Soon...

Grad school, here I come!

I forgot that I began my on-line application back in March, so most of it was already completed. This afternoon all I had to do was write up a personal statement and notify three professors of the address to send letters of rec. Seeing as how I have all day to do absolutely nothing, that took a whole 10 minutes for me to finish.

This might be bad, but I didn't really spend too much time on the personal statement. I just detailed how I've already been accepted to a position on campus and told them about my really high GPA and 50+ page honors thesis in a grad-level class.

Even though this is only a formality, I still want to do it right!

Now all I have to do is wait to take the GRE and I figured the best time to do so would be before I get super busy with school and work. So I have exactly two months with nothing to do but study for that bad boy. Come June, I'll be GRE tested and ready for grad school in August!

Exciting :) and kind of a little nerve-wracking to think I'm going back to school after a year-and-a-half off!

I CALLED IT!!

I know I'm not socially accepted for my psychic abilities or anything -- yet.

But I hate to say, "I told you so." You know what, I don't. I'm going to gloat and gloat until Barry Zito comes home on this one.

That's right, back in December of 2006 I said that the Giants were spending WAY too much on Barry Zito for a seven year $126 million contract. "$126 million?!" I said, "That's way too much over way too long a period of time for a player like Zito." Don't get me wrong, I think he's a decent pitcher, but there's NO WAY he should ever be a team's single ace. Ideally what the Giants should have done was use him to compliment two other, better pitchers. Zito is a fine second- or third-day starter.

But he ain't no Cy Young. This isn't 2002 anymore. He's too inconsistent.

Case in point: Year No. 2 into the deal and Zito's still struggling. In the early season, he's already 0-6. 0-6!! And Giants fans -- those sweet and loving people -- keep booing him every time he turns in a poor performance.

Hmmm, you welcome Barry Bonds with open arms, but you boo a struggling Barry Zito? That's logical.

There's talk of demoting him to the bullpen, or even worse: the Triple A minor league team in Fresno. But Zito should remember that team well, hell, they beat him 4-3 in an exhibition game last month.

Look, I'm not here to rag on Barry Zito. All I'm saying is that maybe he's doing so poorly because he's out of his comfort zone. All that money's getting to his head.

...Come back home to Oakland, ZITO!!!

BAD ZITO:
(Notice which team that runner scoring off him is from...)

Which leads nicely into...
GOOD ZITO:

Trop chaud

It's 95 degrees and I'm too hot to do any sort of cardio exercises.

Suggestions, anyone?!

(As far as unproductive thinking goes, ice cream sounds amazing right now... so maybe I'll spring for an iced tea instead.)

Life update!

For those of you who are interested:

I got the job! AND I get to stay in NorCal!

Which means I will be going back to get my Master's in Sports Management, while simultaneously working for these guys:


I officially start in August, but I'm going to the baseball game on Tuesday to meet some future co-workers and hang out with Meghan :-)

Green, schmeen.

Alright, I get that it's "Earth Week" and that I live in the Bay Area and Earth Day was a huge deal.

But have I really been out of the country THAT long?!

What is the deal with everything being Green these days? I'm totally about saving the environment and conserving, but this is going butt-crazy overboard. Like, ridiculously.

For example, my mom and I were watching t.v. and during a five-commercial-in-a-row stretch, I probably heard the word "green" about 36 times! Anything ranging from the HGTV "Green House Give-Away" to Sun Chips being made "a little greener with natural solar energy" and of course Macy's "Turn Over a New Leaf" event, which for a mere $3.99, you can buy your own tote bag made completely from recycled fibers and "shop a little greener."

Ok, fine, save the environment. That's good. Just don't brag about how green you are when you're driving to the grocery store with your hemp bag in your frickin' Hummer!

...Vent over. This was one "trend" I did not miss while living abroad.

Let's Go, OAKLAND!

First baseball game of the year, and boy did I miss it!

After the fourth inning, the A's were already up by the final score 11-2. But that's not what's exciting. I guess the A's signed FRANK THOMAS back to be the DH this morning so he made his 2008 debut in today's game!

The best part? He got to keep his old number and ghetto walk-up music.

And he actually ran two bases in one play! Slowest player, ALIVE! So it was a good day :)

...If only Nick Swisher had stayed on board to give the other half of the former A's clubhouse dynamic that's still sort of missing.

I went to France and all I got was 10 lbs. heavier...

I think the headline pretty much sums it up.

