Dan Sakamoto | Paris Journal

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:02:00 +0000

This is the archive of the journal I kept during my 4 month stay in Paris from January to May of 2008.

Browse posts by month:

February

March

April

May

Final Post

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:30:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:45:00 +0000

I didn't mean to disappear, but the last few weeks were very full of other things to occupy me.

Tonight I said goodby to my host and most of my friends. Right how I'm watching the sun start to come up as I prepare myself to leave for the final time.

(photo: Bridget Nixdorf)

I'll find at least one more thing to post before I close this journal.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:32:00 +0000

Back in Paris for a few hours between a flight from England and a train to Austria.

Travels continue until April 29th.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:48:00 +0000

On holiday until April 29th.

-------------------

TRAVEL UPDATE 1: Holy crap, I can understand everything that everyone says to me (I'm in Dublin). As relieving as that may sound, it turns out that dealing with airport personel isn't any more fun in one's native tongue. In fact, it's even less interesting since there isn't any challenge involved; I'm actually more worried about falling out of practice in French than I am comforted at being able to communicate freely.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:35:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:01:00 +0000

This will be old news to many, as I posted about it a while ago in other places, but I think it's a relevant part of my Paris experience that deserves to be documented here.

On the way home late one night sometime back in March I stumbled upon a discarded PC tower, conveniently sitting on the sidewalk right in front of the door to the building I live in. I couldn't pass up that kind of opportunity, and it's been sitting in my bedroom ever since.

A few nights after I bringing it in, I got out the wrench and screwdrivers and started taking it apart. When that was done, I decided I should make something to celebrate my relationship with my new roommate.

Higher resolution version here.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:56:00 +0000

In a sharp contrast to the previous post, yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. I went with a couple of friends to a flea market where everyone was extremely friendly, everything was all sunshiney and beautiful, and I snagged a pair of swank new shoes. Then I tagged along with Daniel, one of my ridiculously talented circus performer friends, to the Centre Pompidou to watch him hula hoop and check out some of the other street performers for a while. A German man came up to us, introduced himself as someone who's worked for Cirque du Soleil for 8 years (!!!), invited Daniel to come perform at some circus performer festival that's going on and took down his contact info - all the while birds were flying by in groups, et il a continué faire très beau. It was just a wonderful, wonderful day all around. I really wish I had had my camera with me, but it's probably for the best that I wasn't carrying it around at the flea market.

Later that night we had one of our classic dinner parties at my place, and today I'm café hopping with a friend, sort of trying to get homework done, but mainly just enjoying life.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:31:00 +0000

What the hell, April. What the hell.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Spent yesterday in Normandy.

These are a few images of Omaha beach, a place I have pondered on much in my life, as I saw it yesterday.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Omaha beach | more to come

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:17:00 +0000

Turns out theres this crazy hi-tech and slightly disco-themed aquarium within walking distance of me.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Velibin'

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:31:00 +0000

François

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:41:00 +0000

More catchup. A friend came by a few weekends ago, and one of the things we made a point to do was scale the Eiffel tower.
Here are some pictures of Paris taken from above.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:59:00 +0000

The New York pillow fight day is now the international pillow fight day.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Lyons, who managed to be in the right place at the right time.

Edit: In Paris, this took place at the Louvre, right by the pyramid.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:04:00 +0000

Another cigar tonight. I'm no smoker, unlike your average Parisien, but I did just pick up a few cigars because it gives me an excuse to stand out on the balcony and watch what's going on in the streets of Paris for a while.

A girl runs down the street, talking hysterically (possibly crying?) on the phone between gasps of air.
A woman in the window directly across from me folds laundry.
A man directly below me, presumably unaware of me, urinates on the curb behind a car.

Okay, I know those examples don't sound very romantic, but it really is a nice evening, if a bit chilly.

Posting has been a bit slow recently because last week was midterms, during which time just as much if not more than usual was going on outside of class. Every free moment I've gotten has gone towards just trying to sort through all the photos and stay organized. The next few posts will be dedicated to not-so recent things that I missed out on posting the first time around.

To start off, I've put together some images which were taken at various diner parties that have occurred at my place. I tried to pick out pictures that show different views of the apartment, for the sake of those of you who may still be curious to get a better idea of what my living situation looks like. And this time there are working thumbnails, because I'm a nice guy.

Note that I cannot take credit for all of the photos (as should be obvious). The working rule when the party is at my place is that the camera gets passed around.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:35:00 +0000

On the move.

I stood on the balcony last night and enjoyed the first quiet moment I've had to myself in a while, having a cigar I bought earlier in the day in Provence, and looking out at Paris. Across the street, through two open windows there was an apartment where colored lights were flashing and a mix of French and American rock music were blasting. In the first window, two guys were drinking wine from the bottle, and in the second window, two lovers were swing dancing. On the street, a guy in a leather jacket was running down the street, lit cigarette in mouth, in a hurry to get somewhere.

I know where I'll be and about what I need to be doing come summer, and I'm pretty fine with it. I know where I'll be next academic year, what I'll be working on, and about how I'll probably be living my life, and I'm pretty fine with it. After that, I could end up just about anywhere doing just about anything, and I'm pretty fine with that. For the first time I can remember, I don't feel tied down to any particular place or any particular person, although there are people and places around the world that I have strong feelings for.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:35:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:36:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:59:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:31:00 +0000

So much happened today that I don't know where to start. So I'll start later.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:37:00 +0000

The whole night was pretty much like that.

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:15:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (dan_sakamoto) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:25:00 +0000

Middle of the week. Plenty has happened, but on a Wednesday my head is mostly stuck on French and delusions of grandeur about personal projects.

Oh, hey, here's another cat. Meow.