LA FIN : it really isn't an end, it's a beginning

Since arriving in Montreal Tuesday afternoon, I have been meaning to write this final blog post. As I said from the beginning, I started this blog as a way to make my life easier - in order to not have to write 50 emails to all the people who wanted to know what I had been up to each day in Paris. Having never written in a diary in my life (j'ai jamais fais un "diareaa" [diary] was what I said to someone when explaining this fact - we all just died laughing) and do not enjoy writing, I was not too keen on starting this blog. But, the weirdest thing happened - I would find myself waking up at 6am every morning, because, yes I will admit it, I am nuts (Kiki and Paula thanks for rubbing it in haha) to go to the gym for 7:30 in order to be at work for 10am. Between 6-7:30, when I would have my coffee and eat my cereal, I would sit down at my computer and feel the need and want to write a new blog post. It became a morning ritual.

I figured out yesterday why it has taken me until today to finally sit down and put pen to paper - or keyboard to screen. I came to the realization that writing this final post means that my journey has officially ended.

This is the first time in my life, I have had a very difficult time leaving a place. It is not my first time leaving somewhere. I had to "leave" Montreal when moving to NYC for school three years ago, but my mentality was completely different. At that time, I was struggling with leaving home for the first time, living away from my parents - letting go was what was hard. This time was different. I was more independent, but I was going to a place where I knew no one and was not going to be in an environment like school which facilitates meeting people. I was also entering into a new culture - European - completely different from the one I have gotten used to - American.

Being an only child, luckily I have had to grow a rather tough skin (some people might not agree, but I know it has become stronger and stronger, the older and more mature I have become). I am used to being thrown in uncomfortable environments and having to fend for myself.

The first month of "depression" I felt upon my arrival sur Paris, was the same feeling I had my first couple weeks in NYC. The big difference was that three years ago in NYC I knew I could be saved if need be. Back then I was still a very dependent child. This time, when times were hard at the beginning, I knew I just had to continue pushing through, because it would get better. That was my motto. I was completely right - by mid June I was rolling snowballs and by the end of June, I had made a snowman. As July continued into August, I continued adding accessories and accessories to my snowman - a carrot for a nose, a hat to cover his head, some necklaces, etc. Now, the snowman has melted but I have kept the accessories with me. These accessories are the people I met, the places I saw and the memories I made while I was there.

I have had two of my best friends tell me that (thanks Kiki and Dave) that I have changed for the better after this experience. Kiki came to visit me for my last week and it was incredible. I was so excited to introduce her to the people I have met and so happy that she got along so well with them. She told me from the bottom of her heart that she found me more open and relaxed in Paris and that it was the place where I truly belong. Dave said the same thing, seeing me before I left and just a few days ago, he told me how much more happy and relaxed I seemed.

I had felt it, but wasn't able to truly admit it. Its hard to say that the place you "find yourself" most comfortable is halfway across the world, yet you got to do what feels right. Montreal was the most amazing place to grow up in, but a place I needed to escape from in order to grow and become more independent - thanks Dad for pushing me and granting me the opportunity to go off to NYC. Montreal also granted me the language tools to be able to spend my summer in Paris - I hated being forced to learn French all through elementary and high school, however I am sooooo thankful now - it is such an amazing thing to be completely bilingual.

New York, on the other hand has also been an amazing experience. I have learned so much and grown a lot as a person - becoming more mature and independent. It was the place I needed to be to get to the next stage in my life. Although I kept telling myself that it was the place for me because I enjoy it so much, I knew deep down, that I could never see myself staying in NYC for an extended period of time. I always looked at it unconsciously with an expiry date - 4yrs of school + 1yr of work. It is not the place to raise a family - not that that is what I'm thinking about now - but the place I find myself has to be somewhere where I will want to live a good part of my life. Paris, I feel, is that place. I know I only spent 3 months of my life there, but I was given a taste of a place which fulfills all the characteristics of what I have been looking for. It is a place that is incredibly multicultural, the people are real, there is a joie de vivre that is unlike anywhere else I have visited and the picnics are priceless...

