Cheap thrills aux friperies

Le mardi 5 juin

Before I start, I want to dedicate this post to all of my French teachers, especially Madame Long (formerly Sigg), all of my French classmates throughout the years from PVHS, Cal, or UCLA, and all of my current and past French students.  I have dedicated many years and hours to learning and teaching the language (17 to be exact!), and being here in Paris feels very right at this point in my life.  Learning this language and culture has been a never-ending journey for me.

I started off the day with a plan. I headed to the Bobigny market en plein air.  I walked through as vendors shouted “Bonjour, Madame!”  One offered me une cerise (a cherry) to taste. I ended up buying a half-kilo of cherries (remember - everything here is measured in the metric system), a melon, and a packet of raspberries - all organic, all for 4 euros. I was proud of myself for not being intimidated and getting through all of the transactions in French.  There was also a fishery and cheese stand at the outdoor farmers’ market.  Perhaps later in the week I can cook some shrimp and add some gouda to my half-eaten brie in the mini fridge.

This morning, the coffee machine worked, and turns out it’s a trės bonne machine.  I pressed the button for an Americano-style-brew and watched as the caramel-colored liquid filled and steamed the sides of the plastic glass I used for lack of available cardboard ones.  The coffee gave me energy to continue my plans of heading to the Marais for thrift-shopping.  I left Citadines and descended the steps into the humid and slightly pungent metro air. I put my mini ticket into the tourniquet slot before pulling it out again to push through the metal bar.  After just one day of reorienting myself to the metro system, I’m back in the game!

I should mention that it was raining this morning and is set to rain for the next week. Many people don’t know that Paris is very similar to Seattle in that it rains ALL the time.  Tourists don’t expect it, but it’s just part of the city. I must have seen at least thirty women wearing lightweight beige raincoats today.  It is definitely a wardrobe staple of the femme parisienne. 

  

 

The Marais is so inspiring.  Posters publicizing art shows, concerts, cabarets, and fashion shows adorn the walls between shops.  Stylish and thin people walk about with outfits that show elegance and ease, and shoes that are comfortable yet aspirational.  I visited King of Frip, Vintage Desir, and Kilo Kawaii (you pay for how many kilos your item weighs).  I left with an Ichi brand  striped shirt à la Jean-Paul Gaultier, a chartreuse green printed shift dress, a lovely Italian dress that is reminiscent of a floral Pucci, and a corduroy oversized jacket inspired by the chic oversized raincoats I saw a duo of female friends wearing today.

Lunch was at the famous L’as du Fallafel on a park bench surrounded by pigeons.  (I haven’t tasted you for ten years and yet I”ve never forgotten you.)  A woman walked by with her teddy bear mini dog and my heart yearned to have little Cecil in my arms.  I am looking forward to being reunited with him and adding to our already large fur-family.  

And after another jet-lag-induced nap, the evening continued with a showing of Le voyage extraordinaire du Fakir at the cinema on the Avenue des Gobelins, and then deux verres de vin rouge at the café across the street from my hotel until 1:30am. This was after a late, late dinner of a soupe à l’oignon and des escargots. 

As this post wraps up, I want to acknowledge that I am very, very fortunate to have this opportunity to travel and to be able to relate it to the career that I love very much.  I am extremely grateful. I look forward to my sister Claire joining me in less than a week, and I look forward to the time when I’m home with my family, friends, and boyfriend so that I can share my memories and adventures with them and give them a hug.  Sohil and I will be adding a third companion to our household; I am adopting a little poodle mix named Cecil and will be bringing him home with me soon after this trip concludes.  

As I marvel at the sites in the fashion capital of the world that is Paris, I also want to express gratitude towards the memory of the late Kate Spade.  From the stories I have been reading, it is clear that she was the embodiment of her brand: elegant, generous, and smart.  I am sorry the world lost such an inspiring person.  It is ironic for me that I finally had to say goodbye to a pair of Kate Spade black sunglasses that I wore for years just last week. I had purchased this particular pair at Thrifttown for only a dollar and just couldn’t believe my luck. When they broke in half a few months ago due to my careless placement of them in a pocket of my work bag, my dad so gently molded them back together, and  I wore them even still until I couldn’t any more.  Thanks to the internet, I can eventually order a new pair of the same timeless style.

Kate Spade always makes me think of my dear friend Janice.  Janice, like Spade, is a lady of elegance and generosity who I admire very much.  It was Janice who bought me my first Kate Spade thing ever - an olive green card holder that I have kept until this day.  Having something so well-made with the gold Kate Spade emblem and symbol made me feel polished, important, and like I could be somebody.  

This is the magic of what fashion does for us.  It’s no little thing. 

Avec des sentiments forts de reconnaissance, je dis bonsoir et bonne nuit à tout le monde. 

Alana