Being a Tourist. Part 1. "Let Them Eat Cake... Versailles Day-trip"

Today was my roommate's second-to-last day in Paris before she leaves for the US... It's so bummer. This week has been full of sendoff's and awkward good-bye's. Instead of moping around the apartment, we decided to take full advantage of this city and squeeze out it's last drops of "connaissance." So with that carpe diem attitude, we set off for our "Being a Tourist" adventure... Part 1 : Versailles Day-trip!



It was off to the metro, around 1.00pm to get to the RER train. I never really wanted to see the frivolousness of the Versailles castle... but Alice convinced me the town was pretty "quaint" for just wandering around in... Here she is in an impersonation of her favorite Bon Marché advertisement.



Gah... Two more minutes until the metro. I will miss this handy piece of technology. NYC subways need an upgrade.


Waiting around for the RER train... I promise I did not decide to look like a geisha today. There's a weird flash thing going on here.


Versailles rives-gauche here we come! 1.30pm.

We stopped for a quick lunch at a chinese delicatessen. Yum... The hot jasmine tea did wonders for such a freezing day.


Typical artsy fartsy looking gallery.


I devour those macarooooooons.


Impromptu Sartorialist-style fashion shoot in a cool-looking alley.


We spotted the gold gates of Versailles! "Is that real gold?!"


Alice's sexy profile. Yes, it was mighty chilly today... Look at all the snow! "Ahh yess eeet ees so rare in pareee." "Seriously?"


Photography skillz... look at the seagull I captured!


The gates of Versailles.


So important looking.


We caught a breathtaking sunset over the Versailles gardens.


Moi and the gardens... all covered in snow!


I spotted the Sun King...


Winter wonderland...


We popped a bottle of bubbly, and headed back into town.

Perfect day :)

First snowfall in Paris

Pheuf. I just finished my last final exam... I nearly missed it; my roommate and I both woke up 15 minutes before the test was supposed to begin. To make things worse, we looked outside to see Paris' first snowfall...

I have one more class today, and I can't bear the thought of dragging myself out into the slushy streets again (I already wiped out in front of a group of tourists this afternoon). I'm cozied up in bed, and I just want to eat soup and watch funky guidos and guidettes on the Jersey Shore. HAHA.

Momentary Interests ...

I'm kind of obsessed with glass / clear / see-through lamps. It's like a light bulb, screwed onto a light bulb. Isn't that cool? Ya? This one is from Ikea.




No words needed. NEED NOT WANT.



So comfy.



Katy Perry - Actually, I just watched a few clips of a live show she did on MTV, and was shocked to learn about her background and mad skillz. This girl can really bust out some soulful notes. She's here in Sonia Rykiel, one of my favorite Paris designers... Rykiel actually just did a lingerie line for H+M...


Lust - Oscar de la Renta chandelier earrings. Probably worth more than my college tuition.



A few street looks that I'm digging.



Must find these tights.

Five euros and antique china

"Five euros!" I yelled, in French. The crowd turned around and looked at me with interest, as I was promptly handed a ticket stub. Moments later, I was the proud owner of an 18th century collection of blue and white china.

Aaand that was my first auction!

My grammar class today took a trip to one of Paris' auction houses, called le Drouot. I was grumbling the whole time because I had to wake up early on a Saturday morning and listen to a random lady lecture about antiques. Between bites of fig cake and sips of café crème, I complained about how I thought auctions were sad and capitalistic.

Of course, that all changed until I saw explositions of vintage Hermès bags and scarves, as well as cases and cases of blinged out jewelry lying on black velvet. As I drooled over one exquisite statement necklace, probably worth my life, one of the clerks asked if I would like to try it on. My jaw dropped to the floor. She opened the glass case, carefully took out the necklace, and fastened it around my neck. Oh, the necklace? Precious stones, gold, and pearls that went down past my navel. The weight of it felt like I would have a permanent hunchback after wearing it. I was in bling-bling heaven...

Yeah, it was probably the most expensive piece of jewelry I have ever worn. I had my 2 minutes of fame, then back it went into its spot on the black velvet, in the locked glass case.