I remember the exact moment I was given the idea to embark on this journey. Thanks to Lauren for remembering our family friend Nathalie from Upside Down and convincing me to do something different this summer. Thanks to mom and dad for giving me this great experience and to my friends that supported me through the ups and downs. To all the friends I made there, thanks for the most incredible experience of my life.

As much as my mom can continue telling me that things can change in the next two years, I know from the bottom of my heart that I will be going back. Just like Paula and Shelley did, I know I will too. There is something that attracts foreigners to this French city - like Paula told me, out of all the places in the world that she has visited, it is where she feels most "me".

When I put my mind to something, I will make it happen.

All I can say is a bientôt.

Gros Bisous

E.

dernière jour a UPSIDE DOWN DOWN DOWN DOooooown

Wow...has it really been three months!!! I truly cannot believe how fast the time has passed! I have very mixed feelings about today, mostly I am very sad. I have developed some great friendships at work. It is such a warm environment where every person has their own unique qualities that makes it fun and interesting to work interact with them. I really do owe it to the team for making my time at Upside Down so special. Not only did I learn from the projects we did, interacting with clients, but most importantly how to work in a team that depends on you to produce. Times will be slow and times will be stressful but it is so important to RIGOLE! There have been days that I have been under an enormous amount of stress and all it has taken was JP to put on his "Père Vert" (pervert) act and a smile immediately appears on my face. It makes you realize that yes work is important but it is not everything. Thats the most important thing I have learned about working in Paris - I know I have mentioned this before, but it is just too true to overlook - in New York people live to work but here people work to live...and it is just so evident its amazing!

I was talking with my friend George from London yesterday and telling him how sad it is that my experience here is coming to an end. His told me, yes its sad, but you know you are coming back. And that I definitely do. He said if you want it bad enough you will make it happen. I am a very determined person - it is how I got this stage in the first place. Yes, thanks to my mom's meeting Nathalie at Club Med three years ago, the relationship began and opportunity was discovered, however what to do with it was in my hands. I wouldn't have been here in Paris for the last three months had I not put in all the hard work to get me here - convincing Nathalie I would be a good stagiaire and to hire me, getting a visa and an apartment, etc.

I am very sad to leave Paris. I have made some incredible friendships here that I will not ever forget. I have also been made aware that I will be missed greatly. For the last month, Gigi and Emilie have been coming up with a plan to steal my passport so that I cannot leave. I also had Gigi yesterday ask me "Qu'est ce qui arrive si tu rattes le vole, est-ce que tu peux être rembousé?" (What happens if you miss your flight? Can you get reimbursed?) - she is just too funny! I would love to stay another week - but as my Dad has told me about numerous things, as hard as it is, when you prolong things longer than expected, you are just going to make it harder to go. HAHA...but there is a solution - why not just stay! As I rigole, this is not uncommon. Paula is the perfect example and her friend Shelley. They both fell in love with this place and found a reason and means to come back.

This will be me - I am positive.

la fin nous approche...

C'est mes dernière jour à Upside Down (Down, Down, Downnnnnnn - pour Emilie et JP)... It feels like yesterday that I arrived. I know everyone says that, but I truly feel it.

