déjà vu

I'd meant to continue with the #eurotrip adventures, but current affairs have stopped me in my tracks.

{Amsterdam}

Two days ago, I learned yet another classmate of mine had passed away. She committed suicide. She left behind a young daughter and numerous loved ones; depression as well. There are nearly a dozen men and women I graduated high school with who are no longer living. And I graduated with 95.

The following day, yesterday, I received a news alert I wasn't immediately startled by. President Obama condemned how "routine" mass shootings have become. Indeed, 2015 has been the worst year for such horrors in the United States; America has six times as many firearm homicides as Canada, and 15 times as many as Germany; and despite repetitive arguments, armed civilians do not stop them from happening. I encourage you to watch the President's statement below. He's angry and frustrated, too.

This past weekend, I finished Secret Son, a hauntingly beautiful read by Laila Lalami (thank you, Little Free Library). It has an engaging albeit fictional storyline, but I was most interested in how it reflected "the desperation that grips ordinary lives in a world divided by class, politics, and religion"--very much a characteristic of the modern condition in Morocco... and everywhere else.

Our reality weighs heavily on my heart. My childhood friend recently had a baby boy, and my excitement to meet him is stained by guilt at the world he has so innocently entered. I worry we've become too disconnected, too numb, too untrusting. In that "debate" I mentioned having at a cozy bar in Amsterdam, Lorelei and I tried to explain the individualism at the core of American identity; how it's responsible, as we believe, for our economic success, revolutionary inventions, powerful global standing, and increasingly unacceptable social ills. "Our thoughts and prayers are not enough," President Obama declared; I'm afraid mere kindness isn't either.

having a coke with you

Last week, after another day of writing at the library, I met Rachael for a drink. She asked about the Pays Basque. Her friend joined the conversation as I recounted Leslie and I's experiences in Biarritz, Bayonne, San Sebastián, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The trip reminded her of a poem, her favorite. She told me to look up the video of Frank O'Hara reading it aloud when I got home. I did. And it is beyond lovely so I'd like to share it avec toi. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do :) happy, happy St. Patrick's Day!

ten thousand hours

I've mastered very few skills in my life thus far. The "problem": my darling parents gave me the opportunity to try lots of things, so I did a bit of everything. I played piano, softball, and field hockey. I attended art camps, writing classes, and dance rehearsals. I sang in the chorus and performed in school plays. I was active in VIF (Valhalla International Fund) and Spanish club. Oh, and I was a Girl Scout, until the age of 18. Because of those many extracurricular activities though, I never had a chance to focus on any one in particular. I'm mostly okay with that. It set the stage, so to speak, for a dynamic interest set (and made for an entertaining yearbook biography). Yet it's also left me in complete awe of those who have dedicated years to becoming one of the best at... something.

Like, Macklemore, for instance. He's positively amazing in concert. I know this because I saw him and Ryan Lewis perfom live at Le Zénith two weekends ago, just strides away from the lawn I practiced yoga on this past summer. They opened with "Ten Thousand Hours." Please enjoy it as much as we obviously did. And forgive me for the obnoxious howling :). Consider it proof of a great time?

Lara, Tatenda, and I spent four hours on a Sunday night dancing like crazies and singing our little hearts out. Still, it's worth noting that I was most impressed by the content of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' music--real issues and tangible opinions. Take "Ten Thousand Hours": inspired by Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. (Random fun fact: I quickly skimmed through it on a Boston trip 3 years ago). Within it, he attributes roughly 10,000 hours of practice as the key to any success. "Achievement is talent plus preparation.” It may not always be applicable, but if that's what it took for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to produce The Heist, it definitely works.

So, it's extra incredible how long my cousins have been practicing. They've spent their entire lives cultivating their creative talent. Recently, they released their collaborative passion project, "Humble Beginnings", and I couldn't be more proud of nor impressed with Dylan and Bianca Golden. Way to go, familia! Share it with your network, stp? They deserve all the success in the world.