After ooh-ing and ahh-ing at some more expensive things, we finally made our way to one of the auctions taking place. It was JAM PACKED. As the crowd whispered to themselves, an eldery man with snow-white hair was pounding a gavel, crying out, "20 euros, 20 euros... 30 euros, any one for 30 euros?" The prices were ridiculously decent. We were in shock. What surprised me was that so many antiques were being auctioned off at dirt-cheap prices. Not only that, but they sold them by the CRATE. They showed us crates and crates of random bric-a-brac, paintings, records, books, vases, pottery... A few of my friends were wondering if we should join in on the auction... and before I knew it... they were showing a crate for 5 euros, with pretty Dutch china, and a cloud went around my head : I saw myself raising my hand and yelling out a number, as all my classmates and friends turned and looked at me. I had just bought an entire collection of antique china for 5 euros. FIVE EUROS.

I left the auction with a huge bubble-wrapped bag, as my friends patted my back. "Chrys, that was... unbelievable... You just bought something at a French auction... I wish I did that.. that was, wait, that was so spontaneous."

I just stared at my new things. "But. How am I going to bring an entire collection of antique china all the way back to New York?"

Story to be continued...

Gypsy?

My roommate got me the scarf with the gold sheen in Prague! The other one is my own.

OH, France

Today was a very frustrating day. As well as Yesterday. And the day before that. This whole week. You know what : make that the whole semester! Of course, it's not frustrating every minute of the day, but there are definitely moments when you want to tear your hair out and howl, "MERDE!"

For example, you don't just TAKE the metro.

You have to - first - walk down those six flights of stairs because OH: someone is working on the elevator and neglected to put up a sign. So, you wait for maybe 20 minutes for the elevator... that never arrives. Brushing it off, you climb down the stairs into the street. Now you must get to the metro station. After crossing a number of paths (because every street in Paris is winding, curving, or crooked) you almost get run over by a SmartCar because pedestrian traffic lights give no warning when changing from green to red. Awesome.

After that, the middle-aged lady with her baby stroller that always seems to appear on-the-dot when you're in a rush, pops out of thin air. As well as a crowd of really. really. slow-walkers. I get that I'm a rush rush New Yorker at heart, but come on, Parisians have to be the most absent-minded slothy walkers in the universe.

After finally making it into the metro station, and untangling your metro pass from the mess of your purse, you realize that the metro train is arriving. MERDE! You spring through the crowds of old women and slow Parisians, and as you aproach the shutting doors, some mec (dude) gets in your way. WHAT THE POUTAIN, you curse. As all the Parisians aboard the train give you a pitying (pitiful?) look as they ride away, you see a stupid French thirty-something give you a scathing look for raising your voice above a whisper. You plop down on a bench, and as if on cue, a young Parisian couple throw themselves next to you and start making out, soft porn style.

Finally reaching your desired metro station, you need to change to another line (because no metro line in Paris travels in a logical uptown-downtown, crosstown direction). You are confronted with police who inform you that the line is down and that you need to Prahlagrelignesilvousplay!!! Huh? Quoi? After getting a few stares because they think you are mentally challenged, you walk feebly away. Not knowin what to do. Being swept along a crowd, you follow them to "legreligne" that the police was talking about before. Ok, fine. This will work. For now...

And that's called "Taking the metro."

OH, France.

Chill Day

Creamy fettucine

I've spent practically the entire weekend... in bed. Yesterday, I left only to buy a few groceries and a baguette. Then, I promptly jumped back into my pajamas and climbed back into bed. The weather has really turned into a demon these past few days. Howling wind, torrential rain... Mother Nature de Paris has given us an action-packed show.

Today, upon waking to another blistery day, I snuggled deeper under the covers and woke only to make tea and soup. This weekend, I've indulged in chick flicks. I've cooked a plate of the creamiest, most fattening alfredo fettucine.

It's been quite a pleasant weekend, but I've got to get the motivation to begin this week. And I doubt I can use the weather as an excuse anymore :(

Happy Turkey Day!

These are pumpkins from my weekend in Signy-Abayes... I stayed on a farm with a french family. Yes, it was as ridiculous as it sounds.

It's Thanksgiving over here already... I was worried that I wouldn't have anyone to celebrate with... but where there are friends, there's sure to be a lot of eating, drinking, and being merry. A friend's family is taking us out to a fancy schmancy restaurant tonight. Maybe I'll remember my camera this time to capture the food glory. I didn't do my last few dinners justice. It's been a gooood eating week (she says while chewing a baguette with ham).

