Pondering Paris

The last week and a half I can't stop thinking, pondering, and obsessing about Paris in the Fall. I lay awake at night, as I'm supposed to be getting much-needed sleep, coming up with scenarios in my head, such as - searching for an apartment, ordering a crepe, finding my favorite boulangerie, taking art history classes in French, and the list goes on. I've even spent a significant amount of time exploring the streets of Paris via Google Maps street view. I've been researching like crazy for advice on studying abroad, and brainstorming ways to save up money. If you're wondering where in the world I've been the last two weeks - this is what I've been doing.

This Fall, I will have the chance to live in a new country. I'll be there for five months, I'll rent a tiny closet-sized apartment (shared toilet down the hall), I'll be an English tutor part time, and I'll study art history in the company of the best museums in the world. I almost can't believe it's going to happen - It still feels surreal.

Photo by Rebecca Plotnick

When most people think about Paris, they think Luxury and Fashion. But those are two stereotypes I don't care much about. The experience I want to have in Paris is a real one, full of busy metros, rude French waiters, picnics along the Seine, scavenging flea markets, buying fresh food at the outdoor market everyday, practicing my French until I'm so frustrated I throw my school books across the room (though they won't go far, as my apartment will be 5 feet across), finding nooks and crannies of the city no tourist has touched, and most of all, make my own way. Of course, I desperately want to experience the opulence and grandeur of all the tourist must-see sites, but most of all, I want to have an authentic Parisian life, even if that life lasts less than half a year.

Photo by Cherie Lester