3 Consonnes et 3 Voyelles, c’est le prénom de RaFaeL

(Title = Carla Bruni “Rapahel” reference)        

    I haven’t blogged since the beginning of May.  What have I been up to since then?  Working 2 jobs, taking exams, writing papers,  drinking coffee with friends, going on vacations and surtout hanging out with my boyfriend Rafael.

This blog is to introduce him to all of my friends and family across the ocean, so I’ll try to do my best to give an informative and delightful profile that will do him justice.

Height: 6’4”              Hair/eyes: Brown

Nationality/Citizenship: French, Colombian

Siblings: 4 (2 brothers, 2 sisters)

Has lived in: Bogota, Montpellier, Grenoble, Toulouse, Norway, Paris

Studied: Computer Science and Mathematics

Fluent in: Spanish, French, English

Newest hobbies: Piano and swimming

Other hobbies: Repairs, building kitchen cabinets, cooking, exploring Paris underground, Chess, Toulouse Rugby, enjoying a Guinness, watching House, bragging about his niece Abi, crossword puzzles, Church choir

Volunteerism: Scout leader, French-Spanish translations, Soup kitchen server/organizer

Known for: His amazing chocolate cake

The Common Questions …

How did we meet?

At church my first Sunday in Paris; however, we started dating after some Sunday afternoons, choral rehearsals, Bible studies, crepes, geo-catching attempts, fixing beds and bikes, moving a couch, cutting hair, visiting the Chateau de Vincennes, washing laundry, discussing life over tea/coffee/beer, driving around the Arc de Triomphe (twice), watching rugby matches and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, celebrating American Night, and preparing numerous dinners.

 

 

 

(church Easter picnic w/ aforementioned choc cake)

What do I like about him?

He makes me smile.  He takes care of me.  He respects me.  He balances me out.  He’s intelligent and trustworthy. He is a faithful friend and a servant. He loves when I sing.  He teaches me, inspires me, encourages me, pushes me, trusts me, and believes in me.   He wants to make me happy.                                       

                                               (Our first picnic outside of the city)

What do we enjoy doing together?

Going on picnics.  Riding bikes.  Reading stories aloud.  Crosswords.  Chess.  Cooking/baking.  Watching movies.  Eating pain au chocolats or pain suisses.  Going to concerts.  Hanging out with friends.  Drinking coffee.  Riding trains. Listening to music. 

(Left: at the Louvre for La fete de la musique)

 

 

Our most recent meal together:

Homemade gnocchi               Steak hachee             Mediterranean salad  Strawberries with chocolate fondue

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        Have I met his family?

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In April, Pierre, his little brother, came up to Paris to spend the weekend.  The three of us did a lot together including climbing around the catacombs, finding my bike a basket, new wheel, and light from various abandoned bikes in the city, eating lots of bakery items, drinking Colombian hot chocolate, and riding bikes across town until 3 in the morning. 

 

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His 2 sisters still live in Colombia, so it’s a little hard to visit and meet them, but I’ve heard a lot about them.

The first week in June, Rafael and I took a trip to the south of France for a wedding and made a few stops along the way. 

First, we went to his parents’ in Romans-sur-Isere which in itself is a beautiful old Roman town near Valence on the Isere river.  For 2 days we drove around the Vercors mountains on excursions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Shamelessly picking cherries

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La Grotte de Charonche

Museum of the Resistance                                                                   I drove through that underpass!

St. Antoine l’abbeye

 I spy Pierre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I also got to meet his brother Sebastian, sister-in-law Gladys, and little baby niece Abigail in Orange near Avignon.  We also went on an excursion in the mountains just to eat some ice cream.

 

 

Where have we gone together? 

Montpellier just to chill, play chess, and do crosswords

Toulouse for a wedding…

…and the French championship rugby match between Montpellier and Toulouse

Boulogne-sur-mer just to get away from Paris for a long weekend

and many more places to come … like NC for example :)

Rafael’s birthday was recently and we celebrated by having a picnic Thursday, going to a pub with all of his Paris-based friends Friday, and then a show and champagne on Saturday.  This blog is my last birthday present for my wonderful boyfriend. 

Joyeux Anniversaire