Chapter 6: Une Presentation
After studying for cinq heures en la librairie, I went back to my room to write to my best friend Paigey, who is a junior in college finishing up her studies in French so that she can transfer to Aix-en-Provence next semester in January and stay there for the reminder of the year. We e-mail each other in French for some extra practice, and it helped further our comprehension a lot better. Doing so really made a big difference, rather than listening to my French tunes most of the time. In the email, I asked her about how thanksgiving was, even though its been a month and it's getting close to Christmas time.
Bonjour mon amie!
Comment ça va? J'ai sommeil et froid, il n'y a pas chauffage dans ma chambre. Plus il y a une tonne de devoirs, pourquoi ne peux-il des actions de grâces vacances en France ? Maintenant je commence a manquer a la maison juste a y penser. Quand avez-vous des termes milieu ? Comment votre famille et tout le monde est en train de faire retour à la maison ? Tu me manques ! Ecrire bientôt de retour, je ne peux pas attendre de vous voir en Janvier ! Nous pouvons être colocataires !
Câlins et de baisers
Stéphanie
Post-scriptum. Il est pas les devoirs que je suis fatigue de, je suis aussi fatigue d'être harcèle et traque tout le temps par ce blond avec les lunettes rectangulaires. Je ne sais pas ce que je fait pour mériter cela, mais je pense qu'il pourrait faire tout cela a cause de ce qui est arrive a la cafétéria avec moi cogner accidentellement en lui et laisser le gâteau au chocolat voler dans sa face non intentionnellement. Il pensait évidemment je l'ai fait exprès ou quelque chose, pensez-vous que cela est la raison pour laquelle il essaie de me faire du mal en quelque sorte ? Où est-ce la jalousie ? Ou pire… une quête d'attention ?
Ok so there is a lot to comprehend here, basically what I said in the email is I asked how is she doing, I also mentioned how tired and cold I am in my room that has literally no heating at all, wishing that I had thanksgiving break due to all that devoir I've been dealing with for the past few weeks now, and how excited I am to see her after New Years. The last part is well, the part where I mention about that rude douche bag who I accidentally bumped into with cake splattering all over his pretty face.
I will check back later to see what she wrote in response, I'm dying to know what she says. Paigey is in advanced French after all.
After my humanities class, I have exactly two hours before my next class at fifteen thirty (military time for three thirty). I walked over to the café to get my usual soup du jour , and salad along with sparkling water to help curve my appetite. After I eat, I walk over to the flower stands to see what kind of fleurs they have. I look around and I see a lot of pastel colored roses, sunflowers, lavender stocks, lilies, and any blossom you can possibly imagine. Just when I thought I wasn't going to find which one I liked the most, me yeux marrons chocolats (my chocolate brown eyes) spotted my favorite fleur that I remember smelling the last time I was in France in the south burgundy region.
Le chevrefeuille
When I was walking around in Beaune, this grassy golden floral captured my nose mind, body and soul. The heavenly scent smelled so good that I got a purse sachet to put in the pocket of my Paris tote bag so that the scent doesn't leave, imprinting its fragrance as a remainder of my post secondary trip of a lifetime at age nineteen. I decided to purchase a bouquet of them, and departed the stands just in time before my next class.
If you were wondering what kind of flowers I got, the name "chevrefeuille" means French honeysuckle, and in Victorian times they symbol happiness. I window shopped, and saw a perfume labeled "Dauphine de Papillons" it was a small rose-violette bottle with a gold butterfly cap encrusted with white, pink, and yellow cubic zirconia's, the leaves were a beautiful evergreen color, and the bottle also had four golden fleur-de-lis on each side with a white stud in the middle of each of them. I sniffed the perfume, and I read the scent description, it had honeysuckle, lilies, green grasse, sandalwood and amber. It even came with a matching tray. I checked the price, and thought woah! Sixty euros for all of that? I only had twenty euros, and was so bummed about not having enough to buy my favorite scent in the world. With that, I left the store all sad and desperate for wanting that perfume. I just hope nobody buys it before I do.
I fall back to sleep, and I'm transported back to Wonderland. The Queen of Hearts and I were having tea in her fancy parlor where she's yelling at all the cooks to pick up after themselves. And I thought I was bossy and demanding!
"Those peasants can't even make a decent strawberry tart anymore, first they burn the first batch, then they have the nerve to just make jokes about how big my head is!" The queen said while sobbing.
I reassured her that everything will be alright, after all people can be fools nowadays. After I spent time with the queen I was able to teleport back to Paris to meet with Amelie and Nino to help plan for their wedding, they plan on getting hitched in June. Collingion was just being a complete ass when he refused to cater for the buffet so we had to go to one of the fancy bakeries to have the professional chefs help out with the cake and stuff. The dream went on for hours and hours until it was time for me to go to class.
