Will you have your photo taken for a French magazine Edward? My friend Claire asked around the time the world cup was getting started. Adidas were arranging some photo shoots of kiwis for some French magazines. They wanted to do a story on All Blacks supporters in France WHEN the All Blacks made it to the semi finals. To get the full picture you first have to understand how much respect the French have for the All Blacks, and how much they LOVE the haka!

I’d won a couple of haka competitions in Parisian pubs as part of the France NZ Association’s welcome for the world cup crowds. The NZ Herald came to one event, then Sky Sport and finally TV3. But it didn’t stop there… Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, so I’m still here! It’s been a month and I’ve been busy enjoying life and trying to make it as action packed as possible. So busy infact, that I haven’t been writing! As it turns out living la chouette vie is more important than writing about it!

London (Londres). Let me start by saying how fantastic it was to see Jesse and Helen (my brother and sister who live in London), and my friends Renata, Sharne and Malcolm again, that was TOPS! Initially though, I wanted to go back to Paris…. Read the rest of this entry »

He mauls his way across the field throwing long hair and beard in the air. He’s known for breaking an All Blacks jaw with a gumby tackle, the neanderthal of modern rugby, straight out of the cave, ladies and gentlemen this is “Sebastien Chabal” from the French rugby team.

If you haven’t seen the latest video clip of him, watch it now. “We are in France, We speak French” well ‘here here’ but maaaaate, lighten up! Ah well, he’s certainly providing entertainment for our office… Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a slightly overcast evening in Paris, I’ve just returned from a run through Parc de la Villette. The orange sun was melting away as I ran through the long row of trees which cut through the park. Beating down the pavement listening to the sound of African drumming which always fills the air on weekends, in that Park anyway.

(Some of my friends in Paris) C’est une chouette vie à Paris!

I’ve been living in this amazing city for just over four months now so I thought it was about time I put a stake in the ground and write a bit of a round up. Paris is a wonderful place to me, a gift infact. But not one that has come without a few knocks and effort but you’ve always got to look on the bright side. I remember the moment when I decided to quit my job and buy a one way ticket to Paris… Read the rest of this entry »

I woke today to a public holiday, every day is good in Paris, work or no work – that’s how life should be everywhere! I read a little, a colllection of French stories called “Le petit Nicolas” (c’est très bien!) and then I ran out into the world.

In République I saw a bill board advertising the sports drink ‘Powerade’. The writing was in French, and translated into English it roughly reads “Powerade contributes to the strength of the All Blacks”. So…lets look at that for a moment. A bill board written in French, in Paris…you would think they’d be backing the French team. But NO!… Read the rest of this entry »

Drinking a glass of 1664 or Fosters just doesn’t match up to some of the fantastic beers Belgium has to offer. I set my self a goal of trying 20 of them but I only made it to 12. They’re super tasty but really kick you in the head. After drinking the first one I felt like I’d just had a giant margarita at an American Mexican restaurant!

I caught the TGV from Gare du Nord to Brussells. It was fast and painless, better than flying. My friend David met me at Brussells-midi, a few taps on the GPS and we were off to drop my bags off. I’ve known David for about eight years over the internet but this was the first time we’d met IRL (In Real Life)… Read the rest of this entry »

In a previous blog entry I said that for me it’s 70% about the people you’re with and 30% about the place. Well, when Paris is that place and you’re here with the right people then you’ve got a very very good combination!

(Xavier/France and Phil/Birmingham UK)

I’m at peace with Paris and am getting out and about more and more on foot. “It’s intoxicating” as my friend Phil from Birmingham said yesterday as we walked through the 2e/9e arrondissements… Read the rest of this entry »

The Sunday before last brought some events which swung my heart around like a cabbage in a tea towel. The bar I work at was robbed twice in one day but the second time around I caught them red handed…(Je suis ici mais très occupé maintenant, il y a un nouveau post de lachouettevie viens cette semaine!)

(Poppy in the middle of negotiation with the flower man, usually daily)

My workmate Hannah had stocked up the downstairs bar in the morning and just after 1pm she came to me and said “someone’s stolen 20 bottles of Carlsberg out of the fridge downstairs”. Sure enough, the grog was gone. We both remembered seeing some dodgy buggers hanging around having a drink earlier in the day – it must have been them!!… Read the rest of this entry »

I have a love hate relationship with Paris. Though maybe those words are too strong. It’s sort of what I imagine a drug addiction would be like, I can’t get enough of it yet it’s too much at the same time. Amoungst the clutter,the fast lanes and the slow lanes, tiredness and haze – this city is feeding me and I’m happy here.

(Jan playing on Fête de la Musique)

This is the first city I’ve lived in which is moving faster than I am! The amount of opportunities are endless! Rushing to work et ensuite par échange leçon de français, My brain overflowing with information sometimes sentences in English come out with a few French words thrown in, I think it’s normal for Parisian new commers learning French… Read the rest of this entry »

Aujourd’hui à Paris c’était bien. J’ai fait le mengage ce matin ensuite je me suis promener dans le Parc de la Villette faison du jogging. Après je vais faire la chouette vie, ensuite je vais aller au Franprix et acheter du parmesan pour mon dînes, je vais aller preparer de bon pates.

(The MK2 Cinéma in Jaurès and some Parisian artwork)

Eventually I’m going to make la chouette vie bilingual but for now the French readers will get short snippets of French which will grow in complexity as my knowledge does!

I resigned from my English teaching job as it was getting in the way of my French education… Read the rest of this entry »