Sunday, March 22, 2009

saturday night pierogis

Yesterday night, I was treated to a lovely surprise Ukranian dinner for a friend of mine (who is Ukranian-Canadian...try saying that ten times fast). It was hosted by a trio of her friends in the quartier of Brotteaux in the 6th arrondissement. I had never really been in that neighborhood before, but it is absolutely gorgeous. Someone told me that the buildings there date back to the 19th century (while those in my neighborhood are 18th century), and therefore resemble the Hausmann-Parisian style.

One of her friends is a Swede named Amy, who is in her third and final year of studies here in Lyon. Basically, she has lived the life I have always dreamed of -- traveling around France after graduating from high school, and then just staying here for four years. She works in a café in Vieux Lyon and speaks French beautifully.

If I had the courage, I would just pick up my life and move to France after graduation next year. Work in a café maybe, travel around, and eventually find my way back to school for a master's degree. But I know I'll never be gutsy enough to leave the warm comfort of an assured American future, which is one of the reasons why I decided to come here to begin with. On top of that, there are all the deficiencies of the French university system that I just don't think I'd be able to put myself through again. However, it's still not totally out of the question that I would move back to France one day -- because I get the feeling that this one year isn't going to be enough.

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