go home big.

us french study abroad kids over here have a little motto. one night when allison, jamie and i were at a creperie eating crepes, we were trying decided whether or not to get dessert crepes as well. someone said, "go big or go home!" then jamie i looked at each other, smiled and said, "or go home big!" we laughed, hard and it was decided. 'go big or go home. or go home big' and let me tell you, we are choosing to go home big. which would explain why i started my day off with a pain au chocolat from paul. delish

(this is for you katie j)

and it would also explain why i bought a fresh baguette at a bakery by school,

and then proceeded to eat the WHOLE thing. plain. because it was just so good.

as i ate my tasty baguette, it really just inspired me so. i felt the need to write an ode. to baguettes. so i did, in my head. right then. i'll try and remember it so you too can feel the inspiration. here i go. please read this in your most serious inside your head voice. or out loud, if you really want to feel it.

an ode to a baguette

oh baguette,

how i love you.

a perfect combination

of crust and doughy bread.

fresh from the oven,

still slighty warm,

american bakeries

just don't do it justice.

there is nothing like breaking off a piece

of a long baguette,

watching the crumbs fall to the ground

or on your skirt

and seeing little white baguette dust settle

all over, to be wiped off later.

or forgotten about.

oops.

your texture

your flavor

your color

there must be something in the french air

that makes you the way you are.

a baguette

alone

is a perfect meal.

a perfect snack.

in fact, a perfect companion

for a walk,

or while reading.

breaking off a piece of baguette

is like breaking off a little piece of happiness.

a little piece of french happiness.

every time.

it was a bit of a crazy day. art class was in the louvre. today we studied the rococo and turned in our midterms (yikes!). then jamie, allison and i tried to finalize our travel plans for our spring break 2011. i think, after much indecision, it is finally done. hallelujah. jamie and allison ate some mcdo for lunch. as i have said before, mcdonald's is pretty classy here. allison got chocolate flan. yes, you can get chocolate flan at mickey-dees in france. and macaroons too. james got a salad and a mcflurry. with 'real caramel'. then, after a slight metro mix up and some running, we attended a lecture by our professor hancock for a college class at the Ecole de Beaux Arts. it was the most eclectic class group i have ever seen, and it was fun to sit in a little classroom in a french academie and learn about french things. tonight has been lots and lots of homework. lots and lots of baguette. and lots and lots of emily and i just sitting in my room, sharing music, singing really loudly and awfully, making up songs about ants in our cereal, and having a blast, like always.

looking up at the baguettes behind the counter

blue sky

everyone needs a paris guide

door

james and allison with mcdo

a mcflurry is just as tasty here,

apparently

graffiti sticker

always another door

always another adventure