ohhh champs elyse bah da bah da da

Hello ladies!

I hope everyone is having a swell time in their respective countries, I know I am... the highlight of my week was that I went to bed last night at 12 (after being at happy hour since 7) and woke up at 12. So amazing. I'm so not the champ I used to be.

Anywho, last weekend this guy I met from Belgium came to Paris to visit me and we had a really fun weekend- did all the touristy stuff like the Eiffel Tower and the boats in the Seine and the museums... it was a really fun and tiring weekend. until... he professed his undying love and devotion. That's when I pulled out the "I still have a boyfriend at home, so sorry" and he went back to Belgium. Really bizarre experience. I almost can't wait to get back to boys who are stand offish and indifferent. Being American here is like wearing a sign on your head that says "I'm easy and want to sleep with you. Want to know more? Just ask!"

Met some more friends... some girls from New Zealand, Germany, and my boys from Brazil... they're like my big brothers here! I'm one of the youngest people staying in the house / dorm so sometimes I get babied. I don't mind : )

Danielle and Cait- how much would it be for you to fly to like, Greece?

I miss everyone soooo much, its just so weird sometimes having to figure out the rhythm of going out with new people and knowing how they need to be "dealt" with on a drunken basis... I wish you could all just apparate and be here!!! I love you all mucho mucho mucho! Plein de bisous mes belles!

AUSTRALIA woop woop

hey there!!! so a cyclone is like a hurricane. little scary, but overall ok. so cait and i are reporting from melbourne. we finally figured out an internet situation and have a stable connection. our apartment is very cozy. our balcony overlooks numerous neighbors and the pool. we've met some of the BC kids and they seem really cool so far.

Last night we went for the casino royale feel and went to Crown casino, the biggest casino in australia. cait was big pimpin and got one business card from a singapore pilot and a photograph of a cricket player's number. she also got us drinks which was a big budget saver. joe hachem was also there and he's apparently a big deal bc everyone was taking pictures with him and cait sniped one too. he won the poker world series and cashed in 10 million. the night was full of drinks and we came home around 5:30. i passed out in a drunken stupor and cait partied away until about 9. needless to say, today wasn't so hot for either of us.

australia is gorgeous though and its been about 70. its very western but its still a little different. biggest change would be driving on the opposite side of the road.

well i put some pics up but they're of fiji bc my camera didn't survive the cyclone so you'll have to wait for cait to post her pics but HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!! i love all of you and can't wait to hear ur wonderful stories!!!!

greece

ah danielle that sounds so cool! what is a cyclone anyway? is it like a tornado? i only know that you can move yo body like one on the dance flo'.
anyway, i got into greece yesterday afternoon. i thought i'd be the only one arrive that early, but there were a number of people. two girls who arrived live in my apartment. one of them goes to bc...i didn't know her before, but her name is leanne. they are both super cool and we started hanging out right away. today we walked miles and miles around the city and on the boardwalk. it was cool to explore, but really scary because as the phrase goes "it's all greek to me!" i'm excited to actually take greek classes so i can communicate on a basic level. after more people got in today we all went to a traditional greek dinner, which just means that they gave you massive amounts of food. after that we went to a bar. the people here so far are really chill and nice, and there are more who are arriving in the next couple days. i have orientation on wednesday, so until then we are just kind of chilling and touring the city. the weather here is nice, and i'm so glad to be by the water. it's not scary walking around because there are always tons of people out, even when it's super late.
i will talk to you all soon and will be sure to give more updates!
bye byeee

cyclone gene

BULA!! i must be brief bcc my flight is in 30 min to sydney but holy shiit!! i snorkeled with baracudaa, made some crazy fijijann friendssd, scaled a summit, went cave diving, and survived a fuckin cyclone. omg iive neveer been soo sccard. i got stranded on an islland but i made some amazingg friends. i cant waait to post pics. i actually brooke my camera from the cycloone but i think ii can save the pics. i loove u all and i cant wait to hear from u guuys! HAPPY BDAY TORI!!!!!

wino

ahhh well i knew it was too good to be true... 

Saw jeremy today and had a blast- after he told me that he thinks it would be best to just be friends since he just broke up with his girlfriend / fiance of 8 years.  Which is relatively understandable, but still sucks.  But I think we will be really good friends, we have a blast together and now I can flirt with other guys without feeling guilty!  lol but I missed you girls sooooo much when I went home after our "not date" cuz i didn't really have my favorites to talk to!!!  

Cait I am so surprised that you think spub doesn't like to clean... I thought he was like the pinesol master.  what news to me.

Sorry if my english is awkward, I haven't spoken it in a while!  I miss you and I love you ALL SO MUCH!  please post more often- everyone!  this is my only connection with the world right now. I love you time for dinner... i may or may have just drank a bottle of wine while waiting for the boys to make dinner.. oops.  Love YOU MOREEEEEE

kisses bisous xxxx

shae

Well, there hasn't been any wade drama yet....but I have a feeling that Pat and Matt are going to get slightly irritated with Spence and Ewok. They don't like cleaning nearly as much as D, Tor, and I did....(yea right). I don't know, I think their going to have at least one fight about it. But time will tell......

