Day Seven: Warning: A Herd of Senior Citizens on the Loose

Today. I went here for the first time. I cannot believe that I actually saw it in person. It’s crazy to me! And it was beautiful at night. Then…it poured. 

While most people would be annoyed, we tried to make the best of it. This included laughing to tears on the way down when a herd of French senior citizens boarded the elevator. They were incredibly loud and having a great time. We were the only other ones under the age of 70. It was a great.

Here are a few pictures of tower. I apologize for quality. Like I said before, it was raining.

PS. If any of you can contact my family and tell them to skype me! I cannot get in contact with them and it is absolutely KILLING ME:( No texts, BBM’s, emails are going through. Weird. 

Here's a sample of what you may hear about tomorrow:

Get Excited!

Day Six: I Hate My Tummy

I don't know if it was the water, stress, change in routine, or just a combination of it all but my tummy is not happy with me tonight. I was pretty disappointed because I had planned on going out with all the girls tonight (as I have stayed in nearly every other night). I really hope it's better tomorrow. Shooting pains through my stomach is not making things very enjoyable.

I had a lot to write about today too, mostly about the fashion industry-especially the haute couture industry-but honestly, I just don't feel up to it too much.

I'll try to write some tomorrow instead. Désolé.

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Okay I'm back. Since I am not going out, I decided to do some homework (yes I do have homework while I'm here). Here are some of the things I wanted to share with you.

One. I need to learn how to how to sew. I went fabric shopping with my roomies (who all are fabulous designers) and I was inspired. Maybe have a sewing workshop the week I get back to America?
Two. Here is the essay/journal entry for one of my classes. It sums up some of what I learned today.

Couture Selling—“Everything is Social. Especially Fashion.”

Today as Olivier was speaking about the high fashion and couture industries, I was shocked to find how much the high-end designers such as Louis Vuitton mark up their prices purely because of image. Initially I was annoyed. I felt deceived. As a fashion major I know companies mark prices up a skyrocketing amount. However when it came to couture designs I assumed that essentially I was getting what I paid for. While of course it is exceptional quality in comparison to other handbags, I wondered how they could get away with it and maintain such hype over their brand.

As I continued to ponder the concept I realized, it is my fault. Not my fault specifically but our fault as consumers. Would you value a Christian Dior handbag or Louis Vuitton luggage as much if the items were priced at $100 each as opposed to $600? Probably not. As we as consumer expect a certain price AND are also willing to pay it—brands will continue to price according to consumer willingness. Olivier referred to a time when a customer came into one his previous employers requesting to purchase a crocodile skin bag. When he told his client the price of the bag the client, she refused to buy claiming that “it [the bag] could not be real crocodile skin at such a low price”, and walked out the door. After that, the brand decided to increase the price. The consumers were willing to pay more and desired the exclusivity of buying from such a highly regarded designer.

Along with that came the idea of counterfeiting. I know all of us have come up with some idea or plan or joke and someone else has taken credit for it. It’s frustrating, is it not? While it is important to be humbled, it is like a slap in the face when you see your design replicated with someone else’s name on it. It’s having someone else take credit for your time, effort, and thought. Another unfortunate fact is that the law does not protect designers unless it is essentially an EXACT remake. Any alteration of slightest immediately makes it an legitimate act on behalf of the counterfeiter. The reason this was of importance to me is that couture designs are not purchased online. It is the experience of in-store buying that is incorporated into the value of item. However as Interactive Media minor and merchandise major, I view it as a challenge. I would love to be able to find a creative and unique way for haute couture customers to have an incredible buying experience online. Unfortunately, it is hard for designers to sell online because of the amount of counterfeiting that can occur. It makes copying easier and also makes it harder for consumers to trust online stores. If not all e-commerce is reliable, customers may be hesitant to buy such high priced through the internet.

