My french evolution

So I guess after a year of living in Paris- it has rubbed off on me. How so you ask?!

If you read previous posts if when I first arrived in Paris- I was having a hard time accepting the cultural differences with Vancouver. It was challenging at first as the differences are quite prominent.

Okay some examples:

I used to curse at high heels for minimum of 8 hours a day- I have now embraced them.

I used to hate coffee, now I love my café crème.

I used to wear very colourful outfits - I like wearing black now.

I used to have a smile on my face, even on public transit! Now I look as grim as the rest of them.

I used to not like raw salmon in sushi, now I can't get enough of it.

I used to appreciate the people in my life 99%, now I appreciate them 101%.

I used to have only 2 pages stamped in my passport, now I have 18 pages stamped.

I used to appreciate friends in quantity, now I appreciate them in quality.

I used to think french were rude, some of them still are, but there's some pretty freaking fantastic ones out there.

I used to not have as much confidence in myself, now it's oozing out of me. (hehe jk- not oozing, just lightly gushing)

I used to be afraid to speak french in public and blushed EVERY time, now I speak with confidence, despite the errors- and keep my natural skin colour.

I used to just have a regular phone and not care too much about it, I now love my smart-phone and am addicted to it.

I used to be lazy about working out now, I now want to go to the gym every day and feel bad if I don't!

I used to like chocolate, and despite how much I try to cut it out, I still really like it.

I used to not eat white bread, I now eat french baguettes.

I used to have people as my best friends, I now have Vasco, Nunez, my camera, and my blackberry as my best friends.

I used to not smoke, now I second hand smoke (scared ya haha)

I used to not like expensive things- I still don't like REALLY expensive things, but I like expensiver things.

I used to not wear face and eye cream, I now wear face and eye cream.

I used to not straighten my hair so much, ever since I was introduced to the best and cheapest Moroccan hair dresser, I love my hair straight.

I used to not mind living out of a back pack- after a year, I am a little tired of it.

I used to not have aches and pains- I'm only 27 and I have a sore foot and a sore back.

Well- that's all that are coming to my mind right now. I am sure I have evolved in many other ways too :) Once I get back to Vancouver- I am sure the people there will spot some more differences!

(I didn't say all of my changes were going to be positive ones, nor did I say they will last forever :) )

Coca Doodle Doo

So I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about farm animals one day- yes, random- not sure how we got started on it. We were chatting and then we got onto what the rooster says. I told her in English it says, "Coca Doodle Doo"- she burst out laughing. I then asked her what the rooster says in French- she said "Coco Rico" hahahaha... then I burst out laughing. I guess different languages attribute different sounds to the same animals. An example of reality being filtered through and shaped by culture!!

I googled a few others - for giggles :)

In Cebuano ( one of the many dialects in the Philippines ) we call the rooster "sunoy" and the sound? its " tuk-to-ga-ok "

In Bicol (another dialect in the Philippines) it's pretty much like the Cebuano's -- it's "tuk-to-RA-ok"

"Kook-Rooo-Ka- Rooo" - in Hindi!

Roosters in Sweden say 'kuckeliku"

Kykkeliky in Norwegian

"kookaroo" in Greek

so funny!

The lone traveler

When traveling, you rely a lot on the advice of others.

When I get back to Canada- I plan on writing a review for every hostel I stayed at as I am forever grateful for the reviews they have provided me.

I LOVE the websites www.hostelworld.com and www.hostelbookers.com and www.tripadvisor.com. I am telling you- people don't lie- what the reviews say about the accomodation is what you can expect! I love it!!!!

When arriving into a new city- mapless most of the time- all you want to know what to do is get from point A (train station or airport) to point B (hostel/lodging). Hostel bookers send you a friendly email confirmation and directions from all modes of transport. It's fabulous. I swear by them.

I am so grateful that I feel it is my duty to give my 2cents too. So I plan on it :) I suggest you use them too and post for other travelers as they are so useful for Nomads like myself.

21 days

Well I have decided to take a different approach to my delayed blogging.

I will write a bit about how I feel and what I am doing right now- I will fill in the blanks as I go along- so it will be a mashup of posts with no specific order at the moment- hoping to get back on track when I go back to Canada.

Okay- so I am currently in Lyon, France- after having visited a friend in Chambéry, France with a dinner in Geneva, Switzerland- I am preparing my next 21 days. Yes- that is the number of days before I take the magical flight back to Canada.

Thought I would share with you the significance of the number 21.

• Symbol of the person centered on the object and either on himself.

• Number of the perfection by excellence, 3 x 7, according to the Bible.

• This number "contains the ratios of the principle of individuality 1 with the cosmic differentiation 20", according to R. Allendy. These ratios would constitute an act of organization - 2 + 1 = 3: "Thus the principle of individuality, placed between the world of the spirit and that the matter, realizes in itself the meeting of both."

• For Claude of Saint-Martin, "the number 21 is the number of destruction or rather of universal termination, because, as 2 is separated from 1, it is necessary that it has a means of to unite there if it wants it. This number shows at the same time the command of the production of things and their end, as well in the spiritual one as in the corporal one."

