Pont des Arts overlooks the Institut de France

Spanning the Seine between the Louvre and the Institut de France, Pont des Arts is one of the most popular spots along the river in Paris. This pedestrian bridge was originally constructed in the early 19th century, and was the first metal bridge built in the city. Damage from both World War I and World War II, in addition to several boat collisions over the course of the bridge’s existence, led to the Pont des Arts’ reconstruction in the 1980s. Today, the bridge is a favorite of tourists and locales alike, many of whom picnic on the bridge during the summer months.

Couple embraces along Pont des Arts

As that time of the year is once again drawing near, Pont des Arts is once again bustling with people enjoying all the City of Light has to offer. Located up river from Pont Neuf, another well-known Parisian bridge, Pont des Arts offers views of some of the most iconic landmarks in Paris, including the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. The bridge is particularly popular with couples, many of whom take the time to clamp padlocks engraved with their initials to the bridge’s railings. Hundreds upon hundreds of these padlocks, which are known as cadenas d’amour, can be found along the bridge, and their keys float somewhere in the murky depths of the Seine below.

The Parisian Sunset along the Seine

Just last night a friend of mine invited me to meet up for a wine and cheese picnic along Pont des Arts. Though the weather has yet to really heat up, the bridge was crammed full of people taking advantage of the beautiful spring evening. For a visitor to the City of Light, Pont des Arts is truly a landmark that can’t be missed.

Padlocks dot the bridge's railing

It’s wise to note that while the experience may be branded as a “typically Parisian” way to spend the evening, there are a good deal of tourists mingling along the water’s edge…but why should that stop you from enjoying yourself? With a view that’s truly to die for and a jovial ambiance, Pont des Arts is the perfect place to spend a few hours soaking up the sun and enjoying all that the river scene has to offer. For those accessing the bridge by métro, Louvre-Rivoli on Line 1 is the nearest stop.

Man, have you checked out adaminparis at an exciting time! I’ve just launched a project that I am SO excited about, “At Home in the Hexagon.” The basic premise is that I’m sharing France with those around me through the magic of YouTube! If you haven’t already, definitely head over to HexagonTv.com and check out the very first episode, where I head to LILLE! You definitely don’t want to miss out on it! =)

I’m going to keep using adaminparis.com as my primary blogging platform, but I’ll make certain to let you all know when a new project has hit HexagonTV! =)

As I currently write at 5:26 P.M. on Thursday, February 24th, I am in the middle of getting ready for a weekend escape to Geneva, Switzerland! I have a great friend from Paris who moved to Geneva several months ago, and my roommate and I are headed to the Alps for the weekend to hang out with him! How awesome is that!? This will be my very first-ever trip to Geneva, so I’m quite excited about it…rock on! =D

Life is beautiful…there are so many things I’m looking forward to, feeling thankful for…from beautiful friends to absolute amazement at how blessed I am to still be living here…I can’t find words to express how amazing my life is at the moment! YEAH BABY! Party!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone, and look out for my Geneva update soon

Adam

I’m certain you’re not surprised to hear that I’ve not spent much time observing cocoons in the wild. I think it works as a perfect analogy, however, as just like caterpillars, so many of us go through a final stage of metamorphosis that allows us to flourish…of course, human life and growth is a bit more complicated than the developmental process of insects, as I find that as we continue to discover more about ourselves, we’re constantly being transformed through subsequent stages of personal “metamorphosis.”

As a little kid, I remember doing science experiments with bugs…once I purchased a little box of Mexican jumping beans…the whole concept of jumping “beans” is kind of gross. The bean itself is actually a seed, and a small insect inside is jumping around, trying to get cool…anyway, in the end, a moth comes out of that seed. I guess you could call it a “replacement” cocoon of sorts, but why in the world that seems like a suitable toy for kids to play with is beyond me.

Anyway, as any inquisitive child is bound to do, I remember trying to cut into one of those beans, trying to figure out just what was in fact causing all of that commotion…unfortunately, when you cut into the “bean,” you find a half-developed insect…

Have you ever found yourself marveling at the potential of someone in your life? You think, “Whooooa! That person has something SO incredible inside of them!” Potential is an exciting thing, because it makes your heart beat fast and makes you feel inspired by those around you…it fills you with incredible anticipation for what you will witness coming out of their lives in the days, months, and years ahead.

Unfortunately, the high of potential only lasts so long…for after a while, you stop saying to yourself, “Wow, maybe someday he or she will make an incredible impact…” Instead, you begin to wonder to yourself, “Why is today too early to make an impact? Why can’t they emerge from the cocoon already?”

