Its hard to believe that I left home 16 days ago. It does not sound like a long time but to me it has felt like a long time to be in a new city on my own. School started on Friday and has been going well. It's only Tuesday but I am already getting back into the routine of school. I'm happy to say I've already seen a boost in my confidence in meeting new people, getting around Paris by myself, and not being afraid anymore of getting lost. Over the weekend my roommate Kristen and I went to a huge flea market on the outskirts of Paris. There were so many great things there to buy, I have lots of ideas for presents to bring home for my family and friends now. After that we took ling 7 back to our neck of the woods and decided to get off at Pont Marie which is in La Murais, one of the oldest parts of Paris. We walked up and down the main street and found an area called Place des Vosges. We strolled around the park and enjoyed just talking and looking around. One of the things I love about Paris is that they allow for space throughout every nook and cranny of the city to have parks. There are so many places to sit and enjoy the beautiful buildings with statues, fountains, benches and grassy areas. Everything is so well manicured and I really appreciate how much Parisians pay attention to detail in the look and feel of their city. 

Already I have met some great people at the Sorbonne. I love how there are tons of different nationalities of students and all of us have the common denominator of French. Today I went to lunch with two girls I had met in my French Language class and my roommate. One girl is Colombian and the other is from Connecticut. We went over to the Latin Quarter across the street from Notre Dame and had a three course lunch. I had French onion soup, roasted chicken with potatoes and then chocolate mousse. It was so filing but I notice how the French cook with so much flavor from herbs and spices and even their mouth watering food doesn't taste fattening at all. I've yet to eat anything greasy here, everything has been good :) The french onion soup was by far the best part, it was so delicious and they had put the traditional chucks of fresh baguette of top. I will definitely be taking my family and Ryan there. I miss my family and Ryan and friends so much. I was looking through pictures last night of the weekend before I left and the little party we had at my house. It was so fun to have all of us together and I can't wait to see them again.

                                                       Too much sibling love? No such thing!

I love this picture because they look so in love and happy and really committed to that bottle of Captain :)

Ryan and Melissa holding down the beer pong 

And now, it is time for French grammar homework....I might need to walk downstairs to the Patisserie  to get an eclair to get through this.