Update!

Was the last post really in November? Geez, where does the time go? Well, I've been living in a comfortable and affordable apartment in Clichy thanks to the very generous Mary Dibbern! :) I've also been teaching and tackling life issues like where am I going after this contract is up? So it ends in June, but my carte de sejour is good till September... can I find a job here for the summer? Having trouble finding one here now, and I need an extra one! Grace a l'administration Francaise, my reimbursement for my transport won't go through till the end of March (was going to be end of April till I cried in their office about how am I supposed to live till then..) And I've applied to renew, but not sure a.) if I'll get it, and b.) if I want it. What I REALLY want is to get into the Atelier Lyrique at Paris Opera that I tried for four years ago and feel like this is my last chance to get into--- (read and you'll see how far I've come) But like all programs there are only two spots open and dozens of sopranos auditioning... but I'm positive. When I first saw the program I felt like it was meant for me, so if it is, I'll get in. If not, not sure where to go from there in pursuit of an opera career. I don't have the financial resources to go back to school or to travel all over to do tons of auditions... but let's not go there yet! I need positive thoughts my way March 10, at 2 PM Paris time (or 8 AM EST). 8 AM my time America? Geez, I'd never be able to sing that early back home! Anyway, that's where I'm at! Sorting out my life... sort of.

Home sweet home!

No, it's not a prison... it's a school and it's where I live! I'm on the second floor, the first three windows up top are mine, and the tiny one on the side is my bathroom. :D

This next one is the street where I live. When I call you and say that I'm freezing, it's cause I'm calling from this little phone booth! Soon I will have my Freebox phone and won't need to hang out here in the cold! (And don't you just LOVE the fall colors around here??)

Fun stuff!

So enough griping about admin stuff in France---there will always be something to complain about! I have internet--woohoo! and am waiting for my phone to be connected to call the US --for FREE---yes there are perks to living here!
Anyway my new favorite two food recipes:

For lunch: salad with gnocchi--ok, it sounds bizarre, but let me tell you---yum!
So, put a teaspoon of butter in a pan, let it melt, add a little vegetable oil (not olive oil--according to mom NOT for cooking--can cause cancer when heated.... who knew!) --you can just use butter, but it's better to be a LITTLE healthy... when the butter/oil is melted, throw in a serving of gnocchi. Toss around for about five minutes, until they are a yellowy, golden color. Then add to a salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, and mozerella. Top salad with basil, pepper and olive oil. You may add an indulgence of grated emmental on top, but not necessary. This is my new favorite food! Yum!

For breakfast I'm sorry to say you can't recreate the EXACT thing in the States, but I will share anyway.... so they have a type of cream cheese that is smooth, almost sweet called 'petit suisse.' It's ALmost like Philly cream cheese, but smoother and way yummier... so I've been topping my healthy 7 grain tartines (basically toasted bread in a biscuit-like form) with this tiny bit of heaven and topping it all off with some yummy mixed fruit preserves! Be envious. It's divine!!

OK, and I finally did some exploring around my neighborhood. Now despite being very near the Val Fouree, noted for their riots and burning cars a few years ago, it's actually quite nice. There's a lovely lake about five minutes from my house, and a mysterious church that I've yet to see the interior to--it has posted visiting hours, but I never can find an open door!

More of the same

So still going through bureaucratic hell as I haven't got my bank card yet and it's been weeks! Going to yell at them on Monday... I was told that certain paperwork had to be turned in to the Rectorat by Oct 7 to get paid by the end of the month. I turned in all MY paperwork--but someone at the inspection didn't send something called the Procès de Verbal Installation, which I had signed and asked for a copy and they said--no, we'll take care of it so there is no 'soucis' or problem... Guess what. Il y a un soucis... they didn't send it on time!! But apparently they didn't send anyone's so there is hope I will get paid next week... if I get my bank card and PIN. I at least have a RIB which proves I have an account... Oh, la vie française! So all that is tempered with drinks out with grec mec (a few of you know who I am talking about), and lovely cheese plates and good cheap wine... I also may get the free apartment in exchange for babysitting, but the lady won't decide till after vacances, even though she was so pressed a week ago... I am also still taking lessons, though less frequently as I am unsure when I'll be paid (la vie impossible!). My coach studied with THE Pierre Bernac, which is VERY impressive as he is the definitive source for all French mélodie. Oh, and I am off to Paris for the day! Train leaves in ten minutes, so I will tell more later!

