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.