Number one

From Life starts at one

This morning, as I drank my milk, my thoughts wandered. They wandered off to days past. To all the people that have adorned the road of life. I suppose it was normal to feel a little introspective, to take stock of my life. It was the morning of my first birthday.

From Life starts at one

You, dear blog reader, may not know what it's like to look back on the long road traveled, to contemplate whether I have lived my life to its fullest, to ask myself whether I have made the right choices and done the right thing.

From Life starts at one

Yeah, whatever. It's my birthday and I'm going to tear it up!

From Life starts at one

And tear it up we did. Well at least the apartment. I don't suppose it'll ever look the same again. I mean, this was like some American college party movie. I haven't quite picked my crowd yet so I invited a few of my sister's friends. Some real babes (you know what I mean, that is, really, babes, as in babies).

From Life starts at one

Tess, Gayathrie, Anna, Tess, Emma. I couldn't handle them on my own so I invited Nickil along for a little guy help. Oh yeah, and there were a couple of parents I suppose. But they didn't ruin the party. They helped serve.

From Life starts at one

The parents couldn't handle the high-fructose corn syrup so they sipped Champagne. We downed cake, Kinder chocolate, and apple juice like the swine flu was just around the corner.

From Life starts at one

Oink, oink dude, I'm one!

From Life starts at one

La Rentrée

From Summer's setting sun

France has two beginnings to the year. Like much of the world, a good part of the country wakes up on January 1st with a headache and a bunch of short-lived good intentions. This year, my resolution was to keep mama and papa from sleeping. I’ve pretty much kept that one up rock solid.

From Summer's setting sun

But the real New Year in France starts at the rentrée. No headaches or good intentions, just a lot of suntans and stories about summer vacation. Anyone who knows France knows that, here, the rentrée is the real beginning of the year, which lasts until the following summer.

From Summer's setting sun

The wind down to the summer was quite busy on the fourth floor of the rue Lecourbe, and at abuelita’s house. After the cherry jellies there were the mirabelles and then the wild blackberries. The terraces were still full of sun and people looking cool. I hung out by the pool and watched the Gongo practice his backstroke. Fancisco came back and then left again. My cousins came to visit from Rome. Sam and Robby cooked great things at the Chetif Moulin, and cousin Mathieu braved the thorns to pick three kilos of blackberries with papa.

From Summer's setting sun

I’m ready now to tell all my new friends at school about my glorious days on the beach. About my wonderful abuelita. About Franciscos’s visit and the wonderful jams that my papa made. I’m ready to tell them about how they better be nice to me or the Gongo will kick but and take names. I’m ready for my first red helium-filled balloon. Yep, it’s been a good summer.

The long road to a PhD

From Schoolhouse rock

Already at my age I've heard that a thousand mile journey starts with a single step (though in Europe the journey is about 1,600 kilometers). Today I took the first step in a journey that will last at least twenty years, longer if papa has his way.

From Schoolhouse rock

From Schoolhouse rock

Before you can defend your thesis, before taking your Master's oral exams, before the funny square graduation hat, before prepa or lycée or even before beating up some crummy kid in the playground, you have to have a first day at school - and today was my first day!

From Schoolhouse rock

Yesterday I went to see Bruno, my coiffeur. So this morning, sporting my new hairstyle and shoes (every girl looooves new shoes!), I walked mama and papa up the rue Lecourbe and took a right on the rue Blomet to my school.

From Schoolhouse rock

Okay, I was a little apprehensive at first; but soon I saw the nice Maitresse and all the colored pencils. This was the place for me. I quickly stole a little girl's chair (this is a survivor's world) and sat down in my new surroundings. A few tears (I had to make mama and papa feel loved) and then I was away.

From Schoolhouse rock

From Schoolhouse rock

A short hour-and-a-half later I saw mama and papa waiting for me among a flood of eager parents. I was a little embarrassed by the camera but at least now I can share these pictures with you.

From Schoolhouse rock

You know, I actually feel smarter after today's academic experience. It's all started now. Before I know it I'll be Dr. Inès Tejada!