remember that time pants cooked the food you like, hosted the tailgate, let you stay over night, visited you too often at school, learned how to text, took you to practice, made you feel uncomfortable when asking you about a gf or bf, cried when you left home, loved you more than should be possible. you probably do. cause it happens everyday.
The new shirts for the best damn coach in the land can be bought online. Head over to 
This is incredible. i haven’t seen anything this glorious since i lived in france. nutella, crunchy peanut butter and honey sangwiches here i come
broom
Look at what the parents brought back from costco
Posted by juplife on May 3, 2008
Posted in juplife | Tagged: delicious, food, france, nutella, sangwich | No Comments »
who said the french are afraid to fight
Posted by juplife on June 22, 2007
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ADIOS AMIGOS
Posted by juplife on March 29, 2006
My time in France has officially come to an end. On 4.1.06 my visa and position with ETS will be over. I wish this was a terrible April fools joke, but it’s not.
Although my internship and visa are finished on Friday, I am not coming home yet. Until I do, I will be taking my Eurotrip ‘06. The tentative schedule is as follows:
4.2 Dublin (w/Rack Attack)
4.4 London
4.7 Zaragoza (w/Nate)
4.9 Berlin
4.11 Prague (w/Stu)
4.14-18 Krakow, Belgrade, Bucharest
4.19 Greece (w/KT)
5.2 Budapest (w/Geordie and Sherraine)
And yes, I do realize that it is Friday and this schedule should be a little more than tentative. But it’s all of the unexpected things that happen along the way which make it so much fun.
I am fairly well traveled by now and have picked up a few tips along the way on how to make the most out of a long trip. Rohn’s #1 tip: pack lightly. So for the month long trip I have scheduled I am only taking a back pack and my man bag. They will contain the following items: Josh Schmidt #12 jersey, 2 pocket t’s (gray and black), 4 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of boxers, 5 beaters in honor of John McClane, 2 polos in honor of Diesel, a pair of shorts, and Bulfin’s speedo. This means that after cutting my mullet, which is most likely to happen in Spain with Nate, and growing my mustache, I will have been completely assimilated to European culture. I am a Eurotrash god!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: diesel, eurotrip, france, nate, spain | 1 Comment »
IT’S A WALK OFF
Posted by juplife on February 24, 2006
This is Jerome. He is my new favorite Frenchy, moving ahead of Philippe on the new poll that came out on Monday. If this doesn’t convince you to move to France I don’t know what will. I get to hang out with this man tonight. Get here quick to enjoy the fun. 
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: france, jerome, philippe | 2 Comments »
SIESTAS AND CERVEZAS
Posted by juplife on December 9, 2005
Well its been a while since my last update. And the problem isn’t that not much has happened, but too much has happened. This is the first chance I’ve had in over a week to sit down and work on the blog. I know you were all worried when I went a full week without a post, so here’s the update…
Over the last two months I felt like a fifth year senior - I was taking one class, work was a joke, and I lived in a country where everyday I did or saw something exciting. After I was told to remove myself from the office and class ended (I dominted the final) I officially shed my amateur vacationer status and declared my ascension into the professional vacationer ranks. And so far, being a professional has really payed off.
I began my trek throughout Europe in the tourist hub of Orleans. Some of you might remember that my old friends Beth and Stephanie are living there while corrupting the minds of France’s youth. They quickly began the same with me. Stephanie spent most of the night on a mad manhunt which ended victoriously as she successfully extracted a number out of a lonely Frenchy wearing a manly scarf and high crotchers. Beth…well Beth, she
earned a free orange and an R rating. It couldn’t have been more fitting that we celebrated this good fortunate Big Willy style with some stove popcorn. That sure is some good stuff.
Unfortunately for the girls my visit had to end sometime and I left them Sunday evening. I returned to Paris to began my trip to Madrid. I took an overnight train that dropped me off early Monday morning in a new country. I was fortunate enough to have the seat across from the token creepy european guy and next to the obnoxiously in love couple that incorrectly thought they were invisible when they put their jackets over the heads.
I spent Monday and Tuesday in Madrid this week. They were great days filled with Diesel naps, tapas, conversations with Mr. David Wong, and some touristy sites.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: beth, france, madrid, paris, steph | No Comments »
I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, #6
Posted by juplife on November 21, 2005
STRIKES
I learned on Monday that there was a planned strike for the train I ride to Paris on Tuesday. I found it strange that the strike was planned and anounced in advance like this (they even had time to print out this train schedule for the day of the strike). I learned later that this isn’t the only strange thing about the strike. I was told that during this strike all employees are still paid, some of them still work, and that this is normal and occurs often. On the day before I arrived in France there was a strike on nearly all public transportation - metros, trains, buses, and airplanes. And tomorrow in Paris the buses and metro are on strike. Good thing schools have some type of strike on Wednesdays too and only have half days, or in my case no class. Luckily, an agreement was reached at the train strike arbitration today and things will go back to normal tomorrow. But why, if it only takes one day to remedy, is a strike required? Especially when it was anounced in advance. France, I don’t get it.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: france, paris, strikes | No Comments »
I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, M1.5
Posted by juplife on November 18, 2005
FRANCE…IT’S A RIOT
The riots in France have created big news over the last two weeks or so and I have received quite a few questions about them. So I figured I’d blog about the situation to give everyone back home my best effort at a more French look at what is going on.
