Merci Paris. Je ne regrette rien.

As I sit here writing this post from the airplane over the Atlantic, I have a small young fellow screaming his lungs out from across the row, playing a “fun” game of who can make the most noise with his father (who obviously is losing). Funny enough, the situation makes me laugh more than anything. I am still just in shock that I am actually coming home after 4 months of living in Paris.

My last few days were spent “re-seeing” the city for one final time and actually preparing to leave! I started packing a few days prior to the departure date, so it wasn’t very stressful to make everything work. I had to leave a few items of clothing and things behind, and I still wasn’t surprised when I got slapped with the 50-dollar fine for having ten pounds over the limit on my check-in bag!

The bottles of the French.

For a while I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for my very last full day in Paris. It was then that I realized that I shouldn’t force what was going to happen, just see where I ended up during the day. It ended up being a nice plan, as Victoria and I made an afternoon tour of Montmartre (where I had a great cheese and ham crepe), then down to get a baguette and crème brulee at Absesses. After lunch, we made a stop at St. Michel, Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens, our school, and finally said goodbye to the ISA staff at the offices. I was actually really sad to say goodbye to them all! Minus Nadine (I will miss you!), I bid my adieus, and let them know how appreciative I was for all they had done. They really did a fantastic job during the semester.

The ISA staff.

Finishing dinner (Escargot, breaded chicken, goat cheese, salad and mango sorbet), I was off to Trocadero to view the France vs. Mexico World Cup match! When my friends and I arrived, it was insanely packed. We got a spot on the side standing where we could see the screen, and unhappily watched as France lost. Three of my friends I was with were dolled up in Mexico Flags and ribbons, and needless to say, were very happy with the outcome. What happened after the game is what really got my heart racing, however. Victoria and I were walking down the hill towards the Eiffel Tower, and we heard a fight happening down at the snack stand. The place was packed, but we saw (and heard) lots of commotion. All of a sudden, we saw tons of helmets race in above everyone’s heads, and it was instantly a madhouse. I swear, with how the men darted away from the police in herds, I felt like I was in a real life Jurassic Park stampede. I instantly covered my head and began to run off to the side where everyone was running, in fear of a tear-gas bomb being thrown or something. Haha. Victoria tried to bob her head up higher to see what was going on, and then ran off to the side as well. Thankfully, everyone knew not to mess with the police, so their barricade of shields and batons were all in vain. What a crazy last night in Paris, though!

My school.

The area outside my metro station that I walked by everyday. The cage areas were usually full of homeless people sleeping.

Another crazy incident that I witnessed this past week was in the Metro with my friend Corine. We were minding our own business, chatting about Harry Potter (we were going to the house of Nicholas Flamel) and then we heard yelling coming from behind us. We were stopped at a station, and two people were holding the doors open with their bodies. It took us a moment to understand what was going on, as so many people were frantic. Three or four young gypsy girls had stolen objects from two Asian tourists, and a kind Parisian woman had called them out for it. The gypsies got out of the Metro, and a young man jumped out and began shaking one of the young girls until a Louis Vuitton wallet fell out of her shirt! The man gave the girl a huge whack on the back of the head, and then kicked her on her side. We were all in shock by everything about the situation. After the wallet was found, people continued to yell that the girls had stolen more from the tourists, and that they should go after them. The man who had gotten the wallet moments before ran up the stairs after the girls, we heard screams, and then the metro doors closed. How intense is that? It just goes to show that you have to be really careful at all times with your bags and belongings.

What I walked through everyday to get to class.

Wednesday I was able to check off another item on my Paris-bucket-list. I went with three of my friends to the Opera Bastille to watch a 5-hour long opera (Die Walkure- Wagner)! The whole experience was bizarre. I loved listening to the professionals singing beautiful music, but I have to be honest…three hours and 45 minutes of just opera is a bit taxing on your energy level. Especially since we had bought rush tickets that didn’t allow you to see the translation! I had no idea what was going on, but I just kept reminding myself that the opportunity of what I was partaking in was beyond amazing. And hey, I survived it!

The Opera Bastille.

