(Supercaddie!)
(Comparing baguette bread from different boulangeries)
Two weeks ago, I finally moved into my own apartment here in Paris. Feels strange to be in a place I am now responsible for, full-time. Like, really. You mean to say I now have to take care of bills for things like electricity and figure out how to decorate my place and other types of responsibility? -Oui. The good thing is that with a new neighborhood comes new people to get to know and new food stores to patronize. New cafes to explore, and new parks and streets to walk through.
The building I live in is on the top of a hill in a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of Paris, in a district called "the 15th" (
le 15ème arrondissement
My neighborhood is pretty quiet at night. Not even a sound of a motorcycle or scooter. I worry that I might be disturbing my neighbors below me by my heavy footsteps late at night. I must admit that I am a little scared of meeting my neighbors. Knowing how much Parisians value their privacy, how can I introduce myself and extend a hand in the future without encroaching too much at first? I heard someone tell me that because I am American, I can use that as leverage in introducing myself. In other words, I can get away with it because they would know I am not from here. On another note, I am finding more and more that many French people actually do want to learn or practice their English. Although they remain proud of their language and culture, many French people I meet or encounter - when they find out I'm from the States - suddenly start wanting to switch to English. I guess with the internet and Facebook and Twitter and other online communities, the world is becoming a smaller place...A teammate of mine gave me a really good recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Hands down, the quality of butter and chocolate here in France is better than in the States, so making something as simple as this can turn out awfully good. Perhaps I can do what she is doing and make a batch and bring it over to my next door neighbor. But before I do, I will have convert the recipe measurements to Metrics and then buy measuring cups in metrics. Food here comes in grams and liters instead of cups or ounces, etc.
My apartment building also has a lot of Asian residents. I wonder if some of them are the ones who play music. Often times when I walk into the courtyard to access my elevator, I can hear someone practicing an instrument: clarinet, flute, violin. Is there a conservatory around here? I don't know yet, but perhaps I'll soon find out.
Since moving in, I've also been trying to find good cafes, or good boulangeries (bakeries) where I can go to regularly to buy my baguettes, or my coffee. Actually, when I buy a baguette, I only get a demi-baguette (half-baguette) because living alone, I cannot finish an entire baguette before the bread gets stale. I'm hoping that by going to a place regularly enough, I'll form a good relationship with the patron (owner), or with an employee. There is a corner brasserie/cafe/bar down the hill from me whose owner seems nice. I had un café au lait
My neighborhood is pretty quiet at night. Not even a sound of a motorcycle or scooter. I worry that I might be disturbing my neighbors below me by my heavy footsteps late at night. I must admit that I am a little scared of meeting my neighbors. Knowing how much Parisians value their privacy, how can I introduce myself and extend a hand in the future without encroaching too much at first? I heard someone tell me that because I am American, I can use that as leverage in introducing myself. In other words, I can get away with it because they would know I am not from here. On another note, I am finding more and more that many French people actually do want to learn or practice their English. Although they remain proud of their language and culture, many French people I meet or encounter - when they find out I'm from the States - suddenly start wanting to switch to English. I guess with the internet and Facebook and Twitter and other online communities, the world is becoming a smaller place...A teammate of mine gave me a really good recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Hands down, the quality of butter and chocolate here in France is better than in the States, so making something as simple as this can turn out awfully good. Perhaps I can do what she is doing and make a batch and bring it over to my next door neighbor. But before I do, I will have convert the recipe measurements to Metrics and then buy measuring cups in metrics. Food here comes in grams and liters instead of cups or ounces, etc.
My apartment building also has a lot of Asian residents. I wonder if some of them are the ones who play music. Often times when I walk into the courtyard to access my elevator, I can hear someone practicing an instrument: clarinet, flute, violin. Is there a conservatory around here? I don't know yet, but perhaps I'll soon find out.
Since moving in, I've also been trying to find good cafes, or good boulangeries (bakeries) where I can go to regularly to buy my baguettes, or my coffee. Actually, when I buy a baguette, I only get a demi-baguette (half-baguette) because living alone, I cannot finish an entire baguette before the bread gets stale. I'm hoping that by going to a place regularly enough, I'll form a good relationship with the patron (owner), or with an employee. There is a corner brasserie/cafe/bar down the hill from me whose owner seems nice. I had un café au lait
