Nothing like a fashion show in Paris

            On Tuesdays I am only supposed to have my French class but today it was cancelled due to a scarf dyeing seminar held this morning. This type of scarf dyeing is called Arashi Shibori! Arashi means tornado in Japanese and shibori means to wring, squeeze or press. These two techniques were used to create our scarves!

My white silk, thread for the wrapping process, instructions, the bottle to wrap the scarf and what a finished scarf would look like. 

Lots of finished scarves!

My instructor dyeing my scarf black.

My friend Elise, wrapping her scarf around her bottle with thread. 

My scarf on the bottle after wrapping. 

After this I had to wear gloves and it was too difficult to take pictures but from here I put my scarf/bottle into the discharge water to take some of the black out. When we felt like enough color was removed we then added our other colors and I chose a light pink. We painted on our other dye colors and then had to microwave them to let the dye set into the fabric. After that, we put them in front of a fan to dry and I am on my way to pick my scarf up this afternoon! 

Some of my instructors work at her showing. Clearly these are only art pieces and cannot be worn but they were very neat!

           This evening we had the opportunity to work back stage at the Basil Soda fashion show. Besides the fact that it was only my second day of class and I was already working a fashion show I was decently nervous but excited at the same time!

            The 15 of us from PAA walked our way over to the show and arrived around 3:50 but were not let inside until just after 5:30 so we had to stand out in the rain and it was really cold out too! Not sure why we could not stand just inside the doors but we were insisted to stay outside. Once we were let in, we were able to watch the first five models practice their walks down the runway and get a feel for how the show was going to run. Although we did not actually get to watch the show, being able to just watch that 5 minute walk through was pretty incredible!

            Once backstage we were each paired with a model and her outfits, accessories and shoes. All we had for each outfit was a picture of what the complete outfit was supposed to look like and two minutes to get it on and off our girl. To say the least, I was slightly nervous because I did not to do something wrong or ruin an outfit or do something to mess up the show but thankfully I had the sweetest model in the world and her dresses were not as intricate as others.

             My model’s name was Josephina and she was from Denmark. She showed up as the other models were in line and with only 5 minutes to the start of the show so I quickly got her suited up in her first outfit and got her in line. She was the #16 to go down the runway and before I knew it she was back and only had roughly 90 seconds before she had to be in line to be #37! Take a second to think how long it takes you to take off an outfit and change into another, now include shoes, jewelry and hair fixing and try to fit that into 90 seconds, crazy fast!! I also have never seen or wanted to see to many women body parts at one time. I know my face was red because I was embarrassed for the models. Some of them just had to stand in little underwear that barely covered anything and wait to slip into a dress. To them, it is just another day but I was completely uncomfortable for them. Especially since there are so many male hair dressers, makeup artists and show producers but it is just another day to all of them and no one seems to think of it as a big deal. Also, considering I am roughly 5’5 and most of the models were 5’10 and up, their chests were very close to my eye level…. Very awkward!

            Besides all of that, the show was incredible!  It is insane that you can take nearly 25 girls who look nothing alike except for height and their skinniness and can make them look like sisters with different hair colors through the help of makeup and a hair straightener! There are really so many things to share about everything that went on backstage, from the makeup to the hair and shoes, dressing the models, the press afterwards and finally getting to go stand on the runway for a minute, it was a crazy wonderful night. Thankfully my model was a very very sweet person and made a point of coming to find me after the show to thank me for my help and then we kissed each other’s cheeks, left first and then right.

Pictures for her outfits!

Some of the models after they were finished. 

Basil Soda and some of his models. Josephine is the blonde girl, third from the left of Basil Soda. 

This is what the runway looked like!

Some of the dresses that were worn!

The models clapping for Basil Soda when the show was over. 

            Tomorrow I do not have class so I plan to purchase some groceries, go for a run in Luxembourg Gardens and possibly go with a few girls to a the Arc de Triomphe and Parisian thrift store. Should be another great day to see the city! 

