Sunday, July 3, 2011

A hop, skip, and jump

I'm going to Paris!


... France...


Seriously... I'm going to Paris! I can hardly think about anything else. Two and a half weeks from now I will begin my adventure. But Paris is only part...

The story goes that I was planning a month in Paris, no other place of destination. I hope to write, and since returning from India I have forsaken the time to do so by working both of my former (and now current for the next two weeks) jobs. Before classes resume I found now the opportunity to just go, but unlike India it is not with a mind to stay away forever. In fact it might be quite the opposite; it will be a trip, but a trip none-the-less to write.

Initially wanting American Airlines (you know... for the miles) I decided on KLM, and the Dutch have not let me down! I have a 7 hour layover in


I've never been, and the time between flights will provide me just enough time - an hour or so - to get into the city and hang out, hopefully with


and



From New York I fly to


To spend a glorious 6 days and five nights. The stay is longer than I initially anticipated, and I greatly look forward to spending some QT with family!




... (though I do not expect my end of the pictures to turn out quite as well) It should be enough time to write and speak and explore and hang out. Then it's the 


...and I couldn't think of any better way to travel. I am again thankful to KLM, as my flight allows me to fly out of


instead of having to return to London. After seeing this very photo I briefly considered looking into leaving from off of the actual Arc de Triomphe, but I imagine it would be slightly beyond my monetary means. So I have to fly out of 


just like the rest of the non-gazillionaires. I don't have a direct flight home, but instead have a 15 hour layover... in


before my flight back to Chicago.

NYC, London, Paris, Amsterdam for sure. A neighbor that became a friend, a friend made on an Indian train, and a cousin  (though at 5 she promised not to be anymore) to share my time and trip with. And a chance to simply write.

Things I'm looking forward to: seeing NYC for an hour and meeting up with friends, mostly to be able to say "just spent an hour in NYC with -----. NBD (Normal But Different or No Big Deal, depending on the authority =); Hanging out with Marla AGAIN in London, though this trip the time will be measured in days rather than hours; Speaking English in England, French in France; sitting in a cafe sipping an espresso and nibbling on a French pastry; listening to "Non, je ne regrette rien" by Edith Piaf as I arrive in Paris; flying - yet again - by the seat of my pants in countries I've never been; bringing home rocks for all my loved ones (as there's no way i can shop in Paris the way I shopped in India); taking an obscene amount of pictures and movies; speaking no English for the entirety of my time in France; smoking a square or two; enjoying the cafes in Amsterdam, the vibe everywhere, and the writing always; expanding my ever shrinking French vocabulary; picking up some local vernacular and idioms; doing whatever I may do, enjoying what I am doing, and all because it is what is... The list goes on...

Things I am not looking forward to: ...?


Five things I want to do in Paris (in no particular order as always): write a ----- (matters not what, so long as I write my face off), kiss a French girl, stay at Shakespeare & Company, effectively tell a joke in French, and eat a fresh croissant.

5 comments:

  1. Kyle - love Love LOVE the visuals - they are inspiring and beautiful and make me smile!

    I think (no I know!) this is going to be one amazing adventure - I'm excited for you and CAN'T WAIT to start reading notes from Europe.

    YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!

    As always, love you more!!!

    xoxox MoM

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  2. Mum... you once mentioned not too long ago that you were somewhat disconcerted to be often the only one to comment on my posts. Truth be told I don't care. I don't write for anyone else but myself, and it is in that same breath that I say your comments are not weakened by their solidarity. I love that you not only take the time to read the words I write but also to send such loving and inspiring words yourself to encourage me along.

    Keep them coming, as each one serves as a reminder to how truly lucky I am to have such a beautiful mother.

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  3. Sooo excited for you to visit ky!!!!!! YAY....the days will fly by and you will be here in England before you know it!! xoxo

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  4. Kyle ---- you are one of a kind and we're a family - gotta love the connection!!!!!

    Love you more xoxoxoxo MoM

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  5. Kyle,
    I really enjoyed this type of text mixed with pictures type of writing!
    Safe travels. Sounds like you have quite the ambitious schedule!

    One suggestion. While on my exchange to France, I went into Paris for a school trip. We went to see a play in a theater that was probably built 2000 years ago. We got super cheap tickets as it was not a very large/popular theater. Regardless, it was a very enlightening cultural experience!

    Best of luck!
    xo HT

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