The Past Few Days (OK, More Like A Week)

I know I haven't been diligent about updating lately. That's actually because nothing has really been going on.
Last Friday, I did internship stuff. I did follow-ups on stuff that I had found from FashionInternships.net. I had arrived back from my trip to find an email from a lady wanting a phone interview dated early Thursday. I emailed her back Friday morning, asking when it was convenient for me to call her, and got a response back saying that the company had the interns they needed, and would keep me in mind "just in case". Of the places I sent follow-up letters to, only about 2-3 sent me word back. One asked me if I was coming to New York soon, and I said no, and said I would be happy to do a phone interview. I then got an email back saying that the designer "doesn't do phone interviews" (because who knows, I could have a great "phone voice" and a terrible personality). But way NOT to keep in me the loop on your decisions, New York companies!
I also started applying to places here in Paris. I used a website that Jen had recommended, FashionJob.fr, similar to FashionInternships.net but I find it a lot better in a lot of ways. For one thing, they send you notices of postings you might want to apply to, which I've taken advantage of.
I applied to Lanvin (quality assistant), Christian Lacroix (illustrator), Barbara Bui, and Zadig et Voltaire. Zadig et Voltaire is a company geared towards the youth. Based on their current designs, I have a feeling I could do subversive stuff and have it be taken seriously (since some of their designs feature cannabis leaves). That's certainly a top choice.
(Another great thing about FashionJob.Fr: They keep a list of where you've applied and for what position that you can see when you log in. It's also listed to show whether employers have looked at your information.)
I also needed a photo of myself, since employers here like to know what you look like (along with other socially taboo stuff in the U.S., like if you're single or what). I found one from Christmas and cropped it and used it. (It's funny, I thought that I would find the notion of a photo in a job interview offensive. I did only until I found a flattering picture of myself.)
Saturday, I didn't do too much. I wasn't feeling too great, and so just mostly hung out in the room. I started sketching bags and shoes for Jen's project. I also took a walk into Montparnasse, right near the tower. The reason for the this was because I was looking for a theater that was playing "There Will Be Blood" in English (version originale -v.o.), and the address showed it to be right near there. I decided to see it Sunday (the next day), and wanted to do a little re-con walk to see exactly where it was and how long it took to get there. It was really easy to find (it was the Montparnasse Bienvenue, near the metro stop of the same name), and next to the shops that are right in front of the tower, and took me about 15-20 minutes to walk there.
Sunday, I lazed about until walking to the movie theater. I got there about 10-15 minutes before it started at 5:20 pm, and was amazed to see that there was a line. (Somehow I had thought that since it was a V.O. movie and a Sunday, not many people would be out. But I guess since it was rainy, a lot of people decided to go to the movies.) The line moved quickly, and I went inside. It was playing in one of 2 theaters. I sat down in the lower level, and was surprised to see it fill up (my whole row was filled). After sitting through the commercials (one of which involved highly sexualized anthropomorphic giraffes and bears, which would have been disturbing merely on its own, but even more so when they're advertising an innocuous soft drink), the movie began. I learned that with V.O. films, there's still subtitles. I didn't mind this at all. In a few scenes where there was a crowd commotion, I focused on reading the subtitles rather than trying to pick out individual voices. I also learned new vocabulary (bruit being barrel and petrolier being oilman, among others). It was interesting to see that whenever there was talk of "miles" as a term of measurement, the subtitles converted it to kilometers for the audience.
As for the movie...holy crap, it blew me away. SO INTENSE. (I realize I'm late to the party with this.) Did Daniel Day-Lewis EVER deserve that Oscar. I'm so glad I saw it on the big screen.
(Next up, at some point: No Country for Old Men.)
After I got back, I did some more work and talked with my parents on Skype.
Monday morning, following the advice of the parentals to drink non-dairy liquids, I traipsed down to Monoprix to get some soda (some Wink-esque citrus number called Gini, not to be confused with the Canadian performing awards) and some juice (I decided on grapefruit). I spent that whole day doing internship stuff and Jen's work, in addition to drinking copious amount of Gini. I tried some of the grapefruit juice, HATED it and decided to get some grape juice (since I've always been a fan of Ocean Spray's).
Tuesday morning, I went back to Monoprix to get Gouda cheese, grape fruit juice and more Gini (since I had drank nearly the entire 1.5 liter the day before). More of the same that day: internships, doing work, drinking (not alcohol). I did have an interlude of about 45 minutes where I went to school and made a storyboard of my retro-futuristic inspiration in the computer lab. I also tried the grape fruit juice and thought that was also disgusting; I couldn't even finish an entire glass. (I guess I'm just used to the artificality of Ocean Spray.)
I had also gotten some follow-up questions from a place I had applied called the Little Fashion Gallery. It sells high-end childrens' wear. It's more of a sales thing than design, so I'm not really excited about it. I didn't feel too confident answering those questions, either.
Wednesday morning, I went into the classroom in the morning to do some work with my dress. I hadn't finished defining where the pattern pieces were; I had the ribbons still marking them. I finished outlining them and traced them with my French curve and ruler. After that, I made yet another trip to my favorite grocery store, and this time got 2 bottles of Gini (I wanted a couple days from the 'prix.) That afternoon, I finally finished my Jen sketches.
This morning (that would be Thursday), I went to Reine fabrics to get my fabric for the evening dress we've started. I had been told to measure my mannequin top to bottom, and multiply that number by 3 (I need more room because my pieces will be on the bias). I ended up getting 5 meters and then a 10 cm sample for the quilting samples Susan wants. I then went to BHV (it felt like a long time since I had last been there) and purchased sewing and embroidery threads for the dress, as well as thread that matches the fabric for the buttonholes that Muriel had us start.
Back in the room, I worked on the 3 buttonholes I had left, and tried to come up with some inspiration for Susan's beachwear (which I'm still looking for).
Really, that's about it, nothing super exciting...
I want to do something tomorrow or Saturday, but we'll see how it goes...