à Mantes la Jolie...

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been lax about writing... the days go by so quickly, et il y a beacoup de choses à faire! So, for now, I'm living in what's called a logement de fonction, or an apartment that's attached to the school. It's big by France standards... bedroom, full kitchen, full bath... and the rent is cheap, 205€, and then pay water and heat every couple of months... But tonight I have a meeting to get a tiny apartment in Paris in exchange for babysitting. Once I have the details, I can tell you more. But I may keep both places at least for a while as I don't have to pay anything until December. (They messed up my paperwork, and I'm not getting paid till end of November...) I'm also working on getting a secondary tutoring job to help pay for my voice lessons... I've only taken one lesson so far, with a coach at Paris Opera. I have a lot of work to do on my diction! But she likes me and I think I will go far with her... Tomorrow I have a voice lesson, so I'm looking forward to that! Bon, I'm in an internet cafe, so my time is charged... à bientot!!

Oh, j'arrive et j'ai un petit de peur...

So! I have my arrete, my visa... selling my car... Big breath! This is so exciting and yet so scary! I'm a little overwhelmed by the task ahead of me, and who wouldn't be? Will I be able to write a credible French CV to send to agents? Will they audition an American? Can I put together a recital that would wow a crowd of agents, if they actually seemed interested? How will I afford the 90+ euros for voice lessons?? Yes, deep breathing is needed here. Ok, so let's break this down... Monday I am going to get new headshots. Hopefully I'll be able to meet with my coach again before I go and *maybe* convince my school to let me make just one more recording. :) I do have a teacher in Paris, but how helpful will she be? Will I find a space to practice? Will I find a decent apartment? Will I actually get a job singing opera?! So many questions and worries! I have butterflies in my stomach like before I'm about to sing really well. So that's a good sign, right?
It doesn't help that I met a dancer today who tried to conquer Paris when she was my age. She was American but had spent her childhood in France, and yet every door was closed to her. Grant it, she didn't have a job to start with, I have a government contract at least. I have sung in France before under the auspices of the New York Opera Society... but still, it shook my confidence a bit. Can I work the system? I've always thought my career future was in Europe, I just pray I picked the right country. So, my friends out there in cyberspace, send your good thoughts and encouraging words this way. I'm doing what I think I must, and what I think is best, since I don't have thousands lying around to do pay-to-sing gigs in the hopes of getting an audition for a young artists' program here in the States... I will get by in Paris by the skin of my teeth, but I will get by. I just have to be smart, persistent, and damn amazing when I open my mouth to sing...

More info!

OK, so I know where I'll be and for how long, but still waiting for that elusive arrete.... I have a nine month primaire contract in Mantes la Jolie... I'm happy with the contract, but not necessarily where I'm placed. I've been to Mantes la Jolie, and it isn't very 'jolie'. It is also about a 30 minute commute on a direct train from St. Lazare... I plan on commuting, and have redoubled my efforts to find an apartment in Paris. The commute won't be so bad, and I definitely don't want to live in Mantes la Jolie... I might as well live in Evreux! It's only about 20 minutes further downt the track! Oh, how ironic! But at least I know those details and pray I can find an apartment and AFFORD an apartment. This American economy is killing me right now... it's so hard to save money and I absolutely must! I also am trying to decide if I should sell my car before I go... it's paid off and only has 77,000 miles on it... but I could sure use the 2-3 grand it would give me... any advice out there???

One step closer!

Bought my ticket today! Got one from www.vayama.com for $500 (a one-way) including $25 for insurance on Aer Lingus. Luck o' the Irish, and all that. I plan on getting another one-way when I get my contract so I know when I might be coming back (hopefully only briefly to take care of visa issues). Gradually a plan is forming to help me stay in Europe, if not France. I may go to school if I stay in France and study, what else? French. But it would just be an excuse to stay longer... I'm also applying for the ever illusive Fulbright scholarship, probably for the following year cause it's such a long, drawn out process. Chances are probably slim there, but I did graduate from grad school with a 3.7. That should count for something. :) Work is really exhausting me, but I got to keep plugging along... I originally signed a six month contract and have hit the half way mark. So that means 3 more months till France! I hope my arrete comes in the next month. And I REALLY hope they offer me some sort of housing, even if I only use it temporarily... it would make my life so much easier as finding an apartment in Paris is like finding one in New York, except you throw in the twist that I am a foreigner. So, quite a daunting task there. But I have faith it will work out.