I don’t know about yourself, but patience isn’t my strong suit. I HATE waiting…regardless of what I’m waiting for. If I’m waiting at the doctor’s office, I just want the appointment to start and get it over with already. If I’m waiting for my plane, I nervously tap my foot as I wait for boarding to begin. I don’t like it when people say they’ll meet me somewhere at 6 P.M. and they don’t show up until 6:15 P.M. I don’t like to wait.

In some instances, waiting is the best possible thing to do, however. Think of Christmas morning…of course, as one watches the presents pile up underneath the tree, the desire to open them all immediately is triggered…yet, if that period of intense anticipation wasn’t allowed to take place, if all of those gifts were able to be opened immediately…Christmas morning would be much less exciting.

Sometimes, the same is true in “real life.” If we force people to become who we see them to be, if we try to pull their potential out of them…we might just get an underdeveloped human being. The incubation period is what allows a baby chicken to hatch a few weeks after the egg has been laid…but if we crack open the egg on week two, we won’t have a baby chicken…we’ll have a half-formed embryo.

On the flip side of this equation is the realization that if the baby chicken doesn’t have the strength to hatch when the time comes, he dies inside of the egg. The same is true for the caterpillar in the cocoon…if he doesn’t chew his way out of the safe haven in which he has developed, he will die. Guess what I’m about to say? Yep, humans are the same way. Okay, maybe we’re not talking life and death here…but I am taking about stunted growth, hindered development.

If you’ve ever spent any time with me,  you’ve witnessed how much energy I have…lots. Some people interpret that as general psychosis, maybe some wonder if I have some sort of attention deficit disorder. I can assure you that neither is the case…rather, I love life. I love it a lot…we’re not talking about “personality” here. Personality and all of it’s facets are not tied to one’s zeal for life…I refuse to think that some are naturally inclined to love their lives and to work to better them, while others simply never receive the desire to do so.

That energy…that passion…comes from a simple root, one desire…to live every single moment I’ve got to the fullest. There are days when I don’t feel like loving life, where I don’t feel like putting on a happy face, where I don’t feel like taking a risk or trying something new…but if I were to live my life based on my silly feelings, I’d never have done anything with my life. I can absolutely guarantee you that if my feelings were what I based everything on, I would not be writing to you from Paris, France today…I wouldn’t be going on four years of living in Europe…I’d be back at home in my parents’ basement.

Some days, guess what? I don’t love Paris. Some days I HATE Paris. I miss good customer service, and I miss friendly smiles, and I miss American dollar bills…why do they think it’s a good idea to give you coins that are worth 2 euros? Seriously!? I just lose them!

But, that’s not where the buck stops. Just because one day is crappy, one day is tricky, one day isn’t so much fun…that doesn’t mean that my life isn’t valuable, that the experiences I’m having aren’t worthwhile…it just means that sometimes, we’ll experience frustration, welcome to the real world.

Attitude is a choice…and so is the decision to BE the biggest person you can be. Rather than focusing on all of the scary moments, the things I don’t understand…I choose to look at what I do understand, what I can comprehend. You choose to live big because you’re capable of doing it, not because it feels good, or is easy to accomplish.

If you find yourself in some sort of “cocoon,” I’d encourage you to do your best to chew out now. Maybe you don’t feel ready, maybe you’re scared, maybe life seems a bit uncertain…suck it up, grow a pair, and go! Did I just write grow a pair? Oh buddy.

Comfort zones are meant to be left behind…because guess what? What you think is outside of your comfort zone today will be tomorrow’s comfort zone once again…at one time, ordering a baguette in a French boulangerie took twenty minutes of “planning” time, where I recited what I’d say to the lady behind the counter…”Une baguette s’il vous plaît” felt like some sort of epic tongue twister. Today, I don’t think twice about buying a stupid loaf of bread.

Yeah, I know, it’s a silly example…but I promise, the fear of ordering that bread was once a very real thing.

Maybe you’re afraid of expressing your emotions? Bite the bullet and go for it. Talk to a friend you trust, and instead of talking about the weather, explain what you’re feeling. Maybe you’d like to try for some big, new goal but you’re afraid of what people will say? Um, let go of your fear of what others will think and GO for it.

Because here is the simple reality…you can live your life in this little, judgment-free cocoon…where nobody says anything negative about you, where you aren’t asked to do anything scary or big or uncomfortable…and you’ll fit right in with the crowd.

But imagine what your life could be if you made the choice to come out of the little tube you’re calling home. What if you decided to live bigger, to challenge yourself to encounter other people in a real way? What if you just spoke truth to the next person you met, rather than hiding behind the shield, the facade of what’s comfortable? What if you put yourself out there?

You might scare the living daylights out of yourself with the amount of potential you’ve got stored inside of you.

