I knew that I had to give a presentation about my bedroom today in class, and I was not looking forward to it. I only woke up two minutes before my alarm and hopped out of bed. I decided to wear my Trinidad and Tobego shirt today because it's my presentation shirt and always makes me feel better at life; I didn't want to be cry in class today. I ate my waffle with minutes to spare before I went to class.
We only had lecture for an hour this morning before our field trip to the market. The Marché d'Aligre is an adorable farmer's market/swap meeting that's a five minute's walk from my apartment. Each group of four students got 12 euros and was assigned to go to a specific kind of vendor and buy food for a class picnic. There were groups for the boulangerie (bread and other bread like products), the charcuterie (cooked meats), fruits, fromagerie (cheese), and boissons (drinks). I went to the boulangerie for six baguettes for our sandwiches.
We had over an hour to explore the market and talk to vendors. I ended up helping a classmate (Raven) because she was scared of the vendors. She bought grapes and the vendor had asked her if she had anything smaller than a ten (a common question in Paris) and she basically had a heart attack. She is the same girl who talked back to the random stranger who was bothering her yesterday at the library; she's scared of everything. I helped her buy other fruits and wandered around with her.
The market
I tried a new food at one of the vendors. It was a tiny red seed (looks like a pomegrante seed) that grows in a bunch like grapes. It tasted sour and kinda weird, but I happily tried it when the vendor plucked one off for me.
I insist that there was a Banksy on a building in the center of the market, but I can't be sure.
The possible Banksy
I found a vendor who was selling all sorts of things, including records!! I bought a vinyl of "Hommage à Kathleen Ferrier" because it's pretty and has flowers on it, and it was only one euro! Check that off the list of things to do in Paris.
My new record on my messy desk.
The bizarre
After more exploring, our class met and walked to a park near ACCENT for our picnic that we had passed through on the way to the market. We made sandwiches and hung out in the park. Best excursion ever.
We had an hour before class so I came to my room. After way too short a time, it was time to go back to class. I didn't have to do my presentation today, and I didn't cry in class. Mostly I was zoned out so that I wouldn't cry, but that's beside the point.
After class I went back to see Carole (the adviser), and started crying in the parking lot as she smoked a cigarette. Oh, and two girls (Tamara and Anna) from my class want to change into French three! I'm going to skip my emotions, and hop to going to Franprix for bread. I'd been dreaming of Franprix baguettes after yesterday's deliciousness, but at 3 in the afternoon I was hoping that their small supply wasn't out.
They were out. However, I saw a girl from my class (Norah) and we did our grocery shopping together. She was making an entire meal of salad and pesto pasta all for herself! I got delicious vanilla cookies (I know they're delicious because I just devoured half the box while studying for tomorrow's quiz), a huge quartre-quarts Breton (called that because it's 1/4 flour, butter, sugar, and eggs) that was on sale, a packet of chicken noodle soup, and some potato chips; all for under 6 euros!
Norah told me about a boulangerie near are dorm that sold delicious bread that might not be closed (everything in Paris opens late and closes early). I've been walking past the boulangerie for days and have never been inside. I got a delicious handmade baguette for 95 cents. I'll be going back there if Franprix is out.
*Note* My floor and bed are covered in baguette crumbs, and I'm totally over excited to have my room cleaned tomorrow by the dorm maitenance man.
I then came home to study and not cry for the rest of the evening. Carole sent me an email reminding me that I don't suck and I that I'll survive. I cried.
In other news, I successfully made my mushroom soup from the packet for dinner and ate it while writing this blog! Yay for me!
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