Forte was beautiful. I had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect - no clouds in the sky for the five days I was there and the food was incredible as usual. I can't say much more because it is truly an easy and no nonsense vacation - I wake up, go to the gym, have a bite for breakfast, walk to the beach, eat again, tan again, shower and get ready for diner, apero, eat again, apero and then sleep or go out. My usual two weeks or this time five days include sleeping eating and tanning. Had the skin I have been blessed with not been fussy this year I would have labelled this vacation as incredible - however because of my sensitive skin - after two days of tanning I developed a heat rash that spread all over my body. For the last three days, I didn't feel like I was in my own skin. My whole body itched and burned and none of the cortozone or anti-itch creams were working. It was prickly heat - the most uncomfortable sensation ever - I constantly felt like I had the feeling of my foot being asleep (pins and needles) all over my body. By the last day, I couldn't even sit on the beach under the tent, the heat was just too much for me to handle. I was the most excited when Nathalie and I landed in Paris and got off to airplane to a gloomy sky and the most incredible windy breeze. Finally today, two days later, I feel my skin has calmed down. The weirdest thing is that this heat rash occurs mainly in Forte every year. I have been other places in the world and tanned without getting heat rashes. Its mysterious and I am not the only one. My mother gets it too and I talked to some of my British friends there and they do as well.

This year was great because I was able to talk more fluently in Italian - forming sentences and making conversation. I got a little confused with French as it has been what I have mainly been speaking for the last three months, however it was nice to practice and know that the studying I have been doing for the last three years is starting to pay off.

So it is my last week and who better to have by my side, but my soulmate Kiki Bassoul who is in Paris. Her parents bought an apartment here and just got possession so she is helping her mom get it set up and spending time with me. Last night, after work I headed to Metro Boissière where their apartment is and met up with Kiki, her mom and uncle. They had been invited to a cousins apartment for diner and I joined. We had a nice diner there and then Kiki and I went off to a cafe to have a drink, catch up and most importantly gossip. I truly did miss her and I am so excited to introduce her to the friends I have made here and to the life I have created for myself. I planned a week extravaganza for her week her and for my last week. Tonight we are going to do a picnic at Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel - with Gigi and Paula so that Kiki can understand the magnificence of picnics. Tomorrow, she will join me at my apartment after work and well find something to do around here - either Rue des Abbesses or just a cafe around her. We might also venture into the unknown. I have lived amongst my neighbors - the Sex Shops - for three months now and we still remain quite distant from one another. I cannot leave my apartment without having ventured into at least one of them and I know Miss Kiki Bassoul will be up for living this experience with me. I absolutely need to understand what makes this one store a specialist in Blow Up Dolls - or as they call it here - poupée gonflée. Friday, we have Lindsay and Olivia's birthday party. It is themed and I am quite excited. The theme is rock stars/singers - so you need to dress up as one of them. After buying this incredible sequin jacket from when my Dad was here, I decided I would dress up as either Michael Jackson or Prince. I think Kiki has decided on the guy in You Spin Me Right Round from the band Dead or Alive in the eighties - I think this is a tribute to my roomate Teri Kaplan who made Kiki fall in love with this video. You must watch it it is too good to be true. Saturday it is my MEGA TEUF. I have invited all the people I have met and become friends with and have opened it up to Paula's, Lindsay's and Gigi's friends. I am expecting around 20ish people and trust this party will be Nikel Or. Sunday Mom arrives early in the morning and I think we have dedicated the day to packing so we can play on Monday. It is too sad to think that I will be getting on a plane for Montreal on Tuesday morning. I am excited however to see my best friend Lauren in Montreal and some other friends I have not gotten to see much before I head back to New York for my SENIOR YEAR! Wow that is too weird to even begin thinking about right now. I will keep my mind focused on enjoying my last week here...

The stagiaire gets a vacation :)

The day has come. I am leaving for Forte today with Nathalie. I cannot wait. It is going to be a perfect 5 days of heaven and relaxation. Everyone I know is already there it seems, from the reporter messages I got from my mother who arrived first on Sunday. This is the first time we have all arrived at different times and are leaving at different times. My mom explained how weird it was arriving without us - everyone didn't get it - where is Simon and Erin was the ongoing question... My dad decided to spend one more night with me and arrived monday mid day and not I'm arriving today with Nathalie and we are staying till Monday evening. Note: typically stagiares do not get vacations - however when your moms good friend is the boss and you are taking her on vacation - exceptions can be made. Its all about connections...

