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Work
By Ann | June 30, 2009
Call me crazy, but working in Paris has always sounded incredibly romantic to me. I know it’s weird, but the idea of a job, an office with colleagues, the camaraderie, the structure, (the opportunities to practice French), just seemed so darn appealing. Plus, I couldn’t help picture myself bicycling home in the golden dusk, with a baguette tucked under my arm.
Well, lo and behold, my wish was granted a few weeks ago when I started my new job at the American Library in Paris. I’m organizing cultural events there, which means arranging author readings with people like novelist Joseph O’Neill, (who is speaking tomorrow on Netherland — click here if you’d like to come), or memoirist Susan Jane Gilman. The job is part-time so I can still poke around the market, update you on my gardening (interesting only to me, I know), continue this blog, and scour Facebook, er, I mean, work on freelance stories (and maybe start a new book?!). I have wonderful colleagues, I (sometimes) speak French, and, best of all, my walk to work includes the view above. As the French say, pas mal.
If you’d like to come to one of the Library’s Evenings with an Author — which are free, open to the public and include wine and snacks! — please check out the calendar of events here. And if you do stop by, be sure to say hello!
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9 Responses to “Work”
Comments
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June 30th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Congratulations on your new job! It sounds exciting.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:51 am
My first job in Paris involved teaching English to Madame Halberstadt, who lived on rue Notre Dame des Champs. I had to take the metro in the morning from the 20th all the way down to the 6th arrondissement. When I alighted at Saint Placide, the fragrance of the rotisserie chickens at a nearby store would fill the air, making my college stomach grumble mercilessly. Madame Halberstadt had good basic English, and she and I used to practice by reading articles from news magazines — mainly about the 1988 presidential election, which saw the advent of people like Al Gore and … current VP Joe Biden. I’ve lost track of Madame H, but not of my love for going to work in the morning in Paris.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Dreams do come true! Happy work days ahead to you! It sounds like fun to have such an interesting job to motivate you each week. Good on you!
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 am
So fun Ann. Congratulations on this new gig. I bet you are going to breathe some new life into the American Library events! I read Netherland as part of my May leisure reading jag. I liked the book alot but was not into the multiple passages about cricket. I wish I could hear him speak.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 am
So so awesome . Paris is just an incredible city . Just had a German aunt go after many trips and living in Germany . But never went to Paris . “Too Big”
So she said okay I’ll give it a week . She ended up staying a month and loved every minute of it :-))More trips to come
Another recruit ;-))
==Alaska
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Sounds absolutely lovely! Sigh… the stuff dreams are made of.
I love following your life in Paris through your blog…
July 5th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Awww, thanks for the nice messages guys — you all are so sweet! I feel pretty lucky to have found a good job in my metier in Paris!
One of the best parts about working? I recently discovered that I am eligible for “tickets restos” a employer-sponsored (gov’t mandated) program where you and your employer split the cost of lunch coupons that are accepted by restaurants all over town. I’ll be blogging about it soon!
July 7th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
ann!
how incredible are you!?
a soon-to-be published author living in paris and organizing author readings at the american library!?!
it is too much fantasia.
congrats! what a sweet life you are leading!
xxoo
July 12th, 2009 at 10:48 am
i remember my joy at having “ticket restos” when i was a suffering stagaire in la defense.