Euh, how you say "baguette?"

Hello self slash all who are reading! It's me, Dana. Hey. I'm spending the semester in Paris and it is my intention to keep a blog throughout the entire experience. Let's see how long this lasts. Last time I did this I ended up stopping the blog after a month because it stressed me out. Maybe this time I won't write a novel a day. Or maybe someone needs to bribe me with cookies or something. Just kidding there are entirely too many cookies--excuse me--biscuits, here, and I already know that I shall be gaining 10 to 15 pounds these next four months based on the amount of bread I've been consuming...so, nevermind the cookies. Whatever, here we go.

So let's talk about the airport. My parents dropped me off at JFK airport Saturday with just enough time for me to catch my 5:05pm plane to Paris. There I was being all sad and lonely, when someone announced that the plane wasn't working or something so we had to get a new one. A NEW ONE. Which apparently would take 6 freaking hours. Perhaps the only good that came of this is that American Airlines ever so kindly gave us all $12 food vouchers as compensation because $12 is apparently what my well being is worth according to AA. #dramatic. Alas, I spent some quality me time in a restaurant with a portobello sandwich and a corona which only ended up costing me $9. Not complaining there. Anyway, we ended up departing at about 11:15pm. Normal stuff. There was a crying baby. I had earphones. I slept. Next thing I knew, I was in Paris.

I was greeted at the Charles de Gaulle airport by the program director who took me and another girl to meet our host families. My host mom, Ariane, came to meet me and she was wearing really cool boots and a really cool scarf with pockets for all her stuff and her hat was fluffy. When I arrived at the apartment, I was pleasantly surprised at the decor! The entire ceiling of the main area is glass so the whole place is super light and open. There's art everywhere, and it's just super cozy :)

CHECK THAT SHIT OUT!

My host dad, Yves, is very engaging and likes to joke around. He makes me feel right at home. And my host brother is 16 and his name is Austin. He's also been very helpful and they've all been very nice and very patient with me as I stumble pathetically over my words. Ah, yes, I should state that in this program, I am only allowed to speak French. French at home, French at school. ALL THE TIME FRENCH. My brain...is mush. So on top of being jet lagged, my brain is attempting to listen and understand and translate and process and formulate and conjugate....all that good stuff. So basically, I'm exhausted.

Anyway, today was my first full day in Paris. For breakfast, Ariane handed me something that looks like this:

(not my photo)

So I just kind of stared at it because I had no idea what to do with an egg in a little bowl next to a small spoon. After like a minute of me stalling by slowly buttering my piece of baguette, she finally explained that it's an "oeuf à la coque", which is a soft boiled egg. You're supposed to crack the top open and eat the insides with a spoon. Simple enough. Did it. Also, delish.

I had to be at the school at 10:00am so Austin showed me the ways of the Metro this morning and I found my way to the school perfectly fine. (I may or may not have gotten lost on the way back, but if you know me at all, you know that's expected.) So me and the other 5 students in the program talked with the director about expectations and such. Then we walked around, grabbed some lunch, (I had a tomato and zucchini feuillette or something, mmm) and then went to la Musee de Cluny and looked at some old Roman shit or something. I'm kidding, I enjoyed myself, I was just falling asleep due to the jet lag. Sorry.

And to conclude, I made it home safe and sound, ate some dinner with the family, and Yves proceeded to show me paintings, movie posters, photos, and short films that he and his wife made. This family is so artsy, I love it.

Et voila!
Let's hope this is not my last blog post...

Yours truly,
Dana