That’s right … a Reyes in Paris … look out!
So, I’ve been bad at posting lately, but things have been busy y’all! Shortly after our return from Hawai’i (not complaining) I was enrolled in a “mini MBA” class through IBM. This 3-day class was taught by a Columbia (the NY university, not the country) professor to a group of communications professionals. While I wouldn’t dare say we successfully crammed an MBA into a 3-day class, I would say it was a fantastic refresher to my undergraduate degree (and also unfortunately a reminder of how much of my B.B.A. I’m no longer using / remembering … but I digress).
The week prior, Bevin, my manager, asked me what I was doing the following weekend. Having no fixed plans she asked if I would present in her stead at an upcoming 2-day workshop … in Germany (Stuttgart to be precise). And to learn *what* I am to present in her absence, I should shadow her at the previous 2-day workshop … in Paris.
Phew … I had to think about that one… for about 2 seconds! So now I find myself in Paris, no real clue about what I’ll be presenting to this group of Europeans on Thursday, but surrounded by amazing things in the process. What an experience… loving it!!
So, now that you know where I am in the world, let me start with some observances:
1. I have been meaning to blog about “Oh THAT’s where that word / phrase comes from!!” … I have a LOT of these moments (admittedly many more than I should), so let’s start there.
THAT’s where that phrase comes from!
1. (Realized aboard Air France, enroute from NYC to Paris) … the flight attendants had their hair in twists and buns… FRENCH twists and FRENCH buns. Oui.
2. My hotel room has beautiful doors in them … FRENCH doors (who know THAT architectural detail started in France?!)
3. It’s hot here. Really hot. And sweaty. What does one do when you don’t have time for a rinse off before dinner? Why … you squirt a little perfume. A french shower anyone? 
… ok, that last one was a stretch, probably more of those to come.
Observance #2 … the cost of the Euro
One word “Dang.” A sign hanging in our hotel reports … USD$0.53 Yep — that means that for every dollar, I get 0.50Euro … or in other words, 100 Euro costs me almost $200 … or in other words, prices are CRAZY EXPENSIVE… like a 1 for 2 sale (buy 1, pay for 2 … what’s the fun in that!?) … so don’t expect souveniers!
… Enough of that, what have we done so far?
Day 1, Saturday: we flew out Friday afternoon and arrived Saturday morning so we could finish planning the sessions and catch up on sleep to orient before the session. Saturday was a shower + nap, a little walking tour of Paris, and a return for a local’s tour and dinner with Bevin’s friends — 1 Parisian and 1 NYer who lives in Paris half the year. We toured an area of Paris that reminded us of The Village in NYC. It was also the 1 day out of the year when all of Paris has a music festival. Major parks are set up with free concerts, busquing is allowed anywhere and is done everywhere, and smaller groups play on squares and plazas in front of churches and parks. The city was a-buzz with locals, coaxed out to mix with the tourists on this special night of night. For us, this meant a city alive, and also meant we better have a dinner reservation .. which we did! Thanks Bevin’s friends (Allan and Rudolpho)!!
Day 2: The rest of the attache arrived. We started with breakfast au sidewalk and then sauntered over to the Siene for a tour down the river. Sights included the Eiffel tower, the Notre Dame, the Louvre, the musée Orsay, and a bunch of other beautiful sights and sounds and smells. Day 2 hasn’t ended yet. This afternoon, we plan and dine before tomorrow’s day 1 of the workshop.
Wish us well! Photos coming soon (once I get back home and can upload them).
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