Stateside

I returned home about two weeks ago via first class U.S. Airways flight and I must admit it was pretty impressive. If you have to fly longer than five hours go first class, most times you can pay for an upgrade at the ticket counter or just splurge, believe me it's worth it. So lets recap, finished my film, lost my credit cards and my passport, went for two weeks without any money in a foreign country, if I can survive that I can survive anything, ate at the oldest and most expensive restaurant in Paris, Le Coup, courtesy of New York University, shot some scenes for my film with a Super 8mm camera, left my bike, Josephine, with a good friend until I return, yes I will be returning, spent the night in the airport but made it home safely. The best part about traveling abroad was just being immersed in the culture. There were times when I just wanted to come home but those periods always passed and left me feeling proud of myself for being able to spend an extended period of time outside my comfort zone and away from all my family and friends. If you've never been to a foreign place for longer than two or three weeks you should definitely do it. You learn a lot about yourself as I did. I must say there's nothing like home though. I do miss being surrounded by French speaking people and the French way of life, its so much more appealing than American life, its more sophisticated, artistic, polished. I do miss that way of life. The French are so conservative and reserved although they do have bourgeois attitudes and they don't smile very often, but you get used to it. Well enjoy the final pictures from my voyage and I'll be posting more as I begin entering my finished film into festivals, once it's complete as I am still editing it, and I'll be having a screening probably in late October.

Madame Josephine

So I bought a bike, I feel so Parisian now pedaling everywhere. I've taken the liberty of naming her Josephine after my heroine Josephine Baker. my bike like my heroine will help me explore Paris. I've done so much in so little time where do i begin, I've been shooting non-stop, I went to the flea market, where i met Josephine, bought some records including a Josephine Baker classic, learned how to read a Paris map, go lost for a total of 10 hours, accumulated, shot a Bollywood video (craigslist), visited sacre coeur, got on the ferris wheel at the tuileries with my camera, great veiw of paris, passed moulin rouge, and gone to monoprix almost daily, equivalent of target but swankier. I'm having such a great time and since I'm biking everywhere I'm losing weight and feeling great, these French guys can't get enough of me. I'm kidding. I gotta get up early tomorrow for class so I'll talk to ya soon.

Ja'taime,

blackgirlinparis

Il y a beaucoup à voir (There is a lot to see)

So, it's only my third day in the city of light and already I've seen so much. On Monday I took a bike tour via Fat Bikes, an American company that makes its fortune on guiding tourist around Paris on beach cruisers. I know, it sounds a little touristy but its a really good way to see the entire city in under three hours. We went from one end of Paris to another, pedaling along the Seine, riding over Louis III Bridge and pushing past the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower which you can see from practically anywhere in the City, I felt so Parisian. We biked past all the museums and cathedrals and learned a lot about Parisian architecture and history. Then at dinner with the other students and my professors I learned that a lucky few from my class, me of course, would be attending a couture fashion show by one one Paris' newest, hottest Couture designers as press. WTF!!! So on my second day in Paris I made my way to a white tent that had been erected under the beautiful bridge of Louis III and strutted my stuff right on past the velvet rope with my press pass and my cute shoes. I took my seat on the second row and awaited the spectacle. It was wonderful, I even had a celebrity sighting backstage after the show as Forrest Whitaker and his wife posed for the flashing photogs. I sipped a glass of champagne with the beautiful, taunt models and toast to the good life. Salute.

City of Light

I've arrived. I've made it to the City of Light via India, Air India that is, and suprisingly it was the best service I've had on a flight, ever. The double decker plane took off out of Newark Intrnl at 9 pm and touched down at Charles de Gaulle at 10 am the next morning. Direct flight, no layovers, dinner and breakfast served on the plane and voilà, Frech keyboards add the accent, voilà. I was very nervous about making it from the plane to the baggage claim to the money exchange and finally to the Paris metro but I'm proud to say that I used my french, the minimal amount that I know, Bonjour, Parlez vous anglais? Merci. And just like that I made my way through the airport and onto the Paris Metro with £50.00. I got off at the Luxemburg Station as advised by my student handbook, bought a mozzerella and tomato bagguatte with my euro and with the above stated French I asked for directions to 93 Saint Michele. Two blocks and there I was, Foyer International de Estudiantes. I was jetlag so I checked into my room, made my bed and slept for 5 hours. That evening I was treated to dinner by NYU along with the 15 other students, herring and potatoes, roasted lamb and fresh fruit and sorbet for dessert, at a divine Morrocan resturant. On our walk back to the dormitory we saw mimes, inline skating performers and break dancers, I even danced in the in the stret in front of Notre Dame and walked along the Seine. Thus far Paris is great, I'm having the time of my life.





C'est la vie,





blackgirlinparis

T minus 1, Bonjour Black Girl in Paris!

One day left and I leave for Paris. After years of dreaming, hoping and wishful thinking I am finally fulfilling my destiny of traveling to Paris. And what's more, I'll be studying film, actually I'll be making a film while I'm there. I'm thinking Jean Renoir's early years meets Cameron Crowe, with all his references to the French New Wave (Vanilla Sky), maybe even a throwback to the silent era, you'll just have to wait and see. Any suggestions about things to do while I'm abroad? I'm all packed and ready to go as I await my rendezvous in Paris. I long to explore my new found self as a black girl in Paris. I'll take lots of pictures and check in soon.

Je dois partir maintenant.

Au Revior,

blackgirkinparis!