Travels!

As most of you know, I have just returned to Paris after a month of travel. The experience of traveling was incredibly liberating and I learned an immense amount about myself and European culture. Every place I went was incredibly different and I had numerous random encounters with friends, wonderful time with families who welcomed me into their homes and even strangers. Here are the high lights from each place.

Copenhagen, Denmark
-I wasn't here long but in the brief layover I had I went to Nyhavn, which is the famous canal. I bumped into a friend from Michigan who had been studying there and she and her friends told me all about Danish culture and what they loved about Copenhagen. They even gave me a few Carlsbergs and I was extremely content to just enjoy the sun and their company while on a boat deck.

Stockholm, Sweden
-I spent a great weekend here visiting my friend Amanda. It was great having a local to show me around and I absolutely loved both the country and people. Unlike Parisians, the Scandinavian people were so warm and welcoming and loved to talk to me about their culture and America. Plus they were all beautiful. It was the first place that I really felt at home and with my height, blondish hair and blue eyes I fit right in. I was also very lucky with the weather, it was warm and sunny the entire weekend!
-I ate amazing food in Sweden. Amanda bought me real Swedish fish and her mom made me Swedish meatballs with potatoes, which is a traditional Swedish dish. I was in heaven!

Amsterdam, Holland
-This was my one of my favorite places in Europe. Amsterdam is a beautiful city, filled with canals, bikes and small winding streets. Everywhere I turned there was a small canal lined with tulips and boats. I also loved the Dutch culture and the history of Amsterdam. I went to the Anne Frank house, which was incredibly moving. I re-read her diary while I was traveling in Scandinavia so it was fresh in my mind. Seeing the Annex and hearing the story of the Franks first hand was a very emotional experience but something I think everyone should experience. I also visited the Van Gogh museum and spent over 3 hours there, such an amazing collection. It was great because I met up with my friend Maggie and it was nice to have someone there to share the experience with.
-Other highlights: a tour of the Heineken factory and eating traditional Dutch pancakes and stroop waffles

Aix-en-Provence, France
-Wonderful town in the south of France that is famous as the home of Cezanne. It was incredible how much the city still resembled all the Cezanne paintings. I made a visit to his house and ran into a friend from school, which was incredibly random but very welcome. We hiked a short distance to the Terrain des peintres, a small park overlooking Montagne Sainte-Victoire and was a favorite spot of Cezannes. The city was very picturesque and was a wonderful place to simply stroll around.

Cassis, France
-One of the most breath-taking places I have ever been. Cassis is home to Les Calanques, a national park positioned on the Mediterranean Sea. I spent the entire day climbing the white-rock cliffs and while hiking meet a French ex-marine who lived in the neighboring town of Marseille who showed me the hidden spots of the park and told me the history of Cassis. I reward my day of hiking with a glass of famous Cassis rosé and mussels and fries.

Marseille, France
-Not a great town but positioned right between Aix and Cassis, so it was convenient. There was an amazing cathedral on top of hill which gave me a great view of the harbor and the city. I also stumbled upon a choral concert in the cathedral which was a nice surprise.

Nice, France
-Very beautiful town located right on the Mediterranean. I spent my day here laying on the rock beaches. It had been awhile since I'd see the sun, so it was nice to take a personal day and lay out.

Monaco, France
-I happened to pass through Monaco during the Grand Prix. While I enjoyed seeing all the people and being in city during an exciting time, the cars were very loud and the race track made navigating the city hard. I did climb up to the castle and take a walk through Les Jardins Exotique, which was located right along the Mediterranean and absolutely breathtaking.

Grenoble, France
-After a week of sunshine and beaches, it was off to chillier climates. I visited a friend from Michigan who was studying there with a Michigan program. It was really nice to see a familiar face and be surrounded by a crowd of Michigan people again. Grenoble is nestled in the alps and we went to the old fort on top of the hill. We also visited the art museum, had long meals and watched a football match.

