I'm Leaving.

Wow, tomorrow I leave for New York City. In some ways I'm kind of scared because I'm going alone but I suppose that's normal. I felt the same when going to Paris. I just had a dream that I missed my flight, woke up kind of thinking it was for real.  Glad it wasn't. 

I haven't packed yet either. I better get on that. 

Update 2.

"I want someone to eat cheese with"  - from the film i want someone to eat cheese with...

My things are coming together and therefore I can start scanning photos, posting and all that stuff. Hopefully I'll keep this up because I really like this place. I'm going to try my best to keep it as what I created it for. 

Update.

Sometimes it's better to just stare at the bottle and not submit oneself to it. 

Avoiding to go out lastnight was definitely the best bet. I enjoyed laying on the couch and watching Gossip Girl, eventually passing out. CoCo, Lizzy's cat, has joined the household and sometimes she scares me because it sounds like a baby crying. That's just too damn creepy. Matthew plus four other guys came over for dinner lastnight as well. It's nice to have company rather than to go out. The meal I prepared was decent. I made a carnivore and herbivore meal. 

Went to the theatre tonight with the guys, plus had dinner at Samurai. Bankok Dangerous! is not bad as I thought it could have been. Nicholas Cage's hair makes me giggle. I'd like to visit Thailand sometime soon in life. I'll leave it up to you in whether you choose to watch the film or not. I'm no good at critique such thing. 

starting a-new

Holland, England, Holland

i'm title-less

Today's seen in Paris. Ha-ha. Completed the 15 photo essay. Does that make sense at all? Jerica supposedly was to arrive today but it's been hell trying to get in touch with her. I'm trying not to worry. I didn't know all too much on her flight status. I don't know if she had one stop or two stops. Well, I tried nearly everything to get in touch with her. I went to the airport and roamed around for awhile in search of her. I saw a bunch of asians but none of them were her, she's not even asian. 

I'm starting to hate my blog because I can't write shit. 

Only a day left of class. Wow. Only one more day in Paris. But I'm not fretting. I'm feeling good about traveling some more. 

And Jerica just contacted me via email. No more worries! I'm glad she's here. Someone familiar, and atleast someone from back home to share the exhibition experience with. 

Time for bed.

The world according to no one...

I saw the Effiel Tower today. It didn't amaze me at all. What it did do was make my palms sweat and put a fear inside me that I only get when I look at tall ass structures. I asked myself a couple times what's going on with me because I've hardly been moved by anything, nothing has put me in a awe struck mode. The only place that did so was The Palace of Verseilles. Also the photography exhibitions I've come across last week. What I can't believe is how fast the time has flew. I can't believe how I've been here more than a week already. I've sulked in the city, and at one point just wanted to be out of it which is why I took a train away from the city over the weekend just for a few hours. But I must admit that I really do love my time here. It's been a good experience thus far with the class, the city, the people, everything. I'm thankful that we live our class out in the streets of Paris. Although sometimes one finds his/herself tired to the brim, it's better than sitting in a classroom all day long. I don't have all too much to say about the city today. 

Oh! I saw Valentino's Exhibit at the Les Arts Descoratifs. Those dresses are so out there, and some not but they are all amazing. It's really great to be able to go museums and see such amazing subjects whether it be clothing, photographs, sculpture, paintings and everything else! It's all great. 

Yesterday was Bastille day. It was exciting to go out into the area of the parade and snap away. It was also nice to see the transit system clear of madness but ofcourse today it went back to normalcy. 

That's all.

Sincerely,

Jane

Act like a Parisian, Walk like a Parisian...

