The tourist life.

This weekend I was a super tourist. It started with the catacombs, but I managed to knock a whole lot of items off my "must see while in Paris" list.

On Saturday I slept in late then met up with 4 other exchange students at the arc de triomphe. Apparently with your student visa (or maybe residency, I don't really know) you can climb the arc for free, as well as get into a lot of museums for free. Great to know. Either way, armed with that knowledge we went up to the top of the arc, which was pretty cool. It's way bigger than I had imagined it was and it offered a lot of great views of Paris. You could see the Eiffel tower, well obviously, but you could also see the Louvre and other notable land marks like the Sacre Coeur.

Once we were done we walked down the Champs-Elysees all the way to the Louvre. Of course we had to stop at Laduree on the way. They are particularly known for their macaroons, so naturally I bought a box of them and fulfilled my obsession, for a short time at least. It is really a bad habit for me to have acquired. They are quite expensive and get eaten wayyy to quickly. Along those lines, I also made the lethal mistake of buying a jar of nutella for myself. Bad news bears for sure. I have probably eaten half of the jar already...

Anyways! On Sunday I called up my tandem and made him be touristy with me and we decided to go to the Sacre Coeur. Which is a really pretty, but actually not all that old, church that sits up on a hill and also has some pretty views of Paris. We walked around the grounds and the church and the area it is in. The area is a little strange in that when you are near Sacre Coeur it feels like you are in complete little village. You lose the idea of being in Paris completely. Its just a small little bustling town in itself. We started walking and went down a set of stairs and there was a trio of policemen nearby, they stopped us, which is always highly disconcerting for me. The asked if we had seen any gypsies up on the top of the stairs. I found this to be a really odd question, and didn't quite know how to respond. I had been warned of gypsies, etc. etc. but I had never thought they actually looked any different. Axel assured me otherwise and promised to point them out at some point. Weird.

Either way, we continued to wander around the city. We walked to the Moulin Rouge, not gonna lie, it was a little disappointing. Maybe because my first instinct was imagining scenes from the movie... probably a little unrealistic. We then took the metro to Madeleine and looked at the church there and walked to the Opera before settling down at a cafe and getting some coffee.

It was a great weekend all around, but I don't really want to go back to classes. This whole studying thing is really cramping my studying abroad style. But alas, it is necessary. I also almost have my bank accounts set up, which has been a huge frustration. I can't wait to have easier access to money!

Next weekend though, I will be meeting up with Julia in Berlin. Two things I am definitely very excited for.

more dead people...

I suppose dead people was the theme for my week here. I don't know how that managed to happen, but it certainly did. Today I went to the catacombs with a bunch of other exchange students. I hadn't really heard much about them before, but it turns out that in the late 1700's there was a cemetery that was causing people to get continually sick. So Paris decided to move all of the dead bodies to a giant storage area underground. They proceeded with this process for more than 100 years, collecting somewhere in the range of 6 million bodies. And that's what I visited today. The collection of all those bodies. It was super creepy, and pretty far underground, but a pretty incredible sight. On top of that, they were all arranged in an almost artistic fashion. Including a spot where there was definitely a heart made out of skulls. Really, really weird.

Beyond that, I just finished my first week of school here. With the incredibly short semesters that means I am 10% done 4 of my classes and 20% done 3 others. Which is absurd. My classes are all pretty random and don't really have a major focus to them, but I find most of them interesting which is good. That being said, all of the classes are 3 hours long and that is freaking long. I don't think anything can hold my attention for 3 hours. Seriously. Its ridiculous. This, inevitably, leads to me consuming more coffee than one ever should. But that's okay! The school cafe sells it for a pretty reasonable price.

Actually this school has some pretty ridiculous amenities. At times I feel like I am back in elementary school despite the fact that I'm attending a masters program. The school has a cafeteria, which is incredibly inexpensive. You can get whole plates of food and dessert and spend less than 4 Euro. And the food isn't bad, well it's better than EVK and that's all one can really hope for. Besides having a cafeteria, they also have a gym teacher and a school nurse. ridiculous. And possibly the other best point is they have a student run bar in the basement. Seriously student run. This isn't a traddies we are talking about. The beer is 2.5 Euro for a pint, or 7 Euro for a pitcher. Suffice it to say, it is a pretty good place to hang out!

I have a nice long weekend ahead of me now which always feels nice. I've also been working on solidifying travel plans. Next weekend I will meet up with Julia in Berlin. I'm pretty stoked. Other than that travel plans include London, Barcelona, Istanbul and maybe Prague! Fun Life.

Pere-Lachaise

The Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is about a 5 minute walk from my apartment and yesterday I went to go walk around it before I had class at 5 pm. The late class is really strange and will take some getting used to, but like any normal person who had free time I decided to spend it in a cemetery. It sounds pretty weird, but it's an absolutely huge cemetery, and a relatively famous one I suppose. I easily spent over an hour and a half wandering around taking photos and observing.

The cemetery reminded me of the ones I had seen in New Orleans when I went long ago. And realistically, that makes sense, but they are a far cry from the tombstone's seen in the states. The graves here are familial I suppose, but often that means they are quite huge. It was really quite incredible to see all of the architecture, time and energy that went into them. They are pretty hauntingly beautiful.