Maggia, Switzerland
-The last stop on my travels was a week with our family friends the Coduris.  I took a nine hour train from Grenoble to Maggia and it was one of the most beautiful trips I've ever taken. Winding through the Alps and along the lakes, I couldn't look away from the window. The Coduris were incredibly hospitable and in the week I was with them I learned so much about Swiss culture and ate amazing food. From risotto, to fondue to chocolate, I didn't stop eating! Elena showed me the surrounding towns of Locarno and Bellinzona and one day we drove to the German part of Switzerland and stopped at Ballenberg and Interlaken. My favorite thing we did was taking a hike to their mountain house which you could only reach by foot and was located in the heart of the Alps. I flew out of Milan and got a chance to see the famous Duomo and had lunch on a terrace directly next to it. Great views!

I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity to see so many different places. Thank you to my parents and to everyone who hosted me while I was on the move.

Work starts tomorrow, more to come!

(Starting top left: Sweden, Amsterdam, Maggia, Aix, Cassis) 

(Starting top left: Switzerland, Grenoble, Amanda and I in Sweden, Nice, Max and I in Grenoble)

On turning 21 in Paris

In America, a 21st birthday is considered a time where you celebrate the freedom to legally consume alcohol. In Europe, the drinking age is 18 so turning 21 does not hold the same meaning as it does in USA. I was very fortunate in that my birthday celebrations began a week before my birthday with a visit from my parents, followed by a visit from Aunt Robin, Corey and Maw Maw and ending a week after with a trip to Prague.

Having my parents in Paris was such a treat. Unfortunately the weather was rather cold and rainy but getting to show them around and have wonderful long meals together was so special. We were even lucky enough to cross paths with our friend John Henderson. It was pretty amazing that our family has seen John twice this year, once in Thailand and again in France. We had a wonderful home cooked meal complete with great conversation, good wine and of course amazing French cheese. My parents were also kind enough to take me and a few friends out to a pre-birthday dinner which was equally great. I had been feeling a little homesick and the gray Paris weather had me down so having my amazing parents in town to support me was an incredible blessing.

The day my parents left also welcomed the arrival of Robin, Corey and Maw Maw. We had a great day of shopping along the Rue Saint-Honore and looking in all of the couture stores on that block. It's almost like going to museums. Robin gave me a very special birthday gift, a beautiful white gold Hermés cuff and Maw Maw also got me an incredible gift, a very cool snake ring that matches the bracelet perfectly. I will always look at the bracelet and ring and be reminded of Paris, my family and a wonderful birthday. We ate amazing meals and I was given much needed advice about life and my upcoming job. It was so wonderful getting to spend the time with them and especially on my birthday. The night of my birthday we went to Chez Georges and ended the night by watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle. It was such a special night and it made me so thankful for my family and the opportunity I've been given to study here in Paris. Overall, I couldn't have ask for a better birthday and I'm so happy I was able to celebrate with family in Paris!

Bonnes pâques and Switzerland

Bonnes pâques (or Happy Easter) from Europe! I spent my Easter between Geneva, Lausanne and Paris with my good friend Aly. Switzerland was an absolutely beautiful country and being in the land of chocolate for Easter was a nice treat (literally and figuratively!).

We arrived in Geneva on Friday to rain and clouds, not exactly what we had in mind for a vacation. All of the stores were closed on Friday because of Good Friday so we just grabbed a lunch by the main church in Geneva and then went back to our hostel for a nap. That night we had an amazing dinner at a small restaurant  Aly had never had fondue so a fancy Swiss restaurant seemed like the perfect place for her to try it. We felt with empty wallets but full stomachs and the nice dinner made up for all the bad weather that day.

The next day we took a train to Lausanne, a small town on Lac Léman. The day started off rainy also but luckily cleared up about mid day. We walked all over the little town and ended the day at the harbor. Despite the mist, the lake was still breathtakingly beautiful. We could just barely see the Alps peaking over the clouds but it was still unlike any lake I've ever seen. Coming from Michigan, I never thought I'd see something as beautiful as the Great Lakes but the Swiss lakes come pretty close to beating them. We grabbed some chocolate truffles to eat on the train ride home which gave us enough energy to continue walking around once we returned to Geneva.

