Ah Paris in the springtime!!! You finally made it!!! Yesss! Ah the beauty of a residency - although mine took place in glamorous Mt Gambier, Mt Isa, & in the Tanami Desert. I must admit I can't imagine the isolation of a writers residency but here are tips: find the one Cafe for petit dejeuner & remember, you pay to sit - no rush. A local boulangerie, a regular Arabic market, a laundromat for those 4 places will be your touchstones. "Bonjour madame/monsieur" you must trill as you enter the Cafe/ boukangerie/patisserie. "Salaam ali - ok you know the Arabic for the market. I love the politeness of entry to stores. I hate the ugly face of Parisian racism. My prayers will focus on your safety and your craft. I know you know all this - I'm just being an Australian lesbian Christian auntie. That's the title I've taken Yassmin, I hope you don't mind it! You teach me - my 62yrs on this planet maybe has some wisdom for you - like cafes. I wonder if your spouse is with you? Or will you once again be a commuter in your relationship. I'll finish with 2 more pieces of advice : the room of one's own that the oz co deservedly gave you doesn't have to be the place where a masterpiece is finished. Having watched 2 artists ingredients in new York at the Oz co studios and myself being a recipient of the Mike Walsh fellowship from NIDA I observed & learnt that the space is a refuge to sleep and create anything and nothing. It's the luxury of time to think, to walk strange streets, to just be. You deserve that. The 2nd thing is go to the Baccarat Museum - the rooms are freaking insane, the glass china is amazing and yes, a security guard will follow you. But I did sneak photos in the grand ballroom and waltzed there. 😁😁
Thanks for this update. So encouraging and uplifting.
Ah Paris in the springtime!!! You finally made it!!! Yesss! Ah the beauty of a residency - although mine took place in glamorous Mt Gambier, Mt Isa, & in the Tanami Desert. I must admit I can't imagine the isolation of a writers residency but here are tips: find the one Cafe for petit dejeuner & remember, you pay to sit - no rush. A local boulangerie, a regular Arabic market, a laundromat for those 4 places will be your touchstones. "Bonjour madame/monsieur" you must trill as you enter the Cafe/ boukangerie/patisserie. "Salaam ali - ok you know the Arabic for the market. I love the politeness of entry to stores. I hate the ugly face of Parisian racism. My prayers will focus on your safety and your craft. I know you know all this - I'm just being an Australian lesbian Christian auntie. That's the title I've taken Yassmin, I hope you don't mind it! You teach me - my 62yrs on this planet maybe has some wisdom for you - like cafes. I wonder if your spouse is with you? Or will you once again be a commuter in your relationship. I'll finish with 2 more pieces of advice : the room of one's own that the oz co deservedly gave you doesn't have to be the place where a masterpiece is finished. Having watched 2 artists ingredients in new York at the Oz co studios and myself being a recipient of the Mike Walsh fellowship from NIDA I observed & learnt that the space is a refuge to sleep and create anything and nothing. It's the luxury of time to think, to walk strange streets, to just be. You deserve that. The 2nd thing is go to the Baccarat Museum - the rooms are freaking insane, the glass china is amazing and yes, a security guard will follow you. But I did sneak photos in the grand ballroom and waltzed there. 😁😁