Unlike a caterpillar, you don’t have to stay inside a cocoon until you’re absolutely perfect, and ready to emerge. You are constantly in development, so if you’ve got the tiniest bit of development already accomplished, you’re ready to make a change, to live bigger. So, just do it…or not. Suffocate inside the cocoon, telling yourself one day you’ll be ready to finally make an impact, one day you’ll make a change, one day you’ll be who you want to be.

I’m afraid that one day comes way too quickly…by the time you finally feel ready, you may have missed so many things you could have impacted, influenced, and changed. Don’t wait for one day…but make your one day, today. I promise, your underdeveloped cocoon isn’t as “underdeveloped” as you think. It’s time to emerge…for me, and for everyone else who so badly wants to see what you’re capable of accomplishing.

Wow, so the last few weeks have really been crazy times in the City of Light. The holiday season is approaching, which is exciting…wait, I suppose we’re already IN the holiday season, meaning the HOLIDAYS are quick approaching! At any rate, I’ve got a lot on my plate in terms of living situations…As many of you know, I live with a great friend of mine named Aaron. We have a blast in our apartment in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, but our lease expires on December 31.

As we are both headed home for the holidays, we need to find a new residence…and pronto! =P The last few weeks have been a blur of housing visits, appointments, and frantic searching. I’m confident that it will all work out, but seeing as I come home on the 13th of December, time is a bit pressed as of late. Keep us in your thoughts & prayers for sure!

I will once again be appearing before the French consulate on Dec 14th, which is soooo exciting, of course. Ok, perhaps there was a hint of sarcasm hidden in there. It seems to be my annual December routine I suppose…meet with the French consulate and prove that they really want me in this country! I’m not really stressing about it, though I do need to have my new lease in hand when I appear before them…kinda freaky! Again, trusting all of the unfinished details will work out in time!

As for my home agenda, I think it’s going to be a pretty laid back month…wow, a MONTH! I can’t imagine what kind of randomness I’ll get up to in that much time, but I know this boy’s heart will probably be aching for France after a while….but of course, it’s amazing to get to spend time with those that mean so much to me back in Iowa…party!

Anyhow, there you have it! That’s what’s up in my world!

Post Two: Conflicting Agendas

Do you ever have moments where you realize…wow, my behavior is motivated by an outside factor? I’ve had this bizarre realization a few times over the last few weeks, where I’ve been in social situations and something has clicked…my behavior or attitude is being directly influenced and motivated based on something other than my personal emotions.

It is entirely unnerving to suddenly snap your head back and go, “Wait a second. Why did you say/do that?” and realize that the only possible explanation is the desire to leave some sort of impression with another individual.

I’m pretty proud of the fact that I’m fiercely independent. I like to make my own decisions, and often times I place no restraints on what form those decisions take. I’m not clinging to the hope that someone else will accept my actions. Of course, it’s human nature to want to be accepted. Having said that, I find that often my need for acceptance is limited to a very narrow scope of individuals, and the approval or rejection of the others is simply par for the course.

I suppose what is troubling and intriguing is the idea of letting myself be shaped by the expectations or impressions of other people, regardless of whether or not those ideas are simply perceived or true sentiments. If I say X, Y, or Z, I can in turn expect the response to be this, that, or the other…which in turn transforms my normal interactions into a convoluted equation that equals me slipping into the role of whatever actor fits the part best.

Perhaps today I’m energetic, enthusiastic, over-the-top Adam? Or maybe I’m refined, preferring to discuss topics like international politics and the repercussions of American’s social attitudes on foreign affairs. I’m certainly not targeting shifts in conversation as a negative thing. I know we’re all multifaceted individuals, and nobody is entirely one thing. Nevertheless, is a shift in behavior that occurs in the hope that a desired response will be evoked within another individual a negative thing? I can’t help but think it must be, for it cheats that person of the opportunity to see the true you.

For example, what if I decide that a certain persona fits a social situation best? I bound around like a crazy kangaroo, not because it’s my heart’s desire, but because I think it will cause a certain emotion or understanding to develop in another’s mind. It is unfair to every person involved. It’s unfair to me, because I’m forcing myself into a constrained box that I have zero desire to conform to. Furthermore, it’s unfair to the other person…because both outcomes are unfavorable. A-They respond positively to such action, or B-They respond negatively. In either case, they are responding to a deliberately placed stimuli that in no way reflects reality.

I know this isn’t really an isolated occurrence that only I have experienced. We are all “guilty” of altering our behaviors, modifying our personas, to reflect what we find to be expected of us…nevertheless, I still can’t shake the feeling that overtly planned interactions are anything but authentic.

I’m resolving to myself to place a new emphasis on being simply ME, because it’s what I want…and accepting the outcomes of such action, regardless of whether they are negative or positive. I can’t help but think that if in avoiding showing truth I could jeopardize the very reaction that I’d sought all along…and perhaps that is simply too great of a risk to consider wagering.