The riots began when two young Arabs were killed while being pursued by the police. They were asked for identification and apparently they were illegal immigrants so they ran away. In their attempt to escape they tried to jump a fence or a wall which had an electrical charge and they were killed. They were both very young – around 15 or so.
The people who live in this suburbs of Paris where the incident occurred reacted in anger by
vandalizing the city and burning many cars. They destroyed office buildings, car dealerships, and even schools. The vandalism increased when people from other cities who sympathized with the victims also began to vandalize their neighborhood and burn cars. There have been over 100 cars burned in the territory I live in and one Renault garage was burned in the city I live in two weeks ago (see the pics).
This is a national crisis in France. The issue is the treatment and acceptance of immigrants from North Africa. They were brought into France with the promise of jobs and a better life. It is the second generation North Africans that feels slighted and persecuted by the French government. They have struggled to adapt to the culture and be accepted as true citizens of France.
Th
e French government has responded with diplomacy and action. The French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, has put into place a curfew. Nicolas Sarkozy has been on the streets enforcing the curfew and arresting the vandals. The unrest has died down considerably over the last week and there are fewer and fewer reports of car burnings and vandalism.
This is a brief summary of the riots. I clearly do not understand everything and obviously there is much more to the situation. I had received many requests for information on the state of
things so I figured I would blog it.
My safety is not in danger. I have not seen a burning car (unfortunately) and do not know anyone who has. The Arabs here do not seem to be prone to physical violence. So don’t worry. And besides, I am carrying my camera everywhere I go just in case I do see a burning car – so you’ll definitely hear about it if it happens.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: france, riots, sarkozy | 1 Comment »
I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, M1.4
Posted by juplife on November 17, 2005
WINE AND CHEESE
I never thought I would say it, but I love wine. And not just Unc or MD’s. I actually like real wine. The French persist that it enhances their food and the dining experience. I must agree…especially after I pull a Nancy Pants after one glass. It is not unusual to consume a bottle of wine for lunch and multiple bottles at a family dinner.
As I think most of you know, the wine in France is named after the city it is produced in. Some of the wines have a bottle shape that is particular to the type of wine. So a bottle of Bordeaux has a different shape than a bottle of Bourgogne. This weekend I learned how to open a bottle of wine and test it’s quality. It’s all very complicated and I don’t think most of you could learn the technique as quickly as I have - it’s obviously very complex. I just wreak of class and sophistication.
And of course when there is wine there is also cheese. The French love their smelly cheese. They are so in love with cheese that it takes up the most square footage in their super markets. I was in shock when I first experienced it. I have come to enjoy cheese quite a bit. The Charpentier’s eat cheese at every meal. They treat it almost as a dessert and bring it out at the end of the meal.Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: cheese, france, wine | No Comments »
I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, M1.3
Posted by juplife on November 16, 2005
CHUCK TAYLORS
Remember those shoes that our parents wore as kids and that we may have worn once too back in the day? Well, they are all the rage in France. I can’t walk down the Champs Elysées without seeing at least one pair of them (actually I can’t leave the house without seeing them since Noémie owns a pair). They are extremely popular among girls and very well received among guys too.
I’m not trying to say that i’m a metro like Jason or a fashion savant like his boy, Carson. And it’s not to say that they are ugly shoes, but the frequency with which they are worn here just baffles me. On Monday I actually counted 10 pairs of All Stars on my walk from the metro to the office. That’s one pair per minute. The Frenchman’s ability to wear Converse All-Stars is uncanny. 
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: converse, france, paris, shoes | No Comments »
I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, M1.2
Posted by juplife on November 16, 2005
YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS A JOKE WHEN…
So I went into work yesterday thinking it was a normal day. I had run all around the city last week and Monday morning to figure out my visa situation and was on the verge of having everything together. Just before I was about to sit down to a normal full day of blogging and emailing I went to talk to one of my bosses about it. After explaining the situation to him (that in order to work for them I would need to come home and change my visa) and letting him know what I needed from him (work contract), he had a question for me. I sat there for a couple seconds while he searched in French for the appropriate English translation to what he was thinking. Fortunately he never found it and instead asked, “What are you doing here?” Aware that he was referring to my presence in the office I responded with, “Uhhh…umm…you mean in the office?” He responded in the affirmative. So thank you Benoit for giving me something to laugh about for the next week. It’s always good to know that my presence is wanted.
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I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, M 1.1
Posted by juplife on November 14, 2005
MOPEDS
As a notorious fan of mopeds in every shape and form, I was delighted to see so many mopeds on my arrival in France. It really is a special thing that an entire culture can accept them so warmly. They are ridden everywhere indiscriminately. Even I’ve never been that flagrant about it. People ride them for business and pleasure and convenience. I think that France has no laws regarding the riding of mopeds. They ride them fast and hard - probably so their friends won’t see them. They dart in and out of traffic and have no qualms about taking the show to the sidewalks. It can be pretty dangerous on the streets if a moped is near.
