Day 78

Well nothing spectacular today. We had art today at the modern art museum, Centre George Pompidou. It was interesting.... Some of the stuff I liked but most of the stuff is just weird. I like a lot of the history behind the art and the changes that were happening at the time, but most of the art is not appealing. My favorite movement was the Dada movement, because it is so bizarre, but I think it makes such a good statement. It is all about just making a new form and mocking a lot of the empty art. I guess we all have our different versions of empty art. 

We went to the top of the Centre Pompidou and I had no idea it was so high above the city. We got to see a cool view and it was nice to be that high up on our part f town, because we got a better view of things like Hotel de Ville and Notre Dame. 

After class I went over to school and studied for my french conversation exam. I mostly just chatted with all the girls over there, but I had so much fun! I am going to miss living with all these people and seeing them everyday...well most of them. I also got to see Michael and I tried to get him to help me with my French. I would ask a question and he would just kind of laugh, because I would ask it how the text book tells me to ask it and he would tell me the way that people actually say that. It reminded me of a Brian Regan skit. 

We had dinner with our host family and it makes me so happy! I m going to miss them so much, especially my host mom. She is so the cutest! She always has to have matching plates for every course and I tease her about it. I try to help her as much as possible with dinner and she is always saying that I am "tres gentile." She is so funny! Anyways, she has been so kind to us while we have been here and I will miss her when we go.

 From the top of Centre George Pompidou

 Notre Dame

 Jayna, Lex, Me and Trish

 Eiffel Tower

Sacre Coeur 

Day 77

Today was slightly uneventful. We had devotional and it was Thanksgiving themed. We went around the room and said what we were grateful for. As we went around the room I was trying to think of what I would say. I could not even think of a place to begin to list all the things I am grateful for. I think Ally put it well when she said "I am trying to think of something that I am not grateful for."

When I think about all the things I am grateful for I realize that the reason I am grateful for the good things in my life is because I have had bad things in my life. I have had sickness, heartache, trials and tragedies. I am grateful for all of them, so that I can know when I am happy and what joy feels like. Without the terrible experiences I have had, I would not have been able to experience the joyous moments to their fullest.

This adventure in paris has been one of the best of my life. A few people said it today in our group, but it is true for me also. I found myself in Paris. I'm not quite sure how I got over here, but this is where I found myself. I know myself in a way I didn't when I came. I also know that I am a daughter of God and have endless potential. I learned that the more I turn my life over to him, the happier I am. In serving others, I have learned to love myself.

I came home right after devotional to do all of my homework ad studying for finals. I want to try to get it all out of the way so that I will be able to enjoy the next week and a half and do all the many things I still want to do. Paris is a wonderful place! I will be sad to say good-bye.

We had dinner with our host family tonight. It was so good and I am such an adventurous eater now! Okay not really, but I do eat things I didn't eat before and I kind of like it! I am going to miss my little French family. Even though they barely know me because I can't really speak their language, they love me and think I am ridiculous. I love them too and they are the best!

Day 76

Such a good day! I can't believe it, it was a Monday and it was still a really good day. I went to bed early last night and slept in this morning Love it!!! That is one thing I will miss for sure, living a live that is a complete joke most of the time! Anyways, I went to religion class and it was actually interesting today, but I also multitasked and finished all of my journal entries for my Paris walks class and my civilization class.

After I talked to some of the missionaries. I love hanging out with them! It is so fun, but it gets a little awkward when there are a lot of Elders that I don't know and just me. I feel slightly out of place lol Before Civ I went to a store that I have been dying to shop out. it is like Claire's, but way better! I bought two rings, four pairs of earrings and a bracelet.

So then I went to civ class, nothing great. Not terrible, but still just class and whatever. I am realizing however, that I will miss all these people so much when I go home. Even the people that drive me nuts, I still sometimes like them and this has just become my world. I will be happy to get out of it, but it will still be sad sometimes without this weird, fun dynamic we have in our group.

Okay here comes the best part of the day, I went to Family Home Evening at the Institute. I was the only BYU student who went tonight, but I only go to see Michael anyways. So I got to chat it up with him. We were walking with a few other missionaries and it was just fun. I was being my dynamic self and I might have slightly embarrassed Michael, but hopefully not too much. I was talking about going on a mission and seeing what some of them thought about it.