Hey everybody-

I hope you’re all doing fabulously well and having a great week. I’d generally save this type of entry for a different medium, where I hash out my French, in hopes of improving it…but seeing as it’s been a while since I’ve last updated on adaminparis.com, I thought I’d share it here.

It’s not really a story, but rather an ensemble of different events…sentiments, emotions, ideas…about everything and nothing at all…situations with people, frustrations, ideas….

I write sometimes because I can lose myself in the words, without needing to explain how, why…etc. I experienced a few moments recently with very different individuals, where similar outcomes were produced and I simply wanted to reflect a bit.

–

(La version française se trouve en bas.)

Simplicity. By its very definition, the word evokes one “simple” understanding…lack of complication. I dream of simplicity as if it were a fantasy land, a world devoid of all uncertainty. My dreamland is not made up of unrealistic expectations, nor does it remove the day-to-day conundrums that plague us with confusion. I wake, I work, I eat, I sleep…there is no disdain reserved for those things. In fact, my distorted dreamland is but a reflection of what others might call normalcy…’Oh, wherefore art thou?’ my heart asks.

I am wordy. What my face gives away is nothing in comparison to what my heart speaks. Listen to my words and you’ll know me.

And yet, that’s where I stumble…my mind searches for understanding, my heart aches for release…just as the fair Capulet once lamented the sweet Montague’s identity, which forever forbade one from seeking the other…a birth defect of epic gravity it would be seem…I too find myself lost in uncertainty, though unlike Shakespeare’s maiden, poison is not my drug of choice.

For what resolution is there in poison? Of course, poison does eradicate complexity, impossibility…but what of impossible reality? Am I to accept that unlike the mantras drummed into my head from birth, in some instances I need not ‘try and try again?’ What is to become of the dream, of the vision?

Oh yes, I know…I am under no illusion. Opening pandora’s box rarely brings about the outcomes we seek…and yet, I can’t help but wonder…what combination, what key…would unlock that door.

I seek refuge in my words, I cling to them, begging them to act as my sword. “I must overcome the insurmountable!” I tell myself…and I know that my nuanced speech must be the key to the barricaded gate! For just as sweet honey makes one’s senses explode with incomprehensible elation, words conjure understanding within the daftest of fools…don’t they?

And yet, here I’m found…asking questions of no meaning. “And you? What’s your favorite color?” The sword I’ve crafted more closely resembles a circus clown’s balloon than Odysseus’ powerful weapon.

And suddenly it becomes clear…I’ve painted myself with the same paint of the ridiculed carny, even if my paint does not take the same hue. I laugh at the dumbest of jokes, making a fool of myself under the guise of oblivion…my performance is worthy of the greatest award, I should be accepting an Emmy, an Oscar, a Tony…yet a golden statue is not the recompense I seek. The blind adoration of the vacant crowd pales in comparison to the intrigue of one quiet soul.

I strike a chord on my guitar. It echoes through the empty captivity found within it…and I think to myself, I too am an instrument. I aggressively play my song, only to have the empty lyrics return just a they void as they left.

How do I express this feeling? How do I make them see?

The entire charade leads me back to that one word I treasure…simplicity.

My most honest words, were I given the opportunity to speak them?

I am intrigued. I am captivated by something I can not explain…and though I wish that were something more valuable than the adoration of all the others, I’m all too well aware that there are millions screaming your name. And I don’t know how to break through the crowd.

“Will you allow me one last question?” I find myself asking.

I desperately seek the go ahead, the moment I’m given full access, allowed to probe as much as I want.

And then, with the nod of your head, which signals that the approval I sought has been given…my mind blanks and I say…Thanks for having coffee with me.

FRENCH VERSION

Salut tout le monde-

J’espère que vous allez bien et que vous passez une bonne semaine! Mon petit article aujourd’hui n’est pas ce que je mets sur adaminparis.com normalement, mais plutôt sur un autre blog où j’écris en français pour me donner l’habitude de le faire…mais vu que ça fait un petit moment que je n’ai rien écrit, j’ai décidé de le partager ici….ce n’est pas vraiment une histoire, mais plutôt un ensemble d’évènements…des sentiments, des émotions, des idées à propos de tout et n’importe quoi…des situations avec des gens, des frustrations, des idées…

Enfin bref, j’écris parce que je peux me perdre dans mes mots, sans être obligé d’expliquer pourquoi, comment, etc…et j’ai vécu quelques moments récemment qui m’ont inspiré un peu, des moments avec des gens très différents où les mêmes résultats se sont produits…et je voulais tout simplement réfléchir un peu.

