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Sunday Visit To Paris

France Part One

Whats goin on

Well we got our design project for this semester and it is to create a bathhouse (like the old roman or turkish places where people were messaged and sat is cold and hot rooms) its like the equivalent to today's spas, but huge. And its interesting because its on a triangular site, on a slope, next to a canal, and surrounded by 2-3 hundred old neoclassical buildings. but it is down the street from a new public park that is immense, its called Park Villette and is full of contemporary modern architecture, so it will be fun to design this. I am in a group with my roommate charlie and another girl named angie, who is pretty smart. So it will be a fun design project, that will last until christmas. besides that, not a whole not last happened, going to markets buying more exotic foods and am starting to cook chicken, sausage and all kinds of pasta, so life is good. going to oktoberfest next weekend in Munich, Germany, and about 20 of is are taking a 13 hour bus to get there, should have some stories to tell after that.

since then

well since the last time i was on here, more classes have started and more money has been spent, but good times have been had. im starting to make new friends and am definitely starting to see new things, today our french class went to montmartre (spelling sorry) and it was beautiful, then on the way back down the mountain, we passed the bar where Amelie was shot in and saw the Moulin Rouge, all very nice. This weekend some of us are thinking of spending a ton of time in Paris and just soaking in as much as we can until our design studios start, which will eat up all of our free time. In conclusion, things are getting better over here, its a weird transition process going from catholic dorm in the states, to living in some french guys office building in a suburb of paris for a year. but im liking it more with time.

Pictures

getting settled in

now that the jetlag is wearing off and daily life is settling in, versailles is at least becoming to look a little familiar in spots and im starting to understand which way is north. although expensive i really do like going down the street to get a fresh baguette every morning and fresh everything else, even though its a little pricey. but hey theres no tax and no tips so no worse than any major us city. paris was awsome when we went, and im really looking forward to going without a big group and actually blending in and spending some actual time looking at all the interesting buildings. we start sketching and structures tomorrow and then history. i will get pictures on here as soon as i can too. my address is Max Bemberg
c/o University of Illinois
UIUC-SAPV
2, Avenue de Paris
78000 Versailles, France

startin it up

well im here and its awsomely expensive but there is nothing that i can do about it so ill just have to deal with it. school is awsome and words dont do it justice, so ill try and post some pictures on here as soon as i can. the town of versailles is huge and everyone here is pretty nice. we went to paris yesterday and saw notre dame and the pompidou center and a lot of non touristy things which was nice. and today charlie and i went to the local market and accidentally bought 11 dollars worth of cheese and have already gotten lost and have broken some wine bottles in a store but we doing alright. and by the way wine is cheaper here than mike and some water, and a 4 year old could buy it. so i will keep up on what im doing, and tell if anything interesting happens

Leaving soon

well its almost the eve of my leaving for france and its a very interesting feeling. excited to be in a new place and meet new people and see europe, but hesitant about leaving friends and family and other loved ones in the states. i dont really think it will sink in where i am until about a week from now, because i think the first week or so will be like vacation, seeing new sights, unpacking in a hole in the wall apartment and just expecting to leave when my stay has passed. so that transition into my daily life will be the time that i think it will start to settle that i'll be here for a while. oktoberfest is coming soon and being our first scheduled trip is great too, kinda touristy, but you have to start somewhere.