Monop'

Today was the first day I felt truly French. It happened somewhere between ordering a citron pressé (so bitter!) at a café in the 6ème, walking around the arrondissement listening to our tour guide explain the sites in French (and understanding her!), and walking home from Monop' carrying a warm baguette under one arm.  If only the Eiffel Tower had been in sight. Alas...the towers of Notre Dame will have to do! Only in France could you get a .80 Euro warm, delicious baguette from the equivalent of your local Hy-Vee. Monop' is our local carry-everything grocery store. It's a sub-set of the larger French chain Monoprix, which is basically like a smaller Target. Monoprix carries everything -- from peacoats to makeup to cereal to fresh veggies to dresses to baby wipes to hair dye. Monop', then, is basically just the grocery store part, with a small section in the back of home supplies and of course, and adjoining café. The thing I love most about Monop', however, is its name. It cracks me up. It's like someone calling a small Target "Targ'." Or a small Walmart "Wallm'." Also it's fun to say -- pop the "p" sound at the end and I giggle every time. Not to mention that apostrophe on the end!

Bienvenue à Monop'!

I like our Monop' a lot because it seems to be always the same guy behind the counter bagging our groceries. I think he might recognize me now. It was embarrassing when Charlotte and I first moved in and went shopping because we needed to stock up on basics, things like olive oil and toilet paper and pasta that it's just good to have in the house. Well, we were the only people in line with anything more than what they could carry in their hands or a small basket. We had probably half a cart's worth of stuff, and held up a huge long line of French people holding just some bread and cheese or whatever. Most French buy whatever they're going to eat that night when they stop by the grocer, not what they're going to eat for the week (like most Americans). I like that system because it keeps things really fresh and you don't end up having those inevitable "clean out the freezer nights." Also Monop' carries these delicious little coconut yogurts that we've been eating for breakfast -- so key to morning happiness. Although I'm sure a lot will change this semester (it is only the first day of orientation, after all) I am certain the Charlotte and I will frequent our local Monop' beaucoup. Now how's that for an Eiffel Tower cliché ending to a blog post?

Ouragan

Well here I am! In Paris, officially! The title of my post is ouragan, the french word for hurricane. The beginning of this trip definitely started off rocky, with my flight out of DC being delayed grâce à hurricane Irene, making it highly unlikely I would make my connection in New York. Luckily, Mom was there with me and she used her airport savvy to get me booked on another flight as well, one out of Chicago. The NYC flight ended up getting delayed so long that I just got on the Chicago flight, which was totally fine, it just meant that my poor future-roommate Charlotte (who was on the NYC-CDG flight) would be wondering where I was and I'd have no way to contact her. Luckily, her plane was late and my plane was early, and she ended up waiting for me at the airport, which was so helpful.

The small green door on the left is the entryway to the little courtyard where our apartment is!

Paris today is rainy and cold -- 60 degrees feels verrryy chilly after being in 100+ degree heat at home. But after getting off the airplane and driving into Paris I remembered yet again that I really love this city -- a city I've been back to about every 2 years (as my past would have it), and I recognize cafés and am still wowed by monuments. The history of this city is, indeed, incredible. Also Charlotte and my apartment is amazing! It's a cute little place with two separate rooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen joining the two together. We went out and bought some groceries and shampoo and a candle for our little dining room table, so the place definitely feels like home. I also got to meet some of my future professors at Reid Hall, and they were so nice and welcoming and I could understand their french! Speaking it, though...that's another story. Updates on that and pictures to come!