Merci de me pardonner pour les petites fautes…un jour j’arriverai parler sans fautes, mais bon…ce jour n’est pas aujourd’hui

–

La simplicité. Par sa définition même, le mot suscite une compréhension “simple.”…le manque de complication. Je rêve de la simplicité comme si c’était un pays fantastique, un monde dépourvu de toute incertitude. Ce pays de rêves n’est pas construit des attentes irréalistes, pas plus qu’il n’enlève les énigmes quotidiennes qui nous mettent en proie à la confusion. Je me réveille, je travaille, je mange, je dors….il n’y a pas de dédain réservé pour ces choses. En effet, mon pays de rêves déformés n’est pas qu’un reflet de ce que les autres appelleront peut être la normalité. “Oh, pourquoi es-tu….” mon coeur se demande.

Je suis verbeux. Ce que mon visage dévoile n’est rien par rapport à ce que mon coeur parle. Ecoutez mes mots, et vous me connaîtrez.

Et pourtant, c’est là où je tangue…mon esprit cherche la compréhension, mon coeur brûle pour la libération…comme la belle Capulet se lamentait autrefois sur l’identité du gentil Montague, ce qui défendait éternellement l’un de chercher l’autre, une malformation héréditaire d’une gravité épique, il semblerait…moi aussi, je me trouve perdu dans l’incertitude, mais contrairement à la demoiselle de Shakespeare, le poison n’est pas ma drogue de prédilection.

Car quelle résolution y-a-t’il dans le poison? Bien sûr, il éradique la complexité, l’impossibilité…mais qu’en est-il de la réalité impossible? Dois-je accepter que à la différence des oraisons qui ont été enfoncées dans mon crâne depuis ma naissance, dans quelques moments je ne dois pas ‘réessayer encore et encore?’ Que va-t-il advenir du rêve, de la vision?

Ah oui, je sais très bien…je n’ai aucune illusion. Ouvrir la boîte de Pandore ne révèle que rarement le résultat que l’on cherche…et pourtant, je n’arrive pas m’empêcher de me demander…quelle combinaison, quelle clé…ouvrirait cette porte?

Je cherche refuge dans mes mots, je me les cramponne, je les supplie de me servir comme mon épée. “Il faut que je surmonte l’insurmontable!” je me dis….et je sais que mon language soigneusement construit doit être la clé pour la porte barricadée! Car tout comme le miel sucré fait exploser les sens avec une allégresse incompréhensible, les mots évoquent la compréhension, même dans la demeure des idiots les plus bêtes, non?

Et c’est là où je me trouve…en train de poser des questions sans aucun sens…”Et toi? C’est quoi ta couleur préférée?” L’épée que j’ai sculptée ressemble au ballon d’un clown de cirque plutôt que l’arme puissante d’Ulysse.

Et tout d’un coup, il se décante…je peignais mon visage avec la même peinture que le monstre du carnaval, même si ma peinture ne prend pas la même nuance. Je ris, même des blagues les plus stupides, en faisant un fou de moi-même sous le couvert de l’oubli…mon rôle mérite le plus grand prix, je devrais recevoir un césar, l’oscar…mais une figurine en or n’est pas la récompense que je cherche. L’adoration aveugle de la foule absente en pâlit en comparaison avec l’intrigue d’une âme réservée.

Je joue un accord sur ma guitare…il résonne dans la cavité de l’enceinte de l’instrument, et je me dis…moi aussi, je suis un instrument. Je joue ma chanson agressivement, pour voir les paroles me revenir aussi vides que le moment où elles sont parties.

Comment puis-je exprimer ce sentiment? Comment puis-je les faire voir?
La charade entière m’indique le chemin du retour au mot que je chéris tellement… simplicité.

Et alors? Si j’avais l’occasion d’exprimer les mots les plus honnêtes, qu’est-ce que je dirais?

Je suis fasciné, intrigué par quelque chose que je ne comprends pas…et bien que je veuille que ça soit quelque chose de plus précieux que l’adoration de tous les autres, je suis bien conscient des masses qui crient ton nom… et je ne sais pas comment reculer la foule.

“Tu me permets une dernière question?” je me prends à te demander.

Je cherche désespérément le feu vert, le moment où je reçois l’accès, le droit d’enquêter autant que je veux.

Et alors, avec ton signe de tête, ce qui donne le signal que j’ai bien reçu l’approbation je cherchais, je fais chou blanc, et je dis…”Merci d’avoir pris un café avec moi.”

I’ve been busy.

Oops, that was technically three…one of which was a conjunction. So sue me.

I know, I know. Everybody get’s busy, it’s called life. Maybe there are just moments in your life where you feel like writing about what’s going on, and other moments where you’re simply living it.

Anyway…Let’s just jump back in?

