Alright so as I promised a few observations that I found strange or interesting about Paris/France. So on the drive from the airport to Cité Université the amount of graffiti that I saw on the walls lining the road side was astounding. I did not ever think that it would be that marked up. What a bunch of little rebels the French youth are. The cars are not as small as I thought they would be, however I have no idea how the French survive with no trunk. The roads are very confusing in terms of which way the cars are going to becoming from since it seems most of the roads are one way but they are not clearly marked that way. It is very true what they say about French men and about the PDA you see, it everywhere! You have to buy a bag for the stuff you bought, today I spent ,03 euro cents on a stupid plastic bag. The French are a bit reckless in their walking, if you don't watch out they will take you down and not even say Pardon. The metro system is not as complicated as I thought it would be, but no way would I want to navigate it alone (well maybe not just yet). And finally the cashiers are the only people that I have found to be rude, well besides the crazies in the metro that will take you out.
Now on what I did today. I woke up at the unGodly hour of 5:30 AM. I went with my colocataire (roommate) to the main building where I got a pain au chocolat, my first real French food. And then meet the group to go to the headquarters of ACCENT our study abroad provider. That is where I learned to take the Metro. It was a bit never wracking but it was less so because I kinda knew what to expect because of my trip to Boston Spring Break of 2012. From the orientation we all met back up at the Jardin du Luxembourg. A super famous garden that I plan on returning to take better pictures and maybe eat a crêpe there and write. We eventually split up on our way to Place de la Concorde and the group that I was with went to eat at a pizzeria that I don't remember the name of, but it was good and I ate weird cheese.
Throughout this whole day the weather was pretty crappy. I was raining off and on most of the afternoon and evening, so the walk to Place de la Concorde was not pleasant. When we finally emerged from the metro station I got my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and had to take a picture of where I was when it sunk in that I was finally in Paris. We walked around and took a ton pictures. And decided to walk the Avenue des Champs-Élysées the very famous shopping avenue. It was a ridiculously long walk to the Arc de Triomphe. And thanks to being students we got to go to the top of the Arc for free. The weather was however super crappy so the pictures are not very good, we plan on going back to get good pictures. Now please take time to remind yourself of how clumsy I am and now image me going down a stone tightly spiraled staircase. I was not a very fast trip down, however the people behind be apparently thought it was funny in a cute way.
After we took a very long train ride back to our dorms we were very exhausted and only when to the U cafeteria where I ate wax beans, something new, be proud of me! And now I am up much too late and plan on getting up early again (but hopefully not 5:30 early). Tomorrow is our Eiffel Tower day to prepare for hopefully some very pretty pictures.
Jusqu'à demain
Bisous- Janice
Where I will be staying the next three weeks!
Jardin du Luxemburg
Jardin du Luxemberg
French pizza, it was wonderful
My first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower
Arc du Triomphe
Top of the Arc
My dorm room
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