I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself Shae!! I knew you would! Jeremy sounds really cool, and I'm very shocked that it hasn't gotten physical yet....what with him giving you a "private" tour and everything. jk, I knew you'd be a good girl :-). I miss you!!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

tomber en panne??? QUOI?

well well well...

sounds like an eventful evening- why is it that doors always seem to get kicked in with you girls? (my room last year... lol) Drama at wade? do explain! And seriously ry to not forget anything- i've been here a week and i'm almost broke.

which could be the result of my computer breaking down completely and France's hatred for dells... I had my computer fixed by world's sketchiest little shop on the tiniest little street, and then he tells me (after I've paid) that I should prolly just get a new harddrive. awesome!
On the lighter side... I have been lucky enough to really hit it off with Jeremy and have gone on three dates so far... he took me and lauren, my friend here- she knows you tori, she's from newtown i think? - to a "boite" which is like a club and a bar which was really actually low key and fun. And then on Monday night, he made me dinner at his apt and took me around a little on his moped, and then last night we went to get a drink for happy hour after he came with me to the repair man to get my computer all fixed up. He is sooooooo nice and funny, and you know me and how hard and easily I fall... but we've maintained a pretty good relationship so far... not physical! ( i know, I haven't had sex in how long and I'm not being physical?) Tomorrow he is picking me up after school and taking me around Paris- to all the sights lol like my own private tour. I am very excited! Of course I feel like a cow right now though because i just ate an entire baguette and dont fit into my skinny jeans... yes i bought skinny jeans, it was an impulse buy- but i was told that wine breaks down the bread so I might drink a few more glasses before bed. I am totally loving it here and I feel like I'm starting to fit in more- with the language and the culture. I might not ever come back... but then you'd at least have a fun friend to visit in europe! Next weekend we're going to Belgium- Tori and Danielle, where should we visit? we'll be there for 3 days! AHHHHhh so excited!

Love you et plein de bisous!
A bientot mes belles!

Shae

YO!!!!!

Well I'm back at home after a fantastic weekend up in Boston! It was so great to see everyone and have one last chance to say goodbye before I leave forever (ok, well not really forever, but 5 months seems like a really really long time!!) . Wade feels so different, and I have a feeling that some drama could wind up brewing over there, but I'm sure the boys will sort it all out. I was very impressed with the Kirk basement and how homey you guys made it feel, I just hope that no more doorknobs get kicked in....lol.

I'm just starting to think about all the things I have to do before I leave, and I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed, but I'm sure it'll all come together. I just keep reminding myself that I can buy anything I forget in Australia. I think I should start a list of all the things I'm going to bring, just so I can stay organized. This is my thrilling life right now, awesome, I know.

I need more stories from you guys so I can live vicariously through you for these next 2 weeks.

Miss you all!!!

bisous?

Salut!

I feel like I'm taking over this blog... anyways I have some fun news! Jeremie called me yesterday and we have a date tomorrow night! I am so excited... an amoureux francais! Although when he said goodbye he said "bisous" which means kisses and i said "baisous" ... which doesn't mean anything but is close to baiser... which meeze so wonderfully informed me means "to fuck". so thats awesome. lol it finally stopped being miserable this evening and we got a little sun! I'm going out tonight to a club to get my groove on... show these frenchies how to cut up a rug to intense techno. I might even bust out our clock, tor!!!

Love you, please write on here or skype or im me i miss you all so much!

BAISOUS... thats right i said it.

Shae

Hey Guys!!!

Its 1 am here but 7 there i think! Paris has actually been gorgeous. It was supposed to rain and be Tres froid today so i bundled new england style and was sweating in the 50 * weather with the sun on my face. Leave it to the french to exaggerate "terrible" weather. Anyways, Meeze, I took your advice and got my sweet ass in the intermediate track for classes! So thats great... tomorrows class consists of a scavenger hunt through the city! Should be fun.

I haven't called "jeremie" yet... I'm trying to not be a typical american girl and not be outgoing. aparently french girls don't smile. This is alot harder than it sounds. However he did carry my bags... and for the record i totally didn't ask for help... lol it was offered. its the whole deer in headlights trick. gets em every time.

Today was great- classes, walking around paris, a welcome dinner at the cutest and oldest restaurant ever on a street that is paved with cobblestone. so cute. Then we went to the guys' apt for drinks after to just hang out and yell at the people in the hostel across the street. That was fun.

