First FULL Day in Paris

Today was filled with a lot of excitement. I've made a lot of friends exploring the area around our hostel last night, and we keep talking about our poor parents who haven’t heard anything beyond a “I’m here safe.” The internet in the hostel leaves much to be desired, and while it's only our first full day in Paris, we've actually done quite a bit. Most importantly I figured out exactly where and who I'm living with.

I'm living in a big suburb immediately outside of the 16th arrondisement (meaning, immediately outside of Paris). If I had to compare it to New York, I'd say I live in Park Slope in Brooklyn. My school is in the 16th, which is equivalent to the Upper Eastside in Manhattan. My "host mom" is an elderly woman who lives by herself in an adorable, and surprisingly spacious, apartment. She does not speak any English at all, or at least did not speak any English upon our first meeting, but is very nice and I think we're going to get along quite nicely. She's already showed me her collection of champagne tops, offered to bake me cakes for breakfast, and invited me to watch the news and un petit film with her each night (when explaining to me that she loves watching TV she exclaimed "See! I am American!"). The language barrier is a little difficult, my french is very out of practice, but this is only motivating me to learn as much French as possible during my stay here! I plan to move in tomorrow and can't wait to begin this little adventure.

*A little about the layout of Paris*
Paris is sectioned off by a series of neighborhoods, or arrondisments. The 1st begins in the center of the city, and the neighborhoods spiral outwards, and the Seine runs right through it. My hostel is in the 14th, and NYU is in the 16th. My home-stay will be on the north-east corner directly outside of the 16th. L’Arc de Triomphe is in the 8th and La Tour Eiffel is in the 7th.


Another introduction made today was exploring the area where my school is. NYU in Paris is in a closed-off Secret Garden-esque campus on the "Rue du Passy." I didn't realize how excited I am to finally experience a college campus. We have 2 major buildings, a library, and a courtyard. I love the enclosed, home-y feel and the buildings are beautiful. Outside of Campus, there is shop after shop: The Gap, H&M, Zara...it's surprising how much it feels like New York City. The food is rather expensive, but I'm sure once I get more acquainted with my area, I'll learn where the cheaper cafés are.

After a series of informational meetings and preparing to meet our host families, I went on a walk with a few friends along the Seine. I may be biased from having just come from Minnesota, but the weather is pleasantly warm despite the consistent overcast. We walked to La Tour Eiffel and then crossed the Seine to L’Arc de Triomphe, which happens to be my connection between metro stations to get between my home-stay and school.

I'll upload some photos when I have a more reliable internet connection, but for now au revoir!