Beyond that, the cemetery is absolutely massive and set on a bit of a hill, so it's really quite amazing to walk around. But it was also quite disturbing. Due to the infamy of those buried there it has become a definite tourist location. It is a very odd juxtaposition to see people walking around the funeral with maps like they are exploring Disneyland; pointing out the next sight they want to see and having lively discussions. Then you would turn down another cross road and encounter an old widow mourning her loss.

All around it was a pretty strange and strangely beautiful place.... but I suppose I should have guessed as much when I decided to go venture around a cemetery...

One week in.

I have officially been in Paris for just over a week now, which is so bizarre because it feels like it has been so much longer than that! In a good way, for sure, but still. I guess it is because everything is really so far from home and so different that I feel more removed? I really just don't know! But here I am with another update atleast.

How I have to dry my laundry...

In the time I've spent walking around Paris, and after talking to French kids at school, I decided I needed to create a Parisian attitude. It sounds ridiculous, but it is so true! When I walk around in the states, whether at school or a random street, I have a tendency to smile at everyone. If anyone makes contact with me I smile at them, even when I don't know them. I think it is my way to cope with that awkward moment when people realize I was looking at them, but either way, it happens. But in Paris no one smiles! I typically walk around with at least a hint of a smile, but here, nothing! So in order to blend in, or not stand out TOO bad, I have been slowly training myself to glare at everyone who passes by. It's been a hard adjustment, but I'm learning. This is often made more difficult though.

To start with, there is dog crap on the sidewalk. All the time. I don't know why, but for some reason they don't clean there dog poop here. Like I can understand not wanting to pick it up and throw it away (in any of the very very convenient trash cans that are all over), but seriously don't just leave it in the middle of the sidewalk where some unsuspecting American is going to tromp all over it. And that was my rant for the day.

Today the abroad coordinator at ESCP planned a trip to the Musee Carnavalet. To be honest, I'm not a huge museum person, but it was free, so I decided to go. It was a pretty cool museum though, that apparently explained the history of France. I really just looked at all the pretty pictures, and took pictures myself. I'm really enjoying my new camera and finding a lot of fun with experimenting with settings and focusing and what not.

Besides some cool artwork and statues, there was some really cool gardens around. The whole museum was also set in a really old elegant building (more of a chateau?). The glass windows all had intricate patterns and different colors.

Additionally there was an exhibit of a bunch of bizarre heads... Pretty cool though!

After the museum Ravisha and I ended up walking to the Bastille. On the way we inevitably had to get some macaroons. Which are way too damn good. They are dangerous due to their price, but pretty irresistible... We also stopped and just got some coffee in a cafe. From there I just walked home from the Bastille, which I tend to do a lot, but it's really pretty close.

Classes start tomorrow, but I only have one class from 5-8pm. I have a feeling that's going to be an odd time to adjust to having class at, but hopefully it will still be interesting! That being said, I'm pretty sure 3 hours of anything makes me bored, so this could be quite trying!

and again with no pictures...

Though I got a beautiful beautiful camera for being here, and love to take pictures with it, I feel like it will only really make appearances for purposeful trips on the weekend. It is a little impractical to tote around daily. So that was really just my excuse for not having pictures again...

I'm really adjusting to life here, and really enjoying it. We've had 2 classes a day of "Integration europeenne & management" which has really just pointed out my ignorance of all things french. One would have really thought that I would have taken some time to research France's monuments and history, but alas, I didn't. With that in mind, these classes have been pretty informative and interesting. Minus the fact that due to the jet lag, unless I have coffee raging through my system I get ridiculously sleepy in these classes. Luckily they aren't for a grade for me, but I still wish I could keep my eyes open.

I love the fact that I can walk to classes. It is so so nice. I really underestimated it. I found myself talking to another girl from SC about how I've never lived in a place where I could just walk to places I wanted to go. Then she mentioned that's exactly what SC is like. Which struck me as so odd, because it feels so different walking here. I suppose it is because I am less stressed and so walking is a pleasure versus stressful because I feel like I will be late. But either way, it has been great to get up in the morning make myself breakfast, and then walk myself to school.

Tonight a student group on campus threw us a little party thing to introduce us to our personal hosts for the time we are here. There was a dinner and a few little games, then a middle-school esque dance, all in the school. Dinner was served with wine and the game winners (which my table clearly was) won champagne. I realize that's normal here, but it still amazes me that a school sanctioned event can serve you alcohol. Weird. Either way, I briefly met my host, but he was DJ-ing and I didn't talk to him much, but I did make a few other French friends which is pretty cool. I've enjoyed the time with the other exchange students and getting to know them, but I would feel a little goofy if I came home with friends that mostly attended other universities in the states.

Real classes start next week, and that should be pretty good. I also don't have class on Friday so I'm trying to contemplate what to do with my time. It will be raining though... so life in my cozy bed may be more ideal. But I should take advantage of paris, etc. etc. So we will see!

The beginnings of a life...