Rainy Day in Paris

Bundled up today in dark colors, the Parisian way... It's been rainy and getting dark around 4pm. I ran around doing a bunch of chores today, bought some groceries, and went back home to... do work? That's a joke - I've lost all motivation for work. Especially on dark cozy days like today. Instead, I've been writing postcards; my roommate and I have been researching for our trip to MOROCCO in January; I'm going out for dinner tonight and champy on the champ de mars...

Old Glamour

Paris is definitely making me feel old glamour lately. I found this leopard-print scarf at a vintage store for ONE EURO. Paired it with a silk blouse, thigh-highs, and some red lipstick... It's so comfy.

Hm... I must pay better attention to this website. I haven't done anything to it since summer... unacceptable!

Reflections at the end of summer

As I finally have time to reflect back upon this summer, I've realized a number of things.

Number one. I have very little money to my name. And although I've unearthed several clever (I think) ways to go about living the way I do and still enjoy the little things... it's clear that money does have meaning. More meaning than I would like it to have. But I guess that's why humans created this invisible form of self worth? Whether it's clothes or food, or trips here are there... everything can be broken down into george washingtons. We all want it... i'm jostled up to a slick businessman and a panhandler in tattered nikes - they both want it. You scream, i scream... we all scream for ice cream!

Number two. People. There's something ingrained in us people that makes us needs closeness. And I wonder about strangers- who they're close to. Who fills those random knick-knack hours which exist between our errands, work, and social times? Who do we grant that pleasure? We've got odd hours to fill, and fill them we must!

That brings me to Time. Time is so important. Probably even more important than money.

And about other things - I've discovered that those who are happiest spend their times outdoors. It's so sad a majority of our life is spent in a fishbowl.

Being happy? What's that about anyways?

So many unanswered questions and I've already had twenty years on this planet...

Work has taken over my life.

As I sit here munching on my salt and vinegar potato chips. I wonder... is this a sneak preview into my twenties life? It's lookin dismal. But there's still hope!!

Taking control of recklessness!

At the John Jay College Library right now. Libraries are like hair salons - they look, smell, and feel the same wherever you go. There are always the same types of people hanging around... and you come out feeling either more empowered, or more disappointed.

Hopefully, I will come out empowered not disappointed. I am turning a new leaf in my life! Inspiration directly stemming from this economic disaster we're in... and the need to adapt. So, I'm deciding to handle my finances, 200 xs better... any advice?

I'm going abroad next semester, so I need to start saving. I'm going to keep a detail money diary of everything I purchase over the next week and how much I have. I'll also detail the amount of my bills, other fees, etc. Then... the financial diet will have to commence. Keep you posted on this experiment.

Wizardry!

Exhausted from work again, but I've got new-and-improved hopes for a publishing career! Maybe someday I'll be one of those impeccably well-dressed power women, gliding through the revolving doors in my stuart weitzmans. Or maybe not.

Egads! (this is a real word. why does spell check not think so?) I'm now working 7 days a week. Do the math. that means every day!

Monday - Chemistry (to improve my attitude towards chem let's name it something more interesting... In honor of the harry potter premier this summer, we shall call it wizardry! in any case, the concepts in chemistry might as well be wizardry!)

Tuesday - Internship

Wednesday - Wizardry (wizardry wednesdays!)

Thursday - Work at boutique

Friday - internship

Saturday - boutique

Sunday - boutique



I have Wizardry tomorrow allll dayyy longgg. awesome!

Here comes summer!! (part 2)

Spending tons of time on this futon lately.

Someone told me that my previous entry was really depressing. So, I'm determined to lighten things up a bit. Summer wooooooooo!!!

Okay, time to get serious. and less sarcastic.

I've been feeling very confused lately. I have no idea what I want. What I used to deem important, no longer seems so. The future looks hazy. Panic attacks frequent my dreams. Is this the time in my life when I get hit with a reality check?

I went for a run today in beautiful weather. Down by the Hudson, I went into complete runner's zone: a place where I can lose track of everything and just concentrate. I seem to break down the emotions with the physical aspects of jogging. It's so important for me to go with the flow. I hate running in pain, and I'm an easy quitter. If I feel like stopping and contemplating, then I do exactly that. I'm probably a helluva annoying runner, too. I like making obstacles, and I weave in and out of trees, park benches - sometimes I jump onto park benches or over rocks. I'll do form drills or try to run only stepping on the cracks in a pavement. Weird right? Running is more of a mental than physical exercise for me. But I'm afraid it didn't so much clear my head, as give me a shot of endorphins, today. I left just as confused as I felt before.


