Settling In

     These last two weeks have been such a whirlwind of art museums, cafés, language classes, and lots of walking! Last week was our 'orientation' session: we had conversational workshops in the mornings and then a few activities in the afternoon or evening. There was lots of time to explore Paris on our own. Here is my attempt at listing everywhere I visited: the Salvador Dali museum, the wax museum of Paris, Montparnasse tower, the Catacombs, the Paris museum of photography, Tokyo Palace (a modern art museum), and Musée de l'Orangerie (a museum of impressionist art) - not to mention countless cafés and brasseries. I always try to take my camera with me when I go somewhere particularly exciting, so I'm really starting to have a lot of photos. With Flickr, I can organize the pictures on a map showing exactly where they were taken: you can view that map by clicking here.

     Last weekend, the group took a mini-trip out to the country outside of Paris to see Royaumont Abbey and Chantilly Chateau. Both were very pretty - it was nice to get out of the city for a few hours. Also, the program set up three special tours - one of a boulangerie (bakery), one at a chocolaterie, and a wine-and-cheese tasting.  All of them were interesting, not to mention delicious. I'm really enjoying the fact that food plays such a central role in French culture - I've never eaten so well in my life!

     'Real' classes began this week, both at Reid Hall (where courses are taught by French professors but are only open to the people on our program) and at the Parisian universities. At Reid Hall, I am taking Réagir sur la France d'aujourd'hui (Responding to Today's France), Paris 1789 à 1939: Histoire, Littérature, et Beaux Arts (Paris 1789-1939: History, Literature and Fine Arts), and L'histoire non-officielle de la construction européenne (The Unofficial History of European Construction).  I've attended two classes at Paris 7 (one of the public Parisian universities): sociology of the family and sociology of inequalities.  Both were large classes, and in both I felt like the professor was a little questionable. I guess Wesleyan has just spoiled me. I'm hoping instead to attend a few lecture series at the International School of Philosophy, and work with a private tutor to individually discuss what I learn there.

     To complicate matters, all of the Parisian university professors are probably going on strike next week... and tomorrow all of the public transportation workers are going on strike. I always knew that the strike is an integral part of French life, but you never really understand it until you have to experience one yourself! Since the Métro and the buses probably won't be running tomorrow, it looks like I'll have to walk the 45 minutes to Reid Hall. I'm just grateful that I don't live too far away (like some of my friends).

     Well it's almost 8:30 - dinnertime in France. A bientôt!

Je suis arrivée!

     I've finally gotten settled into Paris after a very long flight, a bit of jetlag, and a few days in an American hostel with the other students from the program. Yesterday I moved in to my long term housing, which is the apartment of my host family. I'm living with an older widowed woman named Thérèse-Marie in the Latin Quarter. I'm only one block from the Seine River, and a few blocks down from Notre Dame. There are two other students from the program nearby - one a few floors up in the same building, and another a couple blocks away.

     We've spent the last few days doing orientations, visiting museums, and walking around Paris to learn the city. So far I've visited the Centre Pompidou, which is a modern art museum, and Notre Dame. I've put up a few pictures on my Flickr site which you can get to by clicking here.

     My first impressions of Paris are that it is more aesthetically beautiful than any city I've ever been to. Grandeur and history are everywhere and undeniable, in a way that I've never found in North American cities. The Metro system is also far superior to any public transportation system I've used - it is mostly clean, very fast, and extremely accessible.

     As far as the Parisians, I at first compared them to New Yorkers. Both walk quickly and with direction, avoid looking you in the eye, and don't say excuse me when they bump you on the subway. However, for every rude Parisian I've encountered (so far only 2 or 3), I've met a very helpful one. I think that this is probably the rule for every major city in the world.

     My French courses and research that I did before leaving the U.S. have helped me a lot with the transition to a new country. My host mother has complimented me on my French, and for the most part, I understand what people say to me. Thus, the language barrier has not been too big for me. However, at the end of the day when I am tired and hungry, sometimes I just want to lay down on my bed and not talk to anyone in French for a while. It is exhausting being constantly inundated by a different culture and language.

     As I write this, I notice that it's become a little harder for me to write in English. A few times I even caught myself thinking "I know the word I'm looking for in French, but how do I say this in English?!" I guess this is a good sign!

     Well I hope to spend some time really getting to know the Latin Quarter and taking some photos perhaps this weekend. I haven't gotten out with my camera much because it has been so cold (though still warmer than it would be back in Connecticut). It is supposed to rain a few days this week as well.

     Again I thank you all for your encouraging messages and hope to have more for you soon!