"Is this British or American?! Where's the word 'color'?" - Andrew Kaczmarek

Hey Friends,
First things first... THE DETROIT RED WINGS ARE TWO GAMES AWAY FROM BEING THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS (again). This is me subtly educating any non-detroit friends who may read this blog, it's me repaying my debt to society.

Anyway, the Embassy was great. I was very much not looking forward to it because I felt I had just done it a few months ago in Kenya, but this one was much more geared to PR which was awesome and the security was only half as intense (I am sure no one in my program here would believe that, but seriously). We met with a few guys worked in Public Diplomacy which was great. Including a man who used to work in Detroit (!!!) as a newscaster for CBS. The visit inspired me to take the Foreign Service exam (mom, i promise i will only live in cool places) as part of my upcoming year of 'i don't know what i want to do with my life so i will be applying to anything and everything' (i may make a board like Paris in gilmore girls season 7, i mean it worked out well for Rory). Before the visit we took a stroll around the park where Jefferson and Adams talked about how the U.S. government should be structured, it was soooo cool! Alright, possibly no one else would find this cool but I loved it.

Then it was time for Kate and I to find Amanda, which was quite the adventure. We eventually found her hostel and took her to Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Sqaure. I also showed her Trafalgar Sqaure and Big Ben. The next day we explored London and checked out Notting Hill/ Portobello Market. That night we went to see Chicago. There was a bar across from the theatre named the DETROIT!!!!! I took pictures, and I may make megan go with me this weekend. I was very pumped. The show was good, but Jerry Springer was not performing (lame, though perhaps for the best). I had never seen it on stage before, not what I expected, but creative. And one professional show that does in fact use a lot of spotlight action. Roxy was a little to cutesy-innocent the whole time, as if the actress didn't know that she was supposed to be scheming but Velma was great.

Then it was time for packing (only brought my longchamp and my purse = lightest packer award!) for PARIS!! The next morning very, very, very early we headed to the train station to head to France. I was hoping we'd accidentally be taken to Hogwarts, but no such luck. That day we walked around EVERYWHERE! We saw the Eiffel Tower, then walked along the river (where Madeline would frighten miss clavel and met genevive) and saw the national assembly, grand palace, bridge where big tells carrie she's the one, notre dame-the bells rang!, and the latin quarter. And we made a pilgrimage to the longchamp store!!!! We also went back to the Eiffel Tower to see it at night. It sparkles on the hour, SO PRETTY! And everyone was just sitting out, Jazz in the Park style, admiring the tower which was very cool. The next day we went to Louve to see Mona Lisa. Awesome painting, but all I could think of was the Wizards of Waverly Place episode (maybe I do watch too much disney channel) and Mona Lisa Smile. We also saw the Code of Hammurabi which I loved. Then we went to Sacre Coeur. Incredible, very serene. And a great view of the city. Though Notre Dame was great, Sacre Coeur maintained a more holy atmosphere. Next we headed to the arc de triomphe. Then it was time for lunch, a crepe in front of the Eiffel Tower, and then we headed back to the hotel and the train. Paris was a beautiful city-almost every street was exactly how you would imagine Paris to look, and I was glad to have seen it, but I must say London is much more my style.

In 12 days I come home!!! Until then I am continuing to widdle down my list of goals that I keep in a bucket.