVER this day.  So let's start at the beginning...

First I wanted to wake up earlier than I have been.  I'm trying to instill a better schedule.  So of course that didn't happen but I started to wake up around 10am and around when I was starting to wake up my doorbell rang.  First off I didn't even realize I had a doorbell. So I thought as I was slowly getting out of bed it's got to be my landlady, who else would be at my door right?  So I look through the peep hole and it was blurry because I had literally just woken up and was really still half asleep and it looked like my landlady a short blond french lady.  So I open the door and standing there was NOT my landlady it was an older gaunt looking Chinese man.  So naturally I'm freaked out and he starts talking to me in what I think was French but I couldn't understand exactly what he was saying.  So I think he's asking me for hot water but soon realize he's not. Then he says "English?" and I say "yes" and then he proceeds in broken English which I barely understand.  He's trying to explain something to me but then he starts leaning in towards the door line, the line which you do not cross which immediately freaked me out even more so I started waving my hands in a shooing motion for him to get back. At this point I'm super freaked out and he starts leaning back in so I close the door and as I close the door I hear the word "bread".  I didn't slam the door but I did close the door basically in his face.  I went and sat down and thought what the fuck just happened??  So then not 2 seconds later I hear him in the hall go to my other neighbor's door and the chick's boyfriend answers the door.  I think he gave him some food but I'm not sure.  So I start getting ready for school and now I'm feeling guilty because this guy is basically begging for food, he looks like he hasn't eaten in forever and I just closed the door on him.  As I was getting ready to leave I looked around my place to see if I even had anything to give him.  I really don't have any food except for a few random things in the fridge and I had half a box of this stuff that's similar to Melba Toast.  I decided that I would give him what I had left of the Melba toast so as I'm leaving I knocked on his door and I stood as far away as I could with my arm reached out and gave him the food.  He started to thank me but I basically took off and didn't let him finish.  So the whole day now I have the image of my neighbor the gaunt Chinese man in my head!

Then I get to school and meet Susan and I tell her what happened and I decided that I need a Starbucks (which is right by school) so we go there on the way to class.  As we're walking from Starbucks to class I stepped on a cable that was on the sidewalk and almost fell.  Luckily I didn't fall but I almost fell which shook me up even more.  Then I sit through 3 hours of class.  Then I have a meeting with my Global Internet professor to talk about my term paper.  We had to meet with him to discuss our topics.  I started discussing my topic and I could tell he didn't like it, or at least didn't think it was a good enough topic to write my paper on, great.  Luckily I had a back up topic which he liked much better. 

The other part of the day that pissed me off has to do with just how unorganized my school/department is.  When we first arrived they assigned us advisers but now they've reassigned advisers so I went online to the site where it's supposed to tell me who my advisor is and it says it doesn't recognize my student ID (mind you i'm logged in to the site WITH my student ID!) Ok fine, so then I see the chair of the department in the hall so I go ask him and he schedules an appointment with me for March 12th (today is February 17th) um thanks.  It's because the next two weeks are Spring Break so we're all off but the word around is that we have to register for Summer classes DURING Spring Break...um excuse me?  And now my advisor won't meet with me until AFTER?  WTF?  The whole class schedule, the advising system just everything is ass backwards here.  I feel like the whole department is so unorganized and they don't know what the fuck's going on.  Hello!  We're the Communications Department, maybe try communicating with each other eh???  

So now Jenn and I leave the Grad Lounge and head to Kamini's place for dinner and on the metro a homeless guy gets on the train and starts begging people for money.  At this point I'm so frazzled from the day I feel like I'm going to have a nervous breakdown and I just want this homeless man to go away.  He's not holding on to anything in the train so he keeps flopping around and his bag is hitting me and I just want to shove him away, but I don't.  I just have an internal break down! 

I'm home now and yes, I have readings to do for class tomorrow but I just can't do it.  I'm sorry but I just can't so i'm going to watch the latest episode of Friday Night Lights and then go to sleep.  I'm so over this day!  

Please let tomorrow be better.