Gabrielle in Paris

But I couldn’t. I realized this last night. My bag was already almost full. I still had shoes, shirts, pants, jackets, underwear, linen, towels and toiletries to fit in. My mother took one look at all the stuff I’d spread out on the bed, and another look at the suitcase sitting there, and told me matter-of-factly that I’d need two bags, no question, but I didn’t want to accept it. I pride myself on efficient packing. I’m not one of those girls who packs her whole closet. Five months, 2 and a quarter seasons… so what?

I couldn’t stuff anything more into my suitcase. It was physically impossible. Finally I gave up, sent out an annoying tweet about how annoyed I was and went to sleep. Today I have 2 big suitcases and the second one is even bigger than the first. Hélas.

This is probably the scariest and most exciting thing I’ve ever done. I’m going to Paris tomorrow with no idea where I’m going to live beyond September 5. I also don’t know which school I’m going to within the Université de Paris system, or what classes I’ll be able to take (though I will be taking film classes, I WILL!). And while I spoke French at home until I was 6… that was a long time ago. I’ve had only 2 semesters of French classes since, and I’ve been progressing quickly, but I’m far from fluent. And all of my classes will be in French.

I had a nice summer. I took 2 summer classes, which I actually enjoyed, and now I’m totally finished with the Brooklyn College core curriculum. I feel like that’s an accomplishment somehow, hah.

Then I got a position as a research assistant through Macaulay for a professor who is writing a paper about the representation of U.S. cities in silent film. I researched and watched a ton of early silent films, most of them actualities shot in New York, and I learned about how film style and technology developed during the silent era. I also found out that the elementary school I went to was once the Vitagraph studio and production office, and if you know my elementary school, you’ll know that’s hilarious. It was overall quite cool.

I saw Sigur Ròs live for the first time in 4 years, and they were absolutely stunning. I watched the entire series of Rescue Me after seeing Denis Leary interviewed on The Daily Show. I saw lots of films, spent time with my friends, went to the beach, watched too much CNN. I played Katniss Everdeen for a video skit my friend’s brother directed. I saw One Man Two Guvnors on Broadway and Simon Amstell’s one man comedy show, Numb, off-Broadway. I briefly met the current members of Smashing Pumpkins at a signing. I bought my very first DSLR and took some photos with it. And I read Satori in Paris by Jack Kerouac. Aaaaappropriate.

While I was getting some stuff from my bathroom together today, I found a little note I’d written years ago on a pack of hair ties:

It’s written in eyeliner. WHOVIAN for LIFE! Series 7 starts in 1 week, kiddos. I hope I’ll find some time to watch it what with all the chaos that awaits me.

My mom made me a video to say goodbye, with Go Animate.

I’ll miss her!

I might be going out to see a French film tonight. It’s called Beloved, and it’s directed by Christophe Honoré who also did the wonderful film Love Songs. (It’s on Netflix Instant, go forth!)

Oh, by the way, since this is my first blog post here, WELCOME! Go check out the ABOUT ME if you want to know, um, about me.
À toute à l’heure!