As a recap: I’m Harmony and I’ve been studying abroad in Paris, France for the past three weeks. I’m also the one that warned you about the limited McFlurry flavours. Throwing myself (and, at times, falling) into unfamiliar activities and environments has been more fun than I’d imagined. The consensus in my CEA Program is honest denial that we only have a week left in Paris.
Over time, I’ve become more comfortable moving around the city by myself, whether that’s strolling through a walk to class, taking trips to the Louvre or Montmartre, or stumbling through a Monoprix run. My arrival in Paris was a little haphazard at first. I arrived a day late due to a flight scheduling mistake and a 2-hour flight delay. While I was grateful to receive my luggage in one piece, getting to city was very… interesting.
My taxi driver swindled me a little, but in full disclosure I was eager enough to get to my first orientation that I let him. He was also kind enough to curse out other drivers at a low tone which was pleasant in comparison to fond childhood memories of yellow taxis in NYC. I was already jetlagged and the ride to the CEA Paris Center from the airport was twice as long expected, so I arrived an hour late regardless.
The on-site advisor took one look at me dragging my luggage over the staircase—on an empty stomach at that—and got me situated with a mini-presentation. Afterwards, I meet my roommates and other American students in orientation, and we had a lovely lunch at a nearby restaurant before I dropped my stuff off at my apartment and promptly missed our Seine River cruise due to more traffic.
It got much easier from there thankfully. I had a few restful nights and my roommates, who had gotten to Paris a day or so earlier, helped me navigate the streets. I quickly got into a routine of walking to class with them and going on trips with other students. Taking the Metro was an easy adjustment, generally fast and reliable in comparison to most public transportation in the U.S. I’ve also noticed that Parisian streets are built for pedestrians first, cyclists second. Cars are almost an afterthought; roads and sidewalks blend in together at times.
As I walk, I’m always distracted by pretty buildings or window displays. There’s always an ice cream shop or bubble tea place to try and lively curbside conversations by restaurant patrons. Unfortunately, I’ve grown terribly suspicious of smiles—once, a lady smiled wide at me on the street, and I had to reign in my shock. This obviously doesn’t bode well for my return to the states.
Though I’ve had some ups-and-downs, I’ve had some incredible experiences! I visited the Eiffel Tower three times over, first with my roommates as we took in its sheer size and walked around the 7th arrondissement trying out different patisseries and fromageries. Then I had a charcuterie night with friends from my class and we watched the Tour light up on the lawn, before heading back the next day. I went up to the top for a gorgeous view and had a fun conversation with a man travelling through Europe from Saudi Arabia.
Overall, Paris has been wonderful, and I’ll let you know how my birthday weekend abroad pans out next time!