On Easter Sunday, we finally got a glimpse of the sun! We walked around Geneva and enjoyed a cup of coffee in an outdoor terrace, which felt very European. The most enjoyable part of the day was sitting by the lake and watching the Jet de l'Eau which is a giant water fountain in the the lake. We returned to Paris that night and luckily Aly was able to stay all day Monday so we got a chance to enjoy Paris together.

We got lucky again with the weather and went to all of the big places in Paris like the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre Coeur. I hadn't had a chance to walk around Montmartre yet so it was great getting to see the area in the sun.

Another great weekend in Europe and many more to look forward too!

What I miss about America and love about Paris

Two months down. Six to go. There are times when all I want to do is drive to McDonalds at 1am and get a milkshake and other times when all I want to do is sit by the Seine and look at art.

European culture is incredibly different than America and as a person who truly enjoys new places, new cultures and new people, I never expected to miss home. In France nothing stays open past 10pm and on Sundays, everything is closed. I always hated the convenience culture of America, so I find it ironic that I miss it so much. There also aren't Sour Patch Kids here, which is a big problem.

I also have been a little taken off guard by the way people dress here. I didn't anticipate how truly chic and put together everyone is. I figured coming here after New York would be a walk in the park but the Parisian people have a wardrobe unlike anything I've seen. It mostly consists of fur and Louis Vuitton. I also sorely underestimated how much the french people wear tights and didn't bring nearly enough with me. And sweat pants, forget about it. The children here also dress better than a majority of Americans, which is equally adorable and intimidating.

Despite these differences, Paris has been an incredible place to grow and learn from. The people here are very private, which I think Americans perceive as coldness. It took a few months of going to the same places everyday to warrant a small smile or an inquiry about my day. However, once a french person talks to you, you know it's because they actually like you and not because they fell obligated to.

The thing I love most about Paris is being on my own. I can travel to so many places and see so many things and having only myself to relay on and face new challenges with is an incredibly rewarding experience. Self-discovery is wonderful and luckily I have friends here to help me along the way. There are times when I miss my friends and family a lot and I would be lying if I said there hadn't been a few tears or times when I wish I could be in Ann Arbor.

I tell myself that these times of homesickness are good because they reaffirm the importance of those things in my life. In being away from Ann Arbor, I've been able to truly appreciate the friends I have there because the important ones have all made an effort to connect with me and stay in touch. It makes me feel even more blessed knowing I have such a great group of people to come back to.

I've also been lucky enough to see friends abroad, including my close friends Lane, Aly and Sarah. It was so great getting to play tourist with them and show them all around Paris. Reconnecting with friends on the other side of world is a very wonderful experience.


Paris is a place where you're encouraged to slow down and reflect, something that is difficult to do in America. So despite the lack of Shamrock Shakes, cheap food and basketball, Paris has been a great place for me.

Vatican and the Papal blessing

On our last full day in Rome, we decided to go to the Vatican for the first papal blessing of Pope Francis. Unfortunately we missed the actual prayer but it was still a very special experience to be in the Vatican on the same day. As you can imagine, there was a plethora of people from all over the world who came to witness the Pope. We saw flags from Argentina, Mexico and all over the world being waved in the crowd.

We wanted to get into St. Peter's basilica but it was very difficult to find the entrance with the crowds so we approached two friendly looking deacons to ask for directions. As chance would have it, one of the deacons was responsible for the churches of Michigan and knew the catholic church in Owosso. It never ceases to amaze me how small our world is and this kind man gave us not only directions to the basilica but also a blessing for safe travels.

After pushing through the crowds we made it into the basilica and I was completely caught off guard by what was inside. I had no expectations for what the basilica would look like and it astounded me with its beauty. From seeing the Pieta to simply observing the magnificent scluptures and ornamentation of the building, the basilica was one of the most beauitful things I've ever seen. In addition, there were also prayer services occurring so a majestical chant floated around me as I walked through the church. For not being a particularly religious person, it was a very moving experience.