Today has yet been another eventful Parisian day. Class was enjoyable. We went shooting in the morning in the Champs-Eylsees. Although I must admit during my shooting time I went and gort myself lost inside Louis Vuitton. I don't know why I went in there. I suppose I just wanted to see what it was like. It was gigantic! I needed a hairbrush so I ended up in huge Sephora. Only I came out with more than a hairbrush. Had a decent lunch at a cafe ate at once before. After lunch we went to the Maison Europeenne De La Photographie Ville De Paris. They had some amazing exhibitions. I saw the works of Anne Leibowitz. Her photographs really inspire me in the portraiture aspect. I especially enjoyed the personal photographs of her family. Also saw work by a lady named Sophie Elbaz. I've never hear of her or seen her work until today. I was impressed indeed. The photographs of hers are haunting more than anything because they revolve around war. It's amazing. After class ended, did a little Paris shopping. They have a store here called American Vintage which pretty much doesn't exist in America whatsoever. I found it odd to have it obtain such name when it doesn't exist there. They have really great clothes though. A bit pricey but I think worthy. I bought some really nice jean shorts there, and a dress. Everything around here is 50% , some places even 70% off. So, it's been really great shopping around here. Today was the first day I really allowed myself to buy anything not concerning school. I also bought a pair of black cowboy looking boots. Good find, good deal. 

The evening continued with an outing to the Louvre, free entry! I hardly browsed so I cannot say so much about it. I was there mainly to photograph people while a schoolmate was there to sketch. We didn't stay at all too long. After that adventure we went to the Latin Quarter with another schoolmate, had a 9.50 euro dinner. It was roasted chicken with frites. How simple huh? It's really good though! It was a great way to end the evening. Especially after the kind of week I've had or anyone's had. That's all I've got to say about today.. 

Oh! The weather is so unpredictable here! I suppose I should just carry my umbrella around 24/7 since it likes to rain out of the blue. 

Sincerely, 

Janele

Paris, France

So, it is now day five of being here, going on six. It's been a fun, exhausting, thrilling time. I really like it here despite the times I dread being on these grounds when my feet can't take it anymore. All I can do is express negative thoughts when thy feet aren't stable. It's not so much hard work but it is a challenge trying to get past the fear of taking photographs of strangers. You can easily take a photograph of anyone but you have to create some sort of intimacy with the stranger to make the photograph pop or else it feels like it is nothing. Other than the photography class, it's been all good, besides my every now  and then complaints. All I really complain about is the trains, the walking, the jet lag. The jet lag is making it's way out. I'm starting to feel a bit more alive. Tonight was really great. Ate at french bistro I forgot the name to. I had grilled chicken which was great. 

I saw the Effiel Tower closer than I've been seeing it. It was all lit up blue. We got called assholes in french, although we did nothing wrong. So far i've visited many parts of Paris. So many parts I cannot recall all the names, especially since they are in french. I've seen the Lourve but have yet to step inside it, there is hardly time during the weekdays. I've seen the Nortre Dame, haven't stepped inside that either. I saw a Richard Avedon exhibit two days ago which was great. Today we had a presentation by a well known, famous printer for photographers. The way he prints, he makes the photos come alive. We saw comparisons of what it was before and what it became after what he did. It was really great. 

It is now 1:26 am. I shall get some rest. 

The Travel blog

This is the beginning of my travel blog. I thought it would be a cool, well, great idea to create a blog to document my couple weeks abroad and the many more trips to come along. It's easier to keep it separated from the personal journals, so this way it's public. I don't know why I've finally decided to do this because I travel enough within a month to places that could be written about but it's always better late than never. I also figured this would be a good way to keep friends updated about my whereabouts and what I'm doing rather than having to talk to all these folks individually. Not that I don't want to talk to any of you! I'm sure you get the picture. This is the first time I've created a journal for the viewing of others. So, this is quite new to be writing like I'm talking to someone, it's nice though. 

It's only 11 days until my departure and I must say, the fear, the anxiety, the excitement is all coming down! I'm excited most of all! I think the fear mostly lies in the fact that I'm going alone. But I know it will be a good experience, whether it begins good or bad, the outcome will be a learning experience. I will return home with more knowledge and surely return home a different person, even in such a short span of time. 

Well, this is all I can say thus far. 

Sincerely,

Janelle