Today, I spent a wonderful day with my roommate Aaron, and two other friends of ours. We went to an American diner called “Breakfast in America” this morning. It was yummy…I had a breakfast burrito, and had to ix-nay the fried potatoes, as I swore off all fried potatoes for 2010. Can you believe that? I just can’t believe I’ve made it this far without cracking.

The better part of the afternoon was spent wandering around Paris, loving this city. Seriously, I would kill to live my own life on day’s like today.

Aaron needed some new clothes, which took us to a local shopping mall this afternoon…and a song playing through the loudspeakers of one of the stores randomly made me think of an old friend…a friend I’m not close with anymore.

Without going into too many details (or any really), a friendship that meant a lot to me ended a few months ago. It hurt in a way I can’t really explain. I’m not really into melodramatic blog posts, so I won’t wax on about it…but it wasn’t fun…and sometimes, the wound feels so raw.

I’ve experienced a lot of crazy things in my young 21 years. I mean for goodness sakes, next month marks three years of living in Europe…three years? So crazy!

I’d look to think I can be tough when I need to be…but today I didn’t feel tough. It was just a brief moment, and it passed quickly…laughing with dear friends that I love made yesterday and its challenges feel one million miles away.

Tonight, I found myself randomly stalking another old friend on Facebook. Different situation, different friend, but plenty of sadness and yucky moments back in the day…and I found myself smiling. Again, who cares about the details…but happy photographs on Facebook of that person simply living their life…made me smile. I didn’t feel any heartbreak about not knowing them like I once did, I didn’t waste time thinking about any of the past…I just thought, “Well done.”

I felt happy that their life was better than I’d have ever thought it would turn out.

That sounds kind of spiteful, but it isn’t supposed to…I guess I just chalked previous mistakes up to something bigger than they were. They were mistakes, they were small faults…but they didn’t determine that person’s future.

I know this is kind of ramble-y, but hey…life doesn’t always have to be polished, right?

I guess my point is simply that it felt nice to see someone’s life for what it is today, not reflecting on a single thing, other than their happiness. And frankly, celebrating that happiness.

Sometimes you love…and you lose. And no, it doesn’t feel okay…it feels like nothing can ever be okay, nothing will ever be the same. But guess what? Today, I discovered that losing a bit doesn’t mean that the love you once shared with someone was somehow made invalid…somehow, it is that very love that can heal your heart.

My heart might hurt a little bit. And I know…it’s going to hurt for a good, long while. The two situations I referenced are pretty far detached from one another, and each have their nuances…but somehow, I feel hopeful…that one day, I’ll look back on the friend I lost, and I won’t need to stifle my tears. I won’t need to bite my tongue and wish things were different…I’ll simply see a smile I once knew, and think to myself…

I’m just happy they’re happy

I hope you guys are all doing TERRIFICLY well…things in Paris are just dandy…very BUSY, but dandy!

First of all, tomorrow I have my medical appointment for my Carte de Séjour…had I not already had one of these appointments last year, I might be a bit nervous, but I rather know what to expect…go through the drills of making sure I don’t have any contagious viruses that I caught whilst in the Congo and are going to infect and kill of the French people. Oh yeah, they’ll probably check my eyesight and my blood pressure too. You know, standard procedue.

Anyhow, for this particular appointment, I needed to purchase a little stamp…you can get them in the “tabacs,” the little tobacco stores, or from the government agencies…I ended up purchasing mine from a neighborhood tabac, and then headed to the supermarket…and look at the friend I made along the way! I was ever so close to adopting him and bringing him home with me, as a snail seems to be quite an appropriate pet for a French resident like myself, but I realized that his company might not be all-that-stimulating…and he might get lonely without a little snail friend! At any rate, I had some fun with my snail before wishing him goodbye. Hope this particular little guy doesn’t end up one some hungry Frenchman’s plate…on a side note, after nearly two years in this country, I’ve yet to taste escargot. What’s up with that?

In addition to my medical appointment tomorrow, I shall be packing my bags and hauling them ACROSS town to my new apartment! As I mentioned previously, I shall be living with my crazy friend Aaron, and we are set to get the keys tomorrow evening. The new place is more than FOUR times the size of my current apartment, and you can bet I’m counting down the hour until I have an oven…absolutely can’t wait!

For tonight, Hillsong UNITED, is in town and all of my church friends are abuzz….we’re going to be rocking it out at the Alhambra théâtre….it’s going to be sooo awesome!

Hope you guys have an awesome day and I’ll catch up with you all again soon!

Adam

Hello world!
It’s nearing the end of May, and things are moving in Paris! Literally!