We were not able to see the Sistine Chapel because it was still closed for conclave. After leaving the Vatican we saw a few more sites in Rome and ended the day with a wonderful meal. Italy was a magical country and I'm so excited to be going back there and share such a beautiful place with my whole family.

Italian journey continued: Florence

After spending a few days in Rome, I caught a train and headed to Florence. Despite the fact that the train left at 8:30am it was impossible for me to sleep because I had a coveted window seat and the Italian countryside was too beautiful to sleep through. This trip validated my love for traveling by train because in addition to moving from A to B, I got to absorb more of Italy, including vineyards, chateaux and quaint towns. 

We arrived around late evening in Florence and the first thing we did was find gelato. My friend who studies in Florence gave us a great recommendation and it was hands down the best gelato I've ever had in my life. I had two cones just because I wanted to try as many flavors as possible. Our hostel was located close to the famous church in Florence and it was breathtaking to pass such an amazing structure multiple times in day.

That night we had an amazing dinner at a small restaurant called Il Latini. While it was slightly out of our student budget, it was definitely worth the expense. Our waiter absolutely loved us and kept bringing us additional dishes with the appropriate Italian wine. Our meal ended up being upwards of 4 hours but it was so enjoyable to have each dish explained to us by an Italian native and really sit and enjoy our food like the Europeans do. 

The next day we had absolutely flawless weather, which we took full advantage of. Our hostel offered us a walking tour of the city and we got to see all of the key historical sites and learn more about the history of Florence. We stopped at the main bridge in Florence which was conveniently located next to a gelato place, which we couldn't say no to. After the tour ended we went to go see Michelango's David which was one of the most breathtaking works of art I've ever seen. I've always been more interested in painting over sculpture but David was unlike anything I've ever witnessed. It was a flawless work of craftsmanship and I could have spent all day staring at it. Unfortunately though, our stomachs were grumbling and only an authentic Italian panini could help us. We went to a small place that was recommended by my friend and had I an incredibly flavorful and delicious panini.

Florence was a very different city from Rome and I wish I could have had more time to discover it but considering I ate gelato four times in the two days I was there it was probably for the best I didn't stick around any longer! 

My first few days in Roma

Hi everyone! I just returned from a wonderful trip to Rome and Florence, Italy. I've outlined my first day below but I will be writing another post for my days in Florence and my trip to the Vatican. Overall, Italy was such a beautiful country and as a complete art and food addict, I couldn't have been happier there.

We arrived in Rome late on Wednesday night and after some interesting Italian/English translation made it to our hostel where we instantly passed out.

The next day we walked all over Rome and covered pretty much the whole city. The first stop we made was the Colosseum. We got to walk around inside and it was amazing to see how well the building has stood the test of time. We also saw the Italian equivalent to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider which was in a magnificent structure.

After that we walked to another part of the city for pizza and the weather was nice enough that we got to eat outside. I had a mushroom and truffle oil pizza, probably one of the better things I've tasted! We then walked to the Pantheon and had some amazing gelato at a famous gelatori. After we walked to the Trevi Fountian and threw coins in.

We ended the day with a great meal in a small local place and went to some bars around the Italian university.

My favorite thing about Rome (besides the food of course) is all of the amazing architecture. It's truly incredible how ancient all of the buildings are and what good shape they are in. It's breathtaking to be wandering around the city and pass magnificent sculptures and buildings from ancient times.

While it was only one day I was pretty pleased with how much of the city we covered and the fact we did it all on foot. We definitely earned our gelato and pasta dishes!

Sorry for the lull

Hi everyone, sorry I've been MIA lately, a lot has been going on. These past few weeks have been marked by a lot of planning, classes and of course, fun.

This past weekend I was lucky enough to spend with two of my dear friends Colleen and Maggie, both of whom are sorority sisters with me at Michigan. They are also studying in Paris and I got the spend the weekend with them in their apartment cooking and doing some exploring of Paris. I made a visit to Angelina, which is a famous tea place in Paris very similar to Serendipity. They are famous for their hot chocolate so of course I had to get some. It was unlike anything I've ever had before and was similar to drinking melted chocolate. Very very rich but also so yummy. It was the perfect thing for a cold, snowy day.

