This is my seventh day in France. Wow. I feel like a lot has happened so far.
Yesterday we had a lot of important things to do. We went to the Sorbonne to see Mme. Dimopolu for our registration, or, in French inscription. But, it was strange. There was a step that we didn't have to do, and we got rushed to the front of the line. I felt kind of bad though. We also explored the Sorbonne a little. I think I will often get lost. We searched for a cheap sandwich place only for students, but alas, we were unable to find it. So we all got vending machine sandwiches instead. We then continued on our journey to 214 blvd Raspail. Where we had to do our placement test.
We were really early. So we sat around and "studied." We met some new people. One, a girl from South Flordia and another from Holland/England. We chatted and studied with them. We proceeded to the test rooms. The test was shorter than I thought it would be. There was definatly some stuff that I didn't know on it, like, for example, emouvoir. I now know that it means to be moved/touched.
Monday was probably my most favourite day yet. Hannah had slept over the night before. We slept in. The first thing we needed to do was to get our navigo passes. Which, are way better than the metro tickets. We also took the RER for the first time. It's cooler because its a double decker train but it comes less frequently than the metro and its more confusing. I don't think it's any more efficient. Then we met Jeremy at the Eiffel Tower! Some humorous things happened here. The first was seeing all the policiers chasing all the men trying to sell little Eiffel Tower trinkets to tourists. They all just ran away...there was a mass exodus of these men with Eiffel Towers on a huge key ring looking thing. The Eiffel Tower was huge. It's a little bit ugly, but somehow, probably because of its size you just stare at it. But, it's still not that big, not compared to the CN Tower. I think the Eiffel Tower will be better at night.
We walked along the river and we saw a beautiful sunset. But, we also saw a not so beautiful site. We saw a man with no pants on. An old man with no pants on. I felt like I was a little kid cause the four of us just giggled. I avoided looking while some others in our group took photos. Then looking back, he was wearing pants. I was so confused!
The four of us went to a grocery store called Monoprix and we bought our ingredients for supper...stir fry. Hannah and Jeremy came over to our place and we all had supper together and some wine. Our first bottle of wine was finished. We'd bought it for 1,99 euros.
On Sunday we went to the Baptist church for the first time. We brought our lunches and ate together with the congregation afterwards. There were some interesting people there. I felt very welcomed there. I hope we will be able to build relationships there. Rusty also took us to see the Sorbonne for the first time. I was excited to go to a school that has a history of more than 25 years. We also went to Notre Dame for the first time. It was beautiful! We sat down and listened to the organ. That was amazing!
I am starting to get the hang of the metro system. Now that I know how to navigate it I feel like I can go anywhere in the city. I still always feel disoriented when I come out of the metro, because I never know which one to come out of but, this too will come.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Jan 23, 2010
This has been posted on my facebook, but not everyone has been able to read it. So, I'm posting it here.
This is my second full day in Paris. So far, I've done nothing. A plumber is supposed to come today, and, like in Canada, they don't give an exact time, so we have to sit here and wait for him. So, I'm taking this time to tell about my time here so far.
We got here on the 21. We were picked up by our landlady. Mme. Fremont, who is very nice. She showed us the apartment and we took turns opening the door. I dragged my 2 46 pound bags up 122 stairs. The elevator is getting fixed, so we had to carry them. We will be much more fit when we come home I think. Mme. Fremont told us a lot of things I can no longer remember because I was too tired. But, if I can stand on my tippy toes on our balcony I can see the tip of the Eiffel Tower. We unpacked a little and then slept for about 4.5 hours. Then we went for a little walk and saw our street. We found a franprix which is a grocery store. We bought something quick to eat and enough for breakfast the next day. Then we went to bed at about 10.
Yesterday we met the rest of the Redeemer students and we all went out for lunch at a place called Flunch. I feel we might be eating there often. Sarah and I are lucky because we were able to walk there. We had to cross a bridge and underneath it there was a very cool cemetery! We then went to set up our cell phones. So I now have my very own cell phone or "portable." I got a new SIM card for it and I bought some time for it as well. I also bought a plan de Paris. A little book with a map of each arrondissement as well as the RER, metro and bus. It will come in handy I am sure! After the cell phones we took the metro for the very first time! It was a little intimidating- there are so many people. We went to the Arc de Triomphe. A better view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower (we were told) We went for a walk along Champs d'Elysees. Dr. Rusthoven showed us a music store - I feel like a lot of money will be spent there! We walked all along the street...we walked a lot! We stopped to eat and we all had sandwiches. Jeremy was able to walk home from there. Sarah. Hannah, Dr. Rusthoven and I all went to take the metro together. On our way though, we stopped and saw the pyramids outside le Louvre...very cool at night. We then separated ways with Hannah who was going in the opposite direction than us. We were able to go with Dr. Rusthoven the whole way home, her hotel is close to our apartment. But, figuring out the subway system will come.
So far, today has been a lazy day. The plumber has just arrived. Sarah and I want to go to Carrefour and grocery shopping and to introduce ourselves to the people who own the boulongerie close to where we live.
A Bientot!
This is my second full day in Paris. So far, I've done nothing. A plumber is supposed to come today, and, like in Canada, they don't give an exact time, so we have to sit here and wait for him. So, I'm taking this time to tell about my time here so far.
We got here on the 21. We were picked up by our landlady. Mme. Fremont, who is very nice. She showed us the apartment and we took turns opening the door. I dragged my 2 46 pound bags up 122 stairs. The elevator is getting fixed, so we had to carry them. We will be much more fit when we come home I think. Mme. Fremont told us a lot of things I can no longer remember because I was too tired. But, if I can stand on my tippy toes on our balcony I can see the tip of the Eiffel Tower. We unpacked a little and then slept for about 4.5 hours. Then we went for a little walk and saw our street. We found a franprix which is a grocery store. We bought something quick to eat and enough for breakfast the next day. Then we went to bed at about 10.
Yesterday we met the rest of the Redeemer students and we all went out for lunch at a place called Flunch. I feel we might be eating there often. Sarah and I are lucky because we were able to walk there. We had to cross a bridge and underneath it there was a very cool cemetery! We then went to set up our cell phones. So I now have my very own cell phone or "portable." I got a new SIM card for it and I bought some time for it as well. I also bought a plan de Paris. A little book with a map of each arrondissement as well as the RER, metro and bus. It will come in handy I am sure! After the cell phones we took the metro for the very first time! It was a little intimidating- there are so many people. We went to the Arc de Triomphe. A better view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower (we were told) We went for a walk along Champs d'Elysees. Dr. Rusthoven showed us a music store - I feel like a lot of money will be spent there! We walked all along the street...we walked a lot! We stopped to eat and we all had sandwiches. Jeremy was able to walk home from there. Sarah. Hannah, Dr. Rusthoven and I all went to take the metro together. On our way though, we stopped and saw the pyramids outside le Louvre...very cool at night. We then separated ways with Hannah who was going in the opposite direction than us. We were able to go with Dr. Rusthoven the whole way home, her hotel is close to our apartment. But, figuring out the subway system will come.
So far, today has been a lazy day. The plumber has just arrived. Sarah and I want to go to Carrefour and grocery shopping and to introduce ourselves to the people who own the boulongerie close to where we live.
A Bientot!
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