Paris: Day Two (Coconuts and Peaches)

Waking up in Paris was much more tiring than expected.

We got ready and headed downstairs for breakfast. Many hotels in Paris do not include breakfast, fortunately Hotel Esperance does.

We sat ourselves at one of only 10 little tables and were served orange juice immediately without question and without pulp (small victory). The woman then brought a pan of breakfast breads: a croissant, a jam pastry, an apricot pastry, and some other bread product that I was already too full to try. The jam served at the table was cherry, strawberry, and raspberry mixed into one as well as an apricot spread.

Crazy I know, but the berry one was awesome. I think I'm going to steal one tomorrow.

We left about 15 minutes later than anticipated since everyone went out last night and the one male in our group did not get up on time.

Getting to the metro was slightly difficult, but navigating the different lines was very easy. Just like NYC. Difficulty arose when we got off to get to our program office.

We roamed back and forth for probably 10 minutes before we somehow landed on the right street.

Orientation, as they often are, was a bit on the boring side. Semi-redundant. Although, I thought I would share something that the director taught us about French and American people.

Coconuts and Peaches.

French people are very similar to coconuts. They are raised very strictly and are very obedient to their mothers and taught to be very quiet and reserved. Many of their friends are from high school, once you break through that shell (congrats first of all to you) then you have a lifelong friend. Their outsides seem hard, but that's only because they were taught appropriate timing for everything. The metro is a very quiet place. The french don't speak much there, and if they do, you can't hear them. The french cover themselves up a lot in everyday public, but on vacation, of course, you get nude beaches. A time and a place for everything.

Even nudity.

Americans are very similar to peaches. We aren't raised as strictly on social stigmas and told to go out and experience the world. Many of us go to college in different states than our hometown and even go to study abroad (not my case, but I'm a minority there I guess). The french are very home oriented. They live near home forever. We are easy to get along with and are very sociable. Soft on the outside. We let a lot of people in through to a certain level, but almost no on toward the hard center. We aren't as well grounded within this inside spectrum of human relations, be it due to insecurities or whatever. It is just who we are.

Which is why the french come off as rude. Stuck up. Unfriendly.

I found myself instantly more reserved, even around the Americans. Maybe part of it is being homesick though. I don't necessarily miss home, just Orlando. Well, maybe that is home now. We went to lunch with one of the staff members, also a student at Sorbonne. He asked us plenty of questions. He was raised in and went to school at Reunion.

We talked for a while on the way there about how un-Parisian we felt we were. Honestly, had Africa had a French class available for the summer, I wouldn't be in Paris. I'm no fashionista and the culture is nice, but mostly just a nice vacation spot. Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity and I certainly need it as part of finding myself again.

Without a cell phone or internet readily available or English or my friends.

I'm really pretty alone.

But I don't belong here. The city is an amazing culture warehouse, but I would much prefer the French countryside, able to slip in and out of city life as I please.

My fellow classmates are very fashionable and love wine. I couldn't care less about those things. I love the French for their passion for sitting alone at a cafe and reading. I don't really care for a party all the time. I feel as if I'm becoming a French recluse. Ha!

It was nice to talk to a French person who didn't smoke (3/5 of us smoke, obviously I'm one who doesn't) and who didn't feel like they really belonged either. He may go with us to Disneyland Paris Sunday, who knows!

I know what you're thinking. :)

And no.

As cute as he is, I set him off limits.

After lunch we talked about housing. I still haven't met my apartment roommate since she was on the July program and extended. Hopefully I will meet her tomorrow, but if not, we move in on Saturday. The apartments sound very old, but I'm really excited. I love old architecture.

We got back to the hotel and napped - I'm still not used to this time! And awoke to go get lost and find a place to eat. We came straight back home for an early night to try and adjust.

And here I am. In between Finance homework.

Feeling a little alone. Not only am I in a foreign country, but I guess I kind of feel like since everyone is very Parisian like already as Americans that I don't really fit in with the classmates. I know I will eventually, but it is hard, especially after than plane ride alone.

Lots of alone time.

And lonely thoughts.

But I guess that's what I asked for, right?

Much love.