Paris-Week 2

I can't even begin to explain how much fun I am having in Paris! I have been able to visit so many new and exciting places with really amazing people. My second full week in Paris was filled with adventure and great memories.

This week I started classes and my cousin Ariane came to visit me. Not all of my classes started this week because it was only the 4th and 5th year students who started their classes so I only had two. Next week I start my full schedule which is exciting. My two classes this week were great. I had an economics class and a strategic brand management class. Both of my professors were super nice and passionate about their subject which always makes me even more interested in learning about it. My strategic brand management professor is my favorite so far though. I am so pumped about that class and I already can't wait to go to the next one.

It is interesting to see how different professors teach and how students learn from different countries.I had my hand up the majority of both classes and spoke frequently while the French students were very quite and reserved. I was talking to my strategic brand management professor after class and she told me that this is typically the norm. I find that to be so funny but I completely understand. Americans are loud and outgoing while the French keep more to themselves. What got me really excited though was that during the strategic brand management class, we talked a lot about IKEA and how they are the leader in brand management. I was basically jumping out of my chair because everything my professor was saying about IKEA, I knew and I wanted to add more. I love that I can work for a company and learn so much from within and then I can see a different point of view when I am in class. What a great experience.

So besides being in class, I was able to visit a lot of places in Paris this week. I didn't have class until Wednesday so on Monday I walked around with a few of my friends to Notre Dame and did some sightseeing around that area. I am waiting to go inside all of the monuments when it gets a little colder because I want to spend as much time outside right now because it is so warm and beautiful.

Monday night we had a meeting at ESCE so afterwards our whole group decided to do a picnic at the Eiffel Tower. We bought a ton a bread and cheese and sat under the Eiffel Tower and ate and talked. My favorite part was when they turned on the sparkling lights on the Eiffel Tower. I honestly don't think I will get sick of seeing the Eiffel Tower. Anytime I see it I get so excited and happy. It honestly is one of the most beautiful things I've seen. 

On Tuesday I went with my friend Arta to the Champs Elysees to do some sightseeing and shopping. All of the stores are so beautiful and massive. It isn't as crowded during the week as it is during the weekend so it was really nice. We had to make a pit stop at Laduree though to get macaroons. I just can't help myself when it comes to macaroons. Anytime I see them I want them. We sat on the outside part of the restaurant and I got a coffee with coconut and a nougat cake with cream and raspberries. It was fabulous! The rest of the afternoon we walked around Paris and explored.

Tuesday night a few of my friends decided to go to Sacre Coure to sit on the steps and drink wine. What a breathtaking view. At night you can see all of the lights in Paris and it is simply stunning. 

Wednesday I had school and then my cousin came that night. She arrived really late so by the time she got here, it was already 11 so we talked for a little and went to bed. On Thursday I had a class in the morning and then I met up with Ariane. We decided to go to the Luxembourg gardens and sit and tan because it was so nice and warm out. I still can't get over how great the weathers been. 

The rest of my time with Ariane was spent sightseeing, eating and going out. We went to the Moulin Rouge, Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower, Museum de Pompidou and I showed her my school. On her final night we went to the cutest French bistro is Montmartre. It was a simple restaurant with only a few items on the menu and there was only one waitress. We split a bottle of rose and I order the foie gras and I had Sole. It was unbelievably good! 

Ariane left on Sunday morning sadly but I know that I will see her in a few weeks. I love that we live so close to one another now and so I can just hop on a train whenever I want to see her. Next week starts my first full week of classes and I am excited to go to them all! I also want to do a lot more walking around Paris and finding little coffee shops and restaurants where only locals go. I want to just leave my house and get lost in Paris and explore!

Salut!

Anne

Paris-Week 1

So I arrived in Paris last Monday and I have been nonstop ever since. My flight to Paris was incredibly easy, it was almost too perfect. I arrived at the airport and it only took me 15 minutes to check my bags and go through security. That is so unlike USA airports. When I landed in Paris, I took the train and got off at Cite Universite which is the dorms where I am staying for the next four months. It was so great because they had my room all ready for me and all I needed was to get my keys and settle in.

Well my dorm is an International dorm where there are ESCE students from all over the world that are staying there. It's awesome! I feel like I am a freshman all over again and I am getting to meet all of these new people from all over the world. I've been able to make friends with students from Germany, Brazil, Poland, Italy, Latvia, Mexico and Holland. It's incredible!

My first night night was pretty casual, we all went to the park near the dorms and sat and drank wine. It was great to get to know everyone. The next day I spent the majority of my time shopping for things that I didn't have in my room. They don't provide any dishes or silverware for us so I had to buy all of that myself which was kind of annoying. That night though we had a huge family dinner where the German girls made Snitzle for the whole house. It was great! It was my first time having it and I really enjoyed it.

From Wednesday till Friday we had orientation for ESCE which is the school that I am studying at. It is located literally 5 minutes by foot from the Eiffel Tower. You can see the Eiffel Tower from the school which is pretty amazing. I have a feeling that while I'm in class, when I won't want to pay attention, I am just going to look outside the window at the Eiffel Tower. 

The first afternoon I begged my dorm mates to do Crepes under the Eiffel Tower. I know it's such a touristy thing to do but I just had to! We spent a couple hours around that area lounging by the park and eating our crepes. It was so relaxing. 

That night I went to see two good friends of mine in Paris. I know them from spending my summers with my family in Piriac. I haven't seen them in over two years since I haven't been to Piriac in that time and it was so nice to catch up and talk. I ended up spending that night at my friend Clotildes house because it was late and I didn't want to take the metro at night. Well I'm glad I spent the night because the next morning, my other friend Gaetan took me home on his scooter. It's not every day that you can say you toured Paris on a scooter. 

Gaetan invited me to go visit him in Lille that weekend because it was the big Braderie and the start of school so all of the students were coming back that weekend. I decided to go and I took a train that Friday. Before that though I did a tour earlier that morning with ESCE on a boat and saw all of Paris. It was really beautiful. I've been really lucky so far with the weather here. Every day has been beautiful and warm!! It definitely makes me love Paris even more. 

Later that evening I arrived in Lille and immediately met with Gaetan. We had dinner and went straight to his friends house to meet everyone. I am not used to going out like they do. They don't leave to go to the bar until 3am.. That's what time I normally get home, and usually it's even earlier! Well we left for the bar at 3am and by the time it was 6am, I had to go home. I couldn't take it anymore. But nonetheless it was a great night and I really enjoyed getting to know his friends. 

The next day we slept late and left in the afternoon to meet up with his friends for lunch. The Braderie is a huge flee market where people sell everything from clothes to dishes. It was huge! There were so many people and so many things to see. We did a short walkthrough and then left shortly after because there were too many people. It was really fun though and I am glad I went and got to experience it. 

I got back to Paris late on Sunday. In all, my first week in Paris was amazing!!! I already met some pretty amazing people and I am so excited for what's to come in the next four months. My cousin Ariane is arriving on Wednesday and staying for a couple of days so I can't wait for that!! 

Anne