Chapter 7: Fins tristes et heureux commencements
A month passes by, and I feel so depressed. All friends were asked to leave the school (except for Gina), I'm feeling homesick, there is no one to talk to, and Paigey is like the only person I talk to when I'm alone. Beatrice left because of her constant partying; Albert started struggling with devoir that it made it hard for him to makeup for it, and Athena's grandmother was not doing well, so she had to get a plane back to Santorini in order to help her mom take care for her. Gina on the other hand, was doing just fine and we still talk to each other. The good thing is that we will still keep in touch on Facebook. What made me super sad was Julian wanted to go study architecture in Florence, Italy but he got into a fight with his "cousin" about it, and then saying mean things to Julian right to his face. Julian had enough of his cousins immaturity, and from what I heard was that he told his cousin that he was better than him, and that he was just jealous because all he does was pick up girls, and just waste his life trying to be Mr. cool than actually doing something for a living. His cousin started to yell, throw things, and say to Julian "I do have a life! And I know what I want to do for a living, and that's become a teacher/inventor or even a CEO making a good business happen due to my intelligence, dedication and creativity! I don't give a shit about what people would think, because everything will be done by me! So you can just suck my…." And then Julian punched him in the face, his nose started to bleed. Then Julian said "Get out of my house! And never come back, you have until one tomorrow to pack up all your things and move them into the dorms. My flight departs at three, and I expect you to be gone before I leave got it?"
I was shocked; Julian actually kicked him out of his house that he paid for to live in. He told me that they were supposed to help pay the rent due to the expenses of tuition that both their parents are responsible for, Julian ended doing most of the dirty work by spending most of his time sweeping the floors and serving the costumers. He was not happy when his cousin ended up becoming a bottomless pit most of the time, and had to stand up for himself. Kuddos to you Julian, I hope the pasta is still delicious.
But now that he's moved into the dorms, my life ended up turning into a living hell. He kept on throwing parties non-stop, his music was so loud that I could barely concentrate, and guess where his room was? Across the hall from mine, and he got a master bedroom filled with a balcony, his door was carved with his Initials on it in gold cursive writing, and I could literally see it all from my window. Topiaries of lions, ivory statutes of Venus, two cupids, and Athena all over the place. And I could see his fancy navy gold and crème colored room filled with crème and gold colored bed sheets, more green leaves hanging around the edges of the ceiling, a huge Brazilian rosewood bookcase, more lion statues, a gold chandelier, a sun plate hanging on his wall, pictures of paintings from the artists I love, and a warm frothy Jacuzzi that he had in his bathroom that smelled like you guessed it, honeysuckle! And he got it all for himself! Quel trou du cul.
Me, I have a suite all to myself. I have crème colored walls, white colored bedspread with pink roses and matching pillow cases, my pastry pillow I got from Beaune, my laptop, pink robe, a nice bathroom with marbled floors, tiled black and white walls, and a fancy gold/old fashioned porcelain bathtub with a see through glass door shower. I even have my own microwave and refrigerator. My curtains are crème with golden detail, the edges of my ceiling were decorated with pink roses and fleur de-lis, and the light hangs from my ceiling and its round like the full moon. My door has a gold fleur de lis on it with a hook on it to hang my stuff on, like my bag or whatever. The front on the other side also has my initials SRM on it in gold and looks so much better than that guy's initials, or so I think they are (btw, my name tag is protected with glass so in case he tries to scribble on it, it will end up on the glass instead, and its super easy to wipe off. Plus the glass sleeve is bulletproof and cannot be broken). Ok, so maybe I have some spoiled sophisticated taste myself. But at least I don't show off, and take up almost the whole floor with a huge suite.
I check my email, and Paigey responded in French this time.
Bonjour Stephanie!
Merci pour l'e-mail, je fais bien, ma famille et moi venons de passer de grâces. Nous avons eu la dinde, sauce aux canneberges, purée aux herbes, et l'igname avec guimauves et ananas. Je dois admettre que votre recette est le meilleure que je l'ai jamais faite, je vous remercie. Donc, le gars que vous avez mentionne, on dirait qu'il pourrait être intéresse en vous, mais a part ça, je ne reviendrai pas laisse arriver a vous. Les garçons sont toujours des moyens de jouer avec les filles de nos jours, ils peuvent ainsi vivre dans un poulailler pour tous je me inquiète. Ne vous inquiétez pas, a mon arrivée en France, nous aurons un meilleur temps soufflant le toit hors château royal mec de ce morveux pour sur.
A tout a l'heure mon amie !
Paigey
After that, I locked my door and went back downstairs to meet up for the secret Santa activity. The activity is called "l'ange de noel" the Christmas angel. Basically what we do is the participant buys a gift, and puts the recipients name on it, and then the gift is delivered to their room in front of their door. However, the person sending the gift cannot put their name on the tag telling where it came from. When Christmas Eve came around, I received a present sitting in front of my door; it was all wrapped up in beautiful sugar plum colored gift wrapping with a white rose on it, it came in two small and a large boxes. I took the present, and went into my room to open it. After I opened the gift, I couldn't believe my eyes.