So after FHE Michael and Elder Hales were walking to the same metro as I was and Michael was laughing at me quite a bit. I was telling him how I don't want to go on a mission, but maybe it would be best. I was telling him that I have learned enough life lessons in the last three years. I said something like, "Learn life lessons, check" (with the hand motion) and so we went on in the conversation and after it was clear I had not learned all the things I needed to learn in my life, Michael said, "Learn life lesson, uncheck" (with an erasing motion). He is so funny. He thinks I am crazy, but somehow he loves me unconditionally and I know it!

We had to take different directions on the metro so we said good bye and we were on opposite platforms. I started to talk to him again. I asked him if I told him that I lost his iTouch when I moved to Provo. My metro pulled up right as I said this, and I could only see his face as I the metro windows passed by. He just had his mouth wide open. When I go in the metro I tried to explain to him that it might have been Dad's iTouch that I left. I was making hand motions through the metro window and trying to say stuff through the open window, and I think that Michael was getting the message because he was nodding his head. And as the train was starting to get ready to leave, I was getting slightly frantic to explain it. I guess the people around me were looking at me (imagine that) and Michael started chuckling and then started full blown laughing. When I pulled away he was bend over holding his stomach with laughter.

That is not a typical Michael thing. He is funny and laughs a lot, but it takes a lot for him to fully lose his composure in public. My last glimpse of Michael tonight was him totally laughing at me. I drove away thinking that I have the best brother in the world and at least I can bring some pure joy into his life. I will miss him so much. The whole way home though I was smiling, thinking back on that image of Michael as I pulled away.

Anyways, so really the day just ended super well and I am so glad that I got to spend time with Michael. I think this has been one of the biggest blessings of my life to have him here with me. It has been so wonderful to reestablish our friendship. He is the best! I will miss him sooooo much!

Day 75

Well nothing much to report today. We went to church and I saw Michael. That is always the highlight of the week. I haven't been feeling super well the last couple weeks, just a sore throat every morning and stuffy nose, so I decided because it was freezing, that I would just go home after church. I took a long long nap and it was wonderful. We had dinner with our family and I went to bed again. I feel asleep to Mormon Messages. Those little movie clips are so great! They just put me in a better frame of mind to be a disciple of Christ and to try to look outside myself. Today a church I realized that I will be sad to go home and sing al of the hymns in English. I will miss the French people.

Day 74

Well I might die before I finish this post, but I am going to do it anyways. I am so tired. I'm not even sure why. I mean it is late, but it's always late when I go to bed. Today we got up late. Love Saturdays...and every other day. We met up with a few girls at the Intstitue and then we did an 'Inception' tour. One of the girls found out all the spots in paris where they filmed the movie Inception. It was so funny because when we got to the cafe it was closed and we could barely even tell it was the right place. We took some pictures and I am pretty sure that it is my first jumping picture ever. I like it.

After that Ally and I met up with Trisha and Jessica and went to Trebeca a little restaurant by Madames. It was really good food for a pretty good price. It is Trish's birthday tomorrow so it was her birthday lunch.

I then went up to Champs-Elysees where I met the whole fam!!! It was so fun to all be together, the five of us! We walked around, talked, took our Christmas card picture and loved every second of it. I don't know how I am going to say good-by to Mook again. I can't imagine life without him in constant contact again, but I guess I will get use to it.

I sat and talked with Mom while everyone was eating dinner. It was so nice to be able to just talk and be together. I have missed them! I went over to Madame's house after that and we met the group so that we could go on a Seine tour by boat at night. It was so beautiful. I lasted half an hour on the top level and then had to retreat to the warmth in the lower level.

I then found my way back over the hotel where Mom, Dad and Cam are staying. They hadn't got back from their Eiffel Tower climb, so I just sat in the lobby and read the scriptures on my kindle. They finally got back and we hung out for awhile, but I was exhausted and you can only imagine how they feel! Jet lag and Par Berns is in a whirlwind trip of two days. They have to get up at 4h30 to get to the train station to go to in the morning. So they are going to have a short night and a long day! Well now I am going to bed.

My Inception picture

The Family all together!!!

I love that boy!!

Elder Hales taking our picture

And away they go...