New Kid at School

           Today was my first day of school and if any of you remember your first day of kindergarten where you don't know your teacher's name and the girl sitting next to you smells funny...you're not really sure what your mom packed you for lunch and you don't know where the bathrooms are? Well, that was today in a nut shell. Most of my teachers, I cannot pronounce their names, the girls sitting next to me are from all over the world and wear so much perfume it burns my eyes, I didn't pack a lunch because I don't really have any groceries or lunch sack and in the need of two minutes to collect myself and figure out what in the world is going on, I couldn't find the bathroom.
           The morning started off slightly rough because I did not sleep well and I knew that dad would be leaving. After I said my goodbye to dad, I headed upstairs to meet the other girls and professors at PAA. In showing up to class, I find that I am one of a handful of Americans in the "melting pot" here at PAA. Just in my immediate group, most of my class time will be spent with roughly 7 other girls, there are three other Americans Amanda from ISU, Jasmine from Boston and Steph from NYC, one from Australia named Elise, Antoinette from London, Violet from Argentina, Chantal from Lebanon and girls in some of my other classes are from France, Iran, Turkey, Canada, Iceland and Sweden to name a few! Most of the teachers speak english, but that does not mean they speak it often! The accents are so strong from all teachers and students that I constantly find I am either asking someone to repeat what they said or someone is asking me to repeat what I said! I have now had three girls ask if I was from Minnesota because of how I pronounce my "O" and "A" vowels. They asked me to say "boat", "bag" and other various words and in a room of that many languages and cultures, the "Minnesotan/South Dakotan" gets pointed out, someone tell me how that works?
           I had three classes today and will on thursday and friday as well. Tuesday I only have my two hour French lecture and on wednesday I do not have class. Although I wish it was friday instead of wednesday, I'll still take it! In one of my classes our professor took the ten of us out on the bus to a textiles supply store in the heart of the city. Talk about a field trip! Definitely not like heading to Dorothy Pecauk Nature Center! We did make it there and back and saw a new part of the city in the process!
           Tomorrow, our French class is cancelled as we have a scarf dyeing demonstration in the morning! It should be interesting as we learn techniques of dyeing fabrics and many of the other girls and I are looking forward to it! Tomorrow afternoon we are meeting at 3:30 to "dress a fashion show". We are required to wear all black, minimal makeup, no jewelry, and no high heels. We will be back stage at a fashion show and as the models come back we will help prepare them for the runway! Hopefully we will have a chance to talk with the designer, whose name I absolutely cannot think of right now but will post up tomorrow, and have some insight to his inspiration for the collection!
           Today was full of many emotions and I know that tomorrow will be a much smoother day! I am hoping to take pictures while dyeing the scarves and of some of the runway show! It should be an exciting day and I hoping to run in the morning and see some of the area around me for myself! Hope all is well at home and know that I miss you so very very much!

A Day in the City

          Parisian day number three was another eventful one! The three of us ended up sleeping until almost 10:00 AM this morning and I am pretty sure dad slept nearly 11 hours! Once we were all showered and ready to go for the day we headed to the metro to try another form of city transportation. On our way there, we passed the Luxembourg Gardens and it is the equivalent to Central Park in New York City.  I am excited because there were so many runners that I absolutely would be safe to exercise and run in the park! We then made it to the metro, got tickets and got on the train. Our first stop was the Notre-Dame de Paris and since it was sunday we were able to see the actual church service while it was happening! There were tourists actually cutting the line of the congregation so they could take communion there! In French, Notre means our and Dame means lady so it is referred to as "our lady of Paris". The Notre-Dame will be 850 years old next year and it is crazy to think that that extensive of a church could have been built so long ago!

The Seine River looking out from the Notre-Dame.

The Notre-Dame!

Pops and I in front of the church!

We then went to the Eiffel Tower and completely fell in love with it! Although there are lots of people and pooping birds, it was definitely a sight to see and might be a frequent visiting stop of mine throughout this semester! It is absolutely huge and the view from the top is too incredible to explain! 

Waiting in line for tickets to the top, underneath the Eiffel Tower.

In the elevator, headed to the second level!

View from the second level!

Looking to the top from the second level.

At the very top of the Eiffel Tower!! Crazy beautiful!!

We were able to see the Arc de Triomphe from all levels of the Eiffel Tower but this is the view from the very top! It is huge!

          Even though I am not afraid of heights the ride to the top was literally breathtaking, in all senses of that phrase! The view was incredible and I am glad I was able to share that experience with my dad! As we walked around the top portion of the Eiffel Tower, dad and I came across a French man proposing to his girl friend! She was in tears and it was so cute! I felt bad that we interrupted their moment but it was really neat to see!

          After coming down and getting our ground legs back, dad and I were starving and I got a strawberry crèpe and he got a French hot dog! Delicious!! It was neat to eat our snacks and walk along the Seine to get back to the metro!

          School starts tomorrow and I have decided I am only taking along a pencil and a notebook? They have given us no instructions except to show up at 9:00 AM for orientation so I am assuming that I will be prepared with those materials!

          Tonight is dad’s last night in Paris and even though it was culture shock for him, I think he really enjoyed his time here and learned a lot too! I am sad to see him leave but I know he is ready to go home too! I am glad we have pictures to look back on and plenty of funny stories to share!

The Normandy Beaches

     Today we traveled by nearly all transportation means possible except donkey, but I did see one! Dad and I started the day by walking to the closest bus stop and paying 1,10 Euros for each ticket. We took the bus to Gare St. Lazare, one of the only stations that has TGV (TGV is said TE-GE-VE and is the French bullet train) trains to northern France. After someone finally helped us figure out where to go, we purchased two billets (tickets) to Deauville and headed to platform 25 to find the train. The ride was nearly an hour and a half before our train change in Lissex. The little old lady in our train compartment only spoke French but allowed me to speak with her and practice my French skills. She spoke very very quickly but I did pick up some French and it was good practice! Just over 5 minutes before we were to get off the train to switch to the next one, she made dad and I follow her into the hallway where two train cars are connected and wait for the train to stop. As the three of us are getting thrown around in the hallway, she is pacing back and forth, muttering in French and trying to figure out which side the platform will be on. During her pacing, the train jolted to a quick stop and she got thrown into Dad's belly, bounced off and was completely disoriented. It was literally all I could do not to burst out in laughter! Neither the little old lady or dad could say anything to each other because they couldn't understand each other. All dad could say was "Mercy" which I think he was meaning "merci"! All in all, an interesting trip!

