European Mad-dash part II : Mini-fox in Paris

October has been incredibly busy... First my trip to France, then my mom's wedding, and soon Hudson's birthday followed by halloween... all this while being in grad school fulltime and taking care of my little Tuna. Ouf........... absolutly exhausting......... so you will forgive me for being a bit behind in posting. I will try to finish the Japan trip posts by the end of november, and here is the last part for my France trip!

 

I presented in Nancy as part of a conference on "Passeurs de culture et transferts culturels". It was very interesting and a great chance to meet other people working in a similar field. Now just in case you wonder... what exactly is my field of study. Well... I will do my best to offer here a proper translation but it goes along the line of... "East-asian representations (China, Korea and Japan) in french-canadian litterature : cultural and formal hybridity." I am currently doing my PHD in Francophone studies.

 

One of the bigest disapointment of the trip was the fact that Hudson was suppose tp come with me... unfortunalty I lost my babysitter over there because of conflicting work schedule and had to leave Hudson behind. To make up for it, I brought Hudson's favorite stuff animal with me (well actually I brought his twin) and took picture of Mini-Fox at all the interesting sight.

So Mini-fox visited the Eiffel tower, l'Arc de Triomphe and more...


 

 

 

 

 

European Mad-dash

 

Let's leave Japan to the side for a while, and let's head over to France! Where I am now! 

 

As a matter of fact, I am currently sitting on the floor of my hotel room. A wonderful little hotel, right in the middle of old Nancy. Walking distance from the train station. Hotel de Guise. Clean, friendly and historical! I love it!

 

So what has my days looked like since leaving... well... without Tuna around, I feel a bit like I've traveled in time and  went back to my old, full of unplanned, last minute adventurous life...

I slept for the whole flight. I got to Paris, jumped on a train after buying a baguette on the go and left for Nancy. On the train, I mostly hid in the toilet since I very very badly needed to pump!!!! Oh... I was in so much pain!  I got to Nancy and walked from the station to my hotel and took in most of the historical sites... I got to the hotel room, and pumped again! Then I went back out and went on a millefeuilles hunt! And millefeuilles I found! OMG! So good! I scored the last millefeuilles at the Boulangerie next door! It was delicious! I also bought a Pâté de la Loraine. It was also very tasty. I then went around town buying more local products. I came back with a beer, a freshmilk goat cheese, a baguette, two pâté (boar and goose) and carambars!

Then I pumped again! Do you know how sad it makes me having to throw away all this wonderful milk... Overall it was a success... I will pump one more time before going to bed!

Time to go again!

I am not done yet posting about our trip to Japan! And here I am, getting ready to take off again! This time, I am going on my own. To France. For 2 days! Yes... that's right... Back and forth! Last plane going, first plane back! I am going to Nancy, to participate in a conference in french literature. The last time I went to Nancy, I was 8 years old. It was July 14th and I had my first glass of champagne to celebrate "la prise de la bastille". It's funny. This is one of the rare day I actually remember from that trip... years ago! I remember, it was late at night and we stayed up to watch the fireworks! 

This time, there will be no time to visit or enjoy the sights! I will, however, make sure to wine and dine well ;-) After all, there will be no baby for me to breastfed!

Talking about baby.... this will be the hardest part of all! It will be my first time away from her! Even when I was sick in the hospital, back in the Philippines, I got to see her every day. This time, I will have to go 3 days without my little Tuna. Poor thing..... but I know daddy will take good care of her ;-)

So! France! Here I come! Tomorrow at this time, I will be on a plane... now I better get packing!