Today, for the first time since I arrived here two and a half weeks ago, I passed the day quite alone. (Willingly, I might add. I haven't alienated all of France quite yet. Hopefully.) Tripping into town on your lonesome is a feat quite easily accomplished in familiar surroundings, but as an unaccompanied, blatantly foreign female of relatively tender years, I'm quite proud to announce that I navigated the city without hiccups, accomplished my day's errands and got home safely, all without causing an international incident. All in a day's work for anybody but me, I know. But Rome wasn't built in a day; and neither, I suspect, was my ability to socialise here without mishap.
No venture into the city would be complete without a tiny, tiny wander up the high street, and I'm proud/ashamed (delete where applicable) to report that I lost the epic sartorial battle that's been raging in my head all week - namely, To Get or Not To Get the gorgeous grey leather jacket that's been teasing me in Zara for some time now. I'm comforting myself with the fact that it gets cold here at winter. Very cold. Maybe even with snow. And while I couldn't ever forgive myself for getting such a beautiful thing wet, it'll at least keep me warm on dry, crisp autumn mornings (if they have those here). I also bought a lovely red scarf with little white rabbits printed on it, just because it was the goddamn cutest thing I saw all day. There would be accompanying pictures of the aforementioned items if Zara's website was working correctly, but it isn't, so please take my word for it that they were both lovely and I'm going to wear them to death. I promise I'll stop after this. No more, until maybe Tuesday or something. Let that be the end of it now.
Being by myself for the first extended period of time since I've arrived in France (apart from when I'm asleep, but that doesn't really count as I dream of you ALL! Every night!) has really put me in mind of how much I miss everybody back home. I just wish I could enjoy this beautiful, beautiful city with everybody I love; tonight of all nights, as my good friend Elaine is celebrating her birthday, in fine style I hope. (Just because I'm not there doesn't mean class has to go out the window, guys. You're losing the run of yourselves completely, and don't think I haven't noticed.) All messing aside, I hope anyone reading this and attending the festivities has a wonderful night. Heck, have a great night anyway. Even if I don't know you. It's Friday, you deserve it as much as anyone else.
Although I miss everybody hugely, it's a nice thought that I'll be back at Halloween, which reminds me that I must go in search of a costume in the next week or so. The €2 shop on Rue Chaperonnière has been giving me the glad-eye for a few days, but I downright refuse to go the bin-bag and itchy, contorted plastic mask route. The French are probably too hip for Halloween, but they might surprise me. Part of me clings to a naive hope that they must acknowledge it in some little way, somewhere, at least for the children... although, upon further reflection, French bébés are ordinarily as well-dressed, composed and insouciant as their parents. So perhaps not. I may just have to leave it until I come back next month, they probably wouldn't know what it was if I asked them. Wouldn't want to go making a fool out of myself here willingly, after all, considering I manage it quite without effort at least fifty times a day.
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