It's been a very long while since I last wrote, but that's just because work has been keeping me busy. The job isn't always the most exciting, but my co-workers are a dream, and I occasionally get some interesting projects to work on.
For example: A month or so ago, my boss asked me to work on a position paper regarding the implementation of IFRS for SMEs (a set of international accounting standards for small and medium sized companies) in the US. The paper is against the implementation, whereas I personally would be pro, but it's been really interesting to research and write.
The rest of the internship so far has been a testament to how welcoming the French can be. My officemate, Emilie, as well as two of the other women in the near vicinity, Aude and Melanie, included me right away in their girls' gym outings and coffee breaks. Every Monday and Friday (and Wednesday this week!) we complain for an hour before going to an hour long aerobics class. We complain the whole time we're there about how hard it is, take a shower, and go to the sandwich place across the street for soup and salad (which are always delicious!) and complain the next day about how badly we're feeling the effects of the gym.
While there's definitely some interoffice gossip, in general people get along and prefer to be in the company of others than alone, which is really different for me. Even in my amazing group at Horizon for my last co-op, the camaradery wasn't quite as pronounced. For example, Nathalie, the secretary to the #2 to the CFO who works in our department, invited me to lunch a few weeks ago. We went to a place where she knows the owner and had delicious pumpkin risotto with foie gras (sounds weird, but delicious) and finished with espressos. Over lunch we talked about her love of football (soccer), her upcoming vacations, notably to the World Cup in South Africa, and her amazing wedding to her husband that took place last November. Her dress was basically custom-made by Lanvin. Afterwards, we strolled around the area and visited the Marc Jacobs boutique (don't worry Mom and Dad, I didn't buy anything) For her birthday, she invited a bunch of the ladies from the area to a little conference room and we shared a bottle of champagne and some little cookies. Emilie, Aude and I bought her these precious bracelets online that completely fit her fun personality and we joke everyday about when they're going to arrive. Nathalie also took me across the street to see the Orangerie, the building where all of BNP Paribas' chief officers work and where Napoleon and Josephine were married. Next month she's organized a lunch with one of my bosses as well as a trip to the trading room. She literally knows everyone in the company and is just too precious when it comes to introducing me to them.
Whenever I don't have something else to do after work, Emilie and I leave together, and sometimes with one of the group secretaries who lives near me. Last week we walked home 3 times after work, instead of taking the metro. It's so amazing to me how much people want to be social here- and such a contrast to my usual preference to sit and read a book by myself! I'm just trying to go with the flow and accept 99% of the invitations offered to me.
I'm finally cooking a lot more, which is a joy. My roommate likes to cook/bake as well, so there're a lot of apparati in the house for me to play with. My favorite is definitely the stick blender, and I've taken to making a soup on Sunday night so that I don't have to make dinner Monday, Tuesday, and sometimes Wednesday depending on if Agathe shares with me. Past renditions have included carrot soup with cumin and crème fraiche, lentil soup with tomatoes and cayenne pepper, and split pea soup with ham and topped with emmental (similar to swiss). Today is going to be cauliflower soup since it looked good at the market.
Baking is also up since I have several excuses to do it. For birthdays, and just because, people at work are always bringing in treats (cookies, croissants, chocolates from vacation...). It's great for me because I get to try French things (like financiers and madeleines), and they love the muffins and such that I bring in.
I joined a choir about a month ago, too. I missed singing so much that it was getting unbearable. My boss knew someone who sang, and I went to their winter concert and auditioned a few days later. We're singing opera choruses, which always make me smile, and most of them are familiar, which (don't tell) means I don't have to practice too much. We always have about a half hour-45 minute break during which we drink (wine! and lots of it!) and eat, taking turns among the sections to bring refreshments. Tomorrow is my section's second turn (last time was carrot muffins), and I bought amazing looking rhubarb at the market, so I'm making a tart with it.
In other news, passed all my exams with reasonably good grades (18/20 in accounting-passing is 10 and normal is 13-14, the rest were less exciting), which meant that I didn't have to go back to the hell-hole that was Reims to retake anything, nor did I have to study. Phew! Also found out within the last couple of months that I get to spend fall semester as both a Research Assistant and a Teacher's assistant for some really great professors. I think the one that I asked about the positions put my name in for a scholarship, because I recently found out that I got it, but I'd never applied because I didn't know it existed. I got into all the classes that I need for the fall, so I'm on track to graduate a semester early. My fabulous friend Meg, and her two friends, just found us an apartment for the fall, so I'm really excited that everything's coming together so well.
In performing a fake job search, I found my absolute post-grad dream job in San Francisco. It's a Budget and Financial Analyst position for a non-profit called Room to Read that works toward child literacy in developing countries. Short of the 3 years of Budgeting experience, which I consider a minor detail ;-), the job fits perfectly to my qualifications, especially the idea of being "open" to international travel.
In every aspect of my life, I'm about 10,000 times happier in Paris than I was in Reims, and I'm really happy to be in France, even if I miss home and will definitely be ready for the familiar when I move back to Boston in August.
Peter is coming to visit on Thursday (!!!), so I'm excited to drag him around my city. We're going down to Montpellier/Millau for Ascension day weekend- we're staying with a family the first night in Montpellier, and then in a converted Chateau (read: Castle!) in Millau. Can't wait!
Also coming up: a trip to Barcelona the weekend after Peter leaves and to Agadir, Morocco in June.
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