I got here in August, I survived September, and now I am beginning October as a true Parisienne. My friends have all started classes and I don't start until next week, so I have been exploring the city independently (don't worry parents - during daylight hours only).
Yesterday, I recharged my monthly Metro pass for October, I checked out the American Church in Paris for job and apartment listings, and when I ran out of things to do in the afternoon, I dropped by the Louvre and walked around inside. I had no idea the Mona Lisa was so small.
My developing inner-Parisienne must be starting to show because today I got asked for directions (by French people) THREE times in just a few hours. I tried so hard to read my map and help them (even though I never have any idea where I am), that they actually let me stand there and talk to them in French for a few minutes before walking away to ask someone else. Small victories.
I realize that my complaining card was revoked the moment I got the chance to move to Paris for a year, but my experience here has not been entirely perfect. I've found that being an exchange student and being a tourist are two entirely different experiences. I can't say I have not liked (and even at times loved) my experience here so far, but as a foreigner, I spend most of my day depending on the kindness and patience of others. Those are two things that aren't always easy to come by in Paris. Even more frustrating, people who will speak French with me have been even more impossible to come by. Everyone here seems to know, and only wants to speak, English! The music that plays in bars and clubs is American. Their movie theaters show mostly American movies. My host family's apartment is stocked full of seasons of Friends and How I Met Your Mother. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a pseudo-USA with a terrible exchange rate and mediocre entertainment.
But, the last couple of days have been a little more uplifting. If things can change this much in just a few weeks, I'm much more excited to see what the rest of this year will hold!
I'm off to Germany for the weekend. I start teaching English at a high school here on Monday, And, I FINALLY start my classes for the semester on Wednesday. I'm definitely not a tourist anymore.
....But that doesn't mean I have to stop taking pictures. Here's a few I haven't gotten to include from a picnic in the Jardin de Tuileries near the Louvre. What a pretty night!
view of the Eiffel Tower at dusk
Eiffel Tower lit up
Eiffel Tower sparkling!
No comments:
Post a Comment