As of now, I have been in the city for three weeks exactly. Classes only just started this week, so up until now its kind of been like being on one long vacation. Its been difficult to get back into the swing of things, particularly since I haven't been in school since mid December, but I am getting the hang of it. The weather is atrocious, I feel like I haven't seen the sun since I've been here, but oh well.
Its interesting how easily I settled in to life here. The first week was definitely a struggle. I remember talking to a friend about it the first or second day I was here, and he told me that feeling uncomfortable was good because it was the only way you ever learned anything about yourself. At the time it didn't register, but looking back on how I have settled in the past few weeks, there was definitely some merit to that. Its so interesting to immerse yourself in a culture so foreign to your own, and I expected myself to be able to do it with much more ease. The first week, I was extremely stressed out, confused, and doubting my decision.
The Welcome Programme the first week helped a lot. Sciences Po organizes a programme for its exchange students (of which there are a lot, about 1,000 to be exact I believe) where we learn about the different types of assessments at Sciences Po, and learn how to integrate ourselves into the school. The Welcome Programme was all in French for me, which was a good lead in to all the classes I will have in French. The best thing about the Welcome Programme, however, was getting to meet other exchange students. Though I did not meet a lot of French students, I did get to meet other students on exchange. There are a lot coming from the US, but also from plenty of other places. There were parties at night, tours during the day, and a class every morning from 9-11 which talked about the different specifics of Sciences Po. I met a lot of cool people through the programme, so I am extremely glad I did it.
I also met my roommate during the Welcome Programme, and we moved into our apartment last Wednesday. Its a really cute place, all hardwood floors and the smell of hardwood reminds me of my house in Atlanta, which is nice. Its in the 13th, basically in Chinatown. I can't see the Eiffel Tower everyday, and the Seine isn't right next to the apartment, but for what I am paying its a good deal, and the area is safe. Also, yummy Chinese food whenever I want.
When I wasn't in school all last week, I spent a lot of time playing, not much time doing much else. Me and another friend Laura from CU spent quite a bit of time at the Louvre. Though you technically have to be an EU student to get in, we just flash our Sciences Po ID's and they let us in. Sometimes they ask us a few questions, but don't put up a big fuss. I just pretend I'm British. The Louvre is gorgeous, even though that's a given. I like being in museums, its extremely calming. I want to bring a book and sit in the statue garden and read, but I am pretty sure I would get mass amounts of weird looks from passing tourists. The city is beautiful at all hours, and in whatever weather. People talk about springtime in Paris, which I cannot wait for, don't get me wrong, but even now the city is beautiful. At night and during the day. Last week, me and Laura had a truly Parisian night. We bought a bottle of wine, went up to a cafe on the Champs and asked them to open it for us, and then took our bottle of wine on a sightseeing tour around the city. We first payed a visit to the arc du triumph, and made a mad dash across the Etoile and oncoming traffic to get there since the underpass was closed. Then, we climbed up near one of the palaces and got a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower, and saw it Sparkle at midnight. We then sat under the Eiffel Tower to finish our bottle of vino, and had the pleasure of seeing it Sparkle for the last time at 1, and then turn off. I have been out a lot at night, barely scraping the last metro, and having to take a taxi on occasion, but as I said before, the city is just as beautiful at night as it is during the day. Also, going out at night to different bars in the area around school with other exchange students has been a good way to get to know everyone, etc.
Fashion week ended sometime last week, and I didn't get a chance to hang around the Champs and check out the scene. The fall shows all start in March, however, and sometime last week I had a pep talk from a friend's boyfriend while out on how to crash fashion week, so I am going to make an attempt. More info on how that goes later.
Even though I just started classes today, I can already feel myself settling into some form of a routine. Family friends of ours live in the city, and I was asked to act as a sort of tutor to their daughters about three times a week, just for homework help and such. I miss being around children since I don't get to see my brother and sister, so its wonderful for me to get to be around them for a little while. Classes have proved difficult so far, but I can tell I will get used to it. Lots of critical thinking typed assessments, which are my favourite kind. Because I am settling into a routine, and just settling in in general, Paris already feels like home.
That being said, I still miss my friends and family insanely. I have met a lot of extremely cool people, and I can already tell I will make good friends here, but I still miss my other ones. Although I have my big sis (sorority not actual) visiting me in a few weeks and my actual sister coming the week following that, so I will see some familiar faces. Me and a friend of mine are already planning a trip to Dublin for the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. Get back to my Irish roots.
I think that's all for now, and I will try and be more diligent about writing in this thing.
A bientot,
Megan
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