Most of my clothes still fit me (but hello, who doesn't love an extra excuse to buy more things?). That's not necessarily my problem. It's more of a mental thing -- I want to be back to my pre-France weight. I don't care that I lost a whole bunch in August because I had to end a long relationship, I want to be 120ish again!

So I've been trying to stick with the South Beach Diet. Phase 1 is pretty intense, but last time I was able to do it, I lost around 15 lbs. Though I did that back in 2006 because my doctor recommended I totally cut out starches/sugars in order to lower both my triglycerides/blood sugar levels and cholesterol.

Needless to say, if I've gained weight, those numbers are probably out of whack again.

Anyways, I'm noticing a little change on the scale already. I feel better about cravings. Before I used to have multiple "sweet treats" every day, and now I'm limiting myself to one-to-none of a no sugar-added treat. It's a little hard to say no, but I remind myself about a.) my weight gain and b.) my messed up numbers.

Also, it's important to exercise. I used to walk 30+ minutes a day in France, so I'm trying to walk instead of drive everywhere. Not only that but I had regular daily gym attendance. Since I'm jobless for the moment, I will not join a gym, so I need to start using what I have. When the weather gets warmer -- which it should this weekend! -- I fully intend on taking my bike out for hours on the Iron Horse Trail behind our house that runs through at least six cities. Today I rode for about 40 minutes down to San Ramon and back, a good starting point. Also, I broke out the jump rope again. And it's very likely that I will be joining a co-ed softball team -- finally! Good times.

Goal: To be in really good shape (and also weigh less) by the end of the summer!

J'adore Dior

Generally, I'm not one to spend a lot of money on nice things. Well, unless they're absolutely imperative. For example, after working with the AVP in the sun all last summer, I realized pretty quickly that I needed to invest in some nice UV-ray-blocking sunglasses. Other than that, name brands and expensive items do not interest me.

...Until yesterday.

During my last day in Antibes, I decided that after seven months of walking past the Marrionaud perfumerie day-in and day-out, I'd go inside and take a little peek.


Well, let me insert here that the last time I saw a perfume I liked I looked it up on eBay and bought it for a really decent price. F buying perfume at full-value in expensive shops!

So back to Marrionaud. I noticed this Diesel Fuel for Life Femme, and was immediately attracted to it because the ads all over the place display total d-bag models! I figure, if you're going to be this ridiculous, at least smell decent. And the bottle's casing sort of insinuates bondage.... excellent.


Actually, it smells REALLY GOOD and it was the cheapest perfume in the shop! We're talking Monique-can-afford-this-junk cheap. So since I'd been paid my last month and already had rent taken care of, I allowed myself to indulge in a gift from Europe... to myself.

This isn't my expensive taste worthy of posting though. When I purchased the perfume, the cashier threw in a whole bunch of sample perfumes and expensive products. One of the mysterious tubes clearly has the name, "Dior" marked in huge, ostentatious letters. Long story short I tried it yesterday and it's the MOST AMAZING face wash I've ever used in my entire life. My skin feels so clean and soft and smooth...

No. I can't. I will NOT spend over $40 for a tiny little tube of face wash. Even if it's highly addictive...

And in other news: I have a second interview! It's tomorrow afternoon. So by Friday I'll know whether or not I have another job in sports!

Fantasy?!

It was only a matter of time.

My fantasy baseball team is up 4.5 points in my league and I am no longer the worst team! ...Just the third-to last, so there's still room for improvement. Come on Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki!

And I'll always come back

I believe it's safe to say the book of "Monique's Misadventures in Europe" is finally finished. My story is written and I am now comfortably back home in California.

But let's reflect back, shall we? But before I get into it, I'm really glad I got to experience this entire situation, living and teaching abroad, because I learned a whole lot about myself. And on a much higher level than just moving away from home for the first time and going to college type of education. All I can say, is that it's good to be back.

I'm going to take the easy way out and say that my trip ended just about as horrendously and in the same by-the-seat-of-my-pants fashion with which it began.

Remember my first terrible encounter with French bureaucracy? As in, getting turned away three times from the French consulate in San Francisco before finally getting my visa and deciding on the spot, at the end of August, that I would be moving to France for supposedly the next nine months of my life?

Then when I finally did pack up my life and leave -- isn't this funny -- I came down with some really strange 24-hour stomach flu, slash nerves vomiting spell. On an international flight, in what is my opinion the worst airport in the entire world: Heathrow in London.

