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Le Jour Premier
Well, I'm here! What a LONG day/night! I'm so unbelievably tired right now but I can't even think about laying my head down. I'm too amazed by this place. It's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. As you can see, to your left is a picture of the balcony off of my room. Madame Bayle's (Dominique) apartment is great! It's extremely small but very quaint. Well, I'll start with my arrival in Paris. I claimed my huge suitcase (thank God it wasn't lost :)) and headed towards the meeting place to meet my ISA Director, Gabriel. The papers I had said to WAIT THERE for the Director (specifically do not wander off if you don't see him at first). So, what did I do? I, of course, walked away after about 15 minutes of standing looking around like a lost child. I decided to use a payphone but that WAS NOT working for me so I drug my what seemed like 5,oo0 lb. suitcase b
ack to the meeting point where I found Gabriel on the other side of the door (where he had been the entire 15 minutes I was freaking out). He asked me what arrondisement (neighborhood) I was staying in and when I told him, he raised his eyebrows, gave a thumbs up and said, "That is the nicest place in Paris." I felt so lucky. Five other girls from the program showed up and we all talked and waited around for about an hour and finally left for our homestays. Ok, the shuttle ride from the airport to my apartment is one that should go down in history. I was absolutely terrified. I honestly think the man driving us was on some kind of drugs. He was blasting Pink Floyd and air-strumming an imaginary guitar while barrelling down the narrow streets of Paris in a huge shuttle bus at, oh about, 80 MPH!!! I thought I would never actually see Paris because I would die on the ride there. Luckily, I'm still alive and I made it to my homestay safely (by the grace of God). Gabriel was not kidding when he described how nice this part of Paris is. It's the best part! I was starving so Madame Bayle made me a scrambled egg. But guess what she served with it? Tomatoe slices in olive oil and a French baguette. Oh, and coffee so strong that your nostrils feel like they're going to explode when you sip it (ha, just the way I like it :)) It was so good, though because I was STARVING. Now, I'm just waiting on Jamie to get here so Dominique can take us out around Paris. She said she's going to show us where the Metro stop is and around the Rue de Cherche-Midi area. 
It's really ridiculous how I've only been here for 5 hours and I can already tell this place is NOTHING like America. There's no way to compare these two countries at all so I won't even try. Just know that everything is so different. Even though it's going to take a lot of adjusting, I will not allow myself to think, for one second, that the way of life here is any less accomodating than my way of life in Tennessee. I know I already love it here. It's awesome! I mean, just take a look at the pictures---it's beautiful.
Well, I'm here! What a LONG day/night! I'm so unbelievably tired right now but I can't even think about laying my head down. I'm too amazed by this place. It's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. As you can see, to your left is a picture of the balcony off of my room. Madame Bayle's (Dominique) apartment is great! It's extremely small but very quaint. Well, I'll start with my arrival in Paris. I claimed my huge suitcase (thank God it wasn't lost :)) and headed towards the meeting place to meet my ISA Director, Gabriel. The papers I had said to WAIT THERE for the Director (specifically do not wander off if you don't see him at first). So, what did I do? I, of course, walked away after about 15 minutes of standing looking around like a lost child. I decided to use a payphone but that WAS NOT working for me so I drug my what seemed like 5,oo0 lb. suitcase b
ack to the meeting point where I found Gabriel on the other side of the door (where he had been the entire 15 minutes I was freaking out). He asked me what arrondisement (neighborhood) I was staying in and when I told him, he raised his eyebrows, gave a thumbs up and said, "That is the nicest place in Paris." I felt so lucky. Five other girls from the program showed up and we all talked and waited around for about an hour and finally left for our homestays. Ok, the shuttle ride from the airport to my apartment is one that should go down in history. I was absolutely terrified. I honestly think the man driving us was on some kind of drugs. He was blasting Pink Floyd and air-strumming an imaginary guitar while barrelling down the narrow streets of Paris in a huge shuttle bus at, oh about, 80 MPH!!! I thought I would never actually see Paris because I would die on the ride there. Luckily, I'm still alive and I made it to my homestay safely (by the grace of God). Gabriel was not kidding when he described how nice this part of Paris is. It's the best part! I was starving so Madame Bayle made me a scrambled egg. But guess what she served with it? Tomatoe slices in olive oil and a French baguette. Oh, and coffee so strong that your nostrils feel like they're going to explode when you sip it (ha, just the way I like it :)) It was so good, though because I was STARVING. Now, I'm just waiting on Jamie to get here so Dominique can take us out around Paris. She said she's going to show us where the Metro stop is and around the Rue de Cherche-Midi area. 
1 comment:
OhMYGOSH!!That balcony looks soooo Paris! I'm happy you are there and settled...somewhat settled I guess. This is so fun, I love reading what you write. We have all read it. It breaks my heart that MaMaw and PaPaw don't have a computer and can't read all this. I guess your mom is just going to have to read it all to them on the phone. Is that street what in the picture just below the balcony? Is that your street? Sounds like you're having good adventures already, sounds like the Paris drivers are no better than the NY cab drivers. But the best is yet to come, when you go to class and start the real sightseeing. Katie is going to be sooooooo excited by the time it time for her to come.
Keep writing...don't slack off...we love reading it!!! Its like being there...kinda...LOVE, ginny
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