About two weeks ago the weather finally got nice in Paris. It was high 40s and sunny so my friends Elana and Jackie and I went to the Eiffel Tower. We walked away from the tower and had a great view of everything, plus found a nice patch of grass to take a little nap. Pretty amazing get to have a mid day nap under the Eiffel Tower!

On Friday I made a day trip to Versailles. It was absolutely freezing and the gardens are under construction so unfortunately I didn't get to spend time discovering those but going around the château was amazing. We had a special guided tour and got to see parts of the château that are normally closed. Versailles is truly breathtaking. Each room you go into is as amazing (if not more) than the last. Everything is covered in ornate gold details and the furniture, art works and other accessories of the time have been very well preserved and are included in the tour. Of course, we made a stop in the famous places of Versailles like the Hall of Mirrors. I could spend days just wandering around there, a few hours was hardly enough.

I also had the most delicious desert of my life at a lovely dinner with Hubert and Michele last week. I hadn't had an éclair in France yet and saving up till this one was so worth it. Hubert told me that they used real dark chocolate to make it and even included real gold on the end. No wonder it was so good! I also had laryngitis around this time and for future reference red wine and éclairs make for great home remedies.

That's all from here. March marks the beginning of my travels so there will be lots more to come!

First trip to the Louvre and other things

On Superbowl Sunday I stayed up all night to watch the game. Well, really it was to watch Beyoncé but it was still nice to have a night of American football, beers and wings. That following Monday, classes officially commenced here in Paris and it was a little bit of an adjustment because I kind of forgot I'm here to take classes. All of my classes are in french which makes it hard to follow along all the time but the other students are in a similar situation so we all help each other out.

I've also been taking some drawing classes which I've really enjoyed. Granted, my artistic skills aren't the best but I really enjoy the class. Thursday was a little bit shocking because we had to draw and paint a live nude model and that was definitely not something I was expecting. It was also slightly overwhelming because the other people in the class are advanced and I'm just a beginner. Luckily, my friend Jackie is taking the same class as me and having a friend is very comforting. Here are my paintings from the first two classes!

The highlight of my week though was a trip to the Louvre. It's such an enormous building but I went with my professor for a class so luckily I had a guide. I even got a quick glimpse of the Mona Lisa! We walked through the 19th century Neoclassicism wing, which features some of my favorite artists. I was particularly excited to see David's "Death of Marat" in person and a bunch of Delacroix works, as those are some of my favorites.

After the Louvre my friends Jackie, Elana and I walked around a district called Marais. It houses the Jewish quarter, some great falafel stands and lots of cute little boutiques. We had a little taste of America and had a large brunch at a restaurant which specializes in American food.

I've also been taking long walks around Paris to get and know the city better and the city never ceases to amaze me with it's beauty. Here's a picture of Paris at dusk.

I've also been doing a lot of travel planning. So far I've booked a trip to Rome, Italy during the second week of March and another trip to Geneva, Switzerland the week after that. I will also be going to Versailles and Reims in the coming weekends. I can't wait to see more of both France and Europe!

Paris week 2

Here's an overview of my second week in Paris!

Sunday

My friend Elana and I met up and went on a nice walk around the popular parts of Paris, including the Tuileries, which is a famous garden in Paris filled with statues. I caught my first glimpse of blue skies in Paris and it was absolutely beautiful. We had lunch at a small café and ended the day at Laudrée, which is famous for their macaroons and other pastries. We walked back towards the big feris wheel in Paris and ran into our friend Sam. Even though Paris is a big town, it's still common to bump into people. We ate our treats with a spectacular view of the sun setting over Paris. We then walked to the Eiffel Tower and had a late night bottle of wine under the tower. It definitely didn't feel like real life. 

Monday
Even though classes don't start until next week my program had us do a week of french grammer classes as a little refresher before courses started. After my class ended I walked around the area where my program is with my friends Elana, Jackie and Deanna. It was cold and rainy so we didn't last long and ended up getting a coffee and a crêpe.