Then I had to deal with endless strikes day-in and day-out. Especially the first day on the job: Welcome to France! I was new, confused, and totally foreign to the city. That was a nice introduction to my life abroad.

My next hurdle came when the government said we all had to have a bank account open before October 10th if we wanted to receive our paychecks. That sounds reasonable, but opening a bank account in France is like... I really can't think of any good analogy because it was one of the worst things I've ever experienced. You need document X to open up an account. But you cannot get document X from the government until you have a statement from a bank. I'm amazed at how anyone ever gets anything done in that country...

Luckily I was on top of my stuff and got it done on time.

Since we're on the topic of impossible French bureaucracy and documents, I also had similar issues with my long-stay work permit, insurance, housing, and... other things that have currently slipped my mind. I guess they really left a lasting impression on me, even though at the time it seemed to be the end of the world ;)

Another disaster on the scale of misadventures in France came with my entire roommate situation. Nevermind she lied about her age and not smoking the day I met her. Nevermind she started making me pay for more than my half of the rent, when she was using the same amount, if not more of the utilities and water than I was. But when she stopped cleaning and then got mad at me for one day not doing her week's worth of dishes and when she threatened to kick me out for having guests from California over, even though she said two months in advance that it was cool for them to crash with us... the rollercoaster of love-hate between us came to an abrupt halt.

Nine months became seven because frankly, I don't need to be thousands of miles away from my friends and family and unhappy.

So now here I am, on my last day in Europe.

And what should happen?

More of the same old garbage. My two hour layover in Cincinnati became six. And I was doing all I could to keep my eyes open in the terminal. At least I got a free meal voucher out of it.

And at least I'm home safe! After having picked up so much more French, realizing that I can survive in any city in the world, completely on my own, without my parents' help. After working a career-type job, and for the first time not asking for anyone to pay my rent/insurance/tuition or any other expense that comes with being a dependent.

I went to France, I traveled the world, and I lived to tell about it! And that is worth every souci (worry, in English) I've wasted on my life over the past seven months.

P.S. I bought the A's shirt and shoes, since *drumroll* I got my CAF money for half my rent YESTERDAY!!! That means after being in France for seven months, I've broken even. No more debt for me... that is, until I find a job. And P.P.S., my fantasy baseball team is complete GARBAGE!

C'est parti

After stressing for the past two weeks about how I'm going to get everything home, my mom and I double-teamed EVERYTHING into four massive bags this afternoon.

So my life over the past seven months lies in bags by the front door of my dad's French apartment, waiting patiently to return to American soil.

That means today is my last official day in France, until.... I don't know when. Maybe never? After seven different trips here throughout my life, I've since made a vow not to visit the same place twice anymore.

I've become infected with this whole "travel" thing and I want to see the world! My tally is somewhere near 10 different countries, too many cities to name, and I think close to 30 U.S. states.

I've digressed. This is my last day in France, because at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning, I'm in a car headed for the Geneva airport in Switzerland. My flight leaves near 7 a.m. to Paris CDG, where I'll have a three-hour layover. Then I board a flight to Cincinnati, OH where I'll wait a few more hours before arriving at the San Francisco International Airport near 7 p.m. PST. Then I collect my two bags, hop on a BART train and make my way towards the Lafayette station where my mom will pick me up. Twenty more minutes of my time will be spent in a car, heading back home.

And then I'm free and unemployed again. Exciting. I think I'll spend about an hour excitedly unpacking before crashing and passing out.

Hopefully I'll be able to convince the people at Air France to let me go on standby with my mom's flight. It's better than mine because her flight leaves Geneva at the same time towards Paris with only one hour of layover time before heading nonstop to SFO, where the plane arrives near noon. That would save me seven full hours of sitting time.

Fingers crossed!

Adieu France. It's been an interesting seven months!

Two things I really want:

This shirt

...and these flip-flops!!

I might just have to buy them, seeing as how I'll be feeling pretty rich coming to America with all my Euros. The Dollar's almost a joke now, huh?!

(Just kidding, I really don't have any Euros saved up.)

Oh and I also kind of want to know what job I'm going to take when I get back... Aren't ambiguous futures exciting?! (Read: source of high blood pressure?) At least I got in all my traveling now, while I can't afford anything else ;) Annnnnd, I most likely will be attending an A's game this weekend!!! Who would have ever guessed that they'd lose their top two pitchers and gold glove third baseman immediately after opening week?! (Hint, the same thing happened LAST YEAR!) Well in any case, I NEVER would have guessed that this little rebuilding team would be in first place after two weeks into the season. Alas, there are still 120+ games to go this year...

