One More Chapter
A twenty two year-old's view on life, death,
and Taylor Swift conspiracy theories
and Taylor Swift conspiracy theories
3/5/2015 0 Comments Paris 2015: One Month?!?!Well, I went to write this week's post (sorry I missed last week) and realized that it has been almost one month since I have touched down in France. I absolutely can NOT believe that. It's a strange feeling, studying abroad, and many of the other students agree on this point. I feel like I have don't almost a fraction of the things that I want to do while here and as though I have only been here for perhaps a week. But In another sense, I feel as though I have been here for months and months. I am comfortable riding the metro and trains, I have fallen into a pattern and rhythm. Plus, I've eaten enough bread for a year and really need to start working it off. That having been said, it's safe to say that this has been one of the most wonderful, exhausting, fantastic, eye-opening and adventurous month of my life. First off, I have to say that each day I am more and more glad for having chosen to live with a host family. These people are the sweetest, most loving people I think that I have ever met. They are always asking how my days are and teaching me more little tid-bits about life in France and we are all learning from each other about the differences between our cultures. It's great! Last night, I made my host family a traditional New England dinner. At first I wanted to make them my family's famous clam chowder, but apparently it's near impossible to find clams here, so I made a seafood chowder with mussels, crab, shrimp, cod and potatoes. It was still pretty fantastic. I also taught them to eat corn on the cob (which was also near impossible to find here) and they were so fascinated by how we ate it! Apparently corn on the cob is food for the pigs here and no one ever eats it like that. For dessert I made them apple crisp with ice cream, which once again they fell in love with! It's was so great being able to share a little bit of home with my host family and, at the same time, it felt nice having a bit of home myself. Another thing I've been doing here is sight-seeing. And a lot of it! Yesterday I went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and saw the most beautiful view of Paris. Seriously, it was breathtaking. I've also visited the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens (where I like to eat lunch right next to school!), Notre-Dame and MUCH MUCH MORE! This city is so beautiful and so historic, it's amazing. And it's all in the middle of people just going to and from work and school, driving around like it's no big deal. In the middle of a round-a-bout there will be a huge statue that is so beautiful you simply must stop and stare. Right there. Just in the middle of all this 21st century chaos. It's quite a trip. One of the most interesting things that I have seen thus far has got to be the Catacombs which spread all throughout the under ground of Paris, just full of bones upon bones upon bones. There are even sections where it seems that those who were building these, dare I say beautiful, tunnels became a tad bored with the redundancy of placing bones in the same, uniformed patterns and decided to switch it up a bit. Just upon entering these extensive crypts you will notice the skulls in the shape of a heart, then further on, in the shape of a church. It's simply breath taking. It might be a bit odd, but it truly took everything in me not to simply reach out and touch one of the skulls. I mean, these all used to be people. Walking, talking, breathing people. But not everything has been a walk in the park. For instance, I am STILL on the search for the perfect cafe to get a nice coffee and write. It's difficult because it's still rather cold so there aren't many welcoming terraces. And I judge the insides hard core. Plus, I often find a potential candidate online and then chicken out and don't feel cool enough or French enough to go inside. I think that I am just going to have to suck it up and deal with it one of these days. SCREW IT! I'll say. I DON'T CARE WHAT THESE STRANGERS THINK OF ME! I WANT TO WRITE DAMMIT! And then I will. I am also very so grateful for that amazing people that i have met here and the friends that I am making, but of course I miss all of you back in the States as well. MORE THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. It's difficult to be experiencing all of this and seeing all these incredible places, and the whole time be wishing that you were all here to experience it with me. Though, all in all, I am falling in love with travelling and can't wait to start exploring the rest of Europe - and doing more hiking! (I recently went on an adventure in the French wilderness and it was so beautiful!!! I need to get me some more of that!!) Until the next time. Thank you for reading, Amanda Lucille Song of the Day"Start a Fire" by Passenger One of the most amazing songs that just always makes me feel better no matter what kind of day I'm having. Enjoy.
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About This Blog:I started this blog as a way to challenge myself to write more over the 2014 year, but it has blossomed into so much more than that. I use it to let people in on what's happening in my life, talk about things I find important and to spread the news about amazing people, places and art. Archives
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