getting acquainted

So we finally got our bags Thursday evening. So we got settled in after. After settling in Jenelle and I went to a little cafe near by in a quiet area called Le Square Trousseau to celebrate getting our bags! Twas delicious!!! 


Then Friday was our first day of our language class and I have to say I loved it! I love my teacher she is a gem and I was quite surprised that I understood almost everything she said (because she obviously was speaking french the entire 3 hours of class). 


After class we had an excursion. We get to go to like 6 different places with our class throughout the semester and this first one was to Le Villette and Cite de la musique in the 19 arrondissement. To begin, we had to go on the metro. It was my first time going on and I have to say it was actually really easy to understand. It was really interesting seeing a more modest side of Paris and the music culture. My teacher took us in the neighborhood to look at different forms of art like recycled art and like graffiti. It was interesting to see how graffiti artists are using old factory buildings to show their work. I have to say the graffiti was amazing and it was really interesting to see the last of the factory buildings in Paris almost demolished. After the tour of the neighborhood we walked to the canal where Amelie was skipping rocks in the movie haha, it was nice! Then we went over to the museum area where there is a science museum, a music museum, a 3D simulator room, a huge amazing silver round orb, and various other museums and theaters.  Afterwards we got back on the metro and went home.

 Jenelle and I then went to the supermarche, Monoprix, to get some groceries. Monoprix is the best grocery store EVER! There is a whole entire aisle dedicated to yogurt! haha, and there are just amazing products. Jenelle made dinner after (pasta) and we had a nice night in relaxing. 


Today (saturday) we went to visit the Eiffel tower,Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. It was really neat! I mean its so typical to go visit these places but they are really just so old and historic and soo amazing because of the history behind them! I just couldn't believe I was there! Jenelle and I took ALOT of pictures. First when we arrived to the Eiffel Tower we ate a sandwich in the park (Champ de Mars) and walked around then got on the metro to Champ-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. Right off the metro exit we could see Le Arc de Triomphe! It was insane! We just took it all in and looked around, even enjoyed some music by a native american group?! hahaha, and then we walked down to the Arc de Triomphe  as it started to rain. The rain just made the atmosphere feel that much more Parisian. After that we walked down Champ-Elysées and had a cafe au lait and a nice pastry. Then we decided to go into the huge H&M and I bought a book bag for school, We then decided to go home and now we are going to have another night in because we are exhausted. Anyway that is it for now!! Love you ALL!!!


(some pics of our room and our journey so far!)

our room

desk area

kitchenette 

yummy snacks!

our bathroom

arc de triomphe 

eclair, cafe au lait, macaroon 

park in the villette 

Notre Dame

park outside of Notre Dame

le geode 

the Eiffel Tower

arriving in Paris...

So lets start this series of unfortunate events. Get to the airport, wrong terminal (thanks STA travel). Get to the right terminal and notice our seats are separate from each other when they were supposed to be together (thanks Delta/KLM) and the plane is full. Start crying when saying goodbye. Try to see if we can get our seats together, not happening. Get seated next to a crazy old lady from Arizona going to Nairobi (we'll get to her later). And also get seated to a nice old man that actually switched seats with Jenelle because he was SO kind (first thing that went well). The plane is the crampiest/ tiniest space ever! Got to enjoy watching "No Strings Attached" (loved it), and some "Sex and the City" (carrie in paris!) and brushed up on some French on a learning French game. Oh, yeah, didnt sleep the entire 9/10 hours. When it was time for b-fast on the plane I accidentally spilled my orange juice on the crazy lady next to me. I liked her up until this moment because she swore I did this on purpose and yelled at the top of her lungs "SHE JUST SPILLED HER DRINK ON ME!! HELP! SHE JUST SPILLED HER DRINK ON ME!" Well that made me feel great....ugh. The stewardess was nice and understood and said it was bound to happen because of the small space.
Anyway, our plane landed in Amsterdam late (because of "heavy fog"), and Jenelle and I had about 20 minutes to get to our other flight, to Paris. Well, after going to the other side of the airport, not only did we have to go through customs there, we were led to the wrong gate (C5), and then to another (C11) and then to another (C7) and then finally to the right one (C4), thanks Amsterdam airport (so disorganized). All the while I'm wondering if our baggage made it on such a short amount of time given to transfer over to the other plane. Anyway we board the plane, I am now a row ahead of Jenelle. And finally got to sleep about an hour. I wake up and I realize I'm finally almost to Paris (yay!) and then I see the Eiffel Tower as we are starting to land (such a great feeling after all the stress).
We finally arrive in Paris, and both of us are really exhausted and feeling kinda sick at this point. We get to baggage claim and our baggage didn't make it to Paris with us. Fucking fantastic right? Well Jenelle found where to go to let the airport/airline know our baggage didn't arrive. We then gave them all the information, our ticket numbers on our luggage/what it looked like/ and what not. Well it turns out everyone that had that connecting flight did not receive their luggage. And with their "sincere" apologies they gave us a bag of toiletries and a shirt, and told us not to worry. Anyway luckily I packed ALL my underwear in my carry-on and a couple changes of clothes. Jenelle had a couple underwear in my carry on and a couple shirts in her carry-on. We shared a taxi with some other students we met from the same flight and from our program and that was good. We arrived finally to the ACCENT center (school) and checked-in and also told them about our situation, and they were so helpful and actually currently taking care of the luggage situation. Anyway we lugged our carry ons over to our  dorms a couple blocks away and finally got to rest.
Currently we are still waiting for our baggage and it is supposed to arrive today (hopefully it does). We got to explore the area a bit, went to a general orientation and got a pre-paid phone.
Being here is amazing, despite all the went wrong. I cant believe we're actually here! We went over to see the Bastille, since we are living in the area and got to see what shops and what not are around us, and even shopped at the supermarche and at a home store (casa). As soon as we get our luggage we will be going out and exploring a lot more, in the meantime we are resting and hoping we get our luggage soon!
Anyway, we will post pics later and update on more later!

Getting ready to depart!

MY adventure beings TOMORROW! AHHH! I am so nervy! I will be leaving out of the country for 4 months TOMORROW! I cannot believe this is actually happening! Destination: Paris, France, but technically before that Amsterdam....only for an hour, so no I cant enjoy the scenery. Companion: my lovely lovie Jenelle Moad! We will arrive in Paris at noon! 
Currently I am sitting at home wondering if I have everything prepared yet not doing anything about it and also watching the obese pussy kitty hiss at my baby kitty teddy haha. It's funny because I think one of the things I will miss quite a lot is that stupid cat! But of course I will miss all my family and friends!

Sadly this is not an interesting blog just yet because I have not yet arrived in Paris. But stay tuned all, and follow me/us on this amazing experience!