As for me, I don't mind being a "grown-up" with an appreciation for yellow bouncy balls for now ;). Mastery in _________ to come.

how I felt

I recently downloaded Season 2 of Girls. This has been a long time coming. When I moved home before Paris and watched the first season marathon-style on my parents' television, I fell in love with the  "groundbreaking" show. So much so, that in my Global Audiences class, I focused on it as the topic of my final paper. As I concluded: "If Sex and the City 'enables the complicit critique that is considered to be characteristic of postmodernism (Feuer 1995; Klein 2000; Lash 1990),' (Arthurs 92), Girls brazenly displays it; thus creating a space of discussion where men and women of all ages have found a place to critique society and their own lives."

In the clip above (Episode 5, Season 2), my couple-of-weeks-ago feelings were too similar to Hannah's. Of course, in my case, I was sitting at a Parisian brasserie with Lorelei and rosé instead of a lying in a handsome doctor's Brooklyn bed. Personal details to come.

me, global intern 2013?

Spring break is here! And my video application to become the Global Intern at EF Education First and Erasmus Student Network is above. I so strongly believe in their shared missions to "remove the barriers of language, culture, and geography." You know that, don't you? Well, the more views, the better my chances at being chosen for this amazing opportunity (read: work in 3 different countries at 2 int'l organizations). Please watch it. And if you're feeling extra generous, please "like" the video on YouTube and/or share it with friends.

Afterwards, if I could, I would take every single one of you out for gelato on one of these sunnier days in Paris. Because I probably can't though, thank you. I appreciate your support from the bottom of my heart.

le ciel de paris

Following a Parisian Thanksgiving, walking tour, Italian meal, laundry day, and other classic French experiences, my mom and little sister were no doubt exhausted. They'd only been in Paris for four days.

But I still had something special and not too strenuous planned for Sunday night: a visit to the 200-meter, modern (and ugly) Montparnasse Tower for an unbelievably beautiful view and fantastic dinner.

My mom and I shared a carafe of crisp white wine, and all three of us partook in the Menu Balcon with which we were offered an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. My sister impressed us by beginning with the foie gras (she's otherwise a picky eater) whereas I opted for the smoked salmon, and my mom, the lobster soup.

Then we were left a very thoughtful amount of time in between our entrées and plats to reinvigorate our appetites. Afterwards, my sister was served the veal while my mom and I partook in the sesame sea bream.

And finally, dessert, after another leisurely break. The astonishing quality that had impressed us the whole meal through continued as we shared an saint-Marcellin (a type of brie) with an accompanying spinach salad, an assortment of seasonal sorbets and ice cream...

... and my order, chocolate Guanaja ganache (not unlike the one I'd had in Iceland, but dare I say, even infinitely better). As I'm sure you can tell in the video above, I more than thoroughly enjoyed it.

A 65-euro prix-fixe menu is not cheap by any means, but I promise for the service, the views, and each and every morsel of the food at Restaurant Ciel de Paris (on a Sunday night, no less) it was entirely worth it.

because it matters

It's almost funny that both times I've legally been able to vote for the next president of the United States, I've been outside the country. In this election, although many are focused on the economy, I am personally very concerned about social issues. I don't wish to preach about what I care about and who I'm voting for as a result though...

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Condescent of a Woman
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Assuming you're American too, I hope you not only take note of the policies but also exercise your right to vote in this presidential election. It matters.

preparing for paris

"How excited are you for Paris?!" Actually, lovely person I'm going to miss excessively very soon, not that much. This may make me seem unappreciative of the opportunities before me--bratty, even--but I expected it. My process works this way: wanderlust, excitement, freak-out, excitement. I'm currently between those exciting parts. And since the major details are all set (flight, temporary lodging, student visa), it's the technicalities that get me. I wonder how helpful the housing office will be in my apartment search, how likely it is I'll find worthwhile friends, how quickly my French language skills will return. Living and studying abroad, especially in a city like Paris, can easily be romanticized but I am all too aware of the challenging realities. With that said, I'm also looking forward to each one. I know deep down I can do it and couldn't possibly forget why I want to. So, in these final two weeks, I've been studying Prêt a Voyager's Bloggers Guide to Paris, the videos below, and Lost In Cheeseland's Franco File Fridays. From the latter, the responses to "describe what you love about France in three words" are as follows:

paris from Olivia Rae James on Vimeo

Culture, history, beauty. Food, passion and style. Passion, style and wine. The nutty French. Appreciation of beauty. Everything is beautiful. Lifestyle, food, photogenic-ness (I know, I made that last word up, but I had to condense it into one word). History, beauty, passion. Gardens, markets and meals. Cuisine, style, beauty. Food, new, old. Pain au chocolat. Food. Wine. Scenery. Culture. That's four. I cheated. Joie de vivre. Delicious, dreamy, exhilarating. Le pain chaud. Food, people, travel. Contrarianism is mainstream. Great health care. Freedom, Food, Travel. food, culture, language. Healthcare, food, history.

Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix ft. Au Revoir Simone)by0ctolover via chic or geek

Classic, timeless, beauty. Tradition, Elegance, Taste. Timeless, passion, gourmandises. Complex. Romantic. Home. Its diverse regions. Slower paced life. Food, wine, architecture. Liberté. Egalité. Fraternité. Joie de vivre. Bread, cheese, wine. The artist spirit. I live here. Pain au chocolat. Family, gourmandise, Paris (because pain, vin, fromage is a little too easy!) Universal Health Care. Style. Passion. Pleasure. Tradition Juxtaposed with'Tendance' (trend). Conversation without end. History. Beauty. Food. Salty, creamy, butter. Bread, wine and cheese. Enriches my perspective. Love of craftsmanship.

Paris In Motion (Part I) from Mayeul Akpovi on Vimeo

Flair for living. Beauty, tradition, terroir. Beauty, tradition, discipline. Craft. Stories. Wine. Paris, landscapes and baguettes ! Provence at dawn. Art de vivre. Eye Candy and Lights. La Vie Française. Beauty. Decadence. Arrogance. Beauty, Manger, le Ciel. Earthy, Taste, "Joie-de-vivre." Champagne, chèvre, chocolate. Beauty. Paris. Provence. History, food, art. The two most important words - about living anywhere - for me are home and adventure. Weather, weather, weather. Just kidding. Wine. Cheese. Exploration. Can we make it 5 words? Eyes, ears, nose, tastebuds + brain. Delicious Daily Surprises. Liberté. Égalité. FOOD.

post-parisian announcement

If you haven't yet read, I'm moving from New York to Paris. Allow me to explain:

the birds in leticia

We arrived in the Leticia, the capital of the Colombian Amazon, in the late afternoon. After dropping off our bags, hydrating with fresh juice, and changing quickly at the Amazon Bed & Breakfast, we joined another pair of guests for a tour around the town. The sounds of the birds at sunset is intoxicating, and the sight of them flying from the city to the rainforest, well, just watch the video below...

By the way, see those trees above? They bear the açai fruit (that overpriced, antioxidant-rich superfood), lots of it, and you can literally pick the berries off the plant for free. Or, you can stop by the market and buy the pulp for a few cents to make juice at home. It's funny the way supply and demand works, huh?

Now about those birds... are they not incredible? My grandmother and I certainly thought so. And only after watching them fly back and forth across the sky for 30 minutes did we realize we were starving. We stopped into a restaurant on the main street for piracu as per suggestions from our guide. It was delicious and I was thrilled it was served with a salad, in addition to rice and patacones. 

We stayed in Leticia for two and a half more days, had multiple rainforest animal encounters, and tried even more Amazon river fish I've never heard of. Stay tuned!

new 'do, old school

P.S. If you have a chance, please send Katie some love. She deserves it. xo

the possibility of you

Hiya, lovelies. Hope you're enjoying spring-like wherever you may be. Between cleaning, packing, laundry, and (oh yeah) work, I've got lots and lots to do today. So, I thought I'd save myself some time and vlog about the book below. Enjoy... :) 

P.S. Considering I'll soon be on my way to Oklahoma (!), I figured I'd also provide some extra reading/viewing material to keep you occupied:

• Whether or not you like Jon Stewart, his interview with Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood is worth watching.
• Another must-see? Actor Thandie Newton speaks to TED about dealing with prejudice and rediscovering oneness.
• There's no magic formula to being creative, but a cold beer (or glass of wine) might be the key to your next big idea. <- Click to find out how.
• In unrelated news, I recently reported a ton of healthy travel trends.
• "Entering the unknown often triggers an avalanche of self-doubt." Wouldn't you agree? Rich, happy, and hot Marie Forleo gives you the secrets to getting over it.
• Oh, and one last thing: are we friends on Goodreads yet? 

my hope for international women's day

Hello, my dears. It is another gorgeous day in New York. Plus, didn't cha know? It's International Women's Day. All you have to do is Google it :). Being that I'm a woman, as are you (most likely), I thought it appropriate to recognize. 

In its 101st year, International Women's Day is described by the United Nations as a day, "when women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day... they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development." Maybe I'm making too many assumptions here, but whether or not you identify as a feminist, it seems to me: this is something each one of us should stand behind.


There are a variety of women's issues being discussed and protests being had today. There are also quite a few causes to support---including, but certainly not limited to, Vittana (pst: in just a few clicks, you can make a small loan to empower 100 women in developing countries through education.) Even so, no matter how you choose to recognize, celebrate, or advocate today, I believe your action is important. But in addition, I ask you do one thing for me: respect each other.


With all the strides we, as women, have made, we do not treat each other well enough in our everyday lives. Honestly, we are just too gosh darn competitive. For instance, my fellow fun-loving twenty-somethings, take: the bar. If you don't go with one or two of your girlfriends to begin with, there is a good chance you won't be making any girlfriends at the establishment itself. You might end up flirting with a stranger (guy, gal, whoever), but when is the last time you had a truly pleasant, platonic, sober-ish conversation with another woman? Exactly. I recall being completely dumbfounded the one single time the above situation happened to me; I hadn't thought it possible. Yet it is. We are completely capable of approaching each other with kindness, no matter where we find ourselves.


And we should. Because, at the end of the day, there is a lot more social progress to be made. Although I do not love every woman I meet and I certainly know a few whom I don't like at all (same goes for men, of course), I recognize that positive change is simply not made by one person alone. We have to learn to work with each other and get along at least well enough, to have compassion for the battles each one of us is fighting, and to show support as best we can.


It's a lot... I know it is, and I am certainly not perfect, but I really do think it needs to be done. Try with me, won't you? We deserve this just as much we deserve to be our own biggest fans. If you have a chance, please watch the video below as well:

Thanks again, Amy, for sharing it with me. Finally, on a completely positive note, a few "girl power" global findings from the The Independent: 

• "Iceland has the greatest equality between men and women, taking into account, politics, education, employment and health indicators."
• "Rwanda is the only nation in which females make up the majority of parliamentarians. Women hold 45 out of 80 seats."
• "Women in Japan can expect to live longest, beating men by seven years."
• "Literacy rates among women in Lesotho exceed those of men, with 95% of women able to read and write, compared with 83% of men."
• "Thailand has the greatest percentage of women in senior management." 

Oh, and these are for you:

{via pinterest}

now

Oh, darlings. It is a good day. Why? Because, now is the best moment of your life. Yes, now. And now, too.

Please bear with me. When I found myself in between jobs and living at home last year, I got into the habit of watching primetime television with my family. Since then, you can often find me anywhere but in front of the TV at 9 at night, but I'll admit I always catch up on the episodes later on Hulu. In this Hulu-watching phase of mine, I also often watch episodes of shows I don't follow; some of which are only available online. One in particular is the anything-but-intellectually-stimulating "Dating Rules for my Future Self." During the last episode, Lucy (the protagonist) came up with a mantra and finally gave advice to her future self rather than the other way around: Now is the best moment of your life.

Truth be told, I kind of absolutely love it. Now is the best moment of my life? Really? Well then, I guess I better start making the most of it.