University is finally over for the semester…my first semester at AUP, the American University of Paris was fun. I guess I wouldn’t call it the most riveting semester ever, but then again, after a while, college is college. As I’ve blogged about before, I had the opportunity to participate in some fun things, such as RENT, and I met some fun people…but I think I’m just about over this whole undergraduate degree thing. I just want to bid my time and get it over with…and yet, I want my comprehension of the French language to grow further. I really feel like I’m developing my language skills every day, but I don’t know that the classroom is what’s helping me do so…and that sentiment is particularly echoed when I have to take courses that hold zero interest to me, just to satisfy degree requirements…think classical English literature and lab sciences. Bleck.

I want to be spending my days studying French…that makes a lot of sense to me, since I am a French Studies major. Seeing as I’ve transfered a good deal since my initial intro to uni in London, I can understand that it’s a bit complicated credit wise and I’m doing things in a pretty non-traditional way, that necessitates my taking gen ed courses that most students take their freshman year…but then again, my whole university degree path has been pretty “non-traditional.”

It’s not that I want to be out of the classroom…I really do enjoy my classes where I get to study French. I just want to be focusing on it…and I want a bigger challenge. I learned today that Americans make up about 30% of the student body at my university, which isn’t too shabby in my opinion, seeing as we are an American university. In spite of those numbers, there isn’t a single native French speaker in the French Studies program…which makes sense, as it would be kind of weird to be a French person with a degree in French Studies. Anyway, being in classes with all non-native speakers who have varying levels of French is simply frustrating to me. I don’t want it anymore…I want to be PUSHED further, which is why I love classes like my “Prostitution au Cinéma” (Prostitution at the Cinema) course, which I took this semester. No, the material wasn’t my favorite ever…but it was taught by a French professor in French, and as an open elective course, it was open to any students in the university. I was one of the only native anglophones in the class, and we watched French movies without subtitles throughout the semester…and it was hard…and guess what? I loved it!

I’m a words boy at heart…I love speaking, studying language, and discovering more about the nuances of language development. That part of me that loves to learn thinks I wouldn’t mind studying for the rest of my life…okay, yes, I’d get bored…but it makes me dream. You know, master’s programs in France are insanely cheap…maybe I want to get a masters in French-English Translation or Interpreting? That’d be sick…study in a French university full time, and work my butt off improving my French? That sounds awesome…would it take a lot of crazy opportunities and doors opening up to be possible? Certainly…but hey, I believe God’s more than capable of allowing such an awesome thing to take place…goodness knows the last few years have shown that the possibilities for my life are not limited to my very human capacities.

Truly, I have no idea what the future holds…but I like dreaming. =)

In some fun news, I’m moving on WEDNESDAY! Technically,we get the keys to the new place on Wednesday evening…and yep, I said we! I have the awesome opportunity to make a great new friend named Aaron over the past few months…we met in November of 2009 and have been pretty tight ever since, and are now going to be roomies…crazy! We even are doing a podcast together, which you should definitely check out if you haven’t! Real estate is expensive in Paris, and living together allows us to have the luxuries…an oven, an elevator, a washing machine!?! My mind is bursting with the possibilities.

It will be weird to move out of my little 9m apartment/closet, as I’ve spent nearly the last two years living life from this room…I love the neighborhood, and it’s grown to be my own little base in Paris…but I’m also excited about kissing goodbye the microwave-only food, 6 flights of stairs, and shared toilet down the hall. It will be fun to start a new chapter.

Finally, in a bit of random news, I’ve discovered a new hobby…googling myself! I know, it sounds so silly, but it’s fun when I discover random things…and the two latest random items are the following:

An article in The Planet AUP, my student newspaper, that I’ve never read…about RENT, which described my initial meeting with our directors and mentioned that my “audition included a tremendous rendition of ‘Lean on Me.’” Hey, their words, not mine! my.aup.edu/system/files/filefield/document/aupplanetfebruary2010.pdf

And secondly, an article from “Breaking Tweets:World News, Twitter-Style,” which quoted a tweet of mine in, “Louvre McDonalds sparkes Controvery in Europe.” It makes me laugh that I’m part of the opposing group of individuals of the Americanization of a French landmark. http://www.breakingtweets.com/2009/10/05/louvre-mcdonalds-sparks-controversy-in-paris-london-europe/

Well folks, that about wraps it up…I hope you guys are all doing awesome! Thanks for reading what’s up in my world! Have an awesome weekend, and let’s check in together again soon

++

adam

First, let me wish you all a giant thank you for checking out adaminparis.com…if you’re reading this particular post, you’ve been pretty faithful to me, regardless of the giant gap between now and my previous post! Additionally, this marks my 200th post on the blog that started as adaminlondon.com, whilst living in London, England…and the blog upon which I now right.

