you're speaking french now

I have a petit confession. I'm a little tipsy right now. If you don't want to hear the ravings of a slightly drunk girl, turn around now.

*side note* I've been meaning to tell you. Despite using an adapter, whenever I plug in my computer, it gets some kind of weird electrical charge that vibrates my hand when I touch my computer. It kinda worries me.

So as you probably figured out, I went out tonight (Je suis sortié ce soir). The girls I was supposed to go out with decided to stay in so they could finish homework. I can't blame them; the homework took forever as per usual. I was already dressed and ready to go (and had told you about it), so I decided to go out by myself. I planned on going to one of the corner bars that I pass on my way to school. I saw a sign earlier that advertised a three euro guinness and I decided that was a safe and cheap bet.

I walked to the bar, but all of the seats were taken. Turns out that everyone in Paris goes out to meet friends at night even if it's a Tuesday. I kept walking hoping to find a bar that wasn't crowded. Halfway on my walk to the Bastille I decided to go to the restaurant where I went with Callie on Sunday (Cafe Rey). I was hoping that the English-speaking waiter would be there so that I could order in English and get exactly what I wanted. As luck would it, the restaurant was empty, but the waiter wasn't there.

I sat inside to order my beer. The waiter spoke enough English to ask if I wanted a French or Belgian beer and what size; I opted for a medium French beer. When your check comes, the receipt is turned upside down. I immediately turned it right side up, and to my dismay saw that my beer was 10 euro 50; more than my daily budget. I won't be grocery shopping tomorrow. No pain for me :(

I learned a lot tonight as I slowly sipped my beer beneath the shadow of the Bastille while eating my complimentary peanuts and people watching. 1. Most Parisians look like Brooklynites. I'm not kidding. There are plenty of people who look like they could be American hipsters, but are actually just Parisian. 2. People cross the street whenever they feel like it. This rule also applies to bikers. They cross when the walk sign is red, bikers cut across lanes to go in an opposite direction despite traffic rules, taxis honk when they want to illegally pass you. It's crazy out there. 3. Parisian people watching is now my favorite activity. Next time I'll try it with a cheaper beverage. 4. I'm sure that if I spoke more French I wouldn't have paid 10 euro 50 for a beer. 5. French waiters are allowed to smoke and play on their phones around the corner from the restaurant if it's slow. 6. If a woman sits somewhere alone long enough she will be hit on.

A man walked up, and without a second glance, sat down in the seat next to me for the sole purpose of chatting me up. I told him that I don't speak French, so he said excuse me, and left. I knew something was fishy. A few minutes later the man comes back with two other men, and one stops in front of me while the other two kept walking. He asked me where I'm from (key word is "origine") and then told me that I'm pretty. I tried to tell him that I don't speak French…in French. He thought that I was trying to get out of talking to him, and seemed to gesture that I looked Parisian and not from the United States as I claimed. He then asked me for my number so he could call me. I told him the truth; I don't have a phone. Without blinking, he pulled out a pen and wrote down his number on the back of my check. Someone PLEASE call 06 52 443 121. I'm dying to see where this leads.

I finished my beer seconds later and paid my check. It's so hard to walk like you're not tipsy when you barely know how to get home and you're trying not to get robbed.

I'm very proud of myself for going out alone, and not letting ruined plans ruin my evening. Also, I got to use some of the French that I learned in class today (Je prends une bière, s'il vous plait). Look at me being Parisian and speaking French!