 Here come the pictures! I figured I would go ahead and some some pictures of my "apartment" here. That's in quotes because it's tiny. But adorable! I also met my first neighbor today. She was super friendly and nice, and also young. And for bonus points she not only kind of speaks english, but wants to practice. Awesome. Though I believe she may have been taking her cat on a walk... so there's that.

 My kitchen came equipped with a mini-fridge, washer, induction plate and some very strange microwave thing. I'm still attempting to learn the appliances, but today I did make my first trip to get groceries and managed to scrape together two meals. Carbohydrates being the main component of both... that's okay, right?

The bathroom is tiny (notice a theme?) but serves its purpose well, and the shower has these odd sliding doors on it!

The view out my window and the room from another view. Along with my twin bed I recently discovered I have a second mattress under my bed, and an inflatable mattress. I'm not even sure this room could fit that many beds, but visitors are welcome!

 This is the exterior of the building I'm living in and I'm quite fond of it. This was also the first picture I took before my journey out today. I had the whole day free after I bought groceries so I decided to walk to the Louvre. I say walk, but it really took me a solid hour and a half, though I knew that it would. It was quite a nice stroll and I got to see a fair amount of Paris along the way.

To start with I really enjoy the whole walking aspect of Paris. Having spent a majority of my life in cities that are severely stricken with urban sprawl and where public transit is lacking at best, Paris is quite refreshing. The weather has been beautiful and it makes walking around very nice. It's been hovering around freezing the whole time I've been here, but that's pretty manageable and once you have walked for a little you don't feel it at all. We will see if I still hold my opinions of walking when the weather isn't so nice. Ie. It is supposed to rain soon and I have neither an umbrella or waterproof shoes, so I should work on that.

The Louvre!

On the subject of fashion however, never has my drab wardrobe felt so at home. I am notorious for rarely wearing colors or if I do venture into the realm of color it is usually a dark purple, grey, or brown. But Paris was made for me! Or rather, I was made for Paris. I fit right in. There is nothing but black as far as the eye can see. Score.

Either way, I walked to the Louvre which is insanely huge. Like I had always been told how big it was, but it was nearly unfathomable. I don't see how you could even see the whole Louvre in a week. Yea, that big.

After my jaunt to the Louvre I grabbed a quick lunch and hopped on the metro to make my way home. The metro is such a great system and so so quick. I am starting to feel more confident in my navigation skills and its just so damn easy.

The line I took pops me out right across the street from my school, pictured on the right, and I walked the rest of the way home.

I'm starting to feel more comfortable and at home. It was so nice to venture out today, but I'm really looking forward to orientation tomorrow and seeing what the next few months hold. The information the school gave us was rather lacking, so I'm hoping to get a good grasp on things tomorrow. I have now stayed up past 9 pm, which was my goal, and I think I will now reward myself with bed and the hopes of not waking up at 4 am again tomorrow.

à bientôt!

I have arrived!

Well, I've really never been much of a writer... at all. Most of my friends have probably even acknowledge that I claim to be illiterate because I despise writing with such a passion, but I figured I would make an exception this time. This could quite possibly be due to the fact that it is nearly four in the morning and I am wide awake, but who really knows?

As the title says, I am in Paris which is pretty incredible. After a long journey of flights and airports I got into Charles De Gaulle with directions on my phone from my landlord instructing me how to take the RER B and metro to reach my apartment (though none with walking directions from the metro to my place...). I miraculously managed to make it to my apartment and meet up with my landlord, Christophe. He was super friendly and showed me up to my apartment, which I really like. Its small, of course, but cute and pretty cozy. I am sure I will have no problems living here. I am up on the 7th floor, which is the 6th according to the french (what?) but thankfully there is a tiny tiny elevator that gets you up here. But from the top floor I have a really beautiful view and can actually see the top of the Eiffel tower.

For the first time, I met up with two other girls from SC in my program and we wandered around Paris a little. Naturally the first thing I ate for dinner in France was a nutella crepe and it was damn good, but definitely doesn't bode well for that whole trying to not gain 30 lbs while abroad thing... I left the girls early and came back to my place showered and skyped my mom. I pulled up an episode of Fringe on the internet and probably got 15 minutes into it before I could no longer keep my eyes open. I passed out around 7 pm and woke up before 4 am. I'm hoping I will adjust to the time change soon, though if not I will be insanely productive in the mornings before school.

I'm still feeling pretty apprehensive about a lot of things, but I think that is mostly due to a lack of knowledge. Orientation for ESCP starts Monday and I think that will really help. It will be nice to have a routine to follow and things I have to do. Yesterday I kept myself busy getting a phone, toiletries, and trying to (unsuccessfully) open a bank account. For today I think I will get up and wander down to a boulangerie and buy a fresh baguette and find a shop for some cheese and make myself a little breakfast. Then I may just start exploring Paris. There is definitely a lot to see and I may as well get started! I had intended for this to be more of a photo blog, which I am clearly failing at, but I will try to get some photos up soon.

I think you get a high five if you actually read all of that. But either way, thanks for stopping by and I'll try to update again soon!