La belle vie

After a 3 week long roller-coaster, I've learned that big decisions in life, make all the little decisions hard to come by. Coming to Paris, or at least coming to Europe on exchange, became a dream thought over a year ago. Fortunately, it also came at a time when I was lucky enough to have people in my life that supported this dream. Once that "big decision" was made, that I was going to try and go on exchange, the little ones started to roll in, one by one.
Little decisions, I've learned, are really the decisions that make a bigger impact on your life than you ever expected. Did I think I was going to get into my #1 choice for exchange at HEC Paris? Did I know I'd be lucky enough to find an apartment in the middle of a gorgeous area with a great Parisian roommate? Did I have any idea that my company would actually be ok with me taking a LOA? Did I know that in the end, all these decisions were going to lead me to being in Paris this fall, and really starting over again?
My plans for coming to Europe started off a little differently than how they've ended up. I imagined moving here with a job in line, and a partner in hand. I ended up with a fantastic school and a chance to figure out what it is that I'm looking for out of my life - for work, for a lifestyle, in a relationship and in friends.
As my first 3 weeks of actually "living" in Paris, are coming to a close, I have been fortunate to make a lot of ground. I've met fabulous people. I've become acquainted with a new academic system and an actual business class in french. I've spent a full day trying to promote myself to companies in Europe, and gotten a good vibe from a few prospects. I've learned that sometimes, decisions have to made and timing is never ideal. It is hard to be far away from the ones closest to you and have to try and share emotions over a Skype call or email. At the end of each day though, I have to continue to remind myself that everything in life happens for a reason. The emotions need to be felt, things need to be said. Each experience, each day, each decision makes us a little bit stronger, a little bit more aware of ourselves and ultimately, will make our lives become just a little bit clearer... Although there are some days where I feel like I live in a bubble full of fog, I know that the stronger I am to push through it, the clearer the outside will be.
This post isn't really something I was going to share, but I felt I needed to write regardless. I want to thank my friends (and fam) for being the absolute best people ever. Without you, I wouldn't be the confident, assertive individual that I am today, and I probably wouldn't be in Paris, where I am truly in my element. Hopefully, fingers crossed, this experience will bring me one step closer to understanding exactly what I want out of life in the next few years (babysteps, right...). Miss you and love you all!

Beaches, bars and boys of Beirut and beyond

Paul

This posting has to begin with a tribute, to a Beirut boy (also a Montrealer and my bf's "little" brother), who has been persistent is asking me to mention him in my blog. Paul - this posting is in your honour.

After 11 days of Lebanon, and arriving back in Paris, to a world that feels a little more familiar to me, I want reflect on the sites and sounds of daily life (in the summer) for the young Lebanese. No where have I been, where so many people take the time to enjoy and "celebrate" life on a daily basis.

Upon arriving to Beirut, I expected to go to a family home, be forced to eat dinner for the 2nd time and to relax. Instead, I was immediately taken through a beautiful downtown, lit up by the lights of a mosque, rebuilt city walls, and headlights of BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rovers, Maseratis and Ferraris alike. This was the beginning of lots of sun, eating and drinking - the amount you would consume at an all-inclusive vacation, but the atmosphere continuously changing.

The bars I was fortunate enough to check out:

Main bar at SKYBAR

Night 1 - the bar on top of Virgin Megastore (I already forget what is called). Outdoor patio, with greenery surrounding the edges, and a bachelorette party of sorts, where the bride and groom both attended. I'm not really sure why everyone was calling it a bachelorette to be honest.
Night 2 - SkyBar - the happening place of Beirut that I already mentioned
Night 3 - Le Capital - another rooftop supper lounge - older crowd (25-40)
Night 4 - in a winery for a grande soiree
Night 5 - White - rooftop club that is "known" in Beirut and seems to be either loved or hated by locals. I was so tired the night I was there that I couldn't really form any opinion except for liking the bartenders' shirts

Night 6 - Dragonfly - a small bar on Gemmayze
Night 7 - out in Byblos and nearby restaurant on the sea
Night 8 - El Mandalou - my absolute favourite. It's built in an old movie theatre turned supper club. The clientele is "mature", aka the men are 50+, but the people watching scene is fabulous. I am 100% certain that 75% of the women at this club (aged 20-65, some of whom were undoubtedly escorts) had gone to the salon to get their hair done for their "night on the town"

Night 9 - Centrale - a resto with a bar on top, that is just west of Gemmayze...
I'm sure I missed a night in there, but that gives you a good idea of the numerous spots to go in Beirut.

In terms of beaches, we checked out many... and they are not really "beaches", but rather, beach clubs.
The posh ones include: La Riviera, Le Montagnou, La Plage, Eddi Sands and Orchid... and the not as posh one would be "Pierre and Friends". Note, that out of the 6 we went to, I consider 5 of them to be "posh". This is Lebanon.

Le Montagnou @ Faraya

Sands - just south of Byblos

Last, but obviously not least, are the boys of Beirut. In an effort to be politically correct, I will keep my words to a minimum. Older men, are not in great shape and not particularly charming... younger men aim to impress. They are dark haired, dark eyes, and generally well dressed. The few fair ones are hard to come by, and generally very unique in their physical appearance. Not all, of course, are as courtesy and polite as Paul, although I'm sure some would give him I good run for his money;) I think, however, I got off easy by not wandering off on my own. I was rarely accosted by the everyday "man on the street," which is surprising considering I look nothing like a Lebanese girl. Either that, or maybe it's the lack of plastic surgery and layers of make-up... yes, I did write that - oops! I give them credit though. The women in that country are BEAUTIFUL.