Paris in summer

Well after about a 20 hour flight I can look out the window here at the university college and see a grand old Parisian building.

Sat next to a famous, he said, Malay celebrity chef on the bounce from Singapore...

This keyboard I am using is designed for French speakers so I keep hitting the wrong buttons.

No animation to report.

Some sketching in the Parc Monsouris next to the lake, which is just across the avenue. Walked to Gobelins today. It is about 45 minutes through little side streets and via leafy avenues. Used all the words in my French vocabulary buying baguettes for lunch.

Tonight I meet the other animators at a welcoming dinner. We start animating tomorrow. Au revoir.

Lift Off

I've packed my pencils and sketchbook. I've downloaded the French language MP3s. I was wondering about taking my Wacom tablet. But I think I'll go old skool pencil and paper. Started today with another excellent Jason Ryan Webinar. The taxi will be here soon to take me to the airport. Where's my passport? See you in Paris! (via Singapore). No, really, where is my passport... and the plane tickets for that matter... really got to go.

Wandering around restlessly

I have been walking the streets of southern Paris in Google maps. Strolling between the accommodation at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris and Gobelins, l'école de l'image (pictured) on Boulevard Saint Marcel.

The program for the 14 day summer school looks very interesting. I'm excited. I'm excited to be an animation student again. I can't think of a better career than being an animation student. Ask an animator, ask an animation teacher, ask the person at the bus stop, see what they say.

Most days are 9 hours made up of a morning master class and an afternoon workshop. There is an extra optional 2.5 hours before the first class that starts at the civilised hour of 10am. Lunch at 1pm for an hour. Animate in a workshop with the lecturer until 5pm and then free animation time in the Gobelins studios until 8pm.

Paris will be in that long European evening twilight for the stroll home with some dinner along the way. Yes, excited.