Tuesday
My friends Kevin and Jackie and I went to the Grand Lafayette which is the mega mega mega retail store in Paris. I say mega because it's the biggest thing I've ever seen and this is coming from an American! The quality of retail there was insane. Unlike the US, where big department stores offer lower cost options, Grand Lafayette only had designer brands. Prada, Dior and Chanel dominated the store, not to mention the two floors of shoes and another floor of only make up. We instantly became overwhelmed and choose to duck out and into a small café. That night my roommate Chelsea and I met up with a friend of mine from Michigan who lived close by to do some exploring of the Oberkaumpf district of Paris.


Wednesday
I went to the Musée d'Orsay with a group of students from my program and we got a guided tour completely in french. While I couldn't understand everything, I was definitely able to follow along. It was so amazing getting to see the works of Manet, Cézanne and the other impressionists in person. My favorite painting that we saw was definitely Manet's Olympia. Especially considering that picture was the topic of a paper for one of my previous art history classes, seeing it person was truly breath taking.

Thursday
My friends and I went and walked around Montmartre and I had my first Croque Monsieur, which is a popular french dish of ham and melted cheese with a side of salad. After that, we walked through the Red Light district and saw the Moulin Rouge. It's a lot smaller than I expected and it was odd seeing an old building in the midst of modern looking ones. I also went to a McDonald's (called MacDo here). The menu features totally different things than the US and includes french foods like baguettes and macaroons. It's also a lot more expensive than in the states but the food is much better quality.



On Friday I got my hair done, which was the perfect way to end the week. That night, I was treated to a magnificent dinner by Michele and Hubert Varlet, who are the most wonderful couple and have been such a great help to me as I get used to living in Paris.



Overall, things have been really great and I'm very happy with what my life is becoming here. I've made a great group of friends and I'm working on planning some trips with them. As far as classes go, they're listed below and officially start Monday.
-Art and Architecture in France from the Late Gothic to Baroque Period
-Advanced French Grammer
-Paris Museums: History of Art
-History of France
-Two drawing classes at a local university called Académie de la Croix Nivert

First weekend in Paris

After a great little sojourn to the Loire Valley, I spent the rest of the weekend getting to know Paris a little better. It was nice because I've gotten to know some people on my program better, so we all went around the city together. I live in a really great area of Paris, as my apartment is about a 10 minute walk from the Bastille. The Bastille area is known for its great crêpe places and bars. I've discovered a great crêperie that sells crêpes for only 2 euros. Great deal and they're absolutely delicious too!

On Saturday, Chelsea and I spelt in really late but we finally left the apartment and went to the Hôtel de Ville, walked up and down the Seine and walked around the french equivalent of Macy's, called BHV. All of the positive stereotypes about France are true. The city is so old and romantic, all of the buildings are so charming. Check out the photos below!

Only 10 minutes away from me

Hôtel de Ville 

View from the Seine

Carousel at the Hôtel de Ville 

Loire Valley + I eat meat now

I just returned home from a two day trip to the Loire Valley, which is a region about 4 hours from Paris.  The Loire Valley was basically the Hamptons for the French Kings and the valley is filled with old châteaux. We saw two while we were there and also got a chance to explore the charming local town of Blois.

The first château that we saw was Château de Chambord. It was used as a hunting lodge by the Duke of Chambord. The château was very fun to explore but it was quite cold inside. Central heating isn't really something found in old castles and it was slightly drafty. Luckily we found a great little fireplace with a fire inside the castle so we warmed up there when we needed.

After that we went to a small vineyard where we got a tour of the winery and had our first wine tasting. We got to try white, rosé and red. My favorite was the red. We also were supplied with fresh goat cheese and baguettes. The experience was definitely dampened by the cold weather but we still had a great time. We stayed the night in a very nice hotel, where we were treated to a great meal of salmon and risotto plus bottomless bottles of wine.

