So I've arrived here earlier than the school has asked me to. Yes, that's just how much I like to be on time. Kidding (sort of)!
Already here, I've had to deal with a few things, but none are too much for this girl to handle! I already tackled the 10+ hour flight straight from LAX to Charles De Gaulle, and I have done many, many more since.
I stood in the rain in front of my apartment waiting for my landlord. Then my mother told me to use someone's phone to call! Ask a stranger to use their phone!? That's certainly unheard of. But, apparently not impossible. I cross the street to see two strapping lads building chairs in a chair-making store across the tiny street. I ask them to use their phone.
Why?
Because I'm waiting for someone, and it's raining...and I am smiling so-o-o-o nicely that you should let me use your phone. "Parce que j'attend quelqu'un et je n'ai pas une téléphone. Je voudrais juste contacter quelqu'un à Paris...S'IL VOUS PLAIT!"
"Bien!" Ah yes, he said GREAT and guided me to a phone.
Within 5 minutes the landlord comes, and I talk to him en français because he says his English is disastrous.
Phone? Check.
Internet? Ohhh yes.
The confidence to carry on? Hopefully.
Anyway, it was raining that night. We had noodles in the comfort in my apartment. It's really not like what the pictures said it would be. So remember folks: proceed with an open heart and strong stomach. But, I mean, it's clean...I have to walk down these tiny and narrow steps to the bedroom, and I think anyone 5'7" and above will definitely have to duck.
I'm right at the street, and so I hear all the beeping, all the smooshing of the cars trying to get in a parking space. But really, it's tiny -- a one-way street.
Hmm...I fell asleep to a French dubbed version of "Everybody Hates Chris".
SATURDAY brought bright skies (incroyable!) and cool weather. Mother and I went on a long, but fulfilling walk through the neighborhood (finding this wonderful crêperie in some little street), which has the most beautiful buildings...ever (or as my handy National Geographic book says, it has "the most concentrated number of art nouveau and art deco buildings in Pars" -- FYI this is where the NYU center is). Also great treasures of great places all around. Then more walking, walking, walking to a place called the Trocadero and then walking around there, going across the Seine by walking over a bridge, to magnificently find...The Eiffel Tower.
It was great. Really. Really incredible work there, Mr. Eiffel. I applaud you.
So we continued to walk through the big Parc du Champs de Mars, and then it gets really exciting because I love Napoleon. We saw the Ecole Militaire where, oh my God, Napoleon attended and was trained --- excellent), and then walk, walk, walk (a lot of walking) to theeee Hôtel des Invalides, where...oh my God, Napoleon's tomb is! He's there! Under this beautiful dome of marble, gold, and splendor.
Then we walk back. Wow. And there are these cute little kids who are just so-o-o-o-o adorable in every way. They seem so happy with such simple things like these old school carts and donkeys.
I must say, my first night here, I was still grappling with the fact that I'm going to have to live here for the next few months. I was terrified, I was, I was. But now, especially with the skies so blue (bye bye blue skies..soon), I felt very good and comfortable with everything. I guess if you've lived and survived in a city as crazy and hectic as NYC, you can just about tackle anything. Right? Riiight.
Oh, my mother, though...has been yelled at twice by old French ladies in the 16e. So, travelers, BEWARE! Otherwise, my experiences with them (not old French ladies, but others) has been...dare I say? "Good" so far. Not really needing to be in quotes, but sort of needing to be since jinxing is universal.