It’s been almost exactly two weeks since I’ve last written, and I’ve done and seen so much.
Let’s start with the orientation week, the first week here. It was crazy, finally seeing the city and all the things I’ve only read about or seen in movies. We visited Saint Chapelle, which is one of the most breathtaking things I’ve ever seen. It seemed as if the stained glass went from floor to ceiling, basking the whole room in a warm, glassy glow.
I got to see Notre Dame, which I was so excited for. It truly was an awe-inspiring place. All the faces etched into the stone, watching the people going in and out, the way they have for hundreds and hundreds of years. And the inside, with vaults so tall it seems to extend into darkness, further than your eyes can even see.
And I literally just got back last night from a tour of the Loire Valley and the chateaus there. These buildings were outstanding, and the French country side I saw from the bus was beautiful. I’m really excited for my further travels in this country.
But I’ve also done so much more than sight-seeing. We finished our first week of class last week. I’m taking a language class (of course), a culture class, an architecture class, and I’m working on developing an independent study.
My French is not as good as I thought. It’s so different, speaking in a classroom in America and speaking conversationally with French people. But every week, we go to the Sorbonne, to talk to French students. So, if I keep working at it, I know I’ll improve.
I definitely feel different here. I’ve never even lived in a big city before, and now I’m in Paris, taking the metro, learning my way around. It’s a little overwhelming at times. But I keep having these little successes that help me feel okay. Like the other day, I calmly and concisely ordered my lunch in a café. I felt that, as long as I could feed myself, I was going to be okay. And I know I will.