Regardless, all of these facts gave me something to think about. I learned an intense amount of information about couture fashion. While it is extremely interesting and I really do appreciate it, I would have to agree with Olivier—“Everything is social. Especially fashion.” And that aspect of the industry is very unappealing. I am hoping one day I can add some more genuineness.

Day Five: Exhaustion Attacks

The only picture I have from today: ESCARGOT.

Don’t get too excited. I did NOT eat it. Although every other girls at the table did and said it was "amazing". I honestly wanted to try it. But I know my stomach too well. It would not be happy with me at all. So I stuck with a salad.

Today in class we did some more shibori dyeing and felting. It was much easier to do today than Tuesday. It also rained today—making it pretty gloomy. Fortunately temperatures are much more pleasant. Though it is still gloomy it is also much pleasant to walk around when the rain lets up.

Today we went to The Musee de Orsay. I really wished we could have taken pictures but the museum did not allow it. Even more so, I wish I wasn’t so sleepy-I could have appreciated it more. But still seeing Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Van Gough (mostly impressionist and post-impressionist artists) originals was a once in a lifetime experience.

Really though. I was and am still completely exhausted. Even my professor  asked if I was okay and then proceeded to tell me I looked really tired at the end of tour. My response was, “yeah I’m trying really hard” (to pay attention that is).

When we came back from the museum, my roommates and I got some dessert at the market (since all the bakeries and creperies we closed by now) and picked up some pistachio macaroons. DELICIOUS. But really, the trail mix I also hit the spot! I forgot how much I missed eating almonds everyday.

Tomorrow we go to Monmarche for fabric shopping. 

Also we are planning our free weekend and thinking London. So if any of you out there know good places to stay—I am open for suggestions. Email or message me on Facebook!

Merci!

Day Four: "If you have never seen or done it before, don't try it"

After walking by this view everyday on the way to class I am ready for day of learning!   

Class today.

Two words: Madame Piccot.

What a fabulous French name if I do say so myself. Very sophisticated and quirky. Anyway, Madame Piccot was a designer/seamstress for Madame Gres’s couture. Her skills and knowledge were unmatchable. She taught us how to do pleating and sewed—for a very long time. A few tears were about to be shed when I FINALLY got the hang of it. 

I made this...

    

just kidding...i actually made this

 

 Similar, right?

It's okay. You can laugh.

For lunch we went to a crepe shop. Lesson learned: Should have gotten a sweet crepe. My savory crepe of mozzarella, mushrooms, tomato, and eggplants was not up my ally. On the way back I grabbed an apple instead. Much better.

After 8 hrs of class, we walked over to the Notre Dame. It was huge and the architecture was amazing.  I was in awe of how quiet the cathedral was considering how many tourists were there. It was slightly eerie with smell of incense, dimmed lighting, and a foggy air nearing the alter. Though I must agree with my roommates (after I admittedly defended the “gifts shop”) that the selling of souvenirs in the church did essentially murder the mood and the meaning behind the church. In any case that did not deter from the experience. I would recommend going to anyone.

Getting slightly lost on the way back gave us some time to work up our appetites. Tonight we decided to make dinner at our apartment. We stopped at a great supermarket which had everything! I still need to work on my French. For one, I did not understand what half the packages said at the grocery store. Second, the woman at the checkout counter was trying to talk to me. I just stared at her smiling and giggling. The woman in front my translated. Apparently the worker was wondering “why I was so nice”. I guess French don’t really laugh and smile that often? I am still unsure what happened during those 5 minutes.

Dinner was an adventure. We had to light our gas stove. After looking up how to on the internet I read this “If you have never seen it done before or done it before yourself, we do not recommend it”. 

Resolution: YouTube. I had now seen it done and felt qualified. Well actually I just prayed to God that my whole hand would not going up in flames. Fortunately my efforts were success. 

(Check out the oh so large kitchen)

Garlic bread could now be made over the stove. I whipped myself up a salad with nuts, cheese, peppers, apple, and carrots. I paired it with the nastiest glass of Bordeaux. While the salad hit the spot, the wine most certainly did not. It was only 2 euros. And it tasted like 2 euros. Three sips of that and down the drain it went.

