#studyinginparis

My first week in Paris was a whirlwind with lots of introductory activities at school and minor details for my apartment. I had to get housing insurance, go through a checklist with my landlord, go grocery shopping, not to mention buying the things that I’d forgotten to pack (I still don’t have a hairdryer). My first and last time doing night-before-packing.

At our apero evening/cocktail party at school, I got to finally meet my peers which was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time! It was a fun night but it felt very surreal to be here in Paris, about to study photography. Still, it didn’t really feel like I was in Paris and I wanted to do something very... Parisian. I’m not one who enjoys doing things by myself and you would think after five years of working abroad and traveling that I’d be used to it, but there’s no time like the present.

Spéos Class of 2015/2016

I went to the bakery and bought a baguette by simply pointing at the baguettes and holding up one finger to indicate that I just wanted one. The lady responded to me, “One euro, please.” And I laughed out in appreciation and embarrassment. Learning French is on my To Do List. I made myself a cheese baguette, packed a bottle of water into my backpack and got onto the metro. I emerged at École Militaire and walked along the street until I caught sight of the Eiffel Tower - now, I FEEL like I’m in Paris!

My first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower for 2015

I wandered into “the park in front of the Eiffel Tower” as I call it, and found a spot on the grass to settle in. The weather was cold in Paris, especially for me, but as if this was my moment, the skies cleared and the sun shone gloriously that day. There were picnics all around me, students, tourists and locals alike, people were taking those pictures of each other “kissing” the Eiffel Tower or trying to push it over, and all of a sudden I felt warm inside - this is my home for at least the next eight months! It all sank in. I took my shoes off and attacked my baguette to cheers of “Bon appetite!” from young French boys walking by. I blushed with my mouth on top of my sandwich, too busy to say, “Merci!”

My first picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower

It was great having that experience by myself, but incase that wasn’t enough, the next day I was invited to meet some of my new friends (whom you’ll become acquainted with as the blogs go on), that I had made at school. In true Parisian style, we met down by the Seine with bottles of wine in hand, and had our first night of experiencing the extracurricular life of a student living in Paris. We found a spot behind Notre Dame and just across from us was a grassy area with a buzz of youngsters busy in conversation. The night whiled away with an abundance of wine and conversation, occasionally interrupted by the blinding floodlights of the touristy river boats lighting up the banks of the river for newcomers to see.