• Number representing the maturity and the responsibility for an individual. It expresses also the notion of chief.

So here I am - soon to be going back to Canada after my one year abroad.

My goodness - this experience has turned out to be much much more than I expected it to be. It has been incredible.

I am having mixed feelings about leaving Europe. I have made such amazing friends and my colleagues were absolutely wonderful. I will miss the easy access to surrounding countries and the history of Paris, France, and Europe. I am really looking forward to seeing my family, friends, and colleagues in Vancouver though. I am looking forward to living out of drawers and not my suit case/ back packs. I need to treat myself to a massage when I get back. I am looking forward to having a stable 'home' for a while.

I am not ending one adventure, I will be starting another.

Uploading pictures is a process. I will with time- for now, look forward to a few words from me as I live out my 21 days.

Sevilla, Espagne = amazing

Well... I am taking you back into time now... in order to catch up- I have to cover all adventures since November! My goodness!!!! I may go back and edit/add some of these later- just so I can get them online.

So my friend from Vancouver Noriko and I decided to make a trip to the South of Spain. Wow... how amazing and incredible it was. We were blessed with fabulous sunny skies- a little chill in the air, but beautiful. Every city we went to the people said it was raining the day before... so I guess we brought the sun with us!

What is a holiday without trying authentic local food- so I start with some food pictures. This was our breakfast one morning- soooooo DELICIOUS!!!! Fresh toasted bun with olive oil, tomatoes and cheese. d.i.v.i.n.e. What I loved most about Portugal and Spain is that they serve you the worlds best coffee- the perfect size- in a glass! Yum! The breakfast of Spanish champions- Ready to start our first day!

Later one night we went to this place for Tapas- if you ever find yourself in Seville...

GO HERE FOR TAPAS!!!

▼ LAS GOLONDRINASAdresse :

C/ ANTILLANO CAMPOS, 26

41010 Sevilla, España

Itinéraire

954 331 626
Okay-- this wasn't dessert, just me pretending to take a bite of a cake that was in the window display!
The Catedral de Santa Maria de Sevilla - spectacular!


Noriko
My silhouette
Some beautiful Spanish architecture!




Me...chillin :)

Our fabulous hostel- only 10 dollars a night!!!! Luxury!!!!

The terrace of our hostel

Me ... chillin :) (in a hammock of course)

Well... as one friend put it... everywhere you go in Seville it smells of crushed oranges- it is so true! Every street is lined with orange trees- they were just ripening when we got there.

I loved Sevilla... wish I could have spent more time there.. just means I have to go back :)

My return to the blog world

Hello everyone!!!

Dust off your favorites tab and get yourself reconnected!!! I am back in the wonderful world of blogging. I must apologize for my absence- my goodness I went all of December and January without one post!!!! I am so horrible!

Well let me start with my list of excuses:

- moving out of my apartment in Clamart was exhausting and stressful

- access to the internet in South Africa was very scarce- and I was having way too much fun, therefore did not want to be on a computer!

- coming back to Paris and finishing up at work was good, mixed emotions all together- but it kept me busy!

- I have so many stories to share that I don't even know where to start

- When you have so many stories to share - you procrastinate even more as they build up.

- I really don't like the photo uploader on blogspot- it is VERY time consuming!!!

- I have been living with roomies since my return- so don't want to be on my computer the whole day!

and that's about all I can think of right now.

But to sum it up- I have been having the time of my life the last few months and can't wait to start sharing the experiences with you.

After having consulted my issues with procrastination with various support groups (haha just kidding- with various people) I have decided that I am going to limit my picture uploads and the write ups...... for now. At a later date I am sure I will go back and edit/add information/photos, but for now, I just need to get it going again.

Welcome, stay tuned, and come back soon!

farida

The Republic of South Africa

Okay... i know that my blog updates have been so sporadic lately. I do apologize for that. The main and valid excuse is that I have had limited internet access.

To summarize:

From November 9th to November 16th my friend Noriko and I travelled to the South of Spain. We visited the most amazing towns ... Seville, Granada (The Alhambra), and Barcelona. I have many pictures and stories which will eventually be posted.

From mid November to the 27th I focused on selling furniture and taking down my life in my little town called Clamart. I moved out on the 27th. It was an experience as well... will write about it!

In the beginning of December I had a good friend of mine, John, come to visit me in Paris. It was soooo nice having him and for me to show off the lil nooks and crannies I have come to love and adore about Paris.

On the 12th of December I got on a 2 deck Air France airbus on route for South Africa. It is amazing.... I have been in SA since the 13th and my experience has been absolutely incredible. It is hard to find the words to express the love and generosity that the people here have... it is beaming out of their pores. I have many posts, many pictures, many stories to share but because internet access is limited, I will have to save it for when I get back. I am typing them as I go...but posting online is another story.

I will have lots of catching up to do...but thanks for checking in none the less. Wishing you all the best holiday season with your friends, family, and people you love the most. I will think of you as I swim in pools in 38 degree weather... working on my African tan.

Will be in touch soon! xx