          Once off the train, we found a taxi and our driver spoke some English but mostly French. It also was good practice to talk to him! He talked slower and helped me phrase sentences together when I did not know what to say. He took us all the way over to see the "mulberries" also known as the Arromanches, the American Military Cemetery and from there we could over look Omaha Beach. 

Arromanches "Mulberries"

Grumpy pants on his field trip! He was extremely excited to be there besides his expression in the photo!

Houses along the coastline.

Dad reading the plaques along the docking station and cannon statue.

Arromanches far out in the water.

American Military Cemetery

These last two photos are views from the American Military Cemetery and they are over looking part of Omaha Beach. (La plage d'Omaha)

          After touring for a while, our taxi driver got us back to the train station in Deauville with 9 minutes to spare and dad and I settled in for the 2 hour ride back. Once we got back to the city, dad and I each had to pay 0.50 Euros to go to the bathroom! Mildly ridiculous, but had to be done! 

         We saw a McDonalds on our way back to the train station and of course had to make a pit stop for supper. Instead of ordering at a counter, we ordered at a touch screen kiosk and then picked up our order at the counter as soon as we were done. Dad ordered a McFarmer :) We were starving and ate quickly! We then headed to the bus stop and I got a phone call from mom saying that Cali's Readers Theater group received a 1 at districts this morning and will be advancing to state! On the bus ride home dad and I were able to see more of the night life in Paris. We saw the Eiffel Tower all lit up and the Seine River with all kinds of people walking across its bridges and the Louvre Pyramid too! Beautiful!

          Tomorrow we plan to tour the city! Dad is wanting to hit all of the big sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and whatever else we can find! Should be a great way to start learning my way around the city and I will be able to show you all the beautiful French architecture here in Paris with the pictures I take! 

Je suis arrivée!

Dad and I at a French Bistro!

Hey everyone! Here is an update on what we've been up to in the past several hours! Wednesday night I packed and packed and packed and got ready to leave on thursday morning! Thursday morning came and I said my goodbyes to Mom and Cali as they headed off to school and left Ella, Tym and I's rather large and attention oriented puppy, to finish packing! Although Ella is definitely no help when it comes to packing, it was nice to have her around because now I miss her a lot! 

Dad and I arrived at the airport in plenty of time for me to rearrange my suitcases in order to distribute my slightly overweight suitcase into the smaller two and for Dad to get stopped in security because they thought he had explosive baby power in his bag. Seriously, they were testing it with chemicals and whatnot and I waited for over 5 minutes for the security guard to let him though! From there we flew to Dallas and Dad took me for a good ol' fatty cheeseburger and fries one last time, it was delicious! From Dallas we flew to Paris and just under 9 hours later we safely arrived at the airport! We took a taxi to my school, the Paris American Academy, and got moved into my temporary apartment. 

My roommate, Amanda McIntyre, is also a student at Iowa State and arrived only an hour before we did. She gave dad and I a tour of the apartment and we set to unpacking. The apartment has an upstairs with a trundle bed and another bed that tucks up into the wall. The bathroom is nice too and the best part is the basement! In the basement we have a washer and dryer, a full kitchen area with a wine rack in the fridge and an eating area too! There also is a sweet little studio behind the kitchen area that has a bright red couch, modern furniture and lights coming out of the floor! 

We had lunch at a little Bistro just up the street from my apartment and also bought some groceries so we have things for breakfast in the morning! Tomorrow Amanda, Dad and I are headed to Normandy to explore the beaches and to see the war monuments! We will be taking the TGV (French bullet train) and should be a great trip! I will have pictures from Normandy for you all to see tomorrow!

Here before we know it!

       Bonjour mes amis! The big travel day is only 15 days away and it will be here before we know it! Yesterday I celebrated my birthday at the Wood's house and helped Tym pack his suitcase and prepare for his international adventure! Kris, Logan and I traveled to the airport this morning and watched Tym as he waited for his plane, made sure he had everything ready to go and ultimately took off for his connecting flight in Cincinnati and then on to Europe! Around 5:40 PM he departed for Europe and is currently flying over "the big pond" as I am typing this!
        In 15 days, Dad and I will heading across "the pond" as we travel to Paris! My passport and French visa are in the mail and should be here any day. Currently I am working on signing up for frequent flier miles and applying for a credit card to use internationally! Otherwise, the only things setting me back from flying to Paris are packing, waiting for my visa and passport to come and time! I have posted a picture of what the Paris American Academy looks like!