We’ve committed to going on a trip outside of Paris on Sundays, and last Sunday we visited Giverny, Claude Monet’s country home and gardens, which were beautiful!

There was also a really lovely medium sized Impressionist museum close by, with some significant pieces by other Impressionists artists. What a roudy group of twenty-somethings they all were, totally involved with the sea, sun, river, parties and nature around them! I think in the last few weeks I’ve gotten such a deeper understanding of why this art resonates so with me --- it’s all about recognizing the beauty in everything around us and the value of the “impression” or feeling that one gets at a particular moment of recognition of the simple beauty of existence.

We followed the visit by a typical Sunday lunch in a restaurant in a small city called Vernon. I was so satiated with wine, fish, vegetables, French bread, cheese, salad, and dessert that I could barely keep my eyes open on the ride home. So I came back and took a nap! Why not?

After 2 weeks/ 40 intense hours / studying and immersion here in the streets, our French is progressing pretty quickly. At the moment it’s really providing the focal point and a structure for our day, along with 1-2x/week walking tours of Paris, with a wonderful guide named Antoine. I am also planning this week join a few of the American-French organizations here that also have English-French conversation get-togethers several times a week as well as trips and events around the city. Next weekend there is a big literary event at a bookstore called Shakespeare and Company (located in the Latin Quarter) with authors, readings and dramatic presentations at the square next door. So there is lots and lots going on here.

And of course, everyone here is wild about the World Cup. The first game we hung out at the Trocadero, which is a huge public outdoor space with a huge outdoor screen to match. We saw the second England-USA game in a pub, where all of the 20-30 something Americans were all going absolutely berserk anytime the USA came close to scoring.

It’s pretty amazing how just a few weeks ago we were in Agoura, which for me is all about being in a sunny wide open green space with room to roam around in our lovely luxurious cars and homes and restaurants and stores and beach. Here it’s all about being out in the commons, in close proximity to people everywhere. I’ve quickly realized that in a dynamic and healthy community, where people respect other’s space and boundaries, it creates a real sense of excitement, stimulation and creativity. Rather than watching t.v. and movies, I’m sitting at cafes and watching people walk by. I feel as if I’m watching my very own French movie and making up my very own script in my head! Crazy, but very entertaining!

There is also a great value put on here on tradition and the thought leaders that built the city. Guess who lived in a room in the building where we do our banking with all of the latest technology? Marcel Proust, a very famous French novelist! The plaque on the front of the building says so!