I really should make the most of it, as should you. For however normal it may be to worry about the uncertain future and wonder "what if?," life is happening right now. What will be, will be. And what already has been... well, I think you understand where I'm going with this. Now is the time to take chances, follow your dreams, be who you authentically are, or at least move in that direction. The only thing holding you back is you. And not only do you deserve to be happy and fulfilled, you are capable of doing what it takes to make you feel that way. Sure, take care of your responsibilities, but never forget: Now is the best moment of your life. In doing so, I have a feeling you and I are going to be a lot better off.

Whew and whoa. Somebody woke up ridiculously inspired this March 1st!

like a new yorker

I think I'd call myself a New Yorker. I mean, I was born in the state, and this is the city I know best. But I wouldn't say I'm rude or pretentious about it. I understand New York isn't necessarily "the greatest city in the world" and definitely not "the center of the universe." And yet, I also believe that other cities pale in comparison--not for better or worse, but just because New York City really is one of a kind. 

In my humble opinion, this quote describes it best. 

With all that said :) I usually love living here, if nothing else, then for one reason alone: my friends can visit often and they do. Liz came most recently. For the past two years, she's been working miles away in rural Washington so seeing her is always a special occasion. It was also especially exciting to meet her boyfriend. He'd never been here before, and I wanted to show him the city's best.

Of course, I could hardly do that it one night. We began in Union Square, sampling local beers at Little Town NYC. We then took a stroll through the East Village to taste the delights of one of my favorite seasonal and farm-to-table restaurants, Northern Spy. And finally, courtesy of Elizabeth's dependable sweet tooth, we ventured to momofuku milk bar. It was a delicious evening.

This time, I chose places based on my own positive experiences, but that's not always the case. When researching new places to dine, I often return to New York Magazine and Yelp... though I've been depending on The Purple Passport lately.

Maybe I'm biased, but there really are some amazing restaurant recommendations there (in addition to nightlife venues to suit any owl personality, spas that are most definitely worth the splurge, sights & activities to be explored no matter your NYC familiarity, and the only suggestions made just for tourists, hotels.) We put our heart and soul into the New York guide, and I'm proud to promote it.

Speaking of tourists, Joanna Goddard shared 10 ways not to look like one. My favorite tips? "Confidence is key. One thing I love about New York women is that they flaunt their quirks. Got a head full of curls? Let them fly free. Six feet tall without heels? Wear them anyway. Want to wear all electric blue? Go for it. In this city, it'll only make you cooler." "New Yorkers imagine that there's an invisible line down the middle if the sidewalk, and that to keep the flow going, you keep to the RIGHT. New Yorkers also walk at a brisk pace, and if they stop or even slow down, they step out of the way." "New Yorkers fold their pizza." And now,

Funny, true, embarrassing. Hope you've had a lovely weekend wherever you are!

splashing in the new year

Today, as I was filling out customs papers to re-enter the United States, I wrote out the year, 2012, for the first time. I love everything about that fact. Gosh, this new year has been so happy so far. We will soon review 2011, the family vacation I just returned from, and the many, many things to look forward to. Until then...

one last fyi

In other news, I have far too much hair... it and I both wish you a happy weekend!

from san francisco with love

 

 

leaves turn, life changes

ain't no prix-fixe

Prix-fixe can be a wonderful thing. It is an obvious deal for any seasoned diner; a complete meal offered at a "fixed price." But beyond the table, life is anything but. Each day we are faced with millions of choices and the uncertainty of how much they'll cost us. Some are expected, like the breakfast oatmeal or eggs debate. Others, are not. Some are easy, like deciding between wine or water with dinner. Others, well, are not. Yet with each choice, we hopefully take one step closer to the life we want to be living, and that is an even more wonderful thing.

A few hours ago, Steve Jobs passed away. He was a technological pioneer, an Apple/Pixar  visionary, and a timeless source of inspiration and wisdom. It is just astonishing to think about the impact this one man's life has had. And now, with my MacBook below my fingertips and my iPhone within reach, I hope we can choose to live each day as passionately as his legacy surely will live on...

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish"