1. Techno Music is synonymous with "good music" in Paris.I learned this on Saturday, after attending the Techno Parade 2010. I don't know why, but I pictured this event being mildly tame, as someone had told me it was an exhibition for contemporary artists. "Cool!" I thought, "Time to get cultured". I was so, so wrong. This event started with a flash mob in the middle of the street, of which my friend Hannah was a member of. They had a choreographed dance to a techno
song that a DJ was playing from some sort of raised stage. At the end of the flash mob, 
however, I realized that it wasn't a raised stage at all... it was a disco booth and dance floor mounted on a semi truck. All of a sudden, the truck started driving, and thousands of drunk teenagers and young adults started screaming, dancing, and following the truck. It was at this point that I turned around - and saw 20 OTHER TRUCKS with equal numbers of belligerent young people behind them. Each one featured a different popular techno DJ, including semi-famous Quentin Mosimann, winner of French "Star Academy" (like American Idol). The Europeans really go all out for their techno-there were smoke and bubble machines 
equipping the buses, and people with flares to walk alongside with the spectators (burning objects + alcohol = always a good idea!) I was so unprepared to be a part of this parade! I was dressed nicely, ready for an art gallery! What was I doing amongst 13 year old boys dancing on top of bus stations with Heineken's in their hands?! (They got what they deserved, though, as they shattered this one... ironically they were standing on top of the station for the Hospital...)
Before
After
2. There is too much to do in Paris. If your feet aren't tired at the end of the day, then you're either lazy or you're doing something wrong.
The rest of this weekend was fairly slow, filled with a lot of errand running and because I had a cold, a lot of watching Dexter (I have recently discovered this show and I think it could be the sole reason why I don't learn any French this semester. Must be careful). It was on Sunday night, while frantically finishing the homework I neglected all week, that I started to feel guilty - if I "take the day off" and relax a little bit, am I losing valuable time in my abroad adventures? Of course I am, but if I spend all day every day running around the city of Paris, I will end up burned out and overwhelmed. Somewhere, there has to be a balance. One of my professors suggested that I start walking around Paris (rather than taking the subway) as obviously you see a lot more when above ground. I've taken his advice, and couldn't be more pleased. There's so much to do here and not enough time, so I've got to soak it up while it's still not trop froid. Just the other day, I stumbled upon the Grand Palais while it was housing an exhibition called
"XXVe Biennale des Antiquaires". I'll be honest - I had no idea what that meant, but it had "Antique" in the title, so I figured it was related to Art History. I was puzzled, though, at the amount of seemingly wealthy people entering this building, and the lack of people wearing running shoes with cameras around their necks. I brushed this off, as I got to bypass the 25 Euro entrance fee because "I'm an Art History student". As soon as I got in, though, it became apparent that "Biennale des Antiquaires" is not at all a tourist attraction - it's an auction. Hundreds of the richest people in the world, flocking to different galleries to buy some of the most famous paintings that have ever been created: Talouse-Lautrec's, Picasso's, Matisse's, Manet's... all were on display with a hefty ticket price. I overheard one American (clearly just here for the weekend, you know, adding new pieces to his collection) bartering over a small circular piece of marble he called a "statue" for $70,000. Needless to say, more than a few people noticed that I, wearing my old, beat-up green backpack and a Vassar sweatshirt, didn't exactly have that kind of disposable income, so I took a few pictures and left. I can only hope to have more adventures like this one in the future.
3. I will never understand how Parisians handle their education system.
Today, I intended to go to the Centre Pompidou to get my modern art fix after the failed attempt at Techno Parade, but instead I went to my first class, "Théâtre/Cinéma" at the University of Paris 3 - La Sorbonne Nouvelle. You may think this sounds really elegant and somehow related to La Sorbonne (the oldest University in Paris), but no - this was like walking into a run-down high school circa 1970. I walked into my class at 17h, right when it was supposed to begin, and sat with my French student comrades. Of course, I spoke to no one, and instead chose to write (in English) in my journal. After waiting for 20 minutes with no professor, we decided it was time to give up. Turns out, Professor Deutsch changed not only the time of our class, but the day - so that class doesn't start until next Monday. It was a great introduction to the Paris University System, and made me a little bit thankful that I go to a school that over-organizes and prepares it's students rather than leaving them in a classroom to fend for themselves. Oh well, I've got "Dramaturgy and Directing Contemporary Plays" tomorrow ... here's to hoping it goes a little bit better. On another note, my American run classes, "The Idea of the Monster" and "Kitsch and Art" are super interesting and going well, and I haven't had any issues registering for them - just as a comparison. I think a part of me is itching to get back to schoolwork. I'm halfway through about three different books in French and can't motivate myself any further because there's no punishment for not completing them. I only hope I will not always be a product of my society, and will instead one day enjoy reading for leisure.
"Institut d'Etudes Slaves" - Slave Studies? (P.S. This is The Sorbonne you guys)
Sorry to sound so bitter, I really ended up having a good and productive day, ending with some time spent with my favorite host family. But right now there are people talking loudly literally right outside my open window. Rather than getting out of bed and closing said window, I have this message for my inconsiderate neighbors:
"Let us sleep!"
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