Best semester of my life

After one week of classes and a full weekend, I can confidently say that this semester will be the best one of my life.

All of my art classes are being held in artist's personal studios around Paris. They are all amazing, and the professors are all smart and encouraging. They want us to learn and have fun in Paris. That said, they subsequently don't give us much homework at all. :). But of course, I will learn a lot this semester. How could I not while being in a foreign city and traveling during the weekends? Also, I am studying art in Paris - the most perfect place to do so. The experience will all be fulfilling and life changing, I know.

This past weekend, I went out with some of the girls from our program. After our entire program had dinner together, four of us went out bar hopping and to clubs. Though the drinks were a bit expensive, we had a great time. Each place was full of life and others wanting to have fun. On the way, we saw the Arc du Triumph, the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Also during this week, I saw the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower another time. I got to see many of the best sites right away - I am so lucky!

Today I went for a walk on the Seine river. It was absolutely beautiful. Today was a very relaxed day. I slept in until about 2 pm after being out all night, and then skyped with my mom and dad. They were excited to be able to see and talk to me here, and it was nice talking to them.

I am excited for my next week in Paris :) - I love this city.

art = love

Today I had my first real French class. It was way too easy, and the professor realized. Thankfully, she asked me if I would like to be moved up to one of the most advanced classes. I should be entering that class by the end of the week. I am happy about this, as it makes me feel much more confident about my ability to communicate in the language. I speak all the time with the Parisians, and it is extremely fun. Most of them applaud me and tell me I speak French well, though I think they are buttering me up a little because I know I don't sound like a native speaker.

Even my art professors speak to me in French, which is fabulous. My bookmaking course today was taught completely in French. I love my teacher, she is so very sweet. I got there early because I had another course close by, oil painting, a little before. I walked around the district for over an hour and got some dinner to go, but was still quite early for the course so I helped the professor set up. We made two books today. I love the course, and can't wait to do more.

The best part about today? Eating 3 types of chocolate pastries.

The cutest part of my day? When people see you eating something on the street, they stop and say "bon appétit!"

The most insane? Being come onto by an asian female prostitute in the window. Scary.

Oui, je parle le francais, et je sens un peu trop Francaise...

Today was my first day of French class. We met our teachers, who all seem super sweet, and took a placement test. I think it went pretty well, though I am a little rusty. However, I've found it quite easy thus far to communicate in French avec des Parisians... except for when inquiring about one interesting item: razor blades. At first I thought, 'I must have been saying the word wrong' and 'what was I doing during my AP French class senior year of high school?!' Mais, non. Ce n'etait pas moi. The reason I was not understood is that they don't use razor blades in France - so the rumors must be true! I am feeling a little too French right now, and will be on a quest to find this trivial item tomorrow, along with a much needed adapter for my electronics.

However, these small things don't seem to really matter because je suis a Paris! I must say it is thus far the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Even the architecture is romantic. One thing I have been noticing more and more, which I find truly interesting, is that expressing romantic emotion is much more widely accepted here. Not only is there wild PDA even in subway stations, but all couples hold hands everywhere - even the elderly, or are caressing one another's hair or legs (hopefully not the elderly). I guess it explains the drastic differences in American and European culture as a result of those damn Puritans leaving the continent so long ago to found our prude nation. But some of it is truly sweet. For example, I see men wherever I go holding flowers for their loved ones, a gesture you only see on Valentine's Day or an anniversary (if they remember) in the states. I mean I truly see this everywhere I go all day long, it is so universal in French culture, and is truly beautiful.

Je ne peut pas attendre a voir plus de ce belle ville!

First Impressions

Today is my first full day in Paris. It. Is. Amazing. The architecture is gorgeous, the people are romantic and handsy - couples make out on street corners and have their hands all over each other's butts, and most importantly the art and the food are to die for.

We arrived yesterday, after an overnight flight from JFK. A group of us from the program flew over together, and met and bonded right away. There are only 22 people in our program, so we will all get to know one another quite well. Two other girls in the program are also from Connecticut College, Liz Rosenfeld and Alicia Toldi. They have been great company and I am happy to have them with me. Our program is fantastic - courses are offered in studio art, art history, dance, and the French language. I am taking four courses in studio art - oil painting, photography, printmaking, and bookbinding. I am also taking a course in the French language, and possibly a second language course after the first is over, as it only lasts five weeks.

Classes start tomorrow. Today we had an orientation to get to know our campus, which looks like a gaggle of beautiful castles, and to find our classes, which are located in studios all over the beautiful Paris! We took the metro all over, so I hope I can figure out my way to do it again tomorrow. I am excited for the classes to start, as I can already tell this will be the most amazing semester of my entire college experience. What a luxury to take art classes and speak French all day!

Even more spectacular is that my best friend, my boyfriend, and family are all coming to visit. I can't wait to share this fabulous experience with them. I also hope to share my experience with all of my other friends, family, and teammates by means of this blog. Here I hope to write about my experiences and thoughts, as well as to post photos and artwork. Unfortunately, I do not currently have a working camera - but one is on the way. For now, I can only upload some photos from my host university's website.

This image is of one of the main buildings on our campus, which is known as the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris. Inside this particular building one can find a dining hall, a cafe, a theater, a pool and more. The campus itself consists of "houses" from different countries. Therefore, we are staying in La Fondation des Etats-Unis, or the United States House. It is beautiful, and we all have our own rooms overlooking either courtyards or the city. So lucky.

Part 2

I stopped posting earlier because some of the other girls and myself left for dinner. Oh. My. Goodness. One of the best meals of my entire life. French food is fantastic. We went into a district known for being associated with Jewish and gay culture, an interesting combination. The streets are old and beautiful, all cobblestone, and consist of rolling hills and intriguing, mysterious turns and side-streets.

We went to a typical French restaurant for our first independent meal in the city. I ordered Une Salade Provencale, a cappuccino, and complimented my dish with pieces of a delicious baguette. I did not want to stop eating. In fact, French cuisine makes American food look like garbage. I love Paris!

Now, I must review a little French and then go to bed early because Alicia, Liz, and myself plan on meeting before 8 am, and it is already 10:51 here in Paris. Ah! But I am quite excited for our first classes... Can't wait, in fact. We have a placement test tomorrow for French so we will be in the proper level. I hope it all goes well.

Love, love, love Paris.

:)