from Paris, safe and sound

First of all, if anyone decides to come visit me, the direct flight (SLC->CDG) is the new best thing that ever happened to trans-Atlantic flying. Adam West, the ORIGINAL television series BATMAN, was on the flight and Gareth, one of the flight attendants who is Welsh and a stud and is going to start his doctorate in poli sci at the U next year, brought me an extra fruit and cheese plate from first class. I guess Mr. West wasn't up for a midnight snack. I also had the biggest carry-on bag in the history of flying--the guy at Skycap told me to try and take it on the plane, saving me fifty bones. So I only checked one bag and then somehow got on board the plane with my laptop bag, camera bag, and a fatty duffel bag.

I couldn't have made it very well from the airport with all my bags if Irene Kim, my friend that I taught French with at BYU (and who is now a nanny for some wealthy French family that takes her on vacations to Italy and the Riviera), hadn't come to pick me up. Thanks IRENE.

The idyllic glamour of living in Paris faded a bit when I had to make my first big purchases, buying a metro pass and a cell phone (if you feel inclined to call, send me an email and I will send you my number). Big cities are really only luxurous for those who have lots of money. With that being said, Paris has a lot to offer even those who don't have loads of cash and I am LOVING it. It helps that I am staying with three Romanians. Everyone knows how much I love those people and these ones are especially cool. Despite not having much room for themselves, they have taken me in, fed me (Romanian style), and given me a place to sleep by pushing their kitchen table aside to squeeze in a mattress on the floor.

This morning I caught up on some much needed sleep then headed out into the city to visit Le Cours Florent for the first time. It took me a while to find it because I didn't have the address and only vaguely remembered where it is from having seen it on Google Earth. When I saw it, I got really nervous and almost kept walking. There are things about French culture that can be intimidating (i.e. the language) and piling that on top of a sticking-your-neck-out situation made me want to tuck my tail between my legs and whimper away. But I didn't. I threw up a very humble little prayer, crossed the street and went inside. I looked around the entry for a bit, gathering up a bit of courage while trying to look nonchalant. The three women working just inside the office seemed nice enough, so I went in. I was invited to take a seat at a desk where I explained myself and learned that in order to get into Florent, you have to do a three week workshop (that costs 365 euros) before being able to audition, unless you have already had a full year at another acting conservatory. I told her about my acting experience, explained more about my situation, my experience, and the fact that I had hoped to avoid the cost of the workshop, and she waived the requirement. Bless you, Ode!--that's her name, though I might have spelled it incorrectly. Either way, I went from Ode, to JOY (pun intended).

With the workshop waived, I suddenly began to worry that maybe I won't do so well in my audition and that maybe I needed the exposure of a three week workshop in order to get in. I expressed my concern to Ode and she told me not to worry about it. So she signed me up for an audition on Friday, September 11 at 2pm. When the office realized that "l'Americain" had been signed up for an audition on 9/11, they were worried, but I assured them that I would be fine.

So, at the end of my audition next Friday, I will be told whether or not I have been accepted, and if I am, into which year of the program. In the meantime, I might travel around a bit, but Elder Bednar is giving a fireside for the Paris area next Thursday and I want to be there for that.

Well, I have been sitting in this McDonald's leeching off their free internet for a while and this post is far too long, but just so everyone knows, I did check in with both of my grandmothers before I left, and, despite everything, they STILL believe in me.

Most importantly, I am the proud, new uncle of this little guy:

(Thanks for the picture Steph!) From what I understand, he hasn't been named yet, but I think he should be named Anthony, maybe Anthony Jeffrey Dickamore (you could call him AJ!), because I think he looks EXACTLY like Tony. Before I left, Tami reminded me that this is the third baby she would have while I am out of the country. Depending on what time exactly he was born, I may have still been within the US air territories...

I love you all!