Paris is my Playground

Oh how I have been a bad blogger....5 days and no post. This week has been busy and full of unexpected day trips around the city. On Tuesday I went to Versailles. I had been there once before but being back a little bit older and having studied history I found it so much more fascinating. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I was walking around grounds and palace that was occupied as early as the 1600's. It may seem like an obvious thing to say but I find myself getting caught up reading about the facts and history that I almost forget that these kings and queens we read about were real living people and I was able to walk the same halls as they once did. It is such an amazing and somewhat eerie feeling.  I am so happy that our way of life is so drastically different. At the peak of its time Versailles had more than 3,000 people living there. Most were servants and were not to be seen or heard. When woman would be giving birth to their children, the rooms would be full of people all waiting to hear that she gave birth to  a boy...that kind of life is so unimaginable. It was a great day and I am excited to go back when it is spring time and the gardens are in bloom but even in February it was beautiful.

                           My 3 roommates and I in front of just a small portion of the palace.


Other than Versailles I have been all around the city lately which I love. We went to Sacré Coeur one day to see the basilica and admire the views from the highest point in Paris. It was a lovely sunny day and I realized then the difference between visiting Paris and living here. When I'm visiting a new city I want to get in as much and possible and go to certain places with a purpose. That day my roommates and I looked outside to sunshine and thought, why not hike up to Montmartre and sit on the steps of the Sacré Coeur and look at all of Paris? We couldn't see a reason why not so we did. That day felt amazing and I could not believe I get to make all of Paris my playground (I realize that sounds corny but it's the best way to describe it!) Then on Wednesday we went to an Irish pub with about 15 people from my program to watch the France vs. Brazil football match. I got a pint of Guinness for 4 euros during happy hour which was great. The atmosphere was so fun and French people were chanting the national anthem at various times. I liked having a relaxed environment to get to know new people and hang out but mostly I loved feeling like a local :)

The church was so big and pretty I couldn't get the whole thing in a picture!

Today was my first day of school. I was very nervous for not only the academics but for the little things like taking the metro by myself and navigating my way through the city and of course keeping up with the classes. My French teacher spoke no english and I was so happy by the end of the 2 hour class that I understood every word with ease. I was so relieved and happy! At home I don't have anyone but my best friend to speak French to and speaking with natives here feels so refreshing, it's a whole different part of my brain and I love being able to use it. I think I'm going to love going to school at the Sorbonne and feeling like a French student. After I met my roommate Kristen to buy school supplies and walk around the Saint Michel/Saint Germain area. Things are going better than I expected here even considering I still get pretty homesick. I miss all the everyday things like talking with my sister and mom, eating family dinners and even our bipolar, moody cat. I think time will fly by here but I will still be able to have a great experience.