Monday, January 19, 2015

Few pictures from my visit to le Musée du Louvre







panoramic pic on the seine

 Pont de l'Alma.  Flame de la liberté. (also a memorial for Princess Diana)

 

 
Pont de l'Alma tunnel where Princess Diana died.






 Notre Dame in the distance


Notre Dame, closer view



Had my first class today and it went VERY well. My professor is extremely funny and such a character. I really hope the rest of them are like her! (BTW, it was her classes that I missed last week and she was very pleasant about my absence!) I have two more classes tomorrow, then I'm done for the week. My classes at the University of Paris begin next Monday.


Yesterday I visited the Louvre with another young lady in my study abroad group. It was amazing. I can't wait to go again and soak up so more of the culture and history that it has to offer!


I'll post some pictures of my trip to the Louvre as well as pics from the boat ride that I promised!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

I'ss getting easier and easier for me to get around Paris, although for some reason, when it's time to go right, I go left, and vice versa. I'm always in the correct general area, but just a little turned around. :-/

I went on a boat ride on the Seine River today, it was absolutely beautiful! I took dozens of pictures, but I'll only post a few on here. 

While on that boat ride, I'm pretty sure I froze off an appendage *insert eye roll of the century*. I'm coming from Southern California and Jamaica, two places known for the warm sun and hot climates, so the cold is 10x worse for me. I hope I start to get used to it soon. 

And lastly, I met my older host brother last night (he's finally feeling better!) and he seems pretty nice so far. AND I heard some dancehall mixes he was playing in his room last night. Brownie points for you sir.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Here are some more pictures from our walk. These are from les Jardins du Luxembourg. 

UH OH.

Today I stayed home because I was feeling pretty sick (sore throat, slight fever, sinus pressure, the works! It's been budding since Monday/Tuesday). Consequently, I missed tonight's dinner (which isn't obligatory, at least, I surely hope I wasn't!). (Mistake #1, I didn't tell them I was sick. In my defense, it was because I thought there was nothing to do today, except for tonight's dinner.)

Apparently that's not all I missed.

Earlier this week when I went to the program's headquarters, I signed up in different time slots for various orientation sessions for this week. Like a good student, I went to all of them (except for one about history classes which I accidentally signed up for thinking I was going to take a history class...I'm not.) HOWEVER, due to a letter I received today that I noticed this evening after being in and out of sleep due to the medicine I took, I noticed that I overlooked these "Atelier d'écriture writing info classes which began on Tuesday...OOPS. I missed Tuesday's class and Wednesday's class because I didn't realize they were happening, and today's class because I didn't realize it was happening AND the fever had me in bed all day. Despite going to their location every day this week for the other matters, I missed the class. As a result, I got an email from the assistant director (who is here for a while) and she did NOT seem pleased. In it, she let me know about my "MANDATORY obligations" and whatnot.... *le sigh*

I responded to her email (two responses) letting her know that I went to the orientation sessions I was supposed to go to, and apologized for not informing them about feeling ill (that was the first email). It wasn't until i read over the schedule that I realized Atelier d'écriture commenced on Tuesday and, to no one's fault but my own, I was absent. After noticing, I quickly typed up another email where I acknowledged the mistake, and again, apologized. But, boy did I feel horrible.

I prayed about it and there's not much else I can do but continue from here, pay closer attention to the details in the future, and hope they aren't too upset. For someone like me who tends to have her things together and in order, this was both infuriating and embarrassing, but hey, everyone makes mistakes. Can't, and won't, beat myself up over it.



Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Isn't it a beauty? La Tour Eiffel
A little bit of home on our walk near the Sweet Briar location.
I have been extremely tired at the most random of times these last two days. All a part of getting used to the time difference I guess~

SO. I'm starting to get more comfortable walking around the neighborhood because I've figured out how to get myself back home when I'm done (my sense of direction vanished completely once my flight left Los Angeles.) I'm starting to recognize the buildings and how to get to such and such metro location, and various short cuts. Yay me! I'm still, however, terribly far from where I would like to be. All in due time...

Also, I miss my friends and family. Not to the point where I'm ready to hop on a red-eye and roll back into the Golden State, but I'm beginning to realize just how lonely a place these crowded streets can be. I have yet to get over my shy habits, so making friends is going to be quite the feat here. It's extremely different from Los Angeles where you just smile at the person next you and a few minutes later, you're talking. I've got my work cut out for me *nervous laughter*

I owe you all some pictures...let me go get those together.

À bientôt, mes amis!


Monday, January 12, 2015

Hey guys! Just a quick post before I head out today.

Yesterday was my first day using the bus here (my first day traveling the city alone!). I met up with other members of the Sweet Briar JYF study abroad program at the Café Carlu in the Musée de la Cité in Trocadéro. It was fairly simple to get there because my host mom (who is wonderful by the way!) showed me the bus station I would take and showed me on the map where I could find the one to return home. Well, I returned home, so I'll say it was pretty successful!

On the same trip, I saw the Eiffel Tower. It was right behind the museum!
(pics to come later!)

Today, I have another rendez-vous with Sweet Briar, this time at their office location. I'll be taking the metro this time, hopefully I don't get lost. ~

Also, today I want to get the chip (or sim card) that I need to be able to work the phone I brought with me. Time to interact with the oh-so-friendly Parisians that I heard about. *insert nervous laugh*....I'm sure they can't be that bad, I've already met a few who were amazingly nice and far from rude!

Later, peeps.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

My first day/night in Paris was amazing! My host family has been extremely warm and pleasant and I am really thankful that I was paired with them. They continued a birthday celebration for me (since I spent my birthday in the air), complete with galette des rois et la champagne!



Today I will be meeting up with the rest of the students in the study abroad program as well as the program directors. That means it's the first time I will travel around the city (possibly by metro, not entirely sure yet, by myself!.....

Also happening today: "des manifestations pour Charlie Hebdo".

By now, I'm sure most of you know about the attack (and subsequent hostages the day after) on the Paris-based satirical journal, Charlie Hebdo. This act of terror is fresh in the minds of Parisians and the world alike. Consequently, there will be a march today in response.

While I would like to see it, I've been advised not to go for safety reasons. However, I do intend on keeping up with it over the internet and doing a little exploring my own after meeting up with my group.


Here's a photo of a van I passed on my way home yesterday. "Je suis Charlie." "I am Charlie"

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Cafe de Deux Moulins (From the movie "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain)

(Near my home stay appartment)

Today is Saturday, January 10th. I've been traveling since yesterday morning (my birthday!). The day I turned twenty-one is also the day I set out on an adventure! Needless to say, I'm pretty tired, but the beauty that is this city has me so enthralled that only God knows if and when I'll be able to lay my headed for a much needed rest!

For the next five months, I'll be blogging my stay here in the city of love. I hope to post weekly, possibly even more if my schedule allows.

Through this blog, you can read up on my trip and learn not only the ins and outs of the city, but also what it's like to study abroad. I know for me, it's going to be a very different situation because I have never been so far from home by myself. Still, I am extremely excited to see what Paris, and all of France holds for me in the upcoming months. 

Won't you join me?! 


                                                            The view outside my room.