Weeks 2 & 3 continued

I could not get everything in on the below post. The last two weeks have been busy, so here is more! 


This Saturday was spent in the Opera Garnier area. The girls were happy that the day started off with a visit to the new Apple Store right next to the Opera house. It is certainly the nicest Apple store I have ever seen as it is in an old bank building and they have kept much of the old architecture and style. Beautiful. And as always, the Apple sales people were helpful (but we still don't have wifi!)


More importantly we did visit the Opera Garnier. What a stunning building, even the girls appreciated it and were in awe of the beauty and opulence. Gabrielle felt that a princess should be descending the stairs in a ball gown. We plan on attending a performance there soon in our new Parisian gowns! This was followed by a sushi lunch in an area referred to as Little Tokyo on Rue Sainte Anne and then coffee and the girls running off some energy in the beautiful square at the Palais Royale. A busy eight hour day for the three Tai girls and grandma. 


But the highlight of the past few weeks was lunch for Nathalie's birthday on a patio over looking la Tour Eiffel, Champs de Mars and the Seine on a beautiful, sun filled, hot day. The view was amazing, the food delicious and the company entertaining. Bon Anniversaire ma grande fille!

Week 2 & 3

Yes I am slacking off already!! The past two weeks are here together. 

One of my biggest observations of the last few weeks is that yes, there really are many gorgeous French women! I don't know what it is. Is is the way they dress? The way they carry themselves and are so slender? Or the fact that so many of them wear heels and look amazing in them? I have never thought this on past trips but now that I am trying to blend in and be like them and am failing miserably, I realize just how stunning some of them are. Oh yes, and the men are not bad either! 

Perhaps this is why I have always had a love/hate relationship for the French. I love so much about this country and the people but dislike so much at the same time.  Now, quite surprisingly, that I am living amongst them, I am actually gaining an appreciation for them. 

Now onto the Tai girls and our activities. 

Both Tai girls seem to be adjusting.  I can tell that they are having some tough moments with school and missing home. Nathalie has gone from a class of 18 at home to a class of 31 with over 160 kids in grade 6. Gabrielle has gone from a small class as well to a class of 25 with over 75 kids in grade 3. The girls are attending two different schools. 

Last Saturday was spent at La Palais de la Decouverte (Palace of Discovery). This is a science museum in a stunning building built in 1937 for the Universal Exposition full of hands on experiments and demonstrations. I was not a big fan of the rat maze while the girls loved taking pictures of the big fat dirty rat! 

Week 1

"It is so charming how you speak French, you have a nice little English accent." And so began week one for me in Paris. 


Day one of school. After a rushed and nervous morning getting the girls off to school I was treating myself to a strong morning coffee at a local cafe. Feeling good, people watching and writing down some thoughts in my notebook when I was interrupted by the gentleman at the next table lighting up a cigarette and asking me if I minded. He of course had to then tell me about himself and then made this lovely comment on my accent. Such a nice way to start our stay in France. 


Now some real highlights from our first week:


-   the lunches at the girls' school cafeterias! Day one for Elle was roast beef, potatoes, carrot salad, choice of 2 cheeses, 2 pieces of baguette and fruit for dessert. Nathalie had the choice of 3 cheeses, one being a strong blue cheese. Her comment when she got home was "only at a French school do you offer 11 year olds strong blue cheese!"
-    not having to make school lunches for a whole school year! 
-    my French uncle asking me with a big grin on his face "what will George DO without you for a whole year!?" Yes only in France! 
-    seeing three Parisians actually picking up their dog's poo. 
-    and of course, good coffee, amazing chocolate, wine, cheese and fresh baguettes. 

The Adventure Begins!

The debonair gentleman with the red sweater elegantly resting on his shoulders and wrapped around his neck. The lady seated behind me arguing non-stop with the flight attendant was my second clue. Yes we were certainly on our way to France. And so began our Paris Adventure. The Three Tai girls take on Paris. My daughters try to assimilate into French school. I try to live like a Parisian. What an opportunity, what a year it will be!