This week at work was rather quiet. I was shocked because I thought that it would continue being as busy and stressful as it was the week Cyril was leaving, however I was completely wrong. When August begins, Paris becomes DESERTED and by deserted you can really feel it. All the Parisians leave Paris and head elsewhere for vacation. You feel the Metro's are less busy, the clubs, the bars, etc. Thomas and Gigi took their vacation during this time and now Nat and I are. This means that the phones ringing and the number of emails you receive typically decreases drastically because the majority of your clients are on vacation. The reason the week Cyril left was so busy was because all the clients who were leaving on vacation had procrastinated and needed something VITE FAIT so came to us at the last possible moment - ex: Longbox Dutronc. There was a lot of rigoler-ing done this week - it was truly WONDERFUL! I missed it. Bandai was still working, so that meant more Power Ranger packs, but other than that there wasn't much to do. I feel much better leaving Emilie and JP alone for these 5 days.

Off to the beach...

Une vraie teuf!

What a crazy weekend. It was jam packed with fun. I had so many things I wanted to do with my Dad, that unfortunately we were unable to do all of them with the time constraints, however we managed to do about 80%. We have been coming to Paris once a year for the last four years and it has become a tradition. This year is a bit different because I have been here for longer than couple days. My father, having grown up here from the age of 6 to 14 and having loved his experience here in his youth, has been living vicariously through me for these last few months.

Friday, I got off work at 4pm. My Dad met me there and we headed back to my apartment and then up to Montmartre, specifically rue des abbesses. Time was not to be wasted - we started our shopping expedition right away. That night I had planned for Paula to join us. We started off with an apéro at this hotel in Montmartre that Paula had known about called Hotel Particulier. Damn was it true to its name. It looked very beautiful from the pictures on the website - very boutique hotel. It was in the heart of the 18th, in a very residential area - so residential, there is not really a sign. You must ring at a metal gate in order to get into the courtyard. Once in, no signs once again. It was an adventure to say the least. We ended up finding it and it was rather beautiful and sweet. It seemed like the owners had turned what had once been a family house/mansion, into a hotel or bought an apartment building and did just that. The jewel is the little garden they have where they serve apéros. This was where our drinking for the night began and "began" is the operative word. My dad had mentioned that he had been catching up on his sleep for the last few weeks in order to do the TEUF with me when he came to Paris and he wasn't joking - and neither was I. From there we headed to the restaurant Casa Olypme next to Place St-George. I had heard about this place from two different blogs and Paula as well. It is known for its very good traditional french food and it is typically VERY difficult to get a reservation. They are also not open on Saturdays and Sundays. Luckily we scored a reservation - the reason being that they were closing for holiday the following day and this is the time when all the Parisians have already left for holiday. The meal was delicious. After a bottle of champagne and wine later, we headed back to my dad's hotel on the Champs d'Élysée for an after dinner drink and to decide where the hotel could arrange/suggest for us to go and continue the teuf. They made reservations for us at this club called Chez Castel in St-Germain. Paula had been before and was ecstatic when she found out that was where we were going. It was going to be her suggestion. It is a very exclusive club which is mainly members only. This was my first time going to a club-club with my father. We had a great time the three of us. We left around 3h3o in the morning and the best way to describe our mentality, the next day Paula called me in the morning, telling me that she was still feeling the alcohol from the night before. My dad really lived up to his word and did the teuf. Hey, in his day, he was a much bigger partier than I could ever be today - sacrilegious Mondays...

After a night like that, the next morning we had work to do. I met him back at his hotel and we began shopping. We headed to our favorite store in the Paris called l'Éclaireur and spent most of the morning there. Had lunch at our favorite restaurant we discovered in St-Germain last year called Le Comptoir. We then found him a suit in that area - at the only store in the world where he can buy a suit off the rack because of his enormously broad shoulders and tiny waist. We then headed back to the hotel to relax for our traditional diner at Hotel Costes. For the last four years we have had dinner here and every time it has rained and this time was no different - the weatherman schedules our arrival. Zonked from the night before - more me than my father - we returned to the hotel and passed out.

