Super-Duper Wacky n' Tacky Euro Adventure

Just like my entry over two weeks ago, I am writing this from a train just outside of Paris. This time, however, I’m heading back in: I am fresh off an Aeroflop flight from Sheremetevo to Charles de Gaulle and I’m now on the RER B heading into central Paris to catch a Metro that I very much hope is not down due to strikes. Although the 8 euro fare into town is nothing compared to the 50 usually charged by cabs, I can’t get out of my mind the 30 ruble ($1.10) Marshukta I took to the airport about 5 hours ago in a country very very different than the one I am currently in. Oh well, time to think about what is awaiting me is Paris in spring, a new group of Stanford kids, new classes and hopefully a new internship. Things are def looking good for this quarter.

The only thing that is really on my mind is exactly what was bothering me one year ago all through spring quarter sophomore year: the summer. I at least have this much planned out: I will be in Moscow. And that’s about where it stops. Haha. A half-assed, but at the same time valiant effort was made on my part during spring break to try and network and spread my resume around as much as possible. Unfortunately there exists a mantra – in Moscow much more than anywhere else – it’s not what you know but who you know. My most reliable man I have on the case is the director of the Stanford in Moscow program – himself Mr. Sasha Abashkin. We met for coffee last week for a good chat of his and my current situations. Looks like the Moscow program is going strong which is great news. I let him know that I need to be back in the city that stole my heart this summer. Sasha really is a well connected man, but I don’t expect him to find me anything so I have to keep searching as much as possible. Another contact I met while watching Rugby Euro cup in our favorite Irish bar – Silver’s. Richard Wallace is a very nice executive at Renaissance Capital which I later found out is Russia and the former CIS’ top banking firm. Wow. Again, nothing expected, but it would be really cool.

So the ol’ birthday is this Saturday and I have no idea what to do. I was already treated to an amazing birthday meal last night at a place called Margarita’s on Patriarchs Pond less than 30 meters from where a famous character took a misfortunate step in front of a trolly. The restaurant sat about 20 people total and included what we were sure was a trio sister-act of two violins and a piano entertaining the crowd. They played some real crowd pleasers and even handed out home-made shakers so that the international crowd (we heard 5 languages in the tiny place!) could play along with the act. That was def one of the best birthday presents I’ve received. Another would be the crisp Ireland rugby jersey I just received exactly one week after Ireland won the Triple Crown. Oh well, I’ll still wear it with as much pride as any American who pretends he is Irish.

Ok, had to take a quick break there to steal internet from some poor sap that lives too close to the train station. So yeah, the big 21 is going to be spent outside of the US. I think I would have been a lot more disappointed about this a couple years ago, but I’m kinda over it. A good birthday will be had without the mandatory blinding drunkenness that accompanies 21sts in the states.

So my train just pulled out the opposite way it went in ten minutes ago. I’m going to try and figure out where the hell I am going. Guess I’ll have to finish this later.

Ok, so about an hour after I finished that last sentence, I found myself back in the same train station on the edge of the Paris city limit. By that time I had learned: For one reason or another, all the RER B trains are not going farther than Gare de Nord, and are thus turning right back the other way; the station outside of Gare de Nord does not have any connecting metro stations; One must exit and enter (and buy a completely new ticket) that same metro-less station to get back to Gare de Nord; and only one out of three trains that normally head into town are running tonight due to the damn demonstrations! Needless to say, I’m not the happiest traveler right now, especially with the lazy Parisian workers who have sooo much job security they feel they can take a holiday whenever they like at the convenience of every traveler coming into Charles de Gaulle. Lovely.

Man, now I’m all bitter and shit again after having such a relaxing vacay. Maybe some nice sleep will help. Well, at least I don’t have any classes tomorrow!