Rue Greuze

Ladies and Gentlemen, its official...we have found housing in Paris! Almost anyone I have spoken with in the past four months has heard at least a snippet of our unfortunate housing-search situation. Most were baffled by the fact that the neither my own university nor the university I will be attending in Paris were very willing or able to help in locating a place to live for the duration of my studies. Nobody was more baffled (or outright pissed off) than the four frustrated Tulane girls and their frazzled mothers who had been frantically searching for apartments as the date of our departure loomed. Countless emails were sent discussing the merits of countless apartments, only to rack up countless excuses as to why an apartment was snapped up just as we sent in our rental forms.

But I will put all that behind me and look towards my future: I will be living in a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment (55 meters squared) with three other girls. With my American naivety I am unsure of what 55 meters squared actually looks like, but I am remaining positive and hope it is at least big enough to fit all of our suitcases. I admit I am not the cleanest person on the planet (please no comments from the peanut gallery) but I will in fact be living with one of the neatest and most organized people I have ever met. The situation does sound like something out of a bad evening sitcom but I have given my word that I will be clean and I intend to keep that promise...at least until I post pictures of the apartment for you all to see.

We are located in the 16th arrondissement, (neighborhood) and apparently I'm very close to the Eiffel Tower. I have yet to pronounce the word arrondissement correctly but have had an entertaining time trying. I have full confidence that I will be able to entertain the people of Paris with my apparently hilarious attempts at pronunciation. What better way to gain pity at my language deficiency than to make them laugh!

Pre-Paris

As I spent yet another relatively sleepless night in Atlanta (due mainly to my tendencies to sleep late and nap frequently during the day) I could think of no better way to pass the time than to create a blog to document my future adventures in the city of lights. I hope that this blog not only serves as a method for my friends and family to stay updated on my travels, but will also allow me time to reflect on my time abroad as I experience it. Please forgive me in advance if I fail to update on a regular basis as I was never much of a diary writer... or blogger for that matter. I also do not know what my internet situation will be like in Paris and therefore cannot be blamed for any long stretches of time in which I have seemingly disappeared.

Two main questions are asked of me when friends and family discover that I am spending a semester abroad in Paris. 1. Do you speak French? and 2. Have you seen the movie "Taken"?

An answer to #1: No, I do not speak French. I am, however, currently a student of the Rosetta Stone software and am learning such useful phrases as "le garçon est sous l'avion" (the boy is under the airplane) and "les tomates sont dans un panier" (the tomatoes are in a basket). I am uncertain as to the relevance of these phrases but it is my hope that, in case of emergency, my knowledge of the location of the tomatoes will keep me safe from harm.

And for #2: "Taken", the story of two young females traveling in Paris, kidnapped, sold into a sex trade, and attempted to be saved by a CIA Agent father.

No. I have not seen the movie. And frankly I do not intend to. Seeing as though my father is not secretly a CIA Agent (sorry to ruin that dream for you, dad) and is instead a doctor, I find it highly unlikely that, in the case of my kidnapping, the threat of death by stethoscope or forcep would hardly be enough to merit my return by any kidnappers. I have therefore decided to forego the fear and hysteria that accompanies viewing this particular film and instead go along my merry way without worrying about any future possibility of a kidnapping.

And so, to end this, my very first blog post, I promise you two things. 1. to continue to learn inane phrases that will somehow convince the French that I have at least attempted to educate myself in the French language, and 2. to keep myself safe while I am abroad. More serious, yes, but I will be as responsible as possible while I am abroad and hopefully only have to report to you any silly shenanigans, fabulous sights, delicious food and classroom adventures that I might experience during my time in Paris.

Good night/morning to you all!