A couple of months ago, I was “tagged” in a blog post by The Wanderfull Traveller, a fellow professional art lover, world traveler, and regularly commenter here at La Belle in France. The idea is to share 10 things about myself I bet you wouldn’t have necessarily guessed.
So here we go….
10. I love horses. They say to be your happiest you should pursue your childhood dreams. Mine was to work with horses 24/7 and the idea of getting up at 4 in the morning to feed the horses has always seemed somewhat romantic. That’s worlds away from life in Paris, but who knows, perhaps one day you’ll be reading La Belle on the Ranch.
Back when I was picnicking at Chenonceau
9. Speaking of childhood, I can’t stand kiwis. It all started in the 2nd grade when the most annoying kid in the class managed to get kiwi bits strewn across my desk, ruining a picture I’d painted. To this day I have no desire to eat kiwi.
8. I don’t want to stop with French or France I’ve really enjoyed learning the language, and excelling in it while living here. But I see more for me on the horizon. Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, German…. those are all on the list. And with those I hope I have the opportunity to live in other foreign countries.
7. My favorite Christmas present ever is this crazy ugly, pink haired troll with one eye lodged into the back of its head. It was a gift from my then-and-now best friend when we were only six. To think I’ve had that troll for 20 years, and her friendship, for so long!
6. I can only spend so much time in a museum. I think it has something to do with my mind running at full force in every direction as I look at all the captivating works of art: I want to know all and study all. Regardless, I regularly visit the Paris museums even if I stay for 2 hours tops.
A work of art I loved exhibited at FIAC 2011.
5. My face broke my first camera. Yes, really. It was a surprise from my Dad when I was about 10 knowing I was interested in photography. He pulled it out from under his pillow early one morning and snapped its first shot of my delighted expression – only that first snapshot was also it’s last. Luckily my face hasn’t broken a camera since.
4. Back to art again, I don’t have a favorite artist/movement/medium. I’ve come to appreciate that a work of art is more than what’s at face value and because of this I have the hardest time determining what truly is my favorite. I’ve also come to love many works that fluster the viewer. And don’t even get me started with “My three year old niece could do that!” *cringe*
3. France is the only country I could see myself getting a dog. In the US, I hate racing home in the middle of enjoying a day out because the dog needs to pee. In France, the dog can tag along with you anywhere: metro, boulot, dodo and everywhere in between. Now that’s a dog’s life!
With my parent’s dog, Roxy
2. I’d rather go shopping for home décor than clothes. I don’t have to try on 3 different sizes of 10 different things before I can walk away with a great new addition. Candles and picture frames don’t hide away in my closet for just the right day. Cute dishes and fluffy towels do not need to be packed away half the year for more season-appropriate wear. And you can’t grow out of a vase.
1. I like it better when I can’t find my American comforts in France. When comforts are readily available, they somehow become less comforting. Plus, it’s easier to appreciate when you’ve had to go above and beyond to find what was always available to you back home. You would not believe the celebration my friends and I had the first time we ate potatoes and eggs after 6 months of croissants (no kitchen, no American brunches in the south of France, breakfast provided by cafeteria or host family, etc). In the end, it was somehow worth it.
In lieu of tagging three of my favorite bloggers, I thought I’d turn the question to you : What’s something people don’t really know about you?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
love this post! I was in Paris this past week and fell in love with the city. I also noticed all of the dogs everywhere! I’m a dog lover, and would LOVE to own a dog in Paris. Maybe I’ll get there someday.
xoxo Haley
It would really be fun! A few things keep me from going out and adopting a new puppy today, but I would really love a king charles cavalier!
I keep thinking of doing this, I should! Just so you know…Billy comes with me absolutely everywhere except for restaurants & doctors offices, so it can be *almost* like having a pup in France. On our last trip I watched as a girl was kicked out of Ladurée for having her pup in a bag with her-I was shocked! After all, it was France!
that’s cute! my mom takes her dog everywhere when she can but it just ends up in the backseat in its kennel for the adventure out. Not at all the same as walking your dog around a city for grocery shopping, drinks with friends, etc. I’m surprised they kicked her out – I was at a fancy restaurant for lunch when someone came in with her dog and no one said anything. It really pissed off the girls I was with but I thought it was cute.
Oh, we have so much in common! I love horses (and volunteer w/a horse rescue). I don’t like kiwis either. I’ve studied French, self-taught Italian, dabble in Spanish…it’s not enough! You may have me beat with 2 hours in a museum. My fav art would probably make true artists ‘cringe.’ I adore home decor shopping…clothes shopping frustrates me! Is it possible we are sisters separated at birth?
that’s why these kinds of posts are fun
thanks for commenting! and i’m curious to know what your favorite art is…
That I hate watermelon, I sing and I have trouble with self-restraint
Didn’t you know you had an aversion to kiwis!
I have good and bad days for watermelon, no idea you sing!! and as for self-restraint, don’t we all
Maybe mine is that although I”ve been to Paris 8 times and have posted a photo of Paris everyday for almost 4 years, I don’t speak the language well at all. Oh and my southern accent makes what I do speak sound even worse.
V
PS It was great fun learning so much about you.
Various levels of French show the time put into it – but I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to not have progressed. Just shows that you have other priorities and things going on in your life! You can still have a wonderful experience with the French culture regardless. I had a friend from Minnesota who spoke French – once she tried to speak it with a strong Minnesota accent. It was so hilarious we were crying with laughter! I bet your southern accent would be fun too
Yay you did it!
I am soon to undertake learning Italian and to reacquaint myself with French for my upcoming trip in September. Still waiting to hear back from the Guggenheim. Their facebook page is spotted with other students waiting for the news as well. Even if I don’t get it I will still go, but just not as long of a trip.
What people don’t know about me, that wasn’t included in the meme, is that I am obsessed with Wes Anderson Films. There is a new one coming out that is to be released in France before USA or Canada. And even then it will be limited to only a few cinemas which kills me. It is called Moonrise Kingdom. Keep an eye out for it!
The Wanderfull Traveler
I did! Finally! And I also got your package! It was so thoughtful and I love what you sent about art in Canada
Vécu is a great magazine! I’ll keep my eye for that movie! And I can’t wait to hear about the Guggenheim! My fingers are crossed! What do you hope to do with your learning experience there?
The writer in me wants to potentially write a novel about it or potentially get some kind of story ideas.
The art historian in me hopes to get experience working in a gallery and see if it is for me or not.
It is a win-win situation no matter what really as it is all within Venice, one of my favourite cities of Italy.
Still no word so they are 3 weeks overdue…you know Italians – love to take their time. Plus it was carnevale the week I was supposed to be notified and they are in the process of renovations (or were anyways).
Glad to hear you got your package! I figured I had to make it good to make it worth the wait.
The Canadian artist, Emily Carr, studied in Paris for about a year. I know some of her (and the Canadian Group of Seven) can be found in Paris, but I am not sure where.
I will pass the praise of Vecu on to the publishers!
Murissa
If the Group of 7 can be found in Paris, PLEASE let me know! I am part Vancouverite and love their works. Stephanie – this was a lovely post. What do people not know about me… Hmmm. I love puzzles. Mathematics puzzles, word puzzles, wooden puzzles. My apartment is littered with wooden puzzles that I’ve bought from different wood craftsmen in Europe, Asia, South America – everywhere! I love the time and concentration that all puzzles require, and the beauty of the process of coming together (or not coming together at all). I think human life is a bit like this overall, and I love that.
x Milsters / Little Pieces of Light