Samedi, le 27 septembre, 2008
Bonjour mes amis!
This is probably the first time anyone is going to look at this because the last post I wrote before I had a blog set up, so feel free to read that one as well! I'll pick up from where that last post left off...
Wednesday I had my oral exams at the Institut Catholique (the language school I am taking classes at this semester). They went really well and everything is fine! Yay! That night, I went with some friends from University of Illinois as well as a couple of new French friends to the Louvre at night. It was absolutely stunning. I forgot to bring my camera, but hopefully I will go back there at night because the glass pyramids look amazing all lit up!
Yesterday our program went on a guided tour of the Musée du Louvre. Yes, I saw the Mona Lisa! We also learned about the history of the museum itself, which was actually originally built as a fortress and located outside the city walls of Paris. Then, when the city expanded and the walls were extended outward, the Louvre was part of the city itself and became a royal palace. It is interesting to note the different architecture and decorations in the Louvre depending on when that particular part of the building was built. I will definitely be going back there.
That night, our new French friends took us to the Sacre Coeur, and we sat on the steps and had a very French picnic with baguettes, paté, and of course, some wine! In front of us on there was a beautiful view of Paris, and behind us the beautiful Sacre Coeur.
Today (or I guess yesterday, since it is Saturday at 3 in the morning here...I stayed up to watch the presidential debate but the internet is not letting me stream it!!) we went to the Musée d'Orsay. This is another place I will definitely visit again. We looked at lots of famous impressionist paintings, from people like Degas, Cezanne, Monet, and of course my favorite, Van Gogh.
At night my friends and I went on another picnic, this time to the Eiffel Tower. It is lit up in blue because President Sarkozy just became the head of the European Union, and so the "city of lights" is definitely celebrating by lighting up everything in blue! Again, it was an amazing night with an unbelievable view. At times during our conversations sitting on the grass, my Illinois friends and I would joke and say things like "Oh, yeah, there's the Eiffel tower. No biggie, just one of the most recognized landmarks in the world..yeah, so what were you saying??"
Tomorrow our group ventures to Versailles for another guided tour. I can't wait!
If you can't tell by my posts so far, let me just say bluntly that I love it here. I am awestruck by everything, and I'd like everyone to come visit so they can live the dream as well!
Much love,
Sunanna
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The First Few Days...
Mercredi, le 24 septembre, 2008
Well, it is my second day in Paris and I am writing this journal entry from le jardin du Luxembourg, one of the biggest green spaces in the city. When I take a look up from my computer there is the palais du Luxembourg, and if I look just to the left I can see the top of la Tour Eiffel. I have posted pictures of this garden that you can see. It is located right next to the dorm I am living in for the moment and it was the first major place I visited, almost as soon as I arrived in Paris. It is gorgeous, and I like to come here to people watch, stare at the palace, or just think.
However, I haven’t had that much time to do this in the couple of days I have been here. My days have been very full. I have seen Notre Dame, l’hôtel de la cite, le Bastille, gone on a walking tour of la marais (one of the most historic parts of Paris), and walked miles all over Paris by myself and with others in the program. I have eaten un pain au chocolate, un crepe with bananas and nutella, and of course un sandwich (Rebecca!). I’ve also ridden the Metro multiple times and it’s great.
The next couple of days are full as well. We have orientation meetings, but we also have guided tours of the Louvre tomorrow, the Museé d’Orsay on Friday, and Versailles on Saturday. Hopefully on Sunday I can move into my dorm, located in la Cité Universitaire. It is near the Montparnasse cemetery and general region, and I am excited to see what new adventures will arise in this environment of students in Paris for a common reason!
I can’t express how amazing it is to be in this city. Of course I haven’t settled in completely and I still feel quite foreign in this country, but I still absolutely love every minute.
More pictures and posts to come, so please check back soon!
Love to all,
Sunanna
Well, it is my second day in Paris and I am writing this journal entry from le jardin du Luxembourg, one of the biggest green spaces in the city. When I take a look up from my computer there is the palais du Luxembourg, and if I look just to the left I can see the top of la Tour Eiffel. I have posted pictures of this garden that you can see. It is located right next to the dorm I am living in for the moment and it was the first major place I visited, almost as soon as I arrived in Paris. It is gorgeous, and I like to come here to people watch, stare at the palace, or just think.
However, I haven’t had that much time to do this in the couple of days I have been here. My days have been very full. I have seen Notre Dame, l’hôtel de la cite, le Bastille, gone on a walking tour of la marais (one of the most historic parts of Paris), and walked miles all over Paris by myself and with others in the program. I have eaten un pain au chocolate, un crepe with bananas and nutella, and of course un sandwich (Rebecca!). I’ve also ridden the Metro multiple times and it’s great.
The next couple of days are full as well. We have orientation meetings, but we also have guided tours of the Louvre tomorrow, the Museé d’Orsay on Friday, and Versailles on Saturday. Hopefully on Sunday I can move into my dorm, located in la Cité Universitaire. It is near the Montparnasse cemetery and general region, and I am excited to see what new adventures will arise in this environment of students in Paris for a common reason!
I can’t express how amazing it is to be in this city. Of course I haven’t settled in completely and I still feel quite foreign in this country, but I still absolutely love every minute.
More pictures and posts to come, so please check