It's March

It's already March and I can't believe I've been here for two months already.

Well, I can and I can't. I can believe it because:

a) I've gotten to know Paris fairly well (it's a pretty big place, so I don't know if I'll ever know it really well, even after six months)...I have a pretty good sense of direction and I can tell you how to get to any neighborhood by metro and in certain neighborhoods, by walking.

b) My french has actually improved. Speaking more than writing, but still! I can now carry conversations with French people and not be socially awkward or virtually out of the loop the entire time. Sometimes, I even make jokes. And today, some woman asked me for directions and I was able to give them to her in fluid French.

c) I have favorite places.

- Le Jardin du Luxembourg for a quick lunch stroll

- The cheap boulangerie on Rue Vavin

- Eric Kayser for the best almond croissants ever

- Happy Nouilles for my Asian food fix

-La Musée d'Orsay to study/read/write in

- Le 138 Café in the Bastille

- Bar Dix near Odeon for fabulous Sangria

- Le Caveau des Oubliettes near Saint-Michel for some great jazz

- l'avant comptoir for the best, freshly-made gauffres in town

- Le Piano Vache for cheap drinks and gypsy, Django Reindhardt-like jazz on Monday nights

- UGC Gobelins for cheap movie tickets during the week

...and the list goes on.

d) I've stopped being harassed so much. In the beginning I was getting whistled at, propositioned, etc. A LOT. And honestly, I think it was because I stuck out like the sore tourist-looking thumb I appeared to be. But now, I must carry myself differently because I haven't had much interaction with these hommes louches.