The Transition Artist

It’s Sunday night and I’m exhausted in the best way possible. My feet are in a semi-permanent state of aching from all the walking I’ve been doing (in bad shoes..) and my body is trying to adjust to the amount of hours I now spend upright, and the very few I spend horizontal (sleep is more rare because there’s so much to do each day). I’ve been in France for almost a month now, and have lived in Paris for about two weeks. In just two weeks I’ve done more things than I could ever have imagined, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had here.

It feels like I’ve been here far longer than two weeks, though the time has flown much more quickly than I could’ve imagined it would. Blogging has gotten away from me (clearly), and I’ve found that carving out down time is much more challenging because there’s constantly something for me to do. I’m still in a total honeymoon phase with my new city (or really a tourist phase would be more accurate). I want to explore everything. I want to see everything. I want to get acquainted. So, I spend a few hours each day just roaming into new places and seeking out something new. 

In the short time I’ve been here I’ve checked off many of the tourist sections of my Parisian bucket list. On two different occasions I’ve spent the evening at the base of the Tour Eiffel in complete awe of the beautiful structure, lit up in gold at night. In the darkness, I watch it twinkle for five minutes at each change of the hour. It might be entirely cliche, but there’s something so magical about the Tour Eiffel at night. I sit with my friends eating far too much cheese and sipping wine on the grass next to the tower just absolutely blissful with the thought that I live here.

“I live here,” has become my sentiment of choice lately. I often wander through the streets, absolutely in awe of the beautiful architecture and culture that now surrounds me, and just think to myself, “Oh and, as if this isn’t good enough, I live here.” Then I smile uncontrollably and feel like skipping with glee. I’m in one of the most lovely cities in the world (in my humble, somewhat biased opinion), and I get to keep enjoying its beauty every day. 

I turned 20 my second day in Paris, and spent an incredible birthday celebrating with my roommate (who actually has the same birthday) and new friends on boulevard St. Michel, right by the Seine. I’ve gone to church after church, from Notre Dame to Sacre Coeur, where I happened upon a beautiful French mass and took communion, and taken so much pleasure in seeing the beautiful things man created in honor of an incredible God. The stain glass windows, elaborate altars, beautifully crafted statues and ceilings, and exterior architecture (typically gothic) of the churches here just absolutely blow my mind. I’ve walked from one part of the city to another without using the metro (this is why my feet hurt), and found myself in the most extraordinary places. From reading a book sitting on a little bench right by the Seine as the sun set, to stumbling upon the Jardin des Plantes (an incredible botanical garden) during the golden hour, I couldn’t be more pleased. I’ve bought far more books in French than I’ll probably have time to read, and spend more time carrying them around and people-watching (when I intended to read) than anything else. But at least I look intellectual right..?

Beyond having just been able to explore Paris, yesterday I went on an excursion with my program to Normandie. We visited the city of Honfleur on the coast and got to experience the open-air market in the town center, climbed to the top of the hill that overlooks the whole city and coastline, went to the beach, and ate the most wonderful seafood. I had some of the best mussels and french fries (moules frites) I’ve ever tasted in my life and loved every second of it.

I don’t entirely know how to sum up the past two weeks without rambling far more than anyone really should and giving way too many details, but about the best sum-up I can give would be this: Living here is the most incredible experience I could ever have asked for. 

Each day brings a new adventure and experience. I’ve met some really wonderful people and have lived so fully. I recently (recently being about two days ago) planned a trip to Norway and will be traveling to Oslo next weekend with a girl I met in one of my classes! I’m so excited for the coming week and the adventures to come. I’ll try to keep my updates more frequent (no promises), but that’s all for now. xx