Okay so I admit that ive pretty much failed at keeping up with this. I don’t think I realized when I decided to start this blog that I would also be trying to keep up with so many other things that I wouldn’t even have a chance to think about blogging. Aside from this ive been journaling, writing letters, facebooking, taking pictures, trying to keep up with my visual journal for class along  with my sketch book and other class work.

Anyway instead of updating about the overall experience because theres just way too much at this point I think that ill try to highlight the small things that happen that make my day or week or just things that im reflecting on.

so a couple things happened this weekend that were amazing…for one I finally had some time to just relax and not have any set plans for the day.. I went on aimless walks and did some exploring. Last night me john scott l and dana went on a “dice” adventure. Basically we took a much of dice and took the metro to the Eiffel tower where we started and we just rolled the dice to decide what street to take, what metro line to get on, and how many stops until we got off as well as asking random questions like what item to buy from a sketchy vending machine. We covered a TON of the city and did a bunch of random stuff on the way including throwing glow sticks into the seine and landing them on boats, climbing up three flights of a dark apartment building that was unlocked, ordering tomatoes from a kfc euro menu, and doing ridiculous and uncouth things on the metros. It was a perfect .

this weekend was the first time I felt like  ive got some sort of  grasp on this city.  Im finally getting out there and exploring and just feeling grounded.  I think the weekends are going to be the perfect times to do this, when im not overwhelmed or exhausted from classes and museums.

sunday morning I went to this church called hillsong paris…it was amazing the worship was incredible they played all hillsong music and they had a huge band and they sang half the songs in French and the sermon was translated into French too which was really cool to hear. the message was so simple and relevant to where I am right now and I just felt like it was a boost I needed. Its been weird not being connected to a church or being able to worship and sing out.  So basically im pumped and refreshed and will be going back next Sunday for sure

Okay im going to end this one but I promise to write on this more in bits and pieces. Love you all  -anne

a glimpse from today.

today i woke up at seven forty five, ate a croissant, apple sauce, and coffee (typical french breakfast.) i left the fiap (our home in paris) and felt the brisk fall air as i walked to the metro. i took a forty five minute metro across paris to my first painting class in kathy's studio. we walked up three flights of winding stairs to the studio and set up our paint pallets and easels. today we practiced capturing the gestures and contour lines in a portrait. a few of us took turns being the model for the rest of the class. at one point during the three hour class i turned to meg clarke standing at her easel next to mine and said..hey meg were taking a painting class in a studio in paris. theres been times on this trip where im hit with the reality of what im doing. i hope that this entire experience never settles in cause i love these moments. after class me a few other girls explored the district around the studio and found some warm panini's at a boulangerie and sat at a bench and had lunch. the streets here are beautiful. little shops one after another with their unique awnings that fill the streets with colors. and rows of tall trees on the brink of turning their fall shades. after we picked up some new sketch books and pens we headed back to the fiap for a nap and some wifi :)

okay i promise to rewind and let you all know about rome and austria soon when i have more time! until then im finally settled for the next two months here in paris with wifi on the main floor so lets skype or ichat! i love you all. au revior.