The next morning we went to the Château de Blois. This was by far my favorite château because it was filled with a lot of historical artifacts from the original palace, including some amazing art work. The town of Blois is a quintessential French town, with small patisseries on every corner and narrow, cobblestone streets. We all really enjoyed getting to discover the town.

The trip was really great because it gave everyone on my program a better chance to get to know each other. I also made the decision to start eating chicken again. Meat in France is completely different than the US and it tastes incredibly fresh and delicious. I also didn't want to miss out on anything in Paris and that includes the food. The French really have a hard time handling vegetarians and the chicken dishes here look too delicious to miss.

Make sure to check out my photo tabs for more pictures from the Loire Valley!

Orientation: The first few days

The first few days in Paris have been a little bit of blur. For the past two days, I've been at orientation, which is very similar to orientation in the US, expect it's in french. We've discussed classes, french culture and other aspects of our program and life in France. It's been a little boring having to be stuck in a room all day when I could be out exploring the city, but I know it's important. On the first day of orientation, I left the center during lunch with another person in my program. We walked across the street and ordered a croissant and some coffee before strolling up and down the street. The center is located on la rue Daguerre, which is partially blocked off from cars, making it a very nice place to walk to everyday.

The metro in France is very easy to use and everybody takes it. I actually think it's easier to use than the subway in New York City. The french use ID cards to scan into the station, which is a lot easier to keep track of than a piece of paper like in New York.

That night my room mate Chelsea and our new friend Kevin went to a local bar near le Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. The bar was clearly a local bar and we stuck out instantly but we still managed to have a fun time. The beer in France is delicious, especially la bière blanche, which is the equal price to a Budweiser or Miller Lite but tastes like a Stella Artois.

On the way home from orientation Chelsea and I were really hungry so we stopped in at a small restaurant for a pizza and we had a very nice conversation with the owner about American football and the Superbowl. The thing that's great about France is you can find a great meal anywhere at anytime. So far, I have not been disappointed.

Tonight, I met up with a french friend of mine and it was absolutely wonderful. I want to try and spend as much time with french people and make french friends because I know that's how I will learn to speak. We talked about what young people do in France for fun and french politics. There is a big election in 2 weeks to vote on the legalization of gay marriage in France and I've been told that I will see lots of demonstrations. The french love to protest and a lot of young people dislike the current president because he hasn't done anything to help young people find jobs. My friend said that most young people must leave Paris after graduating because it's not possible to get a job.

Tomorrow I have to be up at 6am because our group is going to the Loire Valley for two days to see the castles and do a wine tasting. More to come soon!

Mon premier jour

First post from Paris!! It still hasn't really sunk in that I'm here and it certainly doesn't feel like I'll be here for 8 more months. I was incredibly lucky and there were no problems with my flight into Paris, despite numerous other travelers who were experiencing cancelations and major delays.

I arrived in Paris just as the sun was rising and I had the most helpful and friendly driver who assisted me with all my baggage and gave me helpful hints about Paris. My host mother is very kind but doesn't speak any english. This is both a good and bad thing. Good, because it means I'm forced to speak french to her but bad because it makes communicating hard.

My room is very nice and I'm lucky enough to have my own space. I also have a little balcony  which will be great to have once the weather gets warm. Unfortunately  the view from my room isn't very scenic because I live on a very small side street off the main street, but it's very close to a metro station and some cute pâtisseries and cafés. My roommate lives in the room next to me and we share a bathroom. My room is lacking some necessities like a full length mirror and hooks for the wall but overall, it's great.

The shower and the toilets are in separate rooms, which has been an adjustment. The utilities in France are extremely expensive and for this reason, showers are to be kept very very short and lights are off most of the time. The shower has been the biggest adjustment because unlike the US, the shower head isn't stationary. This means I have to hold the shower head and this had made washing my hair and body a little difficult.

All of these cultural differences in combination with the jet lag caused me to freak out a little bit but everything ended up okay because my Aunt Robin came to the rescue. Luckily, she was in Paris the same day I arrived and I met her at her hotel for a short nap and then we went out for a wonderful dinner at Chez Georges. We ate escargot, fish and of course, bread and wine. I was also lucky enough to make the acquaintance of Robin's two friends Hubert and Michele, who offered me help at anytime. It is so reassuring to know that if there is ever a problem or even if I want to ask questions about cool places around Paris, I have a very nice couple to help me.

