la ville cosmopolite

"i came that they may have life, and have it to the full"(jesus of nazareth)

So, two weeks ago my wallet was stolen. Crap, yes. But, my dad cancelled my bank card from the computer (time difference working in our favor) while I looked for my keys, so nothing was purchased with it. And the next morning I got my keys and driver license back because the thief dropped 'em on the ground. I hate to be such a shameless optimist, but this event brought about several mini wonderful things: 1)Getting to hang out and listen to lots of Jackson family songs with Emma, a girl in my program whose camera was also stolen and who stayed with me at the club until seven 2)Bonding with my host mom who wasn't, in fact, angry with my like I thought she might be, but quite compassionate. She gave me a real american hug and made me tea and an endive salad after letting me in the next morning. 3) I now have a french bank account which means I can subscribe to the Paris bike rental program, velib, and pedal around the city instead being sous terre on the metro.

However, there were a few days where I was living life in Paris without any money. I had about a hundred euro in my room, which slipped away pretty quickly after recharging my NaviGO metro pass (60e/month), using some of it to put into the new bank account (20e) and buying minutes for my cell phone (20e/3 weeks). One Tuesday, I found myself with only 27 centième left. This was upsetting because I wanted to buy a baguette on the way home but the small ones are usually at least 50 centime. The thing is, I was never actually without money at all. Several students bought me food that week, my director and host mom offered to lend me money until my new bank card came through. I'd like to say it was interesting to experience life without money, but when it got down to it became obvious that I really had plenty of resources all along. In fact, on the 27c night I figured out how to take out cash with my dad's credit card.  Even as a 'poor' student, I'm very well provided for. It was a good reminder of the reality in which I live, and how much I really have as compared to most the world, including the many homeless and beggars I pass everyday.
Actually, that Tuesday was interesting in another way. After class I visited Ladurée, a fancy schmance boulangerie on the Champs-élysée that specializes in macarons. Apparently this is the maison that made all the macaroons for the Sofia Copola film, Marie Antionette. I spent the last of my money on expensive cookies (I know,  really wise and rational decision) and they were realllly good. Cassis, chocolat de Madagascar, caramel avec fleur du sel are some of the tops. 

those are indeed golden macaroons. 

my cassis mac

Later that evening I had my first session tutoring high schoolers in english on the north side of Paris. The north side of Paris is kind of rough. In fact, the difference between the Champs-élysée and Barbès was almost as pronounced as it was the day I spent the afternoon in the heart of Amsterdam and the evening in a garbage village in Cairo. Only instead of 5 hour flight, a twenty minute metro ride is all is takes to traverse these two worlds. Tutoring was wonderful, and I think I'm really going to enjoy my time there. It takes place in an Islam center, Club Barbès, which provides teens from 'difficile' areas with academic support.  We read and wrote and worked on english homework. And then, to celebrate one girl's birthday, we each got a little piece of homemade chocolate cake. And it was even tastier than the macarons.