Je suis à Paris!

Right now I am sitting on the floor of a McDonalds using the wifi. I have my laptop plugged in to charge, but it isn’t work L I don’t want to get up again, so I am leaving my laptop plugged in anyway so I don’t look weird sitting on the floor.

I am at a McDonalds using wifi because Justine doesn’t have electricity, who I am staying with. I came back to the apartment today, and her neighbor, who speaks English, told me whoever shut off her power. I called and left Justine a voice mail because she is at work. I then set off to find somewhere with wifi. It sucks to not have a working phone. I texted Justine when I got here, and she told me it would be better if I find somewhere else to stay. I texted Jerome and asked him to ask Nico, so I HOPE he says yes. I don’t have anyone else to ask. Uhg I just wanna figure this out. I hope I hear from Jerome soon.

Before this electricity problem, I went to lunch with an Italian friend, who I met last summer. He is staying near Sacré Coeur, so we had lunch near there and I got to see my favorite part of Paris! At least it was from last summer. I am sure once I live here for a while, I will find somewhere else, but I just love the gorgeous view of the city.

I am so stressed right now! I am just waiting for a text to tell me I can stay with Nico… fingers crossed.

Anyways back to yesterday, when I arrived in Paris…

I finally got to Paris after that long flight. I was so over that airplane after 9 hours even if I was in business class. It still sucked because I don’t sleep at all! We landed ahead of schedule, and I was slightly shaking with anticipation, eagerness, nervousness while I waited to get off the plane. This was it… sepping into a foreign country for a year ready to seize the day and hope everything went according to plan.

I deboarded and followed all the signs to customs and baggage claim. Customs took 30 seconds—he barely looked at me. It was nice arriving at CDG at 6am because no one was there, so it wasn’t crowded. I finally got my bags ahead of schedule of meeting Nico, and everything had run smoothly so far. Then I realized that Nico would not be able to reach me at our designated spot—the baggage claim. So I hauled all my bags, not an easy task, and exited the baggage claim to the area where people meet up with you and the exit to cars, trains, etc. There were a lot of people waiting to meet their loved ones, and there was no way I’d be able to find Nico in all that mess.

I fought through terrible crowds with my bags and tried to use a pay phone to call Nico, but I couldn’t figure out how to dial French numbers. I asked someone at a help desk, and she told me. I tried again and left a message… I then left messages for Jerome and Justine. I didn’t know what to do or who to call—no one was answering. I paced back and forth near outside the baggage claim area frantic bc I didn’t know how I’d find Nico. I used that pay phone so much and this computer thing that ate 10 euros of my money to try to contact him. After an hour, I was a sweaty mess pushing my bags again to some unknown destination, and I randomly saw Nico.

I yelled his name and gave him a big, American hug. I was so thankful. I cannot even express my feelings of relief. I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do, but I am glad it worked out. My day started getting better when he informed me he drove to the airport, so I didn’t have to deal with trains! We made the long trek back to his car, and I finally got to relax a little bit and see the city in day light.

We made it back to his apartment, which was really nice to me. Pretty big for Paris! Then he told me we could do whatever I wanted, and I immediately said let’s go to the Eiffel Tower! I knew I wouldn’t feel like I was in Paris until I saw it. We took the Métro to somewhere near Notre Dame I think in search of food. Notre Dame was the first big monument I saw, and we walked around that area in search of food, and found a classic Parisianne café where I got orange juice, hot chocolate, and a pain au chocolat. Most of the day we spent catching up and just walking. We eventually walked to the Louvre, and after that I got my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and we headed there. Then we got lunch—it had been hours since the café—and then we sat in the grass by the Eiffel Tower for a bit. It was so lovely… especially knowing I can come chill at the Eiffel Tower basically whenever I want to now!!

We decided to drink some beers at another random café, and I then called Justine to check in with her since she is my host while in Paris for a few days. We headed back to Nico’s, and I skyped my mom to tell her I was alive. I had been awake for like 24 hours at this point, but I was still going. I didn’t want to ruin my time schedule, but I did feel weird and jet lagged. I was so happy to finally be in Paris, but part of me was just numb and weird. I felt the same way last summer on my first day, and the whole being in France thing is an adjustment. Especially that this is my home for  a year… I don’t believe it still. I was thankful to spend my first day here with a friend. He was a part of home for me, which was really nice considering all the mixed feelings and jetlag I was going through.

We then drove to Justine’s apartment and hauled all my luggage up. I’m glad there was an elevator! I said my goodbyes to Nico, and I hope I see him on Wednesday because it is a bank holiday, so no one will work that day. Justine’s apartment is so cute. It is a bedroom and kitchen; small, but I really like it. We got crêpes for dinner, so yummy!! Then went back and basically went to sleep. I slept until 11am today… a full 12 hours, but my body needed it. I immediately got ready for lunch, so I haven’t had time to relax really especially after this no electricity thing. 

Btw, it was weird walking by myself today to meet up with my friend and now at McDonalds. I am paranoid I am going to get mugged, so I have my hands around my bag at all times. The area near Sacré Coeur is kinda sketchy, so I was super paranoid there. Its weird not to feel safe here bc I always do in America. I will get used to it I suppose, but I am kinda scared being alone sometimes, but everything has been fine today in that department.

Still no word about my living arrangements :/ I will see Justine soon and hopefully figure out our options.