New Years Eve.

We arrived in Charles de Gualle airport at 9am, had to wait for the stairs to get off the plane and then proceeded to get lost in the maze that they call an international airport. It was pure hell. It took us so long to find a place to eat that we didn't even bother leaving the airport and heading into the city. So instead we spent 10 hours trying to sleep in the airport. All we got for our trouble was a neck cramp and some stares. We boarded our layover and finally made it to our hotel at 8:30 in the evening.

This picture explains everything we were going through after 18+ hours flying/waiting.

Then we needed to figure out what to do about clothes and if we were going to go out, where were we going to go? We finally settled on just letting the wind take us. So after we got all dolled up we wandered down the street across the bridge, past closet stores toward the Centre-ville. Nothing was open so we couldn't even buy a bottle of champagne and drink that.

Finally we headed towards the Ferris Wheel they have by Place Bellacoeur. We listening to a small group count down, some others throw fireworks at people, and a man kiss LaTanya and wish her a creepy Bonne année. Then we kept wandering, sorely disappointed. Down a back alley we found a bar district and wandered into a pub but it was so crowded we could order. We finally found a bar and a nice guy sat and chatted with us. 

By 1:30 we were all sleeping soundly in our beds back at the hotel. 


New Years' Eve didn't turn out like we had planned but it was still quite an adventure.

I will share our first real day in Lyon with you next.

2012 Resolutions

I love resolutions. I know that some people hate them, but I love lists, especially checklists, so this to me is just like a year long list. Love it.

2012 to do list: 

- Enjoy France: Live every moment in the present when I am France. Do everything I can, travel everywhere I can, take it all in.

- Run a half marathon: Seattle Marathon, November 27, 2012.

- Become fluent in French: see goal one. I will be there for 6 months. I will speak French everyday, all day. No excuses.

- Pay off a student loan: This will be hard since I will be paying rent for an apartment next fall, but I need to start paying them off. I still have law school to get through after undergrad.

There are a couple more personal resolutions but you don't need to know them yet. You have to buy me dinner first.

Review: My life in 2011.

- Finished Freshman year of college: Freshman year was... interesting. My roommate and I met and we became good friends. But I was introverted and found it to be tougher then I thought to make friends and get out. The rain started to get to me even though I have lived here my entire life. All these resulted in me battling depression.


- Battled Depression: probably one of the toughest things to admit, yet something that has made me the person I am today. I am learning to take care of myself and put myself out there. Locking yourself in your dorm room without talking to anyone and watching too much TV results in low self-esteem and general unhappiness. Now that I know this I am trying to figure out how to change my habits. It's tough shit.


- Had a job all year: I was blessed to grow up in a family of construction workers and Boy Scouts. Hard work is a foundation of our lives. In the Spring I worked two jobs and went to school full time. This past summer I finished my fifth year selling berries for a local farm. I got to manage more which was nice to my bank account. This Fall I could only fit one job in my schedule because I studied a lot, but they want me to come back next year which is so nice. I was extremely blessed.

- Got into a Study Abroad program: It took a lot of hard work, two consecutive classes, lots of summer homework, and saving up but I got accepted to study abroad in France. In two days I will be leaving for Grenoble, France for six months. It is one of the most life changing experiences I have ever had, and it hasn't even started! I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.

- Started Running: This is one of the things that I think has helped me battle my depression. I have started to hate my body, but running has taught me that it isn't all about appearance but about strength, commitment and faith. I know that running will be something I can have forever. Next year I am planning on running a half marathon.


- Went down a pant size: This was so exciting. I haven't be this small since... Shit I don't know. And my New Years' Eve dress? I feel pretty in this dress. And I never feel pretty in dresses. Since I will be celebrating New Years' Eve at a party, which I never do (usually it's on the couch in Pjs with Ice Cream) and in a foreign country, this is so important for me.


- Turned 20: It was nice to not be a teenager anymore, but now all I can think is I am an adult. I need to get a boyfriend and an apartment stat.


- Got a haircut: And I kind of like my hair shorter. I swore I would not get it cut since last time they cut it short, I looked like yield sign. True Story.

Overall, it was a weird year. I wasn't too happy with myself. But I feel like 2012 is going to be my year. I will be living in France for 6 months, traveling, running a half marathon, turning 21, and getting my first apartment. Perhaps a boyfriend is in the cards too?

Be nice to be me 2012, I really need it.

New Years' Eve.

I am so excited about this coming New Years' Eve. I know that it still so far away but I will be celebrating it in PARIS. Did you hear that? Paris. I am so freaking excited! It will not just be another year of making a list of resolutions like get organized, lose weight, travel, then losing it and trying to remember them. I will actually be taking my life and seizing it by the balls (sorry gma)! Gone is the New Years' of drinking cider in my pjs, watching movies in the dark. I am a grown up now and it is time to start acting like it.

Also to prep myself I have purchased the most stunning dress. Ever. I will be wearing it for New Years in the city of lights. It is a size or two smaller than I am currently but it is a dream dress that will become a reality very soon. It is the prettiest dress for the prettiest city for the most exciting evening.

I am so psyched.