Woke up at 9am by my father to go to the gym and by 11h30 we headed out to the Marais to rue des rosiers - once again a tradition for Sundays because it is the only area open as it is known as the Jewish quarter. We spent most of the day there, had the best falafel for lunch and then went to my apartment to chill. Paula met up with us for a picnic at Parc Monceau. We were whistled out swiftly at 10pm when the park closes and walked home to have a drink at Cockney Pub, the bar that has FINALLY opened under my apartment. It is pretty cool seeing a place start at nothing and turn into something. The owner, Mouss, who I have become pretty good friends with since he owns the Long Island Bar down the street that I pass it each day has done a really good job renovating the place. The drinks were very good and there is a great ambiance.

I had a great time with my dad and look forward to Wednesday when I leave for Forte with Nathalie to meet up with both mom and dad. Relaxing in the sun is going to be well deserved.

The arrival of Mr. X

Yesterday was a good day. In the morning, we heard back from the client regarding the Dutronc designs that I had send him the night before. He ended up choosing a design Thierry from interne designed from one of the propals/axes I sketched for him when creating my brief the week before. I was so happy that my hard work paid off. The design he chose was actually the last one we did the day before and we were not sure about the font that Thierry had used when consulting the designs with Emily and Nath, but we decided the composition was too strong not to send to the client. Nath felt comfortable telling him that because of the time constraints we were unable to refine that one to the level we wanted too and that if it was the one he chose the font would undoubtedly be reworked. The next step was congratulating Thierry and emailing the two freelances we had also work on the project and telling them they unfortunately lost, show them the winning design and thank them for their hard work. I also told them some feedback from the client on their créas - which he liked, which he didn't and why. My email was short and sweet and to the point. To tell you what happens next describes French behavior. Just like the temper tantrum we had in the office a couple weeks ago, this was very similar just in a different format. I received ranting emails from both graphic designers upset that they had not won - thinking that their designs were way better than the one that one. Hey dude...its a COMPETITION and it is not us that decides which will be the winning design. One specified that it had not been clear that there was the opportunity to design the box in a horizontal fashion and assumed it could only be vertical, while the other said that the winning design didn't reference the style "télécréateur" that the client had given us as a graphic style he liked. This is the big problem about designing something for a client. Firstly, they have something en tête when they explain you the project, however they are still iffy themselves and don't yet have a concrete image. And the reference they give might not be really what they were looking for. It is not our fault that the winning design didn't necessarily strictly follow the brief. Secondly, like what happened with the rock compilation Rock Line, what we in the office think is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, is not what the client will like most of the time. It turned out for Rock Line, that the design that was chosen for the cover was a collage that Cyril has done in 30 minutes on photoshop when the client needed something vite-fait to show his team even before giving us a brief and getting our freelancers to work on the project.

Anyways, I am glad that that is chosen and the choice was something that was actually one of my favorites. This was when the door rang at the office and it was my DAD! He had arrived early that morning from Montreal and came by the office to take me out for lunch, see where I worked and see Nathalie. I hadn't seen him since May 14th when I left Montreal, however with gchat and skype and talking on the telephone almost daily, it was as if I had seen him yesterday. Nathalie, who hadn't seen him since Mexico at Christmas time, felt the same way. We had a nice lunch and I went back to work to finish off the day. The afternoon, Bandai came back into the picture with some more corrections from the client. However, in the final hour, I had done most of what I needed to do that was urgent and took the opportunity to relax in the studio with the graphists.

I met my Dad at his hotel on the Champs-l'Élysée and then we met up with Nathalie at this restaurant Victor in the 16th. We had a delicious dinner and Nathalie had one of her friends join us at the last minute who was très sympa.

