It's so cold here, but I need to suck it up because I hear there's a snowstorm hitting the east coast right now (bundle up, my loves!). Two and a half weeks later, Paris is starting to feel like home. I mean, I still get giddy with excitement every time I step foot into a boulangerie and still take forever in line shuffling through my coins, but I don't have to look twice to find my way home anymore. As for my speaking ability, I'm not sure if I see much improvement, but I've grown very comfortable making mistakes out loud--so I guess that's a good thing? haha.
Several people told me that I was going to learn so much about myself while studying abroad. I had a vague idea of what this meant, but one thing is for sure: I'm definitely identifying my little "life" habits. Things like "pushing a door" when I should be "pulling" instead, reaching for the light switch inside the bathroom and going back out again, etc. Put yourself and your old habits in a new context, and you instantly come into conflict--you notice what you're used to and realize what you need to change in order to...well, survive.
Anyways, I'm a little tired so I present to you my "list" entry. I think it sums up my adaptation process here and aptly displays my desire to keep things simple at this late hour. EnJOy!
J'aime:
- fresh baguettes
- hot tea in the morning
- Sunday worship in French at Hillsong
- the acoustics in my room, which makes my violin very happy
- falaffels at Chez Hanna:
delicious falaffel special in Le Marais - the endearing "puh" sound my prof makes with his lips when fishing for the right words
- homemade meals and reuniting with old friends :)
Danice and her wonderful meal<3 - skype dates with the fam and friends
- little kids holding hands in the metro for elementary school field trips
- coffee breaks with the other IFE students:
just about ready to take our break - French newspapers
- hearing old school American music being blasted down the hallway
- beautiful, beautiful architecture
Basilique du Sacre Cœur, Montmartre - spending time with the new Bible that my dear brother got me<3
- journaling at night
Je n'aime pas:
- the bitter slap-in-the-face, pricks your thighs, nose-running but unfeeling, kind of cold
- playing sardines in the metro during morning
rush hour - complete disregard of personal space due to the above
- when the metro occasionally reeks of...who knows what :(
- getting hit on by greasy French men
- when puppies on the streets are dressed better than pedestrians
- when "sale" prices are not really "sale prices"
- French "r"s--currently working on this
"Oh dear" moments:
- getting invited by a girl downstairs to her communist discussion on the situation in Tunisia
- making a fool out of myself during my internship interview: I told the director that I play the violin while making a gesture like I was playing the piano...he was so confused and...I was extremely embarrassed-praise God though because I start later this month :]
- joyously swiping my new metro pass...only to get rejected because it wasn't activated yet
- turning and seeing a group of annoyed morning commuters behind me due to the above
- ATM eating my bank card because I didn't withdraw it in time, but perhaps I needed a time out from my card anyways. haha. think positive!
Perhaps I'll add more later...
Until then, bisous bisous.
de tout mon cœur,
sleepy sojourner
