The Universal Language.

I find myself in this continual dance between overwhelming joy and gratitude that I am able to spend 5 months in Paris, and frustration with the fact that I don?t know the language very well and am quite honestly clueless in this big city. I?m fighting with those pessimistic voices in my head that are frustrated with my inability to communicate effectively – most recently put to the test with the troubles I am having with my camera. Petty, I know.

Yesterday tested my limits. I took my camera in to get looked at and was told it needs to be repaired. I?m clueless as to where to begin on that. (That?s code for: I want my mommy!!). There may or may not have been a minor breakdown, which I?m embarrassed to admit since it was over a camera that I?m spoiled rotten to even possess at the moment. Be grateful Courtney, be grateful!!!

Anyway, I digress.

I pulled it together for a class visit to Museé Guimet (located at Place d?Iéna) , a new found favorite.

We only had about 45 minutes to explore so I?m anxious to go back.

I finally got to my first yoga class yesterday evening, and it couldn?t have been at a more perfect time. I headed over to Rasa Yoga to meet a new friend, a fellow yogini and food lover studying in Paris this semester, for a 6:30pm Ashtanga class. Sighhhh.

The class was all in French and while I understood most of what the teacher said, I found comfort in hearing the names of the poses in Sanskrit and knowing exactly what he was talking about. 90 minutes later I left refreshed and reenergized and so happy that I?ve found a little sanctuary in the city. The frustration from the day had melted away, and I felt a little lighter walking back home.

Oh, and a little comfort food doesn?t hurt either. Of course by comfort food I mean warm cooked veggies, sweet potato, and balsamic chicken?did you expect anything else!? I cooked up a little some-somethin? for lunch today. Really simple ? chicken marinated in olive oil and balsamic cooked with zucchini, red bell pepper and broccoli all from Marche d?Aligre. I also boiled some sweet potato too ? those are my favorite!

Much better.

Headed to class now, then to a cabaret! No more Negative Nancy here?off to enjoy this beautiful city and be grateful that I can.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.

                                                                                                                                              – Buddha