Easter in NY!

For Easter weekend, my Maman came up to DC and we took the bus to NY. The bus was much more luxurious and efficient than the greyhound in SC - and cheaper too! First I got to see my Maman relive her 20s with a friend she hadn't seen since she was in them. We also spent lots of time hanging out with my cousin who's doing an internship in NY. It's rare to have family from France on this side of the Atlantic so I really savored the moments. Fortunately he'll be here for a while still. We also had Easter brunch with a friend my mom made in Guatemala. We were both charmed by the city (as usual).

Maman & Anne - It was amazing to see how much happened in both of their lives since the last time they'd seen each other.

August: Osage County - an amazing play we went to see on Broadway

Paul & Maman in Times Square

Central Park

Maman at the MET

On display at the MET - Derek, this is why I'm scared about learning to scuba dive... my head is definitely smaller than that mouth!

This was much less scary!

St. Patrick's cathedral

Break dancers. These guys were incredible!

We didn't go ice skating here because right next door was a Brookstone where we could get our legs massaged for free!

Maman's friend Anna who she met in Guatemala

Bubble tea in Chinatown! I love this stuff.

Random stuff in Chinatown I don't think I'd love nearly as much as bubble tea.

The statue of liberty

Paul, me, and Maman in front of the Brooklyn bridge

The inside of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in DC. We saw a great exhibit of Paula Rego's works here that I highly recommend.

Maryland!

Aside from playing soccer on Saturday morning I spent most of last weekend with Sohail's family. Saturday was their 33rd wedding anniversary so we went out for an amazing dinner at a Persian restaurant to celebrate. I had fesanjoon (stew made with walnuts and pomegranate sauce). Then on Sunday they had a big brunch at their house and lots of family stopped by. Here are the pictures:

Sohail's sister was in town with her roommate and his cousin
Azalea and her husband came for brunch. Look at the spread!

Azalea got Sohail's parents and her parents these birds for Christmas and the yellow bird (Charlie) came to brunch as well so he could hang out with the gray one (Dudee). They were really funny together - fairly distrusting at first and then Dudee started chasing Charlie around.

Sometimes they perched on people's shoulders or even heads...

People enjoying breakfast

More spring break excitment

Here are some pictures of the last weekend of spring break that I spent with some of my closest friends from USC in Athens, Georgia. Why Georgia? Because Shirin's only two months away from having a "mini-me" so we all got together for her baby shower. Although the conversation of giving birth has deterred me for even thinking about getting pregnant for a few more decades, I hope someone else will do so soon so we can have a good excuse for another reunion.

Back in DC it was hard to get back into the swing of school.... so I didn't... yet... I'll have to do that soon but I've been having a great time catching up with friends from here who I didn't see in more than 7 days and my internship has been really fascinating. The other great thing is that the cherry blossoms are starting to bloom which means spring is finally here!

My dad graciously agreed to take me to the greyhound station where I started my trip to Athens and where we did some of the best people watching ever. Fortunately I only took the bus to Columbia, SC which took almost twice what it takes in a car but I wasn't bored for a second!

In Columbia with Sarah

I also got to see Sarah's boyfriend, Barney and Walker, another friend from USC

Shirin & Cyrus on their (possibly) first hike together by a really nice river near Shirin's house.

The baby shower girls (minus Shirin who took the picture)

Beth and Sarah's creations made from play dough actually intended for Cyrus... I'm not sure if stealing from unborn children is legal but I do some research and keep you posted.

Anahita and Sarah (and Gabriel in the background) at dinner Saturday.

Spring Break.... still!

Here's the continuation of what I've been up to over spring break. Aside from what's in the pictures I've been spending lots of time with family and friends and as much time as possible in the sun. I may have even gone from having skin as white as snow to skin as tan as milk! At least I wasn't cold...

On a walk at Charlestowne Landing with Maman and Max. I love the spanish moss and live oaks that are all over Charleston.

A peacock at Magnolia Plantation where I went with Joanne and Melissa.

Melissa feeding a goat. When my Bonne Maman came from France we went here and one of the goats ate her flowered skirt!!!

Another peacock - beautiful!
Me with bambi. The deer were really shy but they got less and less shy the more grain I had to feed them.
Joanne and Melissa at the plantation.

Yesterday I spend the day with my friend Terri and her daughter Emily who were in town for one last visit before they move to Hawaii.

Emily wasn't so sure abuot the water... but we thought it was funny when she put her hand in.

Lunch with Betsy, Terri, and Emily.

In Charleston with Alicia

Hello! I'm in Charleston for the last spring break of my life... until I decide it's time for more school. My friend Alicia also drove down from DC for the weekend to discover Charleston after hearing about it for the last 4 years from me. Luckily the weather was beautiful yesterday so we were able to go sailing in a race and then visit most of the city afterwards. Here's what we saw and did:

At the College of Charleston

There was a food and wine festival on Marion Square and as we walked through after it had ended a men blessed us with southern hospitality and called us over to help him finish off a bottle. He then told us stories about Charleston and it's heroes (John C. Calhoun, Francis Marion (aka the Swamp Fox), how "we" beat the Brits in the Revolutionary war, and how "we" won some battles in the civil war...). It was a great way for Alicia to discover the pride Charlestoneons have in their city and perfect timing for our (first) aperitif!
A bunch of salt and pepper shakers we saw at the southern restaurant where we had dinner. Benjamin, this picture is for you!

Yes, that is a Clemson spinnaker in the water ---- typical!

Maman on the main sail

Alicia at the helm!

Maman and Alicia at the Charleston market.

This is probably the only moment we weren't laughing!