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!