Well, this has been my last full week. Next week I work Monday, Tuesday and then off to Forte and when I get back, I work Tuesday-Friday. Its so weird it is coming to an end. My dad had asked Nathalie if she would give me the afternoon off today to go and chill with him. At first she was hesitant since Cyril is no here and they need me as much as they can, however she made the decision after talking with Emilie that I can leave at 4pm. So my Dad is meeting me at work at 4 and we will walk/shop on my walk home and then stop by Paula's to pick her up from her apartment and head up to Hotel Particulier in Montmartre for an apéro and then to dinner. As for doing the teuf tonight after diner, we are definitely going to, however no concrete plans yet. We will see where the night takes us.

We could be tourists...just for one day.

Cyril is officially on Paternity leave/vacation. What a relief. He finally finished briefing me and Emilie on all the Bandai stuff on Monday. He was supposed to be on vaca Friday but came in Monday because he wasn't done and worked from home Tuesday morning as he was still not done...but cut contact mid day Tuesday and is now OFFICIALLY on vacation. So now its all on Emilie. I feel for her. It is a lot of work. When I leave it will be even more. Although I feel bad that I am leaving in the heat of it, I am selfishly happy as I have had more than enough stress this last week.

Yesterday morning was stressful to a point as I was getting a lot of corrections done on Bandai and submitting them to the client. It is always better when its back in the clients hands because it means I can check it off my list until the client sends it back. Luckily before Cyril left, he made us a nice comprehensive excel table with all the style numbers, where they are in terms of creation/production and who is working on each. In addition, yesterday we received the propals from the two freelance graphic designers we had working on the Dutronc Longbox. They did some really nice designs. I also had Thierry, from interne, working on some propals as well. Today is the deadline and I will be sending the best designs to the client for him to consult and choose his favorite.

By 4pm yesterday, everything had seemed to calm down a little. I went 20 minutes not receiving a work email - it was nickel! This was the first time since last week I had the chance to rigole on FB or check out the blogs I like to read. I even found myself after a little time BORED. It was amazing how incredible it felt being bored!

Last night I had organized with Paula and my cousin Dan that we would meet at Notre Dame and then head to Ile St Louis for a picnic as Dan still hadn't experienced the Paris picnic phenomena. I took the bus with Paula from our arrondissement and Dan met us there. The meeting point was at Saint Denis - the baller headless saint. Paula explained that the story behind him is that he was beheaded and then took his head and washed it off in a fountain nearby - too cool.

Going to see the Notre Dame cathedral has been the only touristy thing I have been wanting to do since I arrived in Paris. The reason stems from its direct connection to the history of photography. Two years ago in Shelley Rice's Aesthetic History of Photography class, we were taught about the importance of Paris in the beginning stages of photography. When Haussman came in to restructure Paris, he hired many photographer to take photos of the change and in order to preserve documentation of the old Paris. She also explained that Notre Dame was, before the restructuring, the absolute CENTRE of Paris and when telling someone where to meet you you would always gage it from the location of the cathedral - ex: 500 meters east of Notre Dame. This photo by William Fox Talbot taken in 1843 is what got me excited about being a tourist...just for one day.

We then made out way to Ile St Louis and installed (that is for you Paula) ourself there amongst the rest of the groups picnic'ing while enjoying the view of the Seine. Lindsay stopped by on her way home from the gym. It was super nice to see her as the last time was when we got back from Amsterdam - I think it has been a month...wow time flies. Paula's friend John also joined us with his friend Sylvain. John is a fellow American who has been living in Paris for the last 16 years on and off as a filmmaker and producer. Interesting tidbit - he went to NYU for film grad school back in the day.

My day is about to begin...off to the gym... Dad is leaving Montreal today and arriving in Paris tomorrow morning. I cannot WAIT!