Incommunicado Impossible...

Remember these?

The amazing thing about living abroad in 2012 is that I know everything that’s going on back at home in real time.  The worst part about living abroad in 2012 is that I know everything that’s going on back at home in real time.

While Skype, iPhones, and international calling plans are becoming less of a luxury and more of the norm in Paris (there’s free Wi-Fi everywhere!), it’s impossible not to be connected.  So as Sandy was bearing down on the East Coast back at home, I couldn't help but read Tweets, Facebook updates, and news headlines about the imminent disaster that all of my friends and family back at home were facing.  Text messages pop up from friends: “It’s so windy!” “Hunkering down for the hurricane,” and “These NYC pussies, it’ll just be some wind and rain.” 

Whether or not it was a disaster is another story, one I won't even attempt to address, but as an expat it’s sometimes frustrating to have to live these events in real time with everyone else.  While it's seemingly a technological advancement to have all of these resources, there are some downsides to being constantly connected at a time like this. 

Cupcake Camp Paris: Round 3...

When I go home, friends or family who know anything about me or who follow me on Facebook usually ask me first, “How is Paris?” and then, invariably, “How are the cupcakes?”  I’m not a professional cupcake baker by any means.  I enjoy eating the occasional cupcake, baking them for parties, and having a leftover one out of the fridge for breakfast with coffee (so good chilled).  But I’m no connoisseur.

So you’re probably asking, “What’s CupcakeCamp Paris all about then?”  Well, when Cat Beurnier approached me to organize it in 2010, it seemed like a fun worthwhile cause.  The idea was basically to hold a giant bake sale, have Parisians and expats donate cupcakes, and then sell them for charity.  Simple enough, right?

Cupcakes were trendy, so people were eager to talk about them.  And the idea of doing something for charity seemed like a great change from all of the school files and prefecture paperwork I was going through at the time.  We are delighted and extremely motivated by all of the work that Make a Wish does, so each year we are trying to raise even more money to help make the dreams of sick children come true.  Every cupcake helps!