I went through customs at the Charles De Gaulle airport..It only took like ten minutes. Then I went to pick up my two huge suitcases. To my suprise, they were the some of the first suitcases on the luggage belt..After receiving my suitcases, I walked out the doors to the pick-up area..My French friend Bruno was waiting at the doors ready to take me to my apartment..We greeted each other with a kiss on each cheek (which is part of the custom). We spoke to each other in French the whole way to the car. Once we got to the car, I realized that my suitcases were too big to fit in his car..But somehow he managed to squeeze them in..LOL...We were on the freeway within seconds..yes, seconds. LOL...The speed limit here is 90..And Bruno kept telling me how "Tu parles tres bien."aka you speak really well...At about 1045 a.m. we arrived to my apartment address: 22, rue de Lamblardie...We walked in the door with my bags..And no one was there..We went to the office and found an older man..This was Pierre Lafoscade the owner..I introduced myself by saying, "Bonjour, je m'appele Monica."...Then out walks my professor from UH, Miriam Fuchs..She came with the UH students and is teaching a course at the American Business School here in Paris...I said goodbye to Bruno because he was already late for work..And I was taken up to my appartment in a tiny elevator that fits only one or two people..LOL...The apartment was what I imagined..small, so French, yet perfect...Pierre's assistant Ben told me about the apartment..And I spoke to him in French..He was so impressed..LOL..He kept saying "Tu parles bien"..LOL...So that made me feel really good...As soon as I got to the apartment..Miriam was here ready to take me to an appointment she made with my counselor at school...So fifteen minutes later we headed outside and made it to the nearest Metro Station Daumesnil..We got on the metro and off another and on another and off another..and walked somewhere..i was so tired at that point it was all a blur..lol..then we got a little lost..finally we arrived at the American Business School where I met my counselor Eluan Bescond..He spoke very good French and English..He explained to me that my school schedule will be very intense with 18 hours per week!!!...And that the Sorbonne will be challenging...yikes!..lol...then he explained to me the schedule for the next few weeks...and reminded me that i have a placement exam on september 3...after meeting with Eluan.. Miriam insisted that I have something to eat and drink so we went to a small cafe..I think it might have been like Moroccan food or something...It was some kind of spicy soup..She spoke to us in French..and everyone looked at us because of course our French was not as good as their's...After this, we walked to the next few metro stations...stopped at a small grocery store where i bought some soap, toilet paper, and fruit..And got on the metro...by this time i was ready to pull my hair out..and my feet were killing from wearing fashionable black boots around the city..next time im going for comfort..lol...finally i arrive back to my apartment and Miriam left..Had a really hard time opening my door because the locks here are really weird..Ben could hear me having trouble so he came upstairs and helped me..then about 15 minutes later my doorbell rings and its Ben...We talk for ten more minutes in French and he asks me if i know a girl named Brenda who used to live in these apartments..she was from hawaii...i say yes..and then we send her an e-mail...what a weird twist of fate??..lol..then he leaves and comes back again cuz he left something in my apartment..lol..he leaves..and i begin to rest..then Bruno messages me that he's hungry and so am I..so he suggests we eat at a French restaurant..I agree..We go to a restaurant called "Le mouton noir" aka black sheep..but no, we didnt eat sheep...Bruno ordered steak..and I ordered white tuna sprinkeled in peanuts and lime with some sort of mashed potatoes with caviar..Caviar??..Yeah i tried it..even though i said i would never eat that..it was actually pretty good...all in all, the food was very delicious...after dinner, Bruno brought me home..i got to my apartment and could not open the door!..the locks are sooo weird!..I was brave, walked upstairs and knocked on some French people's door..and asked them in French pourriez-vous m'aider s'il vous plait??..They were very nice and the girl came down to my room and helped me open it...I was very grateful because it was 12 a.m. and they were the only people who could've helped me...LOL..I finally got to sleep at about 3a.m. and didnt wake up til 3 p.m. the next day...LOL...What a day!
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Great post, Monica! Looking forward to reading about your experiences! Don't worry if you don't have time... I know you'll be busy checking out the sites and learning what you can! Enjoy every minute! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I really enjoyed reading your post. I stayed with Pierre in 2005 while attending ABS. Very cool... I havent been back since, but reading your post makes me really want to!
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