From 04 Septembre 07

Today was awesome! I awoke feeling somewhat tired, and I’m sure it was just because of jet lag, because I slept a little over eight hours. I got dressed and went down for breakfast, which was un café au lait, une croissant, une baguette avec le confiture (jelly). It was actually quite satisfying. I had my entretien (interview) with Loren at 11:15am so I just took a shower and waited around for it. It went only ok…I was super nervous even though they (Loren and Stacy) are so nice. They basically just went over what was on my housing application, including that I am a “strict vegetarian”. I felt kind of weird because it’s difficult for me to have something that I am picky about since that’s not usually my style. I found out there are 10 families that accept vegetarians, but none of them have small children, so that’s kind of sad. But I will be doing the student teaching internship, which will give me time with kiddos. My French was not so great during the interview, but oh well. I am learning more and more. Or at least practicing more and more. After the interview, I waited for some other girls and we went to the Eiffel Tower. Oh my Lord…it was everything that I had dreamed of. Enormous…magical…I got tears in my eyes. We didn’t have time to go up because we had to get back for our activity with the group, so I will definitely be coming back…multiple times. In fact, tomorrow night we’re planning on it. Here are some photos...











For lunch, we got some baguette sandwiches (mine had tomatos, lettuce, eggs, and mayo…interessant and yummy), and nous avons pris la metro (we took the metro), which was really fun and a good experience for me. Back at the hostel, we met everyone and my group (Groupe A) went to the museum. After about five minutes of listening intensely to the French guide speak fast French, I felt extremely tired. It was hard for me to pay such close attention after that, though I did catch some funny stories. It was too bad, because she was quite a dynamic lady. Tant pis.

Next, I grabbed a cappuccino (ce n’est pas français…?) at the machine at the l’auberge (hostel). A fairly big group of us decided to go to Champs-Elysees, a famous avenue in Paris, avec l’arc de Triomphe. It was beautiful! I am totally captivated by Paris and how everything is so incredibly beautiful…EVERYTHING. I think that it makes the energy higher…a higher vibration…because you are just lifted up by the sight of all the amazing architecture. I loved l’arc de Triomphe. I would love to go to the top of that as well, and I certainly will at some point ce semestre. After that, we grabbed diner at a small place on the avenue and I had a cheese crepe and salade (as you can see), which was pretty good. I was happy about trying mon premiere crepe en Paris.  (My first crepe in Paris.)

















Apres ca, we took the crowded (extremely!) metro to meet our group on La Seine for our boat tour. It was AWESOME! Except for the part when I fell (literally) down a flight of stairs. That was probably the scariest moment I’ve had in a while. I got up and was so shocked…mostly shocked because I was surprised I wasn’t dead. I really could have died. Luckily, I just slide down the stairs and didn’t hit anything until the bottom, where I fell on my butt and hit my back. My back and butt will no doubt have Enormous bruises, but I’m so glad I didn’t really hurt myself…that would have really been a bummer.

Anyway, we went on top of the boat and it was an amazing tour…we learned what all the famous buildings are (and practically all of them are famous) and I took tons of photos…here are some examples…

















I was having a great time with this wonderful girl, Kelly. She is great – I am getting along especially well with her. Others are great also, but I find many have been to Paris more than once before and sort of have a “seen-this” attitude. My style is more like going really slowly and taking it all in, getting lost to find my way back again, going to all the typical tourist spots but really appreciating them, going to random places just to see what is there, etc. So tomorrow, that is what I will do.

After that, Kelly, Amy and I went to a petit café/bar and shared a bottle of wine and each got Nutella crepes (oh…my…goodness…heaven). It was great – we had a wonderful time talking and getting to know each other better. The waiter was quite flirty and we got our first French kisses (on each cheek, you silly!) when we left. We came home, after getting lost (but finding our way, all by ourselves!). It was a fantastic night. I can’t wait for tomorrow morning, because we have a lot of free time and I’m planning on really exploring.

J’aime Paris…