Jen smiles, sings, & shares.

I’m in my homestay room doing my paper when suddenly i hear this buzzing noise. I freak out ‘cause there’s this HUGE fly thingy that’s swarming my room and I see a lady bug crawling on top of my ceiling. They got in because of the window I opened ‘cause it’s so FREAKING hot and I didn’t know what to do.. I guess the fly was attracted to the light and fell on top of my lamp in the corner. Then I started to see something burning.. now it smells like bad burnt barbeque. I wanna open the window to let the smell out.. but I don’t want anymore bugs in my room. AND ITS FREAKING HOT. what a fricken dilemma.

I’ve been having a lot of HOMESICKNESS due to the fact my homestay family keeps to themselves. There’s a madame and a monsieur but they already have grand children. They don’t seem that old at all and there really isn’t a language barrier since the monsieur speaks English perfectly, it’s just that the demeanor is SO DIFFERENT between the French and American. The French are quite frank, and it could come off offensive to regular Americans. Being the sentimental/sensitive person that I am, it’s been hard.. they also have a country home they go to (i didn’t know about it until last night) so I’m home alone a lot in their huge duplex. It could get quite lonely.. I wish I brought my guitar .. I really should be writing more with all these thoughts lingering. But I’ve met wonderful friends: Ish, Megan, Alli, Priscilla, and Brian. Brian I actually knew at UCI but we definitely got closer in Paris. I know God sent them here to make France bearable and push me to the limits so that I can enjoy my time here. I feel really blessed to have met them.

p.s. yes, my title is a reference to Justin Bieber’s song. It takes me 30 minutes to get to school every morning because I have to walk to the metro station and then take the metro to school.. I’ve been listening to depressing music and decided to change it up to Justin Bieber. It’s strange how happy his songs make me. The music also helps me walk with a purpose hahahah. SO THANK YOU, JUSTIN BIEBER!

I would love to receive letters, postcards, packages while in Paris <3

I’d gladly return the favor by sending you love back.

I get homesick.. I truly do..

Jennifer Chung
c/o ACCENT
89, rue de Faubourg St. - Antoine
75011 Paris, France

- there is lightning but no rain

- i sleep with the window open

- my bed is still made ‘cause i sleep on top of the covers

- i sweat while i stand in the metro

- i sweat while i sit in class

- i sweat while i’m walking

- i sweat while sitting

That’s the weather forecast for now.. until next time <3

1) Shower

2) go over to the little China looking section and see if there is food there… you are sick of bread.

3) organize/unpack.

4) stop feeling lonely even if you are.

this morning i left my homestay at 8:30 am so that I could figure out my metro path to school by 10:00 am for orientation. I thought, ohhh it really only is supposed to take 20 minutes but I want some relaxation time so I’ll just be efficient… WELL I WAS RIGHT. I GOT LOST A BAZILLION TIMES AND I GOT THERE AT 10:15 AM! I was lost & bewildered. The most helpful people in France? the young little school girls. why? because i’m not scared that they’ll pick pocket me and they’re nice/innocent to give me, a lost american, the time of day.

LUCKILY i have survived it. I even helped a lot of my friends get around the metrostation and we went to the Eiffel Tower!

I am now the metro-queen.

Unfortunately because my station is about a 15-20 min walk from my homestay, I gotta leave earlier than the rest of the students from hanging out so I don’t stay out past 10PM. It’s still dangerous and I don’t want to take my chances… I feel envious of those who can stay out all night, but I find solace when I remember my real purpose of being here:

- learn to be much more independent
- be inspired to write more music
- open my eyes to see how God works in other countries

in Paris tonight.

But before I do, I’m opening up the bible and spending some time with God.
He’s so good to me.

So I did it. I actually pre-purchased on Fandango a ticket to the IMAX 3D midnight showing of TOY STORY 3.

Was it worth it?

Every penny.

It’s so interesting because when I was a kid, I didn’t really have toys that I played with. But I did grow up with Disney movies. Toy Story actually came out in 1995… I was 5 years old. 15 years later, Toy Story 3 arrives and I am a 20 year old college graduate. Can you believe it? In Toy Story 3, Andy’s toys are in a dilemma because Andy’s leaving for college… but in my reality, I have now graduated college. I FEEL SO OLD. But at the same time, I realize why Woody, Buzz, and the gang mean so much to me.. they grew up with me too.  They weren’t my physical toys, but they signify certain times in my life! They made me laugh, taught me the importance of friends, cherishing memories, embracing diversity (remember the whole Woody vs. Buzz Light Year Drama!?), & remembering your roots - just as a friend should. Yeah, I know, technically it was Disney and Pixar’s amazing creative staff that reinforced these things, but they made these toys real to me. Even if they existed in our imagination, the important thing to remember is that they exist.

The title song is so fitting… it’s like the movie sings to us to remind us that they’re our friends! aahah okay I sound ridiculous, but basically.. the movie came in full circle and it’s really sad to say goodbye. Luckily I can pop in a dvd anytime and just re-watch the movies and “spend some time” with my Toy Story friends.. but tonight it was definitely an experience, to say the least, being able to watch Toy Story 3 with people who wanted to be there ‘cause deep inside they knew how epic it would be.

And trust me, it was epic.

There were new toys that were introduced and I’ve already fallen in love with them too. It says a lot when we want to get to know characters more.. like I wish I could learn more about them somehow? Ugh the writers are geniuses. And I really appreciated the fact that the movie had a purpose. It was more than just wanting to squeeze out more money for being a sequel! It was the necessary chapter to the STORY of Toy Story!

Okay I’m sleeping now ‘cause I gotta wake up early to get fast passes for WORLD OF COLOR!

After you watch Toy Story 3, can you tell me what you think?

I feel like this.

except not cute.

but tired.

FINALS. FINALE. FINALLYYY PLEASE END. Let me pass…

besides a 30 minute nap, i suppose I’ve been up all night. my test = 8am

I’ve been getting a lot of questions on twitter and email about this so I thought I’d explain why!

The FAP organizers were kind enough to ask me to be a part of it this year and I was uber grateful but it’s pretty much because I’ll be getting back from Paris, France that night of August 7th :)

Perhaps one day I’ll get to be a part of FAP ‘cause I didn’t even get to go watch it last year.

Support my wonderful friends and go watch a fasho bomb show.

http://www.ubetunes.com/FAP20

I’m leaving for France in 13 days.

I wonder what changes I’ll go through.

I wonder what changes will occur while I’m gone.

Will you remember me while I’m gone?
Let’s cherish our time.