Tomorrow I have class at 9 so I'm going to head to bed! I wish you could all come visit but I know that it is very difficult. I love you all!!! XOXOX

wow, everyone's doing such exciting things! Even shoveling the driveway sounds better than what i've been doing. last night tank and i watched the giants upset the cowboys, which was pretty exciting. i'm going to be pretty upset about my flight date if the giants go all the way, i'm flying out on superbowl sunday (which my dad isn't thrilled about either, lol). i think i'm going to go bathing suit shopping later today, hehe. i love summer. shae--that sucks about your flight. i'm praying that i don't get stuck next to someone like that on the la-sydney flight. but i'm glad you're enjoying paris so far!! you should totally try to meet my friend pauline, shes totally funny and awesome. and yea...wine for a euro...it can't get any better.

i miss you all so much!! but i'll get to see some of you before too long! i am def coming to visit next weekend. i think im gonna stay until monday considering that its mlk day so there's no class!!

We're doin it!!

Shae- sipping wine for hours sounds like heaven!! i'm so jealous!! i'm glad the french are friendly :) how are the classes?
snow is terrible here! i was shoveling for hours and the snow was so wet and heavy that i'm in so much pain right now. and luka and i waged a full out war on each other so i'm pretty sure some of my aches originated from ruthless battling. hows the weather in france?

Wow this feels so weird! I always said I'd never keep a blog...but special times call for special measures!! Shae, I hafta say I am not surprised that you got a guy's number, and especially not surprised that you got him to carry ur bags up stairs...i would expect nothing less!
Meez and I are officially moved into Kirkwood...it is clean (after weeks of disinfecting lol) and our areas are totally cute. We are open for any visitors who may want to stop by...(hint hint).
Hmm, so I'm still not regretting the decision not to study abroad, although it is really amazing hearing everyone's stories. I will be going to St. Thomas in April for Jay and Julie's wedding, and I'm taking a 9 day trip to Costa Rica at the end of May -- a little Christmas gift to myself! I'm also trying to plan a trip to Capetown for August -- but that one's a little tricky because I don't know the deal with an internship, which I have yet to get. I was hoping I would get to visit Cait and D in Australia for spring break, but the tickets were just too expensive, and we're doing all the baby/wedding showers those 2 weekends lol.

Well that's about all in my life...nothing's changed, I'm still totally boring! Stay in touch!!

Bonjour mes amis!

My first day in Paris... unbelievable. I was here less than 3 hours and got a guys number already. I think it was because of how desperately confused I looked... he was concerned for my life. His name is Jeremy and he's pretty cute. And carried my two 50 lb bags up two flights of stairs.
The part of Paris I am in is like what Cambridge is to Boston... Small and cute but still got some good stores and restaurants. A girl from BC, Lauren, and I went out for dinner tonight at a little cafe and just sat and drank wine for a few hours. It was great!

I had an awful flight from boston to london... McDonalds should NOT be allowed on a plane and you should have to be under a certain weight if you are going to sit in economy class. I sat with ALOT of extra baggage. But it wasn't too long and I got an entire row from London to paris... all 30 minutes of a flight.

My room here is small but good for one person and my shower is in the same room as my toilet... like zero separation. Haven't tried that one out yet but it should be interesting. It can be pretty scary here, but everyone has been really helpful so far, and people have come up to me asking if I need help... even when I don't. I must have a perpetually constipated look on my face all the time. Pics to come... didn't take a whole lot today, it was already dark out.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

shae

good luck shae!! thats crazy!! i can't believe ur leaving so soon! its still surreal for me! i guess i can invite spencer. but if he ruins any fun, he's off. this is a cool kids only zone :)

freaking out slightly... I'm a little sad that this is the last night in my bed, I only hope the one in france is a. comfy and b. pest free. I got my hair cut the other day and got bangs... of which i am NOT a fan, i look like my third grade school picture in which i am wearing, yes, suspenders. argyle ones to be exact. i've been experimenting with them to find a more fashionable solution, but alas to no success. This is what I do to distract from the fact that I will soon be in a country where i probably won't understand a damn thing and wont be able to afford a cup of coffee. I am up for inviting anyone and everyone... I like to share. I miss you guys and next time you hear from me, it will be from pair-ee!

Baisous!

yooo i leave the 31st so i still have over two weeks at home! i'm still kind of in denial that we're all leaving. i think we could invite spence...the more the merrier. oh and i already talked to danielle on skype! it was so cool! my video wasn't working then, but i think i have it under control now.

WooHoo

Hey Guys!!

I'm glad this is up and running! I had a feeling Marco Polo was D, but I wanted to wait for confirmation. I want to leave now!!!!!!!! I'm so jealous of you guys who are leaving soon! Chlo when are you off on your adventure? Miss you all already!!

ps. Are we gonna invite Spence to join?

yay! i'm so glad this works! i'm leaving the 22nd to start my adventure on the eastern hemisphere!! o spread the word to the others, i'm not sure everyone has figured out i'm marco polo. i should see if i can change that

And then there were three..

Danielle, this is so cool, mad props on doing this, you're such a champ. I'm gonna try to add a picture just to see if I can... woooo!!!! I'm leaving on saturday... when does everyone depart?

chloe, great profile.

good job on getting this thing to work, danielle! i deleted the first email because i thought that the email from "marco polo" was spam! hopefully the other jungle members make their way onto our blog!

numero uno!

testing 1 2 3 testing.