Friday, January 22, 2010

Day 5 in the City of Love

So I guess I'm overdue for an update considering I haven't written a thing since the first day.  Paris is overwhelming, in a good way though I think.  This city has so much to offer for just about anyone.  There are so many sculptures and museums that it's almost difficult to figure out what to do or where to go first.  Thankfully, we have 4 months to fit in as much as we can.

The days have not been all that exciting.  Tuesday started the school/ISA meetings for the week.  Tuesday was a general orientation which could have been shorter if some people learned social skills when they were younger.  But, for the most part, I like the people in our little ISA group and it'll be nice to have 27 other people to make plans with if all else fails.  After the meeting we all, all 28 of us, trekked over to the metro to get our metro cards filled (embarrassing large group of people to be walking around a foreign city with) and then went to the school where Eulan, the international students director for the school, told us 90% of the information we had been told by ISA and about 10% relating to the school that we needed.  All in all it wasn't bad because at the very least we got to get to know everyone in our group a little better.  Sasha, Stephen, and I finished our afternoon off with a nice espresso from a small place near school.

Wednesday we had to be back at ISA for a common-sense meeting about the homestays.  The more useful part was the places around town to go and where to find deals for international students.  The best part was getting our IDs for the Louvre, meaning we can go whenever we want and not have to pay.  I think I'll be spending some quiet afternoons there.  Sasha and I went exploring in the afternoon.  Paris sales are dangerous, but I have managed to not buy anything, yet.  It's just amazing how you can turn the corner and find a treasure that anyone else may have walked right past. That night we had a wine and cheese event at school to meet other students.  Mostly we stuck to ourselves but I did meet a few others.  After, three of us went to St Michel.  Before we made it to the street with the bars however we got to see Notre Dame.  I must say it is one of the most magnificent buildings I've ever seen.  We got some pretty good pictures and could even see the Eiffel Tower from where we were ;) haha.  After we found a bar where all the employees were wearing masquerade masks and when the bar tender saw us outside we gestured us in.  They put sparklers on their mixed drinks, which I found fascinating, but they also put a 14 euro price on them.  So we each got a beer before wandering back around St Michel trying to find somewhere else to go, but ultimately going home.

Yesterday we got to sleep in, sort of.  Dany bought Sasha and me new wardrobes, or armoires (sp?), so in the morning we had to unpack all of our things from the old ones and help move them out so the new ones could come in.  Dany was slightly freaking out at the change but Sasha said it's a French thing to overreact to the littlest things being moved around or changed.   She even wanted to reorganize our stuff into the wardrobes while we were gone in the afternoon but we insisted she let us figure it out when we got back.  She had done enough.  But sure enough when we got home the furniture had all been moved around, which made the room more spacious ultimately, and some of our things had been put away.  She strained her back somewhat doing so, so she made our dinner and went to bed.  I wish she had let us help, but I guess at least we did offer.  Sasha and I are going to buy flowers for her either today or this weekend as a thank you.

The American Business School put together a trip down the Seine river for us yesterday afternoon.  And I must say I was pretty excited about it.  I mean the river trip we went on in Russia was absolutely amazing, one of the best moments on the trip.  But this...yeah this was not what I was hoping for at all.  We spent the first hour going through the locks (lockes?) and then another 15 in a tunnel while the guy told us about all the cool things that were above the tunnel...fantastic.  When we finally did get to the river it was pretty, well the sites were, the river was full of trash and even sitting inside the boat I could smell it at times, but I felt like I could have gotten most of the same cool pictures from land.  But I guess it's just part of the experience? I don't know.  I would love to go on another one that leaves past the locks so we might be able to see the Eiffel Tower & such from the river.

Last night I was determined to stay in and get some rest.  Too bad I failed.  Our other roommate, Melissa, and I went to find this lounge in her guidebook.  We went the wrong way and then couldn't find it for a while.  We also met the first rude French person I have met since being here.  He asked us for directions on the street and when Melissa's friend tried to tell him he blew us off and said he figured we were from Jersey?  No idea what that was supposed to mean.  But he was rude. But I'll admit, it was worth it.  From the outside the words "Le Bar 10" were scribbled on the building and it pretty much looked like the sketchiest thing ever.  But inside was different.  There were vintage posters covering ALL the walls, I tried to get pictures but didn't want to stick out TOO much as an American in Paris.  Melissa, her friend, and I all got Sangria which came in one thing and it was the best I've ever had.  There were chunks of oranges in it and it was just amazing. haha.  Didn't get in till 2 this morning and up way too early for the meeting at school.

And that brings me to today.  Today we had a meeting with the dean of the school.  Excuse me, but what a bitch.  She made comments like "don't come to me, it's not my problem" and was just overall not welcoming at all.  She was also clearly American.  She talked about how miserable we would all be for a while...and I was just like THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT.  Knowing me, when the semester is over I will be writing her a nice email saying what I think.  Even if it gets me no where someone should say something.  Her french accent was even worse then mine.  And I would just expect someone who clearly had to adjust to the culture like we have to would be a whole lot friendlier.  I hope I never have another encounter with her.  The meeting was pretty pointless, just about setting up email, and how to read the chart for where the classes are.  I felt like a third grader.  But it is strange that the classes change rooms every week.

It's interesting, especially on the metro, watching how people interact.  I mean there were two people, clearly messed up, on the metro last night yelling at each other, and for the most part people just pretended they didn't know it was happening.  In the states, someone would say something, almost guarantee it.  I'm not sure which is better.  But the French, at least in public, seem a lot better at minding their own business.

The hardest part right now is the relationship with my host, Dany.  She's so nice but I feel like I don't exist at points.  Since Sasha is fluent she is quick to go to her about anything and then have her translate.  I can pick up a lot at dinner, but it's hard to learn.  She did tell Sasha, and then later on me, that she was going to try to get better at talking to Melissa and me more.  I hope this happens because I really do want to learn the language, I just know it'll take times.  And I appreciate how generous and friendly she is to us.  She has already done so much.

Sasha is also my saving grace.  When I mess up she catches it, and when she does it, I do the same.  We got lucky with our roommate situation because we get along really well and I feel like I've known her forever already.  She's definitely going to be a big help in me learning the language just a bit faster.  Starting my French class next week will also help.

So if anyone made it through this post I'll be truly impressed.  But, now it's time to go find a straightener, food, and hopefully some flowers for Dany.  Out tonight with people I hope :)

Au Revoir<3

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