La fete!!!

So, I may have written about this before (but I'm too lazy to actually go back and check), but I was invited by my French friend Sophie (the girlfriend of the nephew of my host mom) to her 20th birthday party last night. And to give you a hint about how fun it was, the party started at 8pm, and I just got back home (at 1pm the next day)

Well, that's mostly because my host mom wanted me to sleep over so I wouldn't have to try to figure out transportation from the banlieu to Paris at 4 in the morning.

It was super fun. I wasn't sure what to get Sophie, so I ended up buying a beautiful bouquet for her at a local fleurist (is that even a word?). I got there early ish and started meeting all of her friends as they started arriving. Who for the most part (like 90%) were guys. Sophie goes to an engineering school, so that figures.

A note. I love to "faire les bises" (which is when two French people greet each other by kissing twice on the cheeks). I mean, everyone does it here, even when you are meeting for the first time. It's not uncommon at all to go in for one cheek and quickly throw in your name while heading over to the other one. It seems to make relationships so much easier. I mean, I feel pretty comfortable starting a conversation with someone that I've already been in that close contact with rather than someone I just kind of nodded to. The one problem I do have is that I never catch the names. So despite all the fun I had last night, I only know the names of Sophie, her boyfriend Nelson, and another girl who was there (Virginie). Well, and someone else, but I'll get to that later.

I was totally awkward and silent at first, but I started relaxing a little bit as my French comprehension level improved, and I talked with quite a few people. And yes, they had a pseudo karaoke machine set up (well, speakers, a computer with music, and a microphone) and yes I was pressured into performing a rendition of Toxic, but everyone seemed to enjoy me singing, if not my awkward dance moves.

Okay, now the important stuff. Sophie has a friend who is super beau. I mean, imagine French Jude Law. So of course my mind goes straight to "hmm the French future husband that I'm going to meet at this party?" and of course I'm terrified to talk to him and he seems a little reserved (confindent reserved, not nervous reserved). But eventually I join in a few conversations he's having with some people, and eventually it was just the two of us talking. Not like we're in love already, but two things 1) there was something about Ireland and living on a boat and 2) His family has a house near St. Malo. Anyways. It was fun. This morning over breakfast I asked Sophie what his name is and it's Julien (Julian?). But she didn't seem to think he was that cute. Different tastes I guess. On va voir ce qui va se passer.

I finally died about 4:30am and went to sleep in Sophie's sister's room. And this morning was totally awkward because I didn't want to be the last one awake. So I kept setting my alarm for half hour increments and then waiting to see if I heard anyone else up. Yeah, I know. I'm a total dork.

Long story short. French party officially a success. I hope that I continue to see Sophie after this (and possibly her friend...?)

Bisous
B