The People of Paris

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been so bad about writing in this, I promise I'll do better! So here are the major updates: I started my classes at the Sorbonne. Its two hours of grammar everyday and one our of phonetics everyday every other week. So it is A LOT of hours of French. I've come to the conclusion that if I don't leave here speaking beautiful almost perfect French, then I should just give up! I'm starting the phonetics classes next week, and I will be picking which conferences, topic courses taught in French, I'm going to take soon. I'm pretty sure I'm going to take an art class, since I know absolutely nothing about it. So hopefully, I will leave here feeling a bit more cultured.

Hannah and Anna, two good friends from AU that are also studying abroad in Europe, came to visit this past weekend! Mr. and Mme Dupond were nice enough to let them stay over their house. We had a fabulous time, of course! It was nice to have some familiar faces around. I already posted a gazillion pictures of our weekend on facebook. It was an exhausting weekend! Both nights that they were here we didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning, followed by some intensive touristing! So, I need to do some making up for the hours of sleep that I lost.

I'm also very happy to report that I don't look like a lost tourist anymore! French people have actually approached me asking for directions. Although, I usually have no idea what the answer is, I'm very excited that they think I look like I belong here! I finally figured out the secret to looking French. First of all, you can't open your mouth. As soon as you say one word, it could be "bonjour" and they will hear your (and by your I mean my) atrocious American accent. Second of all, you have to take the sign off of your forehead that says "lost American." I have found that I can do this the best by obviously knowing where I am going and listening to my iPOD. I just make pretend that I am so knowledgeable about where I am going that I need a distraction to make my metro ride more tolerable. Third of all, you can't smile. This has been the hardest part for me. Whenever I make eye contact with a person I have the tendency to give them a polite smile. French people don't do this. You have to earn their smiles. So that pretty much sums it up! Don't look lost, don't open your mouth, and look like a bitch. Voilà you look French!

So that's pretty much what's been going on over here. Its been a lot of school, getting to know the city, and hanging out with friends. Ok so I thought I would leave all of my lovely readers (and by readers I mean my family and friends) with some of the insight that I have thus far observed during my time here concerning the people of Paris. I've done some intensive people watching since I've been here, so here is the consensus so far.

French Stereotypes Resolved:

Stereotype One: French people are rude.
Au contraire, my dears! The majority of the French people I've had the pleasure to encounter, with the exception of one rude ass taxi driver, have been extremely nice. They have answered all of my questions about how to get places and many have made conversation wanting to know where I am from and what I'm doing here. However, I can see how people have come up with this stereotype (see aforementioned story of how to look French). Anyway, this one is definitely false!

Stereotype Two: French people are skinny.
For the most part I have found this one to be very true! Although, not everyone is model skinny, there are just not many overweight/obese people!

Stereotype Three: French people smell.
Now, this is obviously a gross generalization. However, I have found that compared to the U.S. there is a greater ratio of smelly people here. I have encountered quite a few on the metro. But this is by no means the norm!

Stereotype Four: French people are really into sex, romance, and love.
Well, I have yet to make any discoveries on French people and sex; but, mon dieu, are people into making out in public here. They are everywhere! Couples kissing in the metro, on the street, on the steps to Sacre Coeur! Its like a pandemic of people that are in love and feel the need to show it to the world.

Okay, I'm out of stereotypes. But let me know if you know more that I should be on the look out for. Anyway, I'm sorry this has been such a ridiculously long post. I, clearly, should not wait so long between posts. Oh one last thing! I have completed something on my bucket list! I gave in to peer pressure from Hannah and bought myself a red beret. I'm pretty sure I still look touristy in it, but a damn cute tourist!

I'm in Paris, bitch!

I HAVE ARRIVED! Actually I arrived on Wednesday, but this is the first chance I have time to sit down and write. So, the first day here we met up with the entire group at the ACCENT center, which is located in the 11th arrondisement. Its a very pretty district that has everything and anything you can want in Paris. We had an orientation and schlepped our bags (2 giant suitcases and a super heavy carry on) to the hotel where we stayed at for one night. I went out with some of the girls in my group and we had a very Parisian dinner complete with some delicious vin. Some guys at the restaurant approached us and told us that they were playing a concert nearby. So afterwards we went to a bar and then the club were the concert was at and had a very good first night in Paris!

The following days have been a whirlwind. There have been multiple orientations, we took our placement tests, and met our host families! My host family is adorable and oh-so-French. They are Monsieur and Madame Dupont, an elderly couple. They have four kids all in their thirties except for their youngest son which is my age and currently studying abroad in the U.S.. They are also hosting another girl. She is an Austrian doing an internship in here. The family lives in the 16th arrondisement which is a very nice area of Paris. Their apartment is enormous for Paris standards. I have my own room and share the bathroom with Julia, the Austian girl. I only speak to my host family in French, so I should be getting better and better everyday!

Yesterday, was my first official Saturday in Paris. I went to the Musee d'Orsay with some friends. From there we headed towards the Galeries Lafayette, where we stumbled across a protest (Parisians take their right to assemble very seriously, there is always a strike or a protest going on). The people were protesting the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It was VERY intense. The riot police were out with their shields and batons looking quite intimidating, but the protest remained peaceful. Anyway, after that we had a very nice meal in St.Michel, which is near Notre Dame and is a very cool area with lots or restaurants and bars. We were planning on going out, so we bought some bottles of wine, orangina, and vodka for a bit of pregaming on along the Seine. It was BEAUTIFUL, but freezing, so I'm really looking forward to the spring! We met some more Americans that were also pregaming on the Seine, and then we headed out to a bar nearby. All in all it was a very fun night! However, I still haven't crossed anything off of my bucket list, but I'm working on it!

So, since I love lists, I figured I would write one about all of the things I have learned about Paris/ France since I've gotten here!

1. Everything is made for miniature people. (i.e. showers, cars, rooms, etc.)
2. All staircases are winding.
3. There are not enough outlets anywhere!
4. French people are ACTUALLY very nice! They just have a haughty expressions.
5. The metro system is freaking enormous! There are a gazillion lines and different train systems. It can be quite confusing!
6. The people are really not that fashionable! I felt like my wardrobe has fit in juuust fine. (I think I was just expecting everyone to be runway ready, but that just doesn't happen in real life. Sex and the City (An American in Paris) really skewed my expectations wrongly).
8. PDA is everywhere! People are always making out all over the place, staring into each others eyes lovingly, and doing all sorts of things that Americans usually reserve for the bedroom. I don't know if its just that I'm bitter because I have no man here, but it is quite annoying!
9. People drive like maniacs and have no regard for pedestrians. Get in their way, and you're fucked.
10. Men can get away with a lot of fashion choices here that just doesn't work for Americans.