PINAY FRANCOPHILE

Okay, I have to seriously start trying to learn elementary French.  I have lost my flashcards so I have to make new ones.  I have a book here that’s supposed to be a crash course in learning the language, and I have to start surfing for those internet sites teaching with audio clips giving the correct pronunciation.

I envy Alan who gets firsthand tutoring from his French counterparts and account director. 

Someone left an anonymous comment that the title of my blog is not apt because I post pictures and dreaming of or remembering my last trip to Paris.  There was a suggestion to write more about the culture, the history, etc.  You can get that from the official Paris or French websites. 

It’s my blog — and I consider myself a Pinay Francophile whether I write about it here or not.  The fact that I read about and try to study French culture, the language and the people does not have to be relayed here step by step.  Being a Francophile is a state of mind — at least that’s the perspective from which I write here.  And that is just one side of me — some other sides take precedence over it at times leading to long absences from this blog, but that part of me continues to grow.

May bato-bato na naman yatang umaaligid.

If you’ve been reading my other blog, you know that I’ve been feeling under the weather lately as reflected in one of my latest blog posts there.  It has made me take pause and think about Paris — because I am thinking about whether or not the November trip will still happen.  Then I tell myself it will.  After all, I’m hoping to travel on mileage — so I need not worry about the fare.  I have enough days left in my bank — and will be acquiring a new set of vacation days beginning January 2007.  And things will take care of themselves.

I think of Paris as one of my “favorite things” or “happy thoughts”.  It helps me to smile again.. it brings back lovely memories not only of my solitary hike to the Louvre, but more importantly, the walking tour Alan and I did of this fabulous city. 

See, I am smiling again.

Click on thumbnails and bigger picture will open in another window.

Paper Kit by Lisa Carter Digitalscrapbookplace.com, Grungy Fall Background Photo Mat by Valeri Brumfield, Inked Edges Overlay by Nancie Rowe Janitz

My Friends Kit by Holly McCaig featured in the EPSON Creatived Center

Background paper and ribbon by Nancie Rowe Janitz, and lace by Lisa Carter 

Background paper by Rhonna Farrer of Two Peas, embellishments by H. McCaig’s “My Friends” kit from the EPSON Creative Center, Black frame grunge overlay by Pattie Knox from the Art for Asher Charity Kit

As a Marian devotee, one of my life-long dreams is a pilgrimage to Lourdes.  The next one related to Lourdes is to be able to bring my Mom there someday.

But first thing’s first.  My first dilemma is that Lourdes is apparently several hours from Paris by train.  I tried a second point of origin, Lyon, where Alan’s other hotels are, but the results were the same.  If I decided to take the train to Paris, a round trip would’ve cost us close to $400 for two.  While I finally figured out a way to use my mileage to get to Paris (so that means I’m just paying $60 in tax), I had to weigh out spending this much to get us to Lourdes.

In the end, Alan and I decided to postpone for another trip when I can be in Paris longer than the current 6 days I will be there.  We could’ve taken an overnight trip from Paris to Lourdes and spent the day there, returning on another evening trip by rail.  That would’ve meant, however that we would be giving up two nights and a full day, and this would be on the weekend when we could go around together.  Alan starts working Monday which would’ve given us only one day to spend together.

If we go as planned, we will arrive there Friday morning.  Alan will stay the whole week but I will return to New York Wednesday afternoon so I’m in before 9PM.  Next day, I go back to work.

We would one day want to spend a real vacation there without Alan working at all, and he is very excited to take me to Lyon.  Perhaps a week and a half would be sufficient.  Right now I’m still piggy-backing on his business trip, but sometime in the future, we’ll go there simply for pleasure.  So we’re saving Lourdes for another trip.