We ended the night with a wonderful drive around Paris. It's true what the say about Paris at night, it is even more beautiful. We saw the Eiffel Tour, le Arc de Triomphe and other famous buildings around Paris. Perfect way to end a long day of travel!

Soundtracking Paris

While I can only assume that the French listen to some American music (and if they don't religiously listen to Beyoncé, I'm just moving), there will undoubtedly be a plethora of new artists to discover and explore.

Since I'm not actually in Paris yet, the first installment of Soundtracking Paris will be the music I've been listening to throughout the semester whenever I'm feeling like getting in a Paris state of mind. 

1. Les Champs-Élysées by Joe Dassin

Named after the famous street, the upbeat tune makes this the perfect song for envisioning myself walking down Les Champs-Élysées.

2. Quelqu'un M'a Dit by Carla Bruni

Like I would have a French themed playlist that did not include the ultimate Frenchwoman, former first lady and YSL model CB.

3. Complainte De La Butte by Rufus Wainwright

Yes, I admit I got this song from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack but there is no flaw in Rufus Wainwright's perfect voice and the french is an added bonus.

4. Free Man in Paris by Joni Mitchell

This song will always make me think of a conversation I had with a friend about 3 summers ago, driving home from Northern Michigan. The windows were down, we were jamming out to this song and discussing how one day we were going on grand adventures. How ironic that this same friend was in Paris exactly one month ahead of me. Funny how the world works like that. 

5. Diamonds by Rihanna

While this song actually has nothing to do with Paris, it seems the appropriate theme song for the city of lights. I also have a feeling that this song will be huge there and I have big plans to see her perform in Paris.

Paris Preparation

I'm sitting in my bed suffering from severe jet lag and there are a lot of thoughts running through my mind, both bad and good, and I've come to the conclusion that there are too many unknowns about Paris to spend time stressing over them. Sure, my french isn't great but I know how to say wine and coffee and really what more do you need in Paris?

There is a lot of preparation that goes into a semi-permanent cross-Atlantic move, but I've discovered there are really three categories to it all; packing, communication and accommodations.


Packing 
Packing turned out to be quite an endevenor. Bringing 8 months worth of clothes and shoes in two bags is no easy task. The bags ended up being 48 and 49 pounds respectively, which is (barely!) under the weight restriction. I'm still amazed I managed to fit it all, but I definitely have no room to buy so much as a sock in Paris. Considering the price of clothing in Paris, that's probably for the best.

Communication
The phone business turned out to be complicated as well. Verizon offered ridiculously expensive global plans and giving up my iPhone was really not an option for me. Luckily, the iPhone is a very internationally friendly phone and I managed to find a great solution. I've bought a SIM card for my phone and will be using it upon arriving in France. This will give me a new French number, which is really exciting but unforunately, not a great thing for staying in contact with everyone in the states.

If you have an iPhone, download the application "WhatsApp." This app uses WiFi connections to send text messages and because it doesn't relay on a service, it's completely free to send texts or pictures. Here's the link to download it in the app store WhatsApp. I am also a big fan of Skype dates, just keep in mind the 6 hour time difference and I promise to be good about emailing anyone back.


Accommodation 

• I'm living in the 11th arrondissement. My apartment is the "A" 

• I'll be staying with a host family, though it's not really a family because it's just one middle aged woman who has full grown children who no longer live with her. I do have one other room mate who is in the same program as me.

Paris will be amazing, but going is a bittersweet feeling. I'm leaving a great life behind in Ann Arbor and it just seems right to dedicate my pre-Paris post to all of the amazing friends and family that I won't be seeing for awhile and who I will miss quite a lot. Definitely send emails/facebook/carrier pigeons as necessary.

To all my friends studying abroad, hope to see you somewhere in Europe!

More adventures to come!

Bisous (word for kisses in French)
-A