It’s insane to sit here and reflect on all of the changes that have occurred in my life since I wrote my initial entry in the summer of 2007. I was a high school student, preparing to make an insane leap into the world of post-secondary academics…in a foreign nation. Today, I find myself still pursuing that degree with a vengeance, though a world away from the post-highschool mindset from which I wrote that first entry.

I suppose it’s only fair to try to fill you in on what you’ve missed over the past several weeks.

First, I ended up doing RENT! I was cast as Roger, the brooding musician recovering from his heroin addiction and dealing with AIDS…such a happy thing, right? Working with the cast was a crazy experience…some things were a major pain…think, giving up every Saturday in the month of March and April to work on the play ALL day. Other moments, sharing laughs with my castmates and making incredible memories on opening night…are things I’ll always remember. Enjoy a few select photos below:

[View with PicLens]

The semester has gone well…Sometimes I wonder if my French is progressing much, as I feel a bit like I’ve hit a dreaded plateau. I’m fluent in conversational French…yeah, I make mistakes, and there are moments where I don’t understand a word or two…but on the whole, I speak French…nevertheless, I want to push it further. I want to get crazy good. I want my accent to be perfect. I want to expand my vocabulary. I think it’s all stuff I’m capable of doing, I just don’t know how effectively my current course load is preparing me for that. I suppose this is one of the frustrating aspects of being in the American system…you have general education requirements that have nothing to do with your degree, and you spend time working on things that are so boring! Bleck. I suppose that’s life sometimes…you do things you don’t care for, so that you might be able to do the things you love.

Summer is fast approaching…in fact, as far as I’m concerned, tomorrow my summer starts! My final exam takes place in a little less than two hours, and then, I shall be free until September! I’m planning to work this summer, so I’m in the job hunt process…gotta love it!

On a fun note, my friend Aaron Reynolds and I started a podcast…The Parisian Pursuit! We chat about whatever we feel like talking about, and have some pretty exciting things planned from the near future…you should most DEFINITELY go check out our latest episode, and subscribe to our podcast in iTunes!

Other than that…life is going…and what can I say, I’m still as fantastically in love with this incredible journey I get to call my own. I can’t even begin to express how blessed I feel to be experiencing such amazing moments every single day, and I know that absolutely AMAZING things are in store for my future…wow!

What does that future hold? I suppose it’s really anybody’s guess, though my brain is filled with potential ideas…getting my masters in translation or interpretation at the Sorbonne? Coming back to the States to work as a French teacher? Writing another book? I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I DO know that it’s going to be incredible…and of course, you should come along for the ride.

To those of you who wish we could stay a bit more connected, I encourage you to stalk me on Twitter, as I am constantly updating it with my latest thoughts!

Have a great week everybody, and as always, thanks for checking out adaminparis.com!

Adam

So, surprise…I wrote a book. Can you believe that? I wrote a freaking book!

My mom has been trying to get me to share my stories in book form for ages, and telling me along the way…”Honey, you simply have to do it!” I spent countless hours trying to reassure her that I was young, and that one day the day would come where I could sit down and write about the incredible things I’ve been so blessed to experience in life. Nevertheless, she persisted…”You can write your second book later down the road. For now, you need to write book one.”

I rolled my eyes, chalked her encouragement up to normal “mom stuff,”and tried desperately to go along on my merry way…yet somehow, she planted a little seed in my brain. One afternoon, I thought to myself…”Why not open up a Word document and just try? Don’t tell Mom, don’t tell anyone…just try. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

Nearly 300 pages and countless hours spent in front of my computer screen later, I’ve finally published my first book…and I can’t begin to express all of the crazy emotions that come along with that. Part of me feels a bit proud of what I’ve accomplished, and part of me feels a little bit embarrassed…as my friends and family have begun to hear about my literary pursuits, I’ve received several messages on Facebook and in my email inbox, all asking me the same thing. “Adam!” they all start. “Why in the WORLD did I not know about this sooner!?”

It’s not a shame that comes from the simple fact that I’ve written, and it’s certainly not an embarrassment derived out of the incredible things I’ve been so blessed to discover over the course of the last few years I’ve spent abroad. Rather, my slight hesitation was simply related to the fact that I don’t feel as if what I’ve done is more valuable that what some others have done…I’m not Superman, and I don’t have any awesome supernatural powers (though that would be pretty awesome!). Instead, I’m a boy who took what he had to work with and ran with it.

In the end, the book I’ve written isn’t about the crazy things that happened in London, nor all that I’ve come to know and love about Paris…though all of those things are certainly contained within it! Rather, I chose to simply share where I’ve been…and encourage you all to tackle your big dream too…I couldn’t be more thankful that I had the guts to try!

Check out all of the details by clicking the above image, or by clicking below.

ONE GIANT LEAP.

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