Home > April in Paris > Archives > 2008 > October > 22 > Entry
Better to Speak the Language, part 1
I arrived at Rue Saint Honore at 11 a.m. and lugged my fully packed suitcase with wheels (which did not help by the way) up five lovely flights of French steps to my French apartment. After accomplishing the mountain of steps with my suitcase and back pack, I tried not to suck in air like someone who had just been hit by a car.
I greeted the lovely French lady who was waiting to give me a tour of my new apartment. She gave me my key and proceeded to go over helpful information. Unfortunately, her kindness spoke exclusively in French, which I did not understand one word. She pointed at the dishwasher, washing machine, bedroom and bathroom. After I smiled and nodded a few times, she bid me “auvoir” (a kind farewell). How hard could it really be to operate a dishwasher in France? At this point, I probably would have been better off had she bid me bonne chance (or good luck)! I spent a little while unpacking as I opened the delightful windows to my apartment, listened to the beautiful French chatter on the street below and looked at every book, painting and pillow in my new apartment.
A few days after my arrival, I decided to wash my hair before I went to bed. Remembering I had used the rest of the shampoo from the hotel, I resorted to the offerings under the kitchen sink. I remember as a child, washing my hair once with Palmolive dishwashing soap, it couldn’t be that bad. I found a bottle that resembled Palmolive and ventured back to the bathroom. I hovered over the sink and quickly rinsed my dark brown hair. I began to lather the soap and put my head under the faucet. I watched as the crystal clear French water washed through my hair and suddenly turned to dark brown.
At first my mind shifted to the walking tour of the underground sewers in Paris, then I screamed out loud a sobering, “The water is DARK BROWN!”
As reality set in, I jerked my head from under the sink my hair still soapy and drenched with water. The water lines had not been crossed.
“Oh my gosh, my hair, the soap! What kind of French soap is this, is there bleach in it?” I asked myself stricken as I shook the bottle violently and zeroed in on the label with French words that I didn’t understand…
At first my mind shifted to the walking tour of the underground sewers in Paris, then I screamed out loud a sobering, “The water is DARK BROWN!”
As reality set in, I jerked my head from under the sink my hair still soapy and drenched with water. The water lines had not been crossed.
“Oh my gosh, my hair, the soap! What kind of French soap is this, is there bleach in it?” I asked myself stricken as I shook the bottle violently and zeroed in on the label with French words that I didn’t understand…
Comments
By Scott
October 22, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
Hey, hey you’re my hero, April! It seems like yesterday we were catching chickens and wrestling chicken snakes at mamaw and papaws in Bon Wier … you know, where everything is “fine”…:-)
Keep living your dream baby girl, and making it happen.
We miss you here in Texas, but don’t you come back til you are full. And if you never get full, then visit every once in a while.
Wish I was there with ya, and remember France is next on my vacation list. I hope the rent is cheap!
I will try to find Tina’s (moms cousins) address and phone number for you. She lives in Paris and is an interpreter… that may come in handy.
Anyway
I love ya… Scott
By Scott Hughes
October 22, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Hey baby girl… whew hoo! We are all so proud of you and all your accomplishments.
So, are you a natural Parisian blond now? LOL… have some fun while you are there.
Keep the light on for me.. Love ya, Cousin Scott
By Rhonda Suarez
October 23, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
April, Hey it is your big sis! Miss you so much. I wish I could come visit…. Hope all is well. I cant wait to here about everything.
Well, I am trying to convince mom and dad to go visit you …I hope they do..They need a trip to Paris!! Well, take care and have a great time. Love Rooney
By jennifer mccall
October 23, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Hi, my brave and wonderful friend! I am so proud of you following your heart. That can be the hardest thing to do! I love getting to hear about your adventures and I can picture you navigating those wonderful, interesting smelling streets of Paris. Love you very much…Jen
By Suzy Childers
October 23, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Better use bar soap next time! Now go out and buy yourself some beautiful French highlights and Parisian shampoo!
By Sam Tucker
October 23, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
Hey Girl! I love the fact that you thought there was bleach in the shampoo. I also love our plan to encrust French women Texas style “en croute avec beaucoup de sucre” CRUSTED WITH LOTS OF SUGAR!!! I love reading your blog. Send some more pics when you can. Love ya!
By Sarah Stevens
October 23, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Hi April, I am so glad you are getting this opportunity. Maybe you can share a few tips for those of us left behind trying to fill the huge void you created! Just yesterday I was thinking of you as I took an order for a Transformer “Bumble Bee” sculpted cake. What a challenge! Thanks for including me in your email list. Blessings, Sarah
By BillR
October 23, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Sorry about your hair… LOL ‘(
Glad you took the “Les Egouts Du Pari” tour. I remember recommending it to you when last I saw you before the dreaded TBC closing… hope you enjoyed it!
I found it quite interesting, particularly the fact that Napoleon had considered the building of the Paris sewer system to be the greatest thing ever done for the French people up until that time.
Well worth the cost of importing English Engineers from London to improve public health in Paris and avoid another “Black Plague”. Prior to building the sewer system, for centuries, Parisians had thrown their raw sewage out the windows of their apartments into the streets.
Looking forward to hearing (if you have time) about your visits to Paris museums; du Louvre, d’Orsay, Pompidou, etc.
Also, you live so close to le Arc de Triomphe (Charles de Gaul et’Tois, sp?), and the Eiffel Tower goes without saying, so I don’t need remind you of those…
But please do try to see; Tours et crypte archeologique de Notre Dame (underneath Notre Dame’s courtyard), Notre Dame, Conciergerie, Sainte Chapelle, Pantheon, Palace of Versailles, and…
…if you do nothing else, you absolultely MUST go to Sacre Coeur (aka. the Basilica of Sacred-Heart). The church is lovely, but you’re going there for the elevated view of downtown Paris.
Make sure to go late afternoon. At dusk you’ll see in person the “light” Artists have been painting for centuries (which I presumed invented until I saw it)… stay there through sunset. You won’t regret it!!!
By Claudia Lasiter
October 23, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Oh wow…this is funny, but I want to know what happened about your hair? How did you finally get it clean? Is there more I didn’t see? I can’t find the rest of the story. Beautiful place to live, I will say, even with dirty hair. This is as close as I’ll probably ever get to Europe, so keep the stories and pictures coming! Love you, Claudia
By TP
October 23, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
April, Oh how I miss you~I think and pray for you everyday:) I wish I was there with you! What a quaint little place you have there so very, very french~Keep the story coming I love it:)
By J'Nai
October 29, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Don’t you remember the old proverb from the wise Pan Tin Provi. “Never dip your head in the waters of clean French dishes.” Come on April, how could you forget that?!
By EthanBrook
December 16, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
The philosophy of one century