Page 76 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 3 #1

76 THE PARIS CHRONICLES, PART 2

I am more than aware of the cultural myself wishing that my French, which was
and linguistic differences. I am aware that once passable when I lived here part-time, was
Americans before me have left a bad taste better than abysmal.
in the mouth of the rest of the world. I am
determined not to follow that path. And so, I I BOLT INTO AN UPRIGHT position. It
find myself carefully considering every word, is 6:45 a.m. and I hear voices—loud voices. I
frequently asking whether what I am saying is vaguely remember leaving both long windows
clear and understandable. open in my little room. It is already a bright,
hazy gray outside and I grope the coffee table
AT DINNER LAST NYGHT, as we closed for my sunglasses. My eyes are screaming
the restaurant, I found myself struggling to from the light. But, I smile because it is Paris
explain to Laurent, the lead programmer, and and the city is alive. I lie back down, removing
to Olivier, the head of marketing, that we walk my glasses. The morning air is cool against my
a fine line. We are emotionally invested in their skin and I wrap myself in the comforter once
software and want it to be the best it can be, again. It doesn’t take long for me to find sleep.
but we don’t ever want to make them feel that Now, it is nearly 9:00 a.m. I linger for only
we don’t understand how complex the task of a few moments more, finishing the last of my
enhancing Optics Pro is. Exhausted by a long coffee. Then, I’m off to the streets and to a full
day—DxO had released a significant update day of meetings. But it is Paris. Somehow that
to Optics Pro—Laurent was a bit frazzled and makes things better.
distant. It was a very intense exchange. I found

nyghtvision magazine volume 3, number 1, WINTER 2013