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FUMER TUE
Posted by juplife on November 13, 2005
You know your country has a smoking problem when they ignore a warning that says “smoking murders”. I really think that France would benefit from a long weekend in the LA bars where they can’t smoke. Although some people consider Frenchies healthier on the whole than Americans, I think that their chronic smoking makes them no healthier than us.
I really can’t walk down the street without seeing or smelling a cigarette and it is not uncommon to see people smoking indoors. The first thing some people do when they exit the metro is pull out their cigarettes. I actually work in an office where two of the girls go to the lunch/conference room to smoke. They bring their ash tray, close the door and open the 5th floor window, which has this convenient second pane of glass that only goes up half way, and blow the smoke out the windows. I think the windows were designed with smoking in mind.
cases of lung cancer in france
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HOORAY FOR ARMISTICE DAY
Posted by juplife on November 10, 2005
Well it’s Friday again and you know what that means in Chartres - it’s Vendredi. Actually i think it means its time for the Charpentier’s to invite friends over and have a big dinner since they have an American in the house. I’m not sure if I feel more like a celebrity or an animal on display at the zoo. At least I played less of the caged animal role this time though because they didn’t hand me all the leftovers and expect me to eat them since I’m a fat American.
Both of the collegiate Charpentier’s came home for the weekend since it was once again an obscure French holiday. Camille is the oldest and Julien is the middle child. They also invited some of their American friends over for dinner. Lucky for me this didn’t mean that more english would be spoken as I was once again the only one not fluent in French. It was still a good time though. There were high fives (and low ones too), bottles thrown out the window, plenty of wine, great food, a piano recital, and Néomie even tasted some wine.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: armistice day, charpentier, france, philippe | No Comments »
J’ADORE NUTELLA
Posted by juplife on November 7, 2005
For those of us who grow up in the US we have been deprived our entire lives of the deliciousness of Nutella. Europeans like to compare Nutella to our peanut butter, but that is an unfair comparison. I like peanut butter a lot - enough to bring some with me to France - but I love Nutella. Nutella is a chocolate spread that is pure candy. With Nutella, you have the ability to make anything into a dessert. It is good with everything - baguettes, crackers, cookies, doner kebab, everything. I can’t get enough of it and I try to eat it everyday. If I have gained weight since I’ve been here it is not from a lack of working out or eating too much bread and cheese - the guilt lies solely in the hands of Nutella. When I return to the states I will be sure to bring some with me so you can taste it.
Oh, Nutella how I love you. Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: france, nutella, peanut butter | 3 Comments »
I LIVE IN FRANCE…ISN’T THAT WEIRD, EPISODE 5
Posted by juplife on November 5, 2005
CHARTRES CATHEDRAL
All of France had Tuesday off of work. A little confused by this day off on the 1st of November 
that wasn’t for my beloved Halloween, I received two explanations. The first was that it was All Saints Day and in France all Catholic holidays are national holidays. The better excuse I heard is that it is French law that there is at least one holiday/vacation day per month (genius…the French are genius. When is the US going to implement this law?). So instead of sitting around the office doing nothing, I got to sleep in a bit and check out the sites in Chartres after the family lunch.
Chartres is famous for it’s magnificent cathedral. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres is the most prominent building in all of Chartres and stands near the center of town. Built over an old church, construction of the cathedral began in 1145 and finished in 1220, a very short time period for medieval cathedrals. Construction was halted in 1194 by a fire that destroyed much of the city of Chartres and almost the entire cathedral. The cathedral is home to a tunic that belonged to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the destination of an annual pilgrimage to honor her.
The Chartres Cathedral is famous for its two large spires and colorful s
tained glass windows. The smaller spire stands 105 meters and was built in the 1140s. The taller spire, being 113 meters, is the most significant addition after the completion of the main building and was added in the 16th century. There are over 150 stained glass windows in the cathedral, including three large rose windows. All three of the rose windows can be seen from the center viewpoint on the alter. There are also many sculptures and engravings dedicated to Mary.
The beauty of the cathedral extends beyond its walls. Behind the
cathedral is a garden raised above the city that provides a spectacular view of Chartres. It presents an aerial view of many of the quaint little houses that line its narrow streets.
The Chartres Cathedral is so significant not only to the city of Chartres but all of France because it is one of the largest remaining gothic cathedrals in Europe. At the time it was built, the Europeans had very little knowledge of architecture (as evident with the great pyramids, the Egyptians were the authorities on architecture). Many 
large buildings that the Europeans built during the medieval times collapsed under the great weight of the structure. To avoid this problem, they began modeling their structures after an inverted hull of a boat and fortifying them with buttresses. It is also quite remarkable for the Chartres Cathedral to still be standing because of all of the wars that it has survived. It has stood unharmed through the religious wars of the 16th century, the French Revolution, and both World Wars. A castle that stood only a few blocks away was not as lucky and was destroyed during WWII.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: cathedral, chartres, france | No Comments »
