M's Final Week

So this is my roommate's last week before she returns to Germany. Today was our final "trip" together, as we went to the neighboring town of Lunéville to visit a fellow colleague. This photo was taken in the "Jardins des Bosquets" next to the Château de Lunéville.

And because I have been jumping on the fashion blogger-bandwagon (conformism--a dictator's dream!) by posting outfit pictures, I will show you these fabulously goofy pictures of me in my pretty new outfit.  

[shirt= H and M; skirt=Zara; Boots=Andre; Earrings=Pangaea in Nashville, TN; scarf=Urban Outfitters; leggings and white jacket=Forever 21]

But then I will steer back to my original topic: the end of our time in France as language assistants.  Yesterday, my roommate heard me blabbing about things that I have missed from the USA. They go as follows:

My roommate then responded, "I think we are spoiled that we can't even go one day without stores being open." "Good Point," I said, which then made me realize that's what I like about France--less stress, less working hours, more relaxation. Then she asked, "Well, what do you think you will miss about France?"  I will be better equipped to answer that question after I return to the USA and experience reverse culture shock. However, I will attempt to answer it ahead of time:

I just realized the above image is hard to read. I will clarify number 5: "Being 45 minutes away by train from 3 great cities" and number 7: "Being within two hours of 3 countries." HOT-DIGGIDY-DAWG! Ain't that great for a girl whose blog is titled "Passport Smiles" ? I can answer that for you and say, "HESS YESS! It has been wonderful living in France!"

P.S.= I realize that most of the things I like/miss can be summed up as people, food, drink and shopping. Yes, I really am that simple (nice way to say boring).

20 Favorite Arrested Development Episodes

Months ago, my little sister tickled me pink by requesting my top 20 favorite Arrested Development episodes. I couldn't have been happier if she had asked me for real life advice. Full of motivation, I immediately jumped on the project by re-watching each season, believing I could spit out a list within two days of her request. Yet, indecision stopped me in my tracks, as I realized choosing my favorite AD episodes was like choosing between your 53 children. I would chose and then erase, always unsure of my decision. I kept postponing the list of the top 20 until now. Without further ado, here you are lil' sis, dedicated to you, the top 20 AD episodes: 

FOUND! Cultural Comforts

FOUND! Les Soldes (the sales). RUN RUN! GET IT WHILE IT LAS


Dancing to "Reptillia" by The Strokes


FOUND! My own Cowboy...grâce à Anna for sending the gift for my bday. As she said, "Everyone needs a cowboy in their life"

--one leg grew faster than the other. But, apparently one of JFK's leg was 3/4 of an inch shorter that the other one as well. So don't worry Cowboy Cody, you can still go places in life.

--continuing on the topic of things intended for children:
FOUND! CANDY STAND in Le Grand Frais




FOUND! Missed Connections by Sophie Blackwall.


FOUND! A new TV show to watch on the internet.

Here's to the show Greek for making me regret the fact that I didn't join a sorority. Am I taking stupid pills again or something? As Elizabeth responded, "What?!?! Sarah, there's always something about you that doesn't make sense." BUT, I think it's an accurate depiction of college life in the US. In addition, Clark Duke's performance as a neo-conservative, southern-baptist is worth the watch.

Quote:
--"Since when did ambition become such a bad thing?"
--"I think in the 80's"

FOUND! Here's to Whip It! for making me miss the USA with a tear in the eye. It came to France and it's called Bliss.

And I went all the way to Nancy to see it by myself on Monday. Such a perfect day. Reasons why this movie was a delight:
1) set in Texas and truly depicts the small-town life
2) it's a Drew Barrymore film, whom I like ever since My Date with Drew
3) fellow Nashvillian Landon Pigg
4) Juliette Lewis and Marcia Gay Harden
5) good soundtrack
6) Alia Shawcat's debut since Arrested Development
7) Andrew Wilson who enters the film driving a convertible, top down, blasting the Wilson Phillips. Plus he wears cut-offs the entire time.
8) and of course, it's about badass chicks!


Okay...off to Paris. Gotta snooze before.

Surving France with a Melody

So we all know that Penny Lane quote from Almost Famous: "...And if you ever get lonely, you just go to the record store and visit all your friends."


We also know that everyone loves top ten lists and countdowns. Before it invented the biggest disgraces to the human race of reality shows, VH1 was saved from it's deathbed by countdowns.

We also know that Passport Smiles' iPod had amnesia just after arriving in France. And since she switched computers with her father before coming to France, her iTunes are also in the USA. So, with thanks to Urban Outfitters and Nylon's free mixes and some randomly acquired songs, I have come up with some train-ride playlists. Also, thanks to UO and Nylon, I am able to understand Pitchfork's top 50 albums of 2009 list. (http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7744-the-top-50-albums-of-2009). Gossip Girl also soundtracked quite a few of these songs.



So...without further ado, here is a list of my survival songs in France:

1) "The Tenure Itch" by the Pains of Being Pure at Heart

2) "Home" by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

3) "I Start to Run" by White Denim

4) "Fables" by the Dodos
5) "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M
6) "Is It Any Wonder?" by Keane
7) "Majestic" by Wax Fang
8) "Time Bomb" by the Old 97s
9) "Given to Fly" by Pearl Jam
10) "Another Saturday Night" by Sam Cooke

Tempus Fugit

Wow,

Passport Smiles has not blogged in almost 2 years, and she has had so much to blog about. She just got so overwhelmed...taking in so much with school, life, culture and actually fulfilling her blogger name. Yes, that's right. Passport Smiles went to Paris, and it was life changing. In 3 days she will return to Franceland and remain there for at least 7 months! She has also graduated college, however, without the pomp and circumstance. Maybe she will be more dedicated to her blog, maybe she won't. There's just so damn much to catch up on...so much fashion, music, books and movies, and good TV, oh the TV! Reading NYLON, W, and Vogue sure can get a girl overwhelmed on what to write about. It's all just so beautiful and interesting. These pictures above will try to catch up with some pictures of stuff Passport Smiles has loved these past few years.

Favorite Albums of 2007

My favorite Albums from 2007
1) Menomena: Friend or Foe
2) CSS: CSS
3) Wilco: Sky Blue Sky
4) Deerhoof: Friend Opportunity
5) Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam
6) Blonde Redhead: 23
7) The Shins: Wincing the Night Away
8) The National: The Boxer
9) Feist: The Reminder
10) The Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
11) Of Montreal: Are You the Destroyer?
12) Battles: Mirrored

Most expected to be added the List:
1) Radiohead
2) M.I.A
3) St. Vincent