So 2010 pretty much kicked me in the patoot. Let me be clear, the last three months of 2010 totally kicked me in the patoot. I won’t go into the reasons because I honestly don’t want to re-live them and that’s usually what happens when I write. Instead I choose to look forward. In that spirit I will share my new and amazing resolutions. Wait! Don’t go! This isn’t a boring resolutions post. It’s an exciting resolutions past! See the exclamation points! (Dad, I can hear you groaning from here. Really, they’re necessary, so I don’t want to hear about it).
Resolution the First: Spend more time exploring Paris.
My problem last semester was that I got really caught up with school and friends at school and totally lost track of the reason I moved here: to live in Paris. The awful smell of the metro alone reenergizes me. Over the break I went to see all three of the Grand Palais exhibits (Monet, 1500, and Bulgari) and the Louvre and it was great. First step is to become a Louvre member and go on their weekly guided tours of the museum. Next Saturday, I will know infinitely more about ancient Greek male sculptures. You wait and see.
Resolution the Second: Be more organized about studying.
I got into this really bad pattern of deciding not to do the reading on a regular basis or study on a regular basis which meant I walked with this “Need to Study” cloud over my head all the time and never did anything about it until a week before a test. Bad Amelie. And I know what you’re thinking. Gee, those first two resolutions sound like they’re headed for conflict but not so! I spent way too much time procrastinating. It wasn’t pretty. If I sacrificed all my procrastinating time, I could probably solve world hunger, let alone fit in more time to study AND visit Paris.
Resolution the Third: Drink more water.
I’ve been nicknamed The Camel before and for good reason. I moved here and would go days without drinking any water. Turns out a lot of my physical issues can be traced back to dehydration. No more! Speaking of which, I need another glass of water…
Resolution the Fourth: Make more time for non-school reading.
I’m a much happier camper when I get to read for fun. Last semester I got a lot of rides to school and that was great because it let me sleep more but I also lost time because I felt obliged to sing for my supper by carrying on conversations with the drivers. Ridiculous, I know. Well one of my drivers moved to campus (and kept his apartment in Paris, but we won’t go into that rant) so I’ll be spending more time on the metro and I’m really looking forward to it just because I’ll get to read more. I’ve started with a Tale of Two Cities and am loving it.
Happy New Year everyone! May it bring you nothing but joy and resolved resolutions.
One Comment
Joyeux 2011! It’s funny, I too have a foot-shaped mark on the patoot. I’ve found that making resolutions – and staring in awe at the wonder that is the Grand Palais and all it contains – does wonders to lessen the bruise. That, and lots of water. Always water.