newmapoftheworld: From Paris, with love

Tuesday, 29 March
I can’t believe it. I’ve been here for over 12 hours now, and I still can’t believe that I’m in Paris. Paris. When Pam says “Paris” she shudders. I guess I would shudder too if this was my first time leaving home. But it’s not. Still, the thought of me talking, mingling and living amongst Parisians for the next 10 weeks is almost overwhelming. It is excitement, trepidation and a wide-eyed wonder tinged with a steely resolve to “make it” in Paris all rolled into one.

Make it? What?
Today, as I was on the plane waiting to take off from Amsterdam (a delay, what else?) I wrote in my journal about some of my expectations. In brief, I think this term in Europe is going to bring about lots of growth.

Bursting Out of the bubble
There’s something about being away from the easy comforts of Carleton that is scary but at the same time liberating. In the past 12 hours or so of being in Paris, I have paid 50euro (divided by 2 thanks to Pam) to survive a taxi ride that saw the Cambodian driver peaking at 130 km/h on the way from Charles de Gaulle to the narrow streets of Paris. I’ve had my first sin-laden genuine French chocolate éclair (not only is it covered in chocolate, the insides ooze creamy chocolate filling too). I’ve discovered that pamplemousse means grapefruit after I bought it unknowingly from the Monoprix a block from CUPA. I’ve discovered that CUPA means Center for University Programs Abroad and is an apartment converted into a study center. While struggling against the effects of jetlag on the lawns of the Luxembourg Gardens, I’ve done the quintessential Parisian activity: people watching. I’ve been “tourist” and took pictures for tourists. I’ve taken the bus with my host mother, Guillaumette, from the 6th arrondissement to the 16th. I have tasted my first French home-cooked meal – initially disappointed that it looked like all we were having was a potato-creamy-type bake, but later overjoyed to find out that that was but the first course! (We had three types of cheese – my favorite was this strong goat milk cheese!) I have watched French TV with my host parents, not understanding half of what was going on, but determined to stay awake. And I have been told that I have a good accent!!  And this is only the first day.

My Parisian home
From my room at 18, avenue de Versailles, I can hear the traffic passing by 7 floors below. Every now and then I hear an ambulance wail by. It’s getting late, but the city is still awake. I, on the other hand, am ready to head to my French dreamland. So as I lay on my bed, wishing that the three available wireless networks were not encrypted so that I can send this instead of Microsoft Word-ing it, I consider myself blessed. Blessed to have this opportunity to study and live here in Paris. Blessed to have had a wonderful day and many more of the same to come. And blessed to have you praying for me.

So, à la prochaine, bonne nuit de Paris.

at the msp airport with pam