Third Couch

I've moved on to another friend's couch. Friend number three is not charging me but I can't stay long. What to do? My parents want me to come home. I would be fed, live rent free and enjoy my parent's company. However they live in the country and I would not have access to a car. I could ride with my parents in the morning but with their work schedules, I only job I could probably find is something in stingy hospitality. Screw that. I've paid my 6 year dues to the hospitality world. I'm not yet that desperate.

I have the money to rent a new place but the trouble is finding one. I had found a great place with cool chicks and their cute little doggies but they neglected to tell their landlord about a new roomie. It ended up being a no go situation. I'm confident SOMETHING will turn up. Argh!

Visa in Hand

I applied for and received my Australian work and holiday visa in less than 12 hours! Compared to French migration, this seems like a cakewalk.

The Housing Search

I would argue that Washington more expensive than Paris for poor people with budgets.

Toodles Mon Coeur

Goodbye Paris! Hello Australia!

Paris, I love you. The decision to move is nothing personal. In fact it's thanks to your enticements that I've made this choice. You gave me him. Randomly.

I doubt he and I would have met if we both hadn't been poor and (nearly) homeless. We responded to the same ad for an anglophone flatmate. I thought he was silly. He giggled a lot. Three months later we were casually dating. Eleven months later I've decided to hop on a plane for the other side of the world to be with him AND have a new adventure.

Paris it's because of you. Thanks and à très bientôt!

Moving Forward

There was an explosion of hurt, timidity, pain, passion and fear.

I love you!

He said it. He said three words I never expected him say. He said 'I love you."

I believe him. I cannot doubt him anymore. I've jumped off my cliff of indecision. I'm moving to Australia.

You're wrong

Dear NY Times travel,

The Marais is overrun with tourists. Oberkampf and Belleville are where it's at. Trust me.

Much love,
Izzy.

We Need to Talk

We need to talk baby. I'm not sure how committed you are to this whole me-moving-around-the-world-to-be-with-you thing. Sure you offered to pay for my ticket. You've said that you would LOVE LOVE LOVE for me to come. But have you honestly thought about this? Your freedom would be gone. You would go from social butterfly bachelor to committed boyfriend(?). Go from sleeping around to just sleeping with me. I worry that you like the thought of us rather than the practice. I worry that I will make all the sacrifices (I would still have an awesome time in Oz, but being away from friends, when you're dumped and broken-hearted, would suck). I worry that I will become Natalie or Anais. Natalie was deceived. Anais held on to shadows.

Sometimes I worry that you're addicted to sex. You once told me that the longest you could make it without sex was 9 days. You've also made it clear that you've never cheated on a girlfriend (if Natalie doesn't count). Hmm. Honestly, I think you're not trying. If I asked that you stopped sleeping with others before I arrived, would you? I'm not sure that you're ready to give sex up. Is that asking too much? You once said that my laid-back attitude made it easy for you to see others. My laid-backness hasn't changed but I want something tangible from you. How much is too much to ask?

Are you ready for me? How bad do you want me? Do I hold your attention above all the other fish in the sea? Are you done fishing? I want you all to myself. I won't accept another open relationship. I want you.