My cousin and her husband arrived safe and sound yesterday. I know this has been blogged about a million times before, but it really is strange to be seeing things from an outsiders point of view again, things that have just become so normal to me. Ie. washing machines being in the kitchen (and being tiny), not having a dryer, apartments being small - all these things that I don't even notice any more, it's just how it is. And while I know that they don't mean any harm by it, there are these brief moments when their comments give me the same feeling that I got when I was with the ladies of leisure. Like "Where on Earth did my life go wrong? Here's my cousin, 4 years younger than me, with a good husband, a great job and a huge house with a master bathroom that's bigger than my current living quarters. How did I end up alone, living in a tiny chambre de bonne, after all this time, after all my hard work?"
On the other hand, they're family, and it's really nice to have family members on my turf. It's also given me pretty much my first chance to do touristy things in Paris. It's awful, but in the six weeks I've been here, I've done barely any exploring. I haven't been to the Eiffel Tower, Bastille, Sacré Coeur, etc - I guess I've just been doing the things you when you actually live here, and aren't a tourist. I visit friends, get my groceries, go about my life. So it's good that they're here, and that they're giving me a good excuse to rediscover Paris.
They're off to Versailles today - and if anyone has guests coming, I totally recommend the special Forfait Loisirs Château de Versailles. It gives you a round-trip ticket from Paris to Versailles, the right to enter through a special door & pass by the normal line you're supposed to wait in, access to most of the rooms in the château, a free audio-guide and access to the gardens. It's 21.65€ during the week and 25.95€ on the weekends - not a bad deal. The same sort of special pass also exists for the Château de Fontainebleau, the Château d'Auvers and the France Miniature park.
Labels: Tips
posted by Ksam @ 11:29 AM
13 Comments:
Enjoy your time with your guests! I have yet to have anyone visit.
You should also mention the pass gives you access to both Trianons and Marie Antoinette's special area :)
And really, who wants to be married at 24 with a big house all tied down? Not me! I know it's hard but try not to compare too much, just do what you think is right for you, because everyone is different. Enjoy your weekend with Yuri!
on the other hand, you speak french, live, and work, in paris.
they don't.
believe me - i know that feeling (and I am older than you). Ive evaluated it alot in our possible decision to move to Italy. But honestly, much of those things you compare are material things and whats really important is quality of life. It sounds like your quality of life is really good right now - meeting new people, exploring new things. you are still young and are living experiences you will never forget =) something they will never have or know. truthfully, I am glad I was older when i married. it made me a better wife and relationship person all around.
have fun!
I've also adjusted to so many things, that I don't think about the "what if's" very often.
Enjoy your touring with your cousins ! I haven't had the same honor of showing family around. I have never had family visit either.
I'm older than you and I wonder the same thing. I always thought Paris was it for me and during my stay there I felt at home. At least you get to stay there and live a life many like me really wish for. I had two friends from Paris visit me a few months ago. A statement regarding me having a "proper kitchen" has stuck in may mind. I also lived in a tiny room and had no kitchen, but at least I was in Paris. You could say I didn't have much, material wise, but thus far it was the time in my life that I felt most confortable with myself and my surroundings. I was pretty content. From your posts I think you're pretty happy there. It's just every once in a while you get a different view and wonder about the grass you see. I think it's normal to compare.
I'm with Alisa, married and settled down at 24 is my idea of HELL!!!
Andrea said it all. Your cousin is probablly thinking "Were in the world did I go wrong? I should be in Europe and living a life like Sam." Hell, I even think that. Thats why I read your blog. Grass is always greener my friend.
I wouldn't necessarily think of it as your life going wrong. Rather, you have the opportunity to re-evaluate your life and decide which direction it's now going to take. Pretty exciting, really :)
Andrea- Marriage does not equal death unless you have a very old fashioned conception of what marriage is. I'm 24 and so far not living in hell..but then I'm no Betty Crocker type either.
"Marriage does not equal death." Are you sure??? ;)
Well, I did say it was my idea of hell, it's obviously not yours. Naturally you aren't against getting married at a young age as you just got married.
I just think being young is the time for learning about life and love and figuring out what it is you want to do with your life and the kind of person you want to share it with.
I changed a lot from age 24 to 34 and I think you'll find you will too. Fingers crossed you and your husband change in the same way over that time and you still end up wanting the same things.
I don't think anyone should compare themselves to anyone else - after all, each person moves along in life at their own pace. Some of us are late bloomers and some are early ones. Some people will get their first job at 22, and some will get it at 30, just like some people get married for the first time at 20 and some get married at 45.
Each person has their own life path and all, so it's pointless to compare to others.
I'd pick your life any day! A big master bedroom is ALL it's about here in the US these days. That and a Coach purse. REALLY WRONG! Eleven more days until I land in Paris (just for 2 weeks--sigh!).
Cindy from NE
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