At the very beginning of this journey I wrote down six goals that I had for my semester in Paris. I thought it would be nice to look back and reflect on each of them! The six goals were:

1. Develop a strong ability to converse and understand spoken French.

2. Decipher differences of cultures with a strong appreciation.

3. Learn to live in the moment more often.

4. Discover the heart of Paris.

5. Have adventure be a part of my everyday living.

6. Pretend to be a Parisian to a group of American tourists. Ha!

1. Develop a strong ability to converse and understand spoken French.

As I’ve previously stated in posts, this was sadly not completely fulfilled. I was able to finally get a hold on the French language, however, and so I am happy with the advancements that I made in my oral comprehension and ability to converse. I am a lot better than when I first arrived.

2. Decipher differences of cultures with a strong appreciation.

This one is a bit easier to pinpoint. The first two weeks I was in Paris, I was overcome with a strong sense of pride for the U.S. I have never been overly patriotic, so I was confused as to why I all of a sudden wanted to scream my love for America. Months later, I realized that it was me channeling my feelings of culture shock into what I was comfortable with. It’s great to look back and see how many things I thought were strange compared to America, and how I feel now. It took me living there for 4 months to really appreciate how Parisians work and function in their lives.

3. Learn to live in the moment more often.

I’ve always felt like I somewhat lacked in this point. A lot of times I am very cautious and scared of how situations will bring about changes for my future. This semester taught me that (as cliché as it is) you really do live and learn. I went through so many experiences this semester that were only possible by me not weighing the outcome so intensely, taking life a little less seriously, and just enjoying my time! It helps you breathe a little easier, just smiling and realizing that a lot of times, things are only as serious or emotional as you make them. For me, that idea in itself is what living in the moment means.

Drinking fountains that are all around the city.

4. Discover the heart of Paris.

Before I left America for this adventure, I felt like I already knew the answer to this goal, and I was right. The heart of Paris? It’s whatever you desire it to be! I feel like there is so much being offered in the city, it is what you take from it that makes the heart of Paris for each individual, and that’s what is so great about it! What I’m trying to explain is that I feel like each of my friends and I gained totally different perceptions of what the core of Paris was and is. None are incorrect, and each show different facets of the city.

The garden of the school.

5. Have adventure be a part of my everyday living.

Living in the city that I did, this goal was extremely easy to achieve. I had all of my afternoons free to explore and see all the monuments, museums and streets that my heart desired. Everyday was filled with a new site, whether planned or accidental. My day was an adventure even when I didn’t want it to be!

The oldest home in Paris, and also the former home of Nicholas Flamel.

6. Pretend to be a Parisian to a group of American tourists. Ha!

It took me until the very last day in Paris to complete this goal. I knew that I had written the post before coming, so I realized I had to complete it! It happened at the core location of all tourism: Notre Dame. Whenever I wanted to see a tourist, that was the place to go to. I sat down with Victoria and waited to see the prime opportunity to try my acting skills. I saw a family trying to take a family photo, so I decided it would be my shot. I swiftly went up to the Dad with the camera (an amazing Nikon) and asked him in my best French accent, “Excooze me, wood yu like me tu take yur peektchur?” The man took a second to try and size me up to see if I was a scam artist or not, and then finally replied with a kind “yes please, if you could!” The rest of the scene played out like this:

Tourist: (hands me camera) Ok, you just press it down halfway LIKE THIS (makes exaggerated hand miming motions to show how to take a picture) and then press take the picture.

Me: Ok, comme ca? (Like this?)

Tourist: Uh…yes.

Me: Un, deux, trois! –Takes picture- Voila!

Tourist and family: Merci, merci, merci! (With strong American accent)

Me: De rien, bonne journee! (You’re welcome, have a good day!)

Victoria watched on from afar and loved seeing the show. I was so proud they really thought I wasn’t an American! It was fun to finally check that off my list of things to do. I hope they got a good impression of the “French”! ha.

One-legged pigeon.

I’ve obtained each of my goals in different ways, yet I feel like every one that I set for myself was a great challenge and helped push me to take advantage of the experience.

I’m going to miss Paris so much, yet I am happy to be going home. I know that a piece of the city will always be with me, and for that I am grateful. The fact of the matter? I love France, and I love America. Being in either country makes me happy, and what more is there to life than being happy?

Affecteusement,

George