I’ve had two evenings in Paris since my parents left me here and I’ve watched both Sex and the City films. In my room. By myself. On my laptop.
It sounds tragic, but I like to think I’m being chilled about this whole thing. Mum, Dad and Modge dropped me at my colocation on Sunday at 3ish. Leila, my ‘coloc’ is lovely and was very welcoming (and very unphased by the family onslaught that she was faced with). I presumed that I would be the one to cry but in fact, after a weekend of family fun in Paris, I was nothing but excited to get started. Mum got a bit teary as we said goodbye so I ushered her out quickly to avoid a domino effect and suddenly my year abroad began.
I didn’t even know that apartments as small as this one existed, but they do and it’s actually very comfortable. As you walk in, there’s a very small kitchen. Did you know some kitchens only have two hobs? I’ve never seen one with less than four. There’s a bathroom-come-utility room. You can’t put the shower head in the holder because it’ll shoot all over the floor so it’s a hand-shower situation. Leila’s room doesn’t have a door, just a curtain but my room has a door so we do all keep our privacy. My room is small but perfectly formed and I already love it. I kind of wish I didn’t have to move out in a month. The only issue is the noise on the road outside – I’m hoping I’ll get used to it but it’s not ideal.
So what have a I done since I’ve been here, other than watch Sex and the City? Well, yesterday I simply unpacked. Today I woke up at 10ish and went for a run around the Notre Dame. It was a bit too busy and a bit too hot to be nice so I’ve noted that next time I should go earlier in the morning. After a shower and breakfast I went to Monoprix and got some essentials. I then went to meet Rosie at the Musée d’Orsay. Rosie’s been in Paris nearly a week and doesn’t seem to have sorted out the admin side of things any more than I have so that’s encouraging. (We’re all looking into bank accounts and Metro passes. Bloody nightmare.) Being a Monday, the Musée d’Orsay was obviously closed so we did the Louvre instead. We hadn’t seen each other in a while and there was a lot to catch up on and so I can’t say we really did the Louvre justice to be honest. Mona Lisa was anticlimactic though, that’s all I’ll say.
We had a Coca Light in a cafe and then went our separate ways. I walked home which was nice (though I wish I’d gone to the loo beforehand) and I only got approached for ‘looking lost’ once, to which I had to embarrassingly explain that I understood where I was it was just that I had forgotten where my house is. Silly Brits.
Anyway, tomorrow I have a welcome session at uni when I presume I’ll meet all the other Erasmus students. The real stuff happens then.
I can’t wait to be more settled. I keep doing things the hard way at the moment. Examples: I didn’t realise I had shutters on my window. They should keep the sun out better than the translucent purple curtains I used last night. I spent €7 on an RER ticket that really did not need to cost that much. I went to the expensive supermarket to do my weekly shop. Little things. Big learning curves.
Anyway, for now I need to try and sleep for my very early start tomorrow. The welcome event starts at 9.30. Ouch.
Bonne nuit à tous xoxoxo