Paris: Day 27

Today I didn't feel like going to class.

So...I didn't.

I slept in and unsuccessfully attempted to go to the catacombs. They're closed on Mondays. As are most museums.

That is, except The Louvre (notable for the Mona Lisa) and Pompidou (modern art known for having its piping on the exterior).

So to the Louvre I went. And I fought through the crowds to see a painting I really don't care for anyway (the Mona Lisa). Despite all the rumors, the rest of the museum was crowded, too. I guess when there are really only 2 museums open on Mondays, you really can't expect much else. I realized more and more than I should have taken Italian as I perused through the rooms. Of course, you have to choose in advance what you want to check out as far as era goes, you could never see it all in a day and I wasn't coming back for sure. I love Italian sculptures and paintings. Greek sculptures are awesome, too. I mean, the French are really only good for Impressionism and a few others. Even the city's most famous art piece is Italian (Italy has been fighting to get Mona back forever to no avail).

I love going alone. I felt bad for the families who clearly didn't want to be there, but were only there for dad, who was also miserable because he felt rushed. It was nice to walk around at my own pace and not talk to anyone. In fact, I didn't talk to anyone all day, except to ask to print something at CEA's office and tonight when I got home. I should have more days of silence. It feels good to just take things in: art, passing conversation, and just general scenery of life. Take it all in to my own soundtrack. Today was Washed Out's latest album as well as the soundtracks for The Italian Job (something I always listened to when I was doing art homework in high school, plus, hey, I'm in love with the Italians now) and Ocean's 11 (which made me really want to plot to steal art, but in that case I guess I should have been listening to Ocean's 12). From there I had lunch at the Carousel, basically an underground mall. Nothing notable, just Italian mall food.

After the Louvre I swung by the CEA office to print some things for school and to book my shuttle for Saturday to the airport. I can't believe it is almost time to go home. I feel like I am reverting back to my American ways quickly. Doing all these touristy things puts me in more contact with Americans than French, which in a way, makes me miss home and is making me a little less culturally accepting of the French right now. I don't want to speak anymore French or try a new French cafe. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm tired of trying new things right now. And that's one of my favorite things in life. I want to go do the touristy stuff and go home, just as if I were on vacation.

Close-minded, I know.

It was refreshing to get the Pompidou and see much more modern and thought provoking art. Sorry but I can only look at so many commissioned pieces of art that art just stupid portraits.

Pompidou is definitely my favorite museum so far, with its quirky layout that justly reflects the beautiful modern art it hosts. Including Duchamps' urinal. One of my personal favorites. They also play host to the Inside Out Project. Basically you get in a booth to take a picture of yourself to be printed on a poster with a dot on it. They want you to display it somewhere in the city. A neat idea, but honestly, had it not closed before I got there, I would have done it just to take home as a free souvenir, ha!

All that walking made me so very tired so I headed home to rest before eating some good ole American McDonald's. I'm reluctant to cook as of late because that's dishes I have to do before we leave. Psh.

I finished the Happiness Project today. I feel like it has already brought me so much happiness, or at least awareness to how great my life is and how much I need to just be true to me. One point that I read today that I loved was talking about giving positive reviews. I used to love to be critical of things because it made me feel smarter, and rightly so. You appear smarter if you have something critical to say about something. Yeah, and I also used to just read books or watch movies I didn't like, but said I did to seem like I liked the more educationally profound things in life, too.

Be true to Madison.

If I enjoyed something, I shouldn't be ashamed or look first to find flaw. She noted that you should always try and find something positive to say. She gives the example of a friend that passionately loves Barry Manilow. They went to a concert, and while she could have been critical and said something about how the graphics were poor or blah blah blah, she talked about how great his voice was live, even though she only went to the concert for her friend and didn't really care for him.

Had she made the negative comment, it would have invalidated her friend's happiness. I hate it when people put down my happiness and passions, why would I do the same?

I have a friend that absolutely loves working for Disney and simply loves theme parks in general, especially coasters. I get so tired of talking about working or listening to things going on at work or at other theme parks that sometimes I get short with him. But most of the time, I admire him for realizing his passions and engaging them to the fullest. No shame whatsoever. I wish I had that kind of courage.

And I should.

After finishing the book, the John Mayer song "No Such Thing" came to mind. There really isn't such thing as the real world after all. Go out and live your dreams and passions now. I am so excited about life and I truly believe in finding a career I will be crazy about once I decided to give up the addiction to something I didn't love after college. And seeing my friend live his dream is so inspiring.

I wouldn't want to be one of the negative people in my life that puts me down, but still draws on my positive energy. You can hardly stay afloat with people like that.

And my friends deserve better.