California, here I come in TWO DAYS!

Curse of the Bambino?!

This is why I think Yankees and Red Sox fans are ridiculously stupid. And in the words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."

...Total waste of money/time. (If you're interested, here's a funny opinion piece on the fiasco.)

Three days left

Until I'm living back at home!!!!

So as a last reminder of how much fun I've been having here in Europe over the past seven months, here's the link to my Spring Break through France, Germany and Spain!

I'm posting some of my favorite pictures in case you're too lazy to check it out.

California, here I come on FRIDAY!!

La Ciotat, FRANCE

Wine tasting in La Ciotat for the 23rd birthday!Munich, GERMANY: 1972 Olympic StadiumFC Nürnberg: My first European soccer game!
Barcelona, SPAINGaudí museum in Barcelona

¡Hola de España!

I know I´ve been a bit M.I.A. as of late, but that´s because I´m running all over Europe on "Spring Break." However, it´s not a break because I´ll be back home in the U.S. very, very soon.

And speaking of that, I have a job interview the Monday after I get back, so in eight days!!

Anyways, I can NOT believe how quickly eveyrthing´s happening right now. My trip to Germany has come and gone (sad) and can I just say that it was by far my best trip here?! I´ll post billions of pictures when I´m at my dad´s house back in Annecy.

Then on Friday I board a plane back to the good ol´USA. Can´t wait to return.

Until then, I´ve got a bit more time left of my trip in Barcelona, which definitely is as exciting as I thought it´d be... even if my Spanish is absolute garbage. The one nice thing, however, is that after studying French I can nearly understand everything spoken to me in Spanish. ¿Interesante, no?

One more interesting side note: I helped a group of people find directions in French today. They were lost and asked us a question in Spanish. My mom and I kind of shrugged and they walked away saying, "Tant pis." Well, then I continued, "Attendez, parlez-vous français?!" kind of in disbelief and then proceeded to help them locate the bus station on my dad´s tourist map. Kind of random and pretty funny that I´m speaking French in Spain.

Joyeux...

Anniversaire a moi!

You know, 23 sounds scary. But this is fitting because I'm kind of getting ready to start my real life now.

France is nearly behind me. I have a return flight, plenty of sky miles so I can travel more in the near future, aaaand my vacation begins tomorrow! Oh I almost forgot: I've moved out and have some of my security deposit... Beast.

Before my return in 12 days, I get to run around Europe! So perhaps I'll update pictures and stories in two weeks from the other (better) side of the Atlantic!

Hasta luego and auf weidershein. Hope that wasn't too butchered.

Life as a transient is gooood

Now as I enter the world of unemployment, I'm having the time of my life!

Here's a little bit of an idea of what's been going on lately:

Kat, Libby and I were able to hang out every day of their trip! We met up with a few Aussies and I honestly had my best week here, yet! We did all kinds of fun things like go to Monaco, Nice, Juan-les-Pins, ate out at restaurants I've never yet been to and hit up a few bars. Since the boys live downtown and had plenty of extra rooms, I finally got to experience the life of someone who lives downtown! Usually I never go out because I'm a good 45 minute walk from everything, which is a little sketchy to do alone in the middle of the night.

It's a bit ironic because now that I'm about to leave, I'm finally meeting people and doing all the fun things that I've been yearning to do the entire seven months here. But I'm not bitter about the experience at all! This is more like going out with a bang if you will.

And since I know people who work at the port, I've been hanging out down there more than usual. I cannot believe how many English-speaking people there are here! On Sunday night alone, I met at least 10 English people and had a blast!

Now I'm just killing a couple of minutes before I have to run my last errands here like go to the bank to see about closing my account from the U.S., drop off my library book, and then pick up my mom from the airport!

We're going to have dinner tonight with the host family who housed me in Nice two summers ago. And then we're going to have lots of fun girl-time until Friday when we meet up with my dad in La Ciotat.

Then Monday I go off on my international Spring Break! CAN'T WAIT!!!!

France, you've been so fun! But I think this chapter of my life is finally ready to be closed :) OH AND TODAY'S OAKLAND'S HOME OPENER!! I <3 Baseball!