First Weekend in Paris

I live 75 steps up the staircase in a small studio in Paris, swallowed up by two views  of tall buildings on either side of me. I arrived here by way of airplane, then the TGV train down from Germany, with my big brother. I hope I never forget the moment Ryan told me to look out my taxi window to see the Eiffel Tower poking out of the city. I wanted to cry because it's always been a dream of mine to see it, which is about when I asked Ryan to pinch me incase I was still just dreaming. (He obliged.)

Not only did I get to see it, but I started out this whole new adventure of living in a foreign country by being as touristy as it gets and going to the top! You betcha I hugged that tower. But before we did all that, we had stopped at a café for a bite to eat. As we ate, thick dark clouds rolled in and thunder and lightning flashed. I could HARDLY contain my excitement (Ryan will vouch for that). Audrey Hepburn in one of her movies said that the first thing you do in Paris is find yourself an honest to goodness rain. I was lucky enough to get that the first day! Thanks Audrey.

Before bed, Ryan and I put on a Lush face mask. My brother is awesome in that way. My first morning we took the métro to the Champs Élysées and ate at Ladurée. They're famous first for their tea, and also their french toast. I also enjoyed my first pain du chocolat. For lack of a better word, it all was amazeballs. Ryan took the next train back to his home, and I took the métro back to where I needed to be, ALL BY MYSELF. Later I discovered my first Parisian chocolat et fraise glace on one of those sweet double scoop cones you see in the movies. Then I was introduced by my au pair host to the man in the flower shop who spoke some English, and was very nice to me. Afterward, I was told she was surprised he was so nice to me because he's usually a grouch to everyone. I was called special. I hope so!

French is beautiful. I've barely studied it over the years, but I can look at things and remember the name for it. (e.g. "bee" is "abeille") Or as I hear conversations, sentences sort've make sense. I'm even dreaming in some French! So it's a start. Back home, I'd have French flashcards and only think of those words as I saw them, but here my brain replays words I've heard and I'm constantly trying to pronounce them correctly in my brain. It's pretty cool. Paris is pretty cool. I am so lucky to be here.