On the Seine cruise

Day 73-Best Night in Paris

Today was a fairy tale...

More castles today! Still yesterday's was my favorite, but everyone else likes the ones today better, so I guess you have to be your own judge. First on the list today was Villandry. It was super foggy in the morning, so pictures weren't as good as they could have been, but it was kind of fun to b in the fog. It was like that perfect scene in the new Pride and Prejudice. There wasn't really a castle there. it was just gardens but they were gorgeous.

Then we went to the sleeping beauty castle. It is called Usse. We didnt go in it because Madame says it's not that cool from the inside, so we just stopped and took pictures of the outside.

Next we went to Azay-le-Rideau Chateau. We hadn't planned on going to this one, but we skipped the abey to be able to see it. I'm glad because I think it might have been my favorite one of the day. I think by the time we got to our last one I was a little castled out. It was really pretty too. It was Chenonceau. Apparently it is the second most visited castle in France after Versailles. It was a pretty one built over the rivier with a great garden.

I'm going to see the family tonight!!! Even as I speak the two groups (the Elders and the school group) are heading toward Notre Dame to meet. Dad called to tell me that their group is walking to Notre Dame from the Louvre right now. Notre Dame is just five minutes from the church so I called Michael to see where he is. He just happens to be at the church! So he is going to walk over right now! I so wish I could be there, but I bet my mom will still be crying when I see her in 3 hours so I will get to hear all about it!

I saw them!!! It was so fun! They were exhausted of couse, but I took Cam out anyways! They got to see Michael this evening at Notre Dame. They told me the story. They said they were just taking pictures in front of Notre Dame and they said that they saw two suited men walking toward them. I guess Mom started whimpering and ran to him. They all hugged and Dad got most of it on tape. They will have to share that when they get back. So they loved seeing him.

Ally met them and they said they felt like they already knew her because she is in all of my stories and pictures with me. Dad's quote was, "I know you as well as I know Brittany's brown coat." He and my coat met offically today and he said he would rather have me burn it than bring it home.

I stole Cam and we went on the metro up to Place de la Concorde. We came out of the merto to a wonderful sight. We were right in the Place with the obelisk, the new ferris well, the Grand Palais roof lit up with a French flag on it, beautiful government buildings and the Effiel Tower lit up to top it off. Cam thought it was pretty cool. I felt like I was the coolest big sister ever! I said just wait and I dragged him to the middle of the Place and we looked up the Champs-Elysee at the Arc de Triomphe. It was so cool!!! We walked down the Champs Elysee for awhile. All the Christmas decorations and booths are up.

Cam got his first Nutellla crepe. I tried to teach him how to order it and he made a valiant effort. The lady at the stand really enjoyed it. She made the first crepe and did not put enough Nutella on it, so I took that one and told her to put 'beaucoup du Nutella' on the next one. She said that was dangerous and we laughed and then Cam asked what she said. It was so funny to me to realize that even the simplest conversation can't be understood if you don't know any French.

We were going to head back, but Cam wasn't quite tired enough for being up for 32 hours, so we went over to the church so I could show him where Michael and I spend so much of our time. He saw the big blue doors and thought that was pretty cool. We walked back towards the metro and I showed him the internet cafe where Michael writes his letters from.

Cam ordered his next Nutella crepe perfectly. I helped him a little and the guy making the crepe thought that was fun. He said that it sounds liked it was school. I told him how it was Cam's first time in Paris today and then Cam leans over to me and says, "Are you making fun of me?" It was so funny!

We took the metro back to the hotel and of course saw some human poop which Cam had to take a picture with, always a fun time in Paris. I took him back to, said good night and headed for home. It is so nice to be back in my own bed after a long trip (even if it isn't really my bed, it feels like it is mine). I am hoping tomorrow that I will be able to see them again.

Villandry

Usse-Sleeping Beauty Castle

Azay-le-Rideau Chateau

Chenonceau

Our men of the trip. These are the boys Spencer on the left and Taylor on the right. These boys are like my brothers. I am going to miss them when we leave! They are so good to all of us girls!

Starting our adventures on the metro!

Lovin' the Place de la Concorde

Champs-Elysee

Christmas decorations are up!

Cam with his second crepe

Cam and Me

He loved it!

Yep that is Cam and the poop.