Paris

PARIS

As I walked down the concourse to board, it was a little hard not to cry, but I thought, “I am going to Paris; why am I crying?” and tried to not focus on family and friends that I would miss but the great experiences I would have. I was blessed to sit next to a young girl who is my age, just graduated university and who is doing the same program as me, but in France.

I arrived after a bit of a funny flight and bought a phone card. I called Louis and then my Dad to spread the word I had arrived. I stayed with Louis and our friend Thomas who had come for the week too. We missed Hayoung who couldn’t be there due to a family emergency.

The first day I was so tired, yes jet lag but it sounds cliché. We walked around and saw Notre Dame and some other sites. Louis was a fabulous tutor and also a very patient and helpful tour guide, as well as gracious host in his cute little flat up six flights of stairs. You wouldn’t have to invite many people over to have a really packed party and we celebrated easily. I don’t really remember the first day in Paris well except going to a super marché for some food, the Notre Dame and a walk around, also a weird movie that I couldn’t fall asleep in.

Paris was very romantic. I kept thinking about people who would love to visit and I hoped could some day. The time flew by; we walked loads, used the metro and buses quite a bit and saw so many things. I think it is something people always want to come back to because there is so much to see and you just can’t see it all.

The many sites included the Eiffel Tower, which was quite touristy. We didn’t take the elevator ride up but did hike up a different lookout point and the sun was setting. Vendors with electric birds and little plastic keychain Eiffel towers populated the area that it almost wasn’t pleasant to sit for too long, but it was beautiful.

To be there seemed epic and we chatted about the wonders of the world and watched the sun set and then we left for a bite to eat.