Going back home to Poughkeepsie this Friday. My sister's SENIOR PROM is this weekend - and of course prom drama needs to be sorted out. Damn teenagers (+ housewives).

Yeahhh Summer 09.

I have to think about some new "stay-positive" techniques.

Here comes summer!

Yep. Feeling kind of glum for several reasons. Summer? I don't have much to look forward to. Sorry if you are expecting a thriller series about my exciting internship and the consequential tribulations of it all. That glamour is long gone...

It's not that I detest my jobs at this moment, though. In fact, I really like where I'm working this summer. Malia is great - friendly people and a bright, cheery office! The uniform is casual and relaxed. My sales gig at the Montmartre boutique is certainly better considering my past experience there. I've especially learned my lesson of bringing comfortable shoes with me EVERYWHERE. As soon as I hit the subway station, I'm in my moccasins without a care for how I look. Who am I trying to impress, anyway? The panhandlers?

Yikes. Now there's a jaded voice unearthing itself from all this mess. Aside from being an intern and a salesperson, I will also be a student... once again! This summer is looking fantastic, already. (That's sarcasm.) I'll be taking Chemistry at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Yeah, don't ask.

Other than working my ass off and studying my ass off (I will certainly be ass-less by the end), I will also be a babysitter to a two-year old. For the summer. I just can't wait for it to begin!!

Sarcasm comrades...

In the words of a current boss, "None of this... ' Summer could be better.' Have a more positive attitude!" I will keep busy and you know what? I read today in Time Magazine (before I got a massive stomachache and had to run out of the book store) that sales jobs are going up.

And I guess that's it for now. Stay tuned for exciting updates!

My last column in the Sun

Today, my last column in the Sun published. The whole experience of being a columnist again is both exciting and yet, perpetually unsatisfying. I never feel as if I'm writing something substantial - maybe a humorous/whimsical comment on a current topic... then on to the next fleeting idea! Everything I write is very light and airy. I feel as if I'm not getting my feet wet enough of my opinions and observations on these subjects.

I took my last exam today (before finals begin). And I swear I bombed it despite having studied until 5 in the morning (not joking either). Tomorrow is the last day of classes... Yeah. Here we go again: the beginning of the end. Why is it for some reason I feel like I learned nothing this semester? Or did anything of meaning? My BIGGEST pet peeve: time wasted on mindless, meaningless, boring gibberish.

LAST WEEK OF CLASSES

I can't believe it! I still have a final presentation (in French!), a lab final, an Econ midterm to get through until the epic Slope day on Friday. Crazy! Aaaand-drum roll please-the performers for slope day will be the Pussycat Dolls. I don't know why everyone is complaining. I personally am excited for the Pussycat Dolls... hot stuff!

Internship for this Summer!!

One of the suits featured on their website

I just found out that I will be interning with Malia Mills this summer!! I'm so excited - Malia Mills is a swimwear company based in New York City. Looking forward to another busy season of work and play :)

Do you take risks?

Spring Formal 2009


I bought this parrot green dress from Zara Paris, more than a year ago! I haven't worn it since. At the time, I thought it looked so Italian and so high-fashion. It's made of floaty chiffon, and there are flowers coming down from the neckline. I loved the dress, but I just never had the guts to wear it. It seemed a bit overwhelming, and a bit outrageous.

So I finally mustered up the nerve to wear it to Spring Formal. Picture above - what do you think? Win or fail? Whatever the case, I loved wearing something different.

Do you like taking risks, whether in fashion or life in general? Or are you more of a classic, tried and true kind of person?

soaking up the sun

Jacob is soaking up the sun


Beautiful weather on the arts quad.... we decided to do lunch here today.

Awesome weather today!! Two thumbs up!

What are your internet procrastinators...

1. www.childhoodflames.blogspot.com

Childhood Flames Blog - Yes, I'm obsessed with the fashion musings of a pre-teen. SHHH. My guilty pleasure....

2. www.nytimes.com

The New York Times is my homepage!

3. www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/blogs/single-ish/

Another guilty pleasure - Ryan Dodge who blogs for Glamour's "Single-ish Blog". I think it's my 1-year anniversary since I got hooked.

4. www.facebook.com

Of course, Facebook. But who isn't on this 24/7?

