Angela

March 19, 2007

After spending two weeks in Paris already, I now know that all the songs, sayings and movies are true: Paris holds the key to my heart.  I’ll have to admit that the size of the city was a bit daunting at first, but after getting familiar with our surroundings, or at least the surrounding streets of our hotel, and mastering the Metro, I’m pretty sure that all of the students are comfortable venturing out into Paris day or night.

The first week here was so packed full of sight-seeing and visits that it was a little overwhelming.  We saw the Arc de Triumph, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame all in the first four days, and all were absolutely spectacular and better than I could have imagined.  I have seen the Eiffel Tower in pictures and movies since I was a little girl, but absolutely nothing compares with seeing it in person.  We also got some amazing views from climbing to the top of the Arc de Triumph and taking the elevator up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, which was definitely a memorable experience.  I think that we are all feeling justified in eating our croissants and pain au chocolate (bread with chocolate inside of it)  every morning because of the amount of walking we are doing each day—though the Metro does help a great deal.

Our second week here was not quite as full of travels and included quite a few different cultural experiences.  We had some great guest speakers in class, including representatives from a non-governmental organization and a woman working for Christian missions here in France. We visited the Arab World Institute and a mosque here in Paris, which was beautiful and really interesting to see and learn about.  The intercultural-communications class has been great; we’ve had several  deep discussions about culture and identity, and I think that the class has helped all of us to understand where we fit in here and how to communicate with the variety of cultures surrounding us.

I feel I’ve gained a great deal of knowledge since I’ve been in Paris, both of the world outside of the United States and of myself.  It has been interesting to visit the different cultural areas of Paris and to see the different types of interactions between people.  I have to admit I’ve been a little more timid to strike up a conversation with Parisians than I would have hoped, mostly because of my elementary French level, but nine times out of ten, the times that I have been brave and tried speaking with someonehave been positive experiences. I’ve also enjoyed disproving stereotypes of both American and French people, and learning that we aren’t so different from each other at all.

I am still in awe of this incredible city.  Every time I go out, every street I walk down, every person I pass by and every corner I turn, there is something new and beautiful to see.  After getting over the initial shock value of “We’re in Paris!” a lot of us have enjoyed going out and spending afternoons in the heart of the city.  Just last week, a group of us took a picnic lunch and sat on the steps in front of the Eiffel Tower, and on my morning jog I pass by Notre Dame almost every day.  I think that some of the group’s favorite times have been when we have simply explored the city, not as tourists with maps and cameras at the ready, but as students and young people who want to observe and be a part of the culture and the life around us.