Je m’appelle Jacqui. (My name is Jacqui, for those non-Francophones :]) It has been my lifelong dream to go to Paris. I grew up reading the Madeline books, fascinated from an early age by the French lifestyle. As I took French from 7th through 12th grade and I gradually grew more and more obsessed with the… Continue reading Bonjour! 🙂
Things I Still Don’t Understand About The French
So, after a very long hiatus, I am back in the states. *Insert endless tears* This post was in production many months ago so consider it thoughts I had mostly while still abroad. A few more wrap-up updates to come so stay tuned! 1. Tiny Coffee So the French are big on espresso, which is… Continue reading Things I Still Don’t Understand About The French
American Comforts
Prepare yourself for the sentence that follows. Ready? Okay here we go: As much as I love Paris, sometimes I miss things from America. There, I said it. I don’t miss the low minimum wage, fast food obsession, or general apathy but there are some things that Paris is definitely missing out on and most… Continue reading American Comforts
72 Hours of Brussels and Amsterdam
This may sound like Lifetime-esque travel film but was actually the length of my whirlwind trip to two new cities (and countries): Brussels, Belgium and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The main focus was on Amsterdam, I really only chose Brussels as a side trip to break up the long bus ride. My friends Imani, Cali, and… Continue reading 72 Hours of Brussels and Amsterdam
Nuit Blanche: October 5th
In English: “White Night,” when eclectic artists and innovators of all kinds put their work on display for curious Parisians to observe, marvel, and experience. The events were hit or miss, but it was certainly a unique night! It was a perfect example of how things don’t always go according to plan, but sometimes that… Continue reading Nuit Blanche: October 5th
Fashion’s Night Out: September 17th
Fashion’s Night Out is the one night a year when clothing stores, from high end couturiers like Chanel to bargain stores like Forever 21 stay open late in celebration of the fashion industry. Held in major cities around the world, the night invites stores to host events, offer special deals, and generally invite the masses… Continue reading Fashion’s Night Out: September 17th
121 Bis Rue de la Pompe: A Love Story
On August 24th, 2013, I fell in love. Everyone warned me this would happen, that I would be whisked off into some fairy tale Parisian romance in the City of Love. I just never thought it would happen to me. I’m very practical, and I’m in Paris to study after all! But sure enough, four… Continue reading 121 Bis Rue de la Pompe: A Love Story
The Great Housing Crisis
My first priority upon arriving in Paris, after seeing the Eiffel Tower of course, was to find permanent housing. For whatever reason, this wasn’t a huge concern of mine in the beginning. I had booked my first five nights in a hotel, and had the next ten nights secured in a hostel booked by MICEFA,… Continue reading The Great Housing Crisis
Paris vs. New York
At first glance, Paris has more commonalities with New York than glaring differences. Maybe it was a subconscious effort to avoid culture shock and homesickness, but my fellow New Yorkers and I reached similar conclusions after our first few days in the city of lights. Both are big cities, classic melting pots of adventure and… Continue reading Paris vs. New York
Day 2: My First Real Day in Paris
I woke up to the sound of a fire alarm going off. Or at least, what I believed to be a fire alarm. It was 9:30am and I had just managed to fall back asleep on my crazy jet-lag schedule. I reluctantly headed downstairs, still wearing my little sleep tank top and short shorts because… Continue reading Day 2: My First Real Day in Paris
The Arrival: My First Day in Paris
My flight got in to Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris around 8am Paris time. Despite the fact that I didn’t really sleep on the flight and my body felt it was 1am as though I were back in Wisconsin, I was full of energy. The line for customs was separated between French citizens and… Continue reading The Arrival: My First Day in Paris