We returned from South Africa to an apartment whose entire floor surface was littered with all the crap Julien and I had accumulated for the past two years.
After a week of head-scratching, we managed to fit everything into 3 trunks to be shipped, 4 luggages to check in for the flight back to Paris, two backpacks and two laptop cases to carry with us in the plane. We said goodbye to friends (another post on this) and bid our goodbyes to 2 years in Qatar.
We left 30°C Doha and arrived in 2°C Paris. It was a Friday night, and the peripherique was packed. It took us one hour and an extremely talkative taxi driver to get from the airport to the 15th arrondisement, as we were crashing at Julien’s cousin’s flat for a week until a room at the aparthotel we’d be staying in would be available.
After a weekend that comprised of an exhibit (From Miro to Warhol), concert tickets (Black Angels, December 8th) and various cocktails with friends (overpriced Mai Tais, chardonnays and a strange banana rhum cocktail at a snotty cafe close to the Eiffel Tower), it was time for the dirty work: apartment-hunting.
I have a lot of stories to tell about apartment-hunting, but I leave that for another post; needless to say it included 90 euros worth of phone credits trying to book appointments for apartment visits, nonstop walking under the rain and cold, numerous cups of dégueulasse McDonald’s coffee in order to use their Wifi, and a surprisingly huge number of apartments viewed that I would never dream of living in.
We are now in a hotel near La Defense. We wear creased clothes straight from our luggages. We spend our two day weekend lazing around, hanging out at FNAC, getting lost in the streets, checking out the Christmas markets. We cross our fingers for a good apartment to come our way soon, and look forward to the exciting possibilities life will bring us in the following months.
Currently listening to:
Metric
Live it Out

11 comments
Nicole says:
Dec 1, 2008
Oh, I must have missed that you guys are heading back to France.


How cool is that?
So we finally are both in Europe again, at least for a while
Good Luck on the hunt!!!
tomm says:
Dec 1, 2008
Hurray
.
Welcome back in the land of the civilized, snort!
Good luck with the appartment hunting
On a side note, I can’t believe we’ve “known each other” for 2 years, time flies.
Tom
kala says:
Dec 1, 2008
Thanks Nicole! It seems like we are BOTH in Europe again too. I’m glad to be back… I just wish we had moved during summer instead of winter, is all
Tomm, yeah, time flies! Mik told me she’ll be in Paris summer of 09. Meet up?
yen says:
Dec 2, 2008
naku girl goodluck sa apartment hunting! sna nga makalipat na kayo! pics pics pics ng south africa trip mo!!! =)
Sinta says:
Dec 2, 2008
So you’re back in Paris? Fab! Good luck with finding an apartment
What a lovely lifestyle! I know you think it’s hectic because you’re in the middle of it all, but for us readers, it sounds exotic ^_^
tomm says:
Dec 2, 2008
you bet! I’m waiting for the final confirmation to take my days off, buy my tickets and prepare a week of tourism in La Capitale.
Ultimate bliss :p
haze says:
Dec 3, 2008
Welcome back Kala ! I am glad that 2 years Qatarfixcion is finally over ! Okay you just need to get used of 2°C. We’ll visit you soon and we’re waiting for your visit to the South, let’s go to Miam Miam together
!
Goodluck to your apartment hunt !
Christine says:
Dec 4, 2008
hi kala! welcome back to you and julien…
does this mean you’re now staying in France for good or the foreseeable future anyway?
C xx
vic says:
Dec 4, 2008
hi kala, So sad Sema and I never had a chance to say goodbye to you. Anyway, we wish you all the luck !
apol says:
Dec 9, 2008
Hey, Kala! Got your Christmas card, thank you. And through that found out that you are back in France. Well, hello! E-mail me? That way I have your e-mail address and can send you a quick note when I come to Paris and we can chat. No McDonald’s coffee though please!
Happy holidays.
Lynnette says:
Dec 22, 2008
Welcome back Kala! Glad that you and Julien are now back in France. Goodluck in your appartement hunting! I hope to meet you soon!:)