I suppose we should start from the very beginning...
Originally, I had a lot I wanted to say and describe but at the rate of my blogging, I'll never get started... Haha, so here goes... in installments:
D-Day **Day 0**: Sunday, August 19
I left for Paris on Sunday, August 19, 2012 and landed in Paris on Monday, August 20.
I am a notoriously slow packer and horrible procrastinator, so of course, I wasn't really fully packed until maybe 2 hours before I was supposed to leave for the airport.
Unfortunately, I was over-packed and over the weight limit by 5 kg (or 10 lbs) and Air France is particularly strict about its weight restrictions (the cost is $100-200, which honestly wasn't worth it for me), so instead I had to unload some of my precious heavier goods such as conditioner and lotion...
We then rushed to the airport arriving just in time for last check ins. I had to purchase some last minute items and Lisa, my dad, Ngoc, and Hien sent me off. Perhaps because it was my second time away for an extended time, or perhaps there was no crying Khoa to pull my emotions, but it felt less of a sad farewell.
It didn't actually hit me that I was going to Paris until I was on the flight. Overwhelmed by all the French I was hearing, I started to have my panic attack... WHAT WAS I DOING? WHY WAS I DOING THIS? WHY DIDN'T I WORK HARDER IN MY FRENCH CLASS?! These were some of the panicked thoughts that ran through my head. But alas, we were already in the air and it was too late for such regrets.
Day 1: Monday, August 20
Originally, I had a lot I wanted to say and describe but at the rate of my blogging, I'll never get started... Haha, so here goes... in installments:
D-Day **Day 0**: Sunday, August 19
I left for Paris on Sunday, August 19, 2012 and landed in Paris on Monday, August 20.
I am a notoriously slow packer and horrible procrastinator, so of course, I wasn't really fully packed until maybe 2 hours before I was supposed to leave for the airport.
Unfortunately, I was over-packed and over the weight limit by 5 kg (or 10 lbs) and Air France is particularly strict about its weight restrictions (the cost is $100-200, which honestly wasn't worth it for me), so instead I had to unload some of my precious heavier goods such as conditioner and lotion...
We then rushed to the airport arriving just in time for last check ins. I had to purchase some last minute items and Lisa, my dad, Ngoc, and Hien sent me off. Perhaps because it was my second time away for an extended time, or perhaps there was no crying Khoa to pull my emotions, but it felt less of a sad farewell.
It didn't actually hit me that I was going to Paris until I was on the flight. Overwhelmed by all the French I was hearing, I started to have my panic attack... WHAT WAS I DOING? WHY WAS I DOING THIS? WHY DIDN'T I WORK HARDER IN MY FRENCH CLASS?! These were some of the panicked thoughts that ran through my head. But alas, we were already in the air and it was too late for such regrets.
Day 1: Monday, August 20
I had originally planned to meet with a group of students so we could all take the shuttle together but with CDG was extremely hectic and it was pretty much impossible. By some luck, I was able to find one other student and we decided to take the metro back to the ACCENT center... Bad idea. The French metro system is not so elevator-friendly and we both had large heavy luggages that we had to lug up and down several stairways and through two metro transfers. After some confusion, we found the center only to learn that where we resided was NOT at ACCENT. Some more lugging before I finally arrived at Daumesnil.
By the way, it was an incredibly hot hot day and I was soaked in sweat by the time I arrived, requiring a nice cold shower.
I grabbed some drinks with some floor mates and had my first French meal/food item: I'm pretty sure it was a croque-monsieur... unfortunately I forgot to take a photo... in any case, it is like a glorified grilled cheese, haha. But twice as crispy and amazing.
By the way, it was an incredibly hot hot day and I was soaked in sweat by the time I arrived, requiring a nice cold shower.
I grabbed some drinks with some floor mates and had my first French meal/food item: I'm pretty sure it was a croque-monsieur... unfortunately I forgot to take a photo... in any case, it is like a glorified grilled cheese, haha. But twice as crispy and amazing.
Day
2: Tuesday, August 21
I had orientation for ACCENT which was super informative and interesting for me (I wasn't able to attend the Berkeley orientation, which I wish I had) followed by an awesome splurge of a breakfast with the roommate. After lunch, I met one of my roommate's friends (who is visiting for just a few days) and we went to certain random boutiques followed by Lafayette Galleries (essentially a super fancy mall with high end brands). I tasted an awesome ice cream in bread concoction. After much confusion, we finally found my roommate's other roommate and headed back to shopping.
Although I had read many blogs which advised against wearing shorts, I found that many people did wear shorts in Paris. And also, on account of the heat wave and the fact that I only had so much summer wear available, I made my first clothing purchase -- camel-colored shorts from H&M.
Fun fact: H&M is a European brand and the first American store was at South Coast Mall in Southern CA... interesting right?
Although I had read many blogs which advised against wearing shorts, I found that many people did wear shorts in Paris. And also, on account of the heat wave and the fact that I only had so much summer wear available, I made my first clothing purchase -- camel-colored shorts from H&M.
Fun fact: H&M is a European brand and the first American store was at South Coast Mall in Southern CA... interesting right?
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| First breakfast in Paris! |
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| Part of breakfast too! |
There's no words to describe how beautiful of a sight the Eiffel Tower was at night. It was unreal, incredible, spectacular, and wow. Just wow.
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| The interesting ice cream brioche bread sandwich! |
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| Inside of Lafayette Galleries |
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| Salmon pizza... |
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| Close-up during the light show! |
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| La Tour Eiffel |
Day
3: Wednesday, August 22
I had another orientation this day, followed by a nap. I felt like I was wasting my day so I went in search of a particular restaurant with some floor mates. We were quite confused and lost but eventually made it, only to learn that it was closed. (This is the case with many restaurants in August, since this is the month when the French go on often month-long vacations).I had my first Amelie experience, cracking creme brulee with my spoon.
Originally, I was going to try a fondue experience but because of the large size of our group and the small size of the restaurant, we split up and I ended up having pizza (again?! you ask. and yes. again. except it was a margherita pizza... if that makes a difference).
After some more confusion, I ended up near the Bastille, where I barhopped with some other people.
The bar scene was... interesting, to say the least.
Note: Something I found of importance during the two orientations. Our coordinators warned female students that we would get cat-called and grabbed at, and that there's really not much else one can do but to ignore them. Any responses or actions you would normally use in the States... can turn real ugly here...
Yeah... it's gonna be a rough semester. Having returned from Seoul as a feminist, I itch to correct this system... Guys in clubs and on the streets can be a lot more forceful than one is used to in the States... as in, you need to say with conviction, "NON, MONSIEUR" at least 2 times, if not 3 or 4, before the message really gets through. And yeah, people can be quite touchy-feel-y.
After some more confusion, I ended up near the Bastille, where I barhopped with some other people.
The bar scene was... interesting, to say the least.Note: Something I found of importance during the two orientations. Our coordinators warned female students that we would get cat-called and grabbed at, and that there's really not much else one can do but to ignore them. Any responses or actions you would normally use in the States... can turn real ugly here...
Yeah... it's gonna be a rough semester. Having returned from Seoul as a feminist, I itch to correct this system... Guys in clubs and on the streets can be a lot more forceful than one is used to in the States... as in, you need to say with conviction, "NON, MONSIEUR" at least 2 times, if not 3 or 4, before the message really gets through. And yeah, people can be quite touchy-feel-y.
