KareeninFrance 16: I love being in France!

I think it always requires me stepping away from Paris and France to really appreciate it. I just got back from LA/China/LA......I am the crazy girl who flys all over the world and back again just to spend some time in LA and go to China. Now, I am paying for it with horrendous jetlag.

The next installment will be KareeninChina.....so check back soon!

China was amazing, but going back to LA always rejuvenates me. I habitually come back to Paris with new direction, new motivation, and new ideas. It's so nice to be back!

I had a moment while in LA that was a good reminder of how much I love France. I was in Los Feliz, walking to the donut shop with my friend Ben. It was the end of November and it was gorgeous out. I was thinking outloud about how great it could be to move back to LA and enjoy the wonderful weather. We walked into the donut shop and there were 4 French people, having a conversation in French. I resisted the temptation to introduce myself just so I could speak French with them. Instead, I thought about how much I would miss my life in Paris.

The last 6+ months have been difficult.....trying to get the business off the ground, frustrated with needing to be patient, anxious as I watched my empty coffers growing spider webs, lacking motivation, and tired of disappointments. I know I am nowhere close to being done with Paris.....but, I do not think I would be fair to myself nor to my business if I did not regularly consider a move back. But, you know....I just don't see it happening.

Just when I was ready to kill myself (kidding, and I apologize for making a joke about suicidal thoughts), things have begun to look up. I am currently preparing for a meeting with Galeries Lafayette (the French equivalent of Neiman Marcus/Saks) this week. They have already seen my photo book and have requested the meeting......so I am very excited, AND nervous. Wish me luck!

I have also been chosen to be featured in a design book. Not sure how swank this is, but I am not really in a place to deny press.

So, in summary, I miss the weather, my family, and all of my friends in LA (and, the US), but I LOVE PARIS. And, I love the Frenchies!

Love, Kareen

PS I have started reviewing my Advanced French grammar book from university. I finally understand what everything actually means! It's in French. I am trying to perfect my language skills.



Here is a teaser from my photos of China...Beijing...can you see the woman behind me chowing down on a squid-kabob?

See my KbyKareen blog

Kareen in France 15: Why am I in France?

So much to write, so little time! Almost 3 years since I first moved back to Paris. I want to write about why I am here. Mostly because it would be good for me to remind myself as well. Sometimes the challenges of living within a different culture, struggling through a new language, making new friends, and trying to establish myself within a new community; all while trying to start a business can cause self-doubt and major anxiety......so this will be a writing process to try to work through all of that.

You know, I meet people all the time who tell me that they hate Paris and are ready to leave. All after just a few years of being here! Perhaps because they can't understand the culture, perhaps because they struggle through the language, or perhaps they are getting sick and tired of this mediocre weather.

I love Paris! I love the fact that I can ride my bike all over the place......I can get to La Tour Eiffel from my place in 35 minutes! (I timed myself.) I love that Paris has just installed 10,000 bicycles (to be adding an additonal 10,000) that are for rent for just a few euros. If you happen to have a subscription (29 euros per year), you can use these bicycles for free for the first 30 minutes of your journey. Even though I have my own beautiful beach cruiser, I plan to get a subscription.....beats waiting for a taxi. And now, most major streets have had bike paths added. Oh, just an added note.....I rode my bike down the Champs Elysees the other day! I thought that was funny.

I love that all summer long, there are outdoor cinemas (free) in almost all of the large parks. Although Paris is very expensive (eats, drinks, etc) there are many things this city does that are free or minimal in price. There is also this great little thing called Paris Plage (plage = "beach" in French). This year they opened a third one. The original is along the Seine and includes a nifty patch of sand, lounge chairs, cafes, stage for free concerts, etc. There are also many children's activities like learning how to rollerblade, wall climbing, etc. The two other Paris Plages are also along the water; one being along the Canal St. Martin (remember where Amelie skipped stones?). I hear that at that one you can learn to sail in little sail boats. Again, this is all free. Too bad the weather has been so horrible!

I make about 1 new friend per week. Isn't this amazing? I work from home, yet I still have the ability to meet one new person per week that I actually want to be friends with. And, I have to say that I am super impressed with the caliber of person that I meet; artists, designers, professionals, etc. All very high quality people.

I have a local cafe that I spend time at and they had me do another American Brunch! This time we served 49 brunches! Long day for me, making banana molasses pancakes (my dad's recipe), coffee cake, hashbrowns, bacon and eggs, and fresh fruit. Oh, and we served all this with café à volonté (all you can drink coffee.....unheard of in France!) and a champagne mimosa. I would not be surprised if they asked me to do this again.....but, next time I should be paid!

So, is all of this enough to keep me happy and satisfied especially when the self-doubt and anxiety set in? Honestly, I am not sure. I just know that I still get chills up my spine when I see The Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. Wouldn't you?

*NEW* Jewelry photos July 2007

Couleurs dans L'Industrie - Paris May 2007

KareeninFrance 14: Une Americaine in Paris (supplement)

I forgot to tell you about my adventure in cooking! Just before I left Paris to head back to LA for the holidays, my friend Phyllis and I planned and executed "an American Brunch in a French cafe". Every Sunday, the cafe around the corner from me, Cafe Titon, has a brunch menu. Phyllis and I tried it one day and the owner, Joel, asked us what we thought. We told him it was typically French (croissants, coffee, orange juice, soft boiled egg, cheese and charcuterie, salad, and fromage blanc with honey) and they needed something to set them apart from all of the other places to go for brunch. We suggested pancakes. For the next few weeks, we tasted pancakes his cook made (they were horrible......made with sarrasin flour that is used to make galettes), discussed the best recipes, helped him convert teaspoons and tablespoon measurements to ml, and I even made pancakes for him to try one day. In the end, she and I got suckered into making the brunch for 25 people (all at the same time!). We made blueberry scones, hashbrowns, pancakes, fried eggs, bacon, and this was served with the typical fromage blanc with honey (we were worried there wasn't enough food.....to only have everyone tell us it was too much). So, in my 30 years, this was the first time working in a professional kitchen. And, I don't think I liked it very much.

Oh, but we got lots of compliments on our cooking.......and are supposedly the talk of the town.

Kareen