4. www.chrysan-tung.blogspot.com

Chrysalis of course... what a devoted writer...

Any other internet procrastinators? I'm getting bored with mine...

How do you prep for an interview?

Isla Fisher wearing Malia Mills!

I was biting my nails (at a nail salon, too), stressing about an upcoming interview. Lo and behold, I opened a magazine just to see Isla Fisher of Wedding Crashers and Confessions of a Shopaholic, wearing Malia Mills on the cover of Allure. She looked hot! Recall, this is the chick married to Borat.

I'm getting pretty nervous for my interview, which is perhaps the one chance I have at an internship this summer. Looking up questions doesn't really help either. Where do I see myself in 5, 10, 30 years? What are my strengths? Weaknesses? Definitely keeping my calm.

How do you prep for an interview???

Routine... good or bad?

Taking time to enjoy a cup of coffee on a checked picnic blanket in fiiine weather? Priceless.

Though excruciating at first, waking up for my 9am is getting easier and easier. The trick is to get into routine. Earlier today, I started thinking about it. Routine can be comforting and perhaps even soothing. It's nice to know exactly what to expect. My first challenge at college was to establish a routine. Needless to say, I'm still having difficulties with this. When I first arrived at school, I was amazed by how much freedom I suddenly had. I could probably go out every night if I wanted to. If I just felt like ordering food or going for a run, I could. But then you realize it's not like that at all. You need a routine, and the routine becomes suffocating.

It's funny. One time when I was still in grade school, my sister and I decided to go to the neighborhood park. We've probably taken this walk a thousand times before. As we were walking, she suddenly made a comical, overly-exaggerated veer off to the other side of the street. I was both confused... and amused... Later, she told me she felt like something was "controlling her" to keep walking straight down the street. So, she made a ridiculous detour. She wanted the walk to be her own choice, and she wanted to prove she could go any direction that she felt like... even if her destination would be the same.

We get schedules, meetings, chores, tasks, assignments, and soon it's routine that's ruling your life, and life that's constraining your liberty. When did spontaneity become unfashionable? Is life just doomed to be chained to meaningless, mindless, aimless routine? If I am my own person, then why does it feel like I am only what my routine makes me... Maybe life in itself is just a large-scale balancing act between routine... and spontaneity. Are we supposed to only live around these routines? If so, when does real living begin? What gives: is routine good or bad?

Off to stop procrastinating on homework...

News alert | Feature on TeenVogue!

Cornell was featured on TeenVogue for the 25th Annual CDL Fashion show. So dope!

Internship update: I have an interview this week via SKYPE. Let you know how that goes. Applied to Anthropologie and Women's Health, Interview Magazine, and hopefully TimeOut New York and Smithsonian soon. Pheuf!

Hope everyone is having a good week so far...

who doesn't like daisies and daffodils...

My sorority "Little" got me this vase!

One thing I love: fresh flowers!! I picked the daffodil from a patch outside. They're shooting up everywhere. It's amazing how such a small thing will brighten up your day.

interesting demonstrations on the quad

Red plastic mesh bags filled with straw.


Someone rearranging the perfect lines of bags.


From one side...


To the other.

Wonder what these mean? Keep you updated...

Would you prefer an apartment or a dorm room?

Unmade bed... disgrace...

Room is getting a spring cleaning. And makeover? I remember when I tried redoing my room at home... which turned out to be a semi-success. But I love it and all the personal trinkets that make it homey. Having a sense of home and my own personal space is so important to me. I'm wondering what the deal will be like next semester, in Paris! I can either live in a household with a French family (language benefits), in dorm (peer benefits), or with another person in an apartment (homey benefits). I can't decide. What would you do??

spring awakening | what are you excited about for spring?

The buds are finally coming out...

After a freak snowstorm earlier this week, the buds are finally coming out!!!! I'm excited about...
1. Riding my schwinn again... when can I get cruising?
2. sunglasses
3. end of classes (i.e. Slope day)
4. laying out on the arts quad
5. outdoor hookah and dinner parties
6. fresh fruit from the farmer's market
7. flowers!!
8. Swimming at the gorges
9. Holi
10. spring dresses

What are you excited about for spring?

I survived!!!

Once upon a runway
Cornell Model UN Conference
Fibers Exam
Lame-o MGMT exam
Writing articles
Alumni Networking
Internship grazing
and Misc

It may have looked bleak... but it's all coming together!!