My first (and belated) update

Bonjour tout le monde! It has taken me a bit longer to get this up and running than I had originally planned...probably because I've been spending more or less all day exploring Paris so far, and by the time I trek back to my apartment I don't even feel like I have the energy or brainpower left to write a coherent sentence, much less an entire post. But alas, the jet lag is wearing off, and I also drank an espresso at about 4 pm, so I think I can do this.

I'll start by saying that I truly do love and miss all of you dearly, so I do not want you to be upset when you read this next sentence: I think I could live here. Easily. Something about this city and the people living here just makes me feel at home. Maybe its the tree-lined streets, or the innumerable cafés, or the relaxed pace of life. It could be the fact that there's a park on practically every block, not to mention every park in the city of Paris has free wifi, or perhaps it's the abundance of patisseries and boulangeries perfuming the streets constantly with the smell of freshly baked bread and croissants. Yep, it's probably that last one.

Since I'm a few days behind, I'll try to keep the tales of my journey here brief. The plane ride went pretty much as expected. Lots of sleeping. A vegetarian curry dinner that in hindsight was not the best choice. I feel like this also might be a good time to toss out an apology to my seat neighbor whom I stepped on while trying to hop over her as not to disturb her sleep.

Once I arrived in Paris, that's where the story gets good.

You know that stereotype of the rude, snobby Parisian? That was immediately disproven. A man at the airport helped me buy my metro ticket, carry my bags down two sets of stairs, and taught me to wear my backpack in front of me to deter pickpocketers. A woman wearing chic sunglasses and high heels carried my smaller suitcases up the stairs of the metro station at my final stop. When I protested, she insisted, "Nonono mademoiselle, it is too much for one girl!" When I found myself wandering in circles, so close yet so unaware of where to find my residence hall, a woman in a cafe walked me around the corner and pointed out the telltale "porte bleu."

When I walked in, I found free croissants, juice, and coffee to welcome me. An RA helped me up to my room, et c'est ici...