Chantilly and Nuit Blanche

So, since Germany classes have been in full swing. Dropping most of my French university classes, I'm now really happy with the 3 I have at Reid Hall and the 1 I have at Paris IV (La Sorbonne). Trying to deal with this university system gives me so much more appreciation for the American school system. I shall do my best to never complain again at Penn. Here in France, nothing is done via computer, so when classes change unexpectedly to a different day, room, etc, you must check these enormous bulletin boards with all the other students crowding around. I miss Penn-In-Touch. I've already missed classes due to this method.

I'm ending up taking a History course at Reid Hall with the most charming professor ever. He's going to be taking us around Paris and teaching us about the development of the individual neighborhoods. I'm really loving his enthusiasm! I'm taking another which teaches us how art influences politics in France (we go to a museum every week!), and then the mandatory Academic Writing course which will give me the tools to navigate my French papers. Eww.

The University class is called Moyen-Orient which means Middle East. Though it's a lecture and a tad difficult to understand at times, I'm going to do my best to make French friends and learn more about the Middle East from a country so infused with immigrants from the region. I like it so far!

Besides our classes, last week a group of us ventured outside Paris for a day trip to Chantilly. Chantilly in French means whipped cream, and this is the birthplace of that wonderful substance. One would imagine that every storefront would be bragging about their claim to fame, however we pretty much had to ask where we could get the dreamy fluff. Apparently today the village is more known for its chateau and horse events. To the side is a picture of the Grand Stables. Yeah, they take them seriously here...

The chateau was lovely and we had a fun time walking around and looking at the art of the connected Musee Conde. They have a really large collection of pieces. My favorite room was a small room of all portraits. It felt like we were in Dumbledore's office. :)

After a long day exploring Chantilly, we stayed up extra late here in Paris because it was Nuit Blanche. This loosely translates to all-nighter in English, so needless to say people stay out late. It's a night full of modern art exhibits and music all over the city celebrating new artists trying to get recognized. We found some pretty cool exhibits around, though some were just downright odd. I just don't understand modern art most of the time. For example, there was a giant exclamation point hanging inside of a church made out of tinsle, fans, and glowing bright blue. It was times to music so that the blue lights would make odd patterns. It was pretty cool, just totally confusing. I was truthfully surprised that they could use a church as the space. Seemed slightly sacrilegious to me.

I spent Sunday in Pere Lachaise with my friend Susan. Pere Lachaise is a really famous cemetery here in Paris with tons of famous dead people including Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, and so many others. It's absolutely humongous, and we already have plans to go back and finish exploring it. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the place is that all the graves are above ground tombs. Some are incredibly elaborate with private sanctuaries to go into. Interestingly, people are still being buried in their family's plots; I saw a few 2010 dates. Creepy, yet beautiful area...

And lastly I visited Les Printemps, a luxury department store, to go to the roof-deck for some lovely views of Paris. Definitely think this is the best spot I've found for such amazing views. Check out the pics below!

Off to a Penn-Paris alumni event in a bit. Super excited to have some yummy food and meet some alums. President Gutmann is also going to be there oddly enough, so it promises to be an entertaining evening. I wonder if things will be in English or French...