Friday the 13th

It doesn't mean bad luck in France, it just means luck. So that means you can either have a really lucky or really unlucky day. I had both.

Les Soldes

I think that companies in the States make up holidays just so they can have sales. MKL weekend, President's Day, Washington's birthday, I remember seeing car ads about every weekend of the year with some sort of special deal or discount to take advantage of.

Its not the same in France. Here, the prevailing notion is that things are priced "reasonably", or that the price reflects the quality. Its also because the government mandates that there can only be two sales a year, so if things weren't priced reasonably, no one would ever buy anything!

Luckily for me, Les Soldes began on Wednesday, and I wasted no time in heading out and picking up a little something that I'd had my eyes on for a while... its a new purse! Its style seems to be very "in" right now in Paris. Plus, my favorite part is the convertible straps, so it can also be worn over the shoulder (when you're not trying to seem Parisienne by carrying it on your wrist):

Happy Heart

Today I went to our Research Center's new year's celebration. Apparently many French companies do them - you have a party, there are speeches about the last year and what to look forward to this year, etc, etc. Its actually quite nice! And I'm not just saying that because there was a pastry buffet with champagne at the end! Anyways, it was a nice afternoon.

When I got home, I had another nice surprise waiting for me: my friend Sungyon had messaged me! We might be going to the same conference this year! That would be great, because its been almost a year and a half since we were last in the same place! And then I started thinking about it. I met her when we both started grad school. 2004. We spent New Year's together, chilling and knitting, probably somewhere around 2007. We both went to Paris together to visit another lab mate friend in 2008. She had already graduated and was doing a postdoc in France when I was in Paris the summer of 2010. And our next meet up? Beijing in August, assuming our papers get accepted to the conference. My heart is so full. I have so many wonderful friends, so many wonderful people in my life. And I am lucky enough that they are spread around the globe, so I can run into them in all sorts of wonderful places.

Team Peko in 2007:

Breakfast

Because sometimes, you just need someone to bring you REAL BACON!!!

For all those days, go to Breakfast In America, a shockingly popular breakfast place in Paris. Actually, they are so popular that now there are two, one on the Left Bank and one on the Right Bank. Also, note that although we are in an American restaurant, both Melissa and Adrienne are wearing their scarves, très Parisiennes! Actually, its because the restaurant is très Parisien and that window is really more for decoration - its very drafty!

Making it more like home

My tiny apartment is very nice, but the longer I'm here, the more I am annoyed by the fact that it doesn't feel like me. Its clearly decorated by a 55+ woman with a penchant for country chic. Which just isn't me. A few months ago I did an initial sweep, taking down her pictures and the painting of her as a child. But while I was in the States, I got some Christmas presents to make my apartment feel more MINE.

First, Mom made me some lovely pillow covers for the frilly pillows on the daybed.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

So much better! Thanks Mom!

And right as I was about to get on the airplane, Diego gave me the same shower curtain from our old apartment. (Well, a new version of it, an old shower curtain is kind of gross!)


This shower curtain reminds me of our old apartment. When we first moved in, I was very opinionated about the shower curtain for the bathroom. He let me have my way, and after two days of it hanging in the bathroom, I finally agreed with him that it looked horrible in our bathroom. He returned it for me and brought home this one, with subtle white leaves on it. He said the shape of the leaves echoed the grey oval tiles on the walls. He was right, of course! Every time I see the new shower curtain in my bathroom, I smile.

Importation

There's still several things that I don't quite have figured out in France yet. Or I can't figure out why its so expensive. So on my way back to France, I made sure to pack my tiny suitcase full with lots and lots and lots of toiletries. I should be good for a couple of months, right? (And yes, that is brown sugar there on the top behind the cheese wiz. And no, the cheese wiz is not for consumption, it was to show my lab mates what "american" cheese is like.)

back in Paris

I'm back in Paris, after spending New Year's Eve on an airplane. I managed to bring back an impressive array of toiletries, and a few presents that are very dear to my heart. Pictures after I sleep. (Stupid red-eye flights from the US to EU).