I really do love the city. But I really do miss home.

My goal: To fall in love with Paris so much that I am actually sad to leave on flight back the America.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Day Three: $60 Fondue

Today started off with Shibori dyeing. It smelled awful, looked beautiful!

The final product is yet to come. Present for my mom maybe?




So finally, after class from 8:30-5 we went to monoprix (like a mini target). I finally got a flat iron. Mine literally melted. Stupid 220 Volt Parisian electricity.

We went to the market to pick up some groceries on Rue Mouffetard.

 After all the carbs my body has been inhaling, I decided to get some fresh produce-carrots, green pepper, gala apples, and some mixed nuts of course!


Then came dinner. We found a fondue restaurant.

 They had English menus outside so we figured we would be welcomed as American travelers. Wrong. They were rude to us and also overcharged us (4's 3) for the ONE order of fondue we got. a $16 pot of 3 cheese fondue turned into a  $60. We tried to explain the error to them but naturally they were right in their calculations. That's how they get us Americans. Not cool. We were polite and truely appreciated any Parisian who is willing to tolerate our poor French and compensate with their much better English. We try! Oh well, lesson learned. NEVER going back there.

Tomorrow is another long day of classes. Got to wake up early.

Day Two: Merci, Baguette

All I can say is good thing we walk a lot in order to balance out these baguettes and bread. It is pure carb heaven here and I don't hate it.  I should have taken a picture of my lunch today but all I have left are the remains: see crumbled brown bag...

Thank you Baguette for being the primary cause of weight gain during this trip. Or should I say merci Baguette. Yes, I have ordered in French. It was not good but hey, I got what I wanted.

Today was early. My first realization was that the sun does not fully rise until 9:00 am. This makes it very difficult to wake up. Good thing I’m a morning person:)

Class today was about Paris shopping and today’s designers. I love that the French view fashion as much more than materialism, but as an art form. They look for pieces that are interesting not necessarily the best looking. They seek out quality and are willing to pay the exorbitent prices that most Americans would rather not. Not to say that all French where Lanvin, Dior, or Jean Paul Gaultier. Still, they seek out couture designs.

I too appreciate couture clothing as an art form, but I am also big advocate of the apparel practicality. Yes, good quality clothing is my preference (because it doesn’t shrink to an infant size 6 months after going through the washing machine). However clothing truly does serve to provide covering and protection from the elements. SO in that sense, spending $2,000 on one little black dress is not worth it. I’m proud of the Gap skirt I scored for $5! I don’t look down on people for buying lower priced clothing and accessories. I may look down on the company for their methods of production—but if there is an option to buy cheaper clothing and you cannot afford the higher option as a consumer then why not?

Those are my current thoughts at least.

After class some of walked through Luxemburg Gardens. Beautiful—like the entire city of course.

We also went to Lourve. I felt like I was in Disney World with all the people. You know where some of the DaVinci Code was shot. Oh yeah and there is also that thing called the Mona Lisa.

 

That was it. Fortunately we found safe haven from the crowds at Starbucks. Wooo!

Oh yeah, we also hit up the Palais de Royal and made some use of the buses and metro...but more on that later.

Talk to you tomorrow!

What Am I Doing Here?

I’m in paris. Finally. Still I can't help but think what the heck am I doing here? It's all very surreal to me right now.

To say that I did not have total mental breakdown would be a lie.

Yes. Definitely cried before takeoff and during the first hour of the flight. What can I say? I was really overwhelmed!

Anyway….Paris is absolutely beautiful but I am already homesick after being here for only an hour. This is me we're talking about remember, are you really surprised?

As for our apartment it is nice but very small for four people. Oh well, I doubt we will be spending that much time in it. 

That's all for now. I'm exhausted but must fight this jet lag. We'll see how long it takes me to get used to being here.