It was the perfume I wanted so badly, including the tray! I smelled it, and it was definitely the same honeysuckle scent that I remembered smelling the last time I saw it though the window. When I walked by the other day, it was gone. But now, I'm happy to have it on my nightstand. I sniffed it once more, and it had the exact same notes I remembered inhaling, honeysuckle, lilies, green grasse, sandalwood and amber, I knew nothing has changed, and no one even dared to pour out this lovely scent. Plus, it's better than snooty guys scented bubble baths; his honeysuckle scents don't smell anything like mine. I put the tray and the bottle on my nightstand, and then I noticed a box of chocolates, calissons, postcards of Aix-en Provence, and a gold butterfly necklace with a note on it.
Cher Stéphanie
Joyeux Noël a la plus belle, gentille et intelligente fille que je connais. Vous avez un fort esprit créatif, et une véritable passion pour l'art, humanités, et la culture de la France. Vous avez un esprit aventureux et vous aimez voyager. Vous rêvez d'explorer le reste du monde, y compris les pays que vous aimez comme Italie et France. Vous avez un bon goût de la mode, et l'amour pour montrer votre cote chic et féminin beaucoup. Votre amour de la lecture et de l'écriture me coupe le souffle, et le son de votre voix est élégant comme les anges. Si tout homme devait avouer son admiration pour vous, il vous dirait ses émotions écrites sous son cœur.
Pouvez-vous être bénis avec une bonne et heureuse année.
D'un véritable genre ange cœur
The note had literally taken my breath away, nobody would usually write me sappy love letters before. But this wasn't just a sappy love letter; it was a letter with deep emotions stating how this person personally feels about me.
Well, we will see how the New Year turns out.
Back in my little dream world, the Queen and I were conversing with how Amelie and Nino where trying to plan the most beautiful wedding of the century. She agreed to come with me to help out with the themes and stuff on our carriage ride to Paris, and The Palace of Versailles to pay dear Marie Antoinette a visit, and yes you can talk to ghosts in dreams cause spirits can visit you in the subconscious and the unconscious. We also do some shopping and we all have a blast including Nino despite being a man lol. Marie Antoinette was thrilled to help out with the wedding festivities so that it turns out to be the ultimate wedding of the century!
I wake up "sigh" again, and start daydreaming about my adventures in Wonderland with the two British and French queens I have great pleasure spending time with. I tell Paige about my dreams, and she was fascinated by it that I continue telling my crazy fictional dreams all night long on FaceTime despite the time difference.
Chapter 8: Disons la fête commence!
A week after New Years, Paigey arrived to Aix-en Provence on the bus. I helped her out, and took her upstairs to my room. As she was unpacking her suitcases, I sat on her bed holding the note in my hands.
"Comment était votre voyage en France? »
« Il était passionnette mais très épuisant, je devais prendre trois vols vers Londres, puis a Paris, puis a Lyon. Je devais aussi prendre le train vers Marseille et enfin le bus. »
« wow, et je pensais que je serais mort au moment ou je suis arrive ici. »
« Droite ! »
Later, we all met in the amphitheatre to announce the students who achieved honor roll status last semester, plus welcome Paigey.
"Bonjour et bienvenue, je espère que vous avez eu une bonne pause d'hiver. L'an dernier, deux étudiants ont montre beaucoup de dévouement dans leurs études, et nous sommes heureux d'annoncer l'étudiant avec la plus grande GPa a 4.0 est… Stéphanie Morse ! »
Everyone started cheering; me and Paigey were hugging each other all happy.
"Et la deuxième personne pour recevoir un tableau d'honneur a 3.75 est …Leonard Monet »
Only half of the people clapped, when he rose up, I was like "that's him?"
"Paige! That's the guy who would always insult me!"
"OMG, but he looks so cute!"
"Yeah, a little too cute if you ask me."
"Hey, he might not be as bad as you think. I mean look at me and my boyfriend back at home."
" Que la nouvelle année attire, je voudrais souhaiter la bienvenue un autre étudiante américaine Paige McDonald a Aix-en Provence. Comme vous pouvez le voir, Stéphanie et Paige arriver à être les meilleures amies depuis le lycée et sont a la fois a partir de San Francisco en Californie. Notre étudiante de tableau d'honneur ici va aider a guider sur le campus et était assez dispose a abandonner sa chambre unique afin qu'elle puisse faire se sentir comme a la maison. Nous attendons préface a Paige avoir la meilleure expérience de sa vie, bienvenue Paige McDonald a Aix-en Provence. »
We went back to our room to celebrate; Gina came over and brought some friends along with her. They brought in a stereo system, some hors d'œuvres, and some ipads/iphones to listen to some music. They admired Paige's corner as well as my own, her side has pictures of Paris, Italy, Hawaii, and London, pink bedding, her speaker doc, imac, books, American and French snacks, food, and drinks, pink butterfly lights, pictures of her boyfriend and us in high school, and some dvds.
Later we went to the club for some drinks, and non-stop dancing to start the weekend.