Just a short walk to Versailles

Jet lag could be the worst thing, ever! I am here and made it safe and sound. So far so good. Bertrand, the father, picked me up from the airport hassle free. Though I must admit, I think he thought the amount of luggage I brought was astounding. Later he revealed that he recognized me because, "I cooo-d nut see yew becase of all ze-luggage being pushed, but I saw a small head peek out from bee-hind and z-at is how I recognize, becase yew said there was red luggage." To be totally fair, I only had one 60lb bag, which I got on the plane after my poor father paid $150 extra dollars for it, plus another to check and two carry on bags. The luggage fee conversation went something like this "Kat, you can't get rid of 8lbs of stuff, like some shoes maybe to save $150?" Mom replies with, "Drew, it's still cheaper to pay this fee than try to ship." A short eye roll and swipe of the credit card later, all my shoes are heading to France. First of all, how is one supposed to pick between shoes, isn't that like picking your favorite children? I want all of them to get the experience of walking in France, so how do you even narrow something like that down. When I was unpacking at the house, I honestly thought to myself, "What the heck is all of this stuff and why did I bring it again?" Because it is always imperative to have 700 Gap 'My Favorite Tees' when packing for a foreign country...one day I'll be good at travelling light.

After a quick drive through Paris, where I caught sight of Sacre Coeur, I rode up to St. Germain-en-Laye (Henceforth referred to as SGeL). If you read the tabloids, which I, of course, NEVER do, you would know that Salma Hayek was married there last spring to French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault. Let me tell you, she has great taste, it is absolutely beautiful. SGeL is a beautiful western suburb of Paris, complete with a local castle. Louis XIV was born in the castle and it is amazing (see picture below), the family and I took a 'promenade' around the castle grounds on day one. It was so picturesque and idyllic, until I saw two French musicians get arrested by bicycle cops for smoking weed, and you thought only Americans were that dumb...rest assured they exist in France too. We then took the kids to the carousel, where Elliot, the 4 year old proceeded to tinkle on himself, cutting our walk a bit short. We then returned home for a typical French meal of quiche, salade des champignons (mushroom salad) and vin rouge (red wine), it was divine. After dinner I was able to check my e-mail on Bertrand's computer, attempting to master the French keyboard where the 'M' and 'W' and other grammatical aides are all out of sorts.

I was very frustrated the first days and a half because I could not get the wireless to work, ceasing all communication with the outside world. My parents and one other lucky person received cryptic e-mails like "I am here, can't type on this keyboard. Will call when possible." I am sure my parents got a bit nervous when that's all they heard for two days. However, I spent the better part of yesterday holed up in a McDonalds, which I took a 2o minute walk to, to use the free Wi-Fi. I learned the trick of using McD's wi-fi, whilst in London and spending a good few hours there instead of paying the hostels outrageous costs for internet. However, not having internet was like a smoker being in a room full of cigarettes and not being able to smoke, it was excruciating...try it and you'll see. Scary how dependant I am on this little computer, I don't know if I like that. However, Bertrand downloaded their Wi-Fi program onto my computer and all is right with the world, because now I know what's going on in it.

My house is beautiful and located in the small village of Mariel-Marly, which is a 20 minutes walk down and up hill from SGeL. I am also just a short walk from Versailles, which will be great to visit again. While walking there yesterday I felt like a rotund American tourist in that by the time I got back up the hill, I was gasping for air, either it wasn't quite as steep as I thought or the old ladies passing me where just used to it. It was also market day in SGeL, I was able to see all the vendors, produce and clothes out just waiting to be bought. That's always the nice thing about Europe, the open air markets make you feel so...European, as people walk around with their wicker baskets full of baguettes, eggplants and assorted cheeses. I'll have to spend more time there next weekend, because at that point all I wanted to do was get to McDonalds and use the internet. The rest of the day was nice and relaxing as we played games outside and had a dinner of Croque Monsieur, which was actually the first breakfast I ate in Paris when I was here about a year ago. As of now, it is Monday morning and the parents just left for work a while ago. I had to get Elliot (4) and Maine (9 months) breakfast because they don't start school until Thursday. Ines (6) slept at her cousins house last night, so she is still not back. Today should be laid back but I have the daunting task of preparing dinner tonight and helping Carima, Marine's full time nanny/housekeeper, who speaks no English, with the bathing process. Should be something good to post about that...YIKES!

Bon Voyage

And so it begins, a trip that is over six months in the making. Honestly, I am on a plane to Paris right now, wondering what in the world I am doing?! I am about to move in with a family in France I do not know and just pray I can handle these little French kids. (Pause: The airplane dinner just made it’s grand entrance, now I am really wondering what I am doing…sick). However, I couldn’t be more ready to test the waters and see how this all pans out. I am pretty sure I already miss Tony Cachere’s and am lamenting the fact that I won’t make it to a single LSU football game this Fall. “But Kat, you’ll be in Paris and you’re worried about LSU?” My response, “You just don’t even understand and I don’t expect you to.” This will be the first time since I was two that I haven’t made at least one game. Fingers crossed for a New Years Day bowl or, hey, I’d even take a trip up to the Port City if we end up in the Independence Bowl. After all, when we made it to the Indy Bowl when DiNardo was here, that was a HUGE deal.

I digress, but I hope you’ll all keep up with me through this blogging medium. My current delusion (which are more frequent than I like to admit), is that somehow I’ll end up with a blog like Julie Powell of “Julie and Julia” fame. For those of you who don’t know, she wrote a blog about cooking Julia Child’s recipes for one year and it was picked up, made into a book and major motion picture. So hopefully, my always intelligent wit and sarcasm will win producers everywhere over and then when I come back I’ll be offered a multi-million dollar contract for this soon-to-be masterpiece. I wonder if Julie Powell thought she’d be portrayed in a movie by Amy Adams? If I had to choose anyone to play me, I’d probably go Penelope Cruz, but since she looks nothing like me, maybe Natalie Portman, who looks nothing like me either…so ultimately, I’ll probably be stuck with my inadvertent twin Miley Cyrus. Fabulous, maybe Disney will pick up my blog…but I am pretty sure they’ve tackled the au pair scene with cinematic masterpieces like Vin Deisel’s “The Pacifier,” “Mary Poppins” and some other original made-for-cable movie I am not aware of. Also, something not so great is that I started reading “My Life in France” by Julia Child. My aunt Susan Meyers gave it to me to read, so as a quick pick me up after weeks of goodbyes to friends and family, I let Julia tell me a bit about her experience. Now her experiences aren’t sounding so great because I find myself salivating as the millions of savory food adjectives pour onto the page. Alas, my United Airlines “pasta” has arrived, I am sure this is exactly what Julia imagined. However, I have a feeling that a lot of this blog will revolve around food as I expect to experience all France has to offer in the culinary realm (within my measly budget and so long as I don’t gain 700 lbs…must stay away from Nutella and Banana crepes).

I also forget how different Europeans are from Americans, there have already been questionable outfits as well hairstyles. However, if I can make it through living in England and not adapting to their fashion trends, hopefully I’ll be alright in France - though their trends aren‘t so bad. I will do my best to pick up the language, which I recently had a refresher course in while watching “Inglorious Basterds” - my German might have even improved after that movie. If you haven’t seen it, GO! Though, if they mention shaving scalps, turn your head, because they WILL show the shaving of scalps - if my mom is reading this she just cringed. The beverage cart is on the move as well and one of the French passengers just got red wine, I think I am breathing in vinegar and body odor. There have been questionable scents as I made my way to the back of plane to the economy class seat I will endure for the next seven hours. I don’t mean to sound down, in fact I am very excited, but sardonic dialogue is my specialty. As a Meyers, we don’t have much but sarcasm to fall back on…

Bonus, I am sitting next to an older man who is going on vacation and he asked me about my story, why I was going to France and I told him. I am pretty sure the French don’t talk on planes or MAYBE (just, maybe) my voice carries a little bit, but I am sure it’s not the latter. After all I am the daughter of Erin Meyers and she’s as quiet as a church mouse. The lady sitting across and two rows up from me turns around and says, “So you are going to France to be an au pair? Just be careful, I am American and did that over 20 years ago and here I am,” she then points to her 6 red headed French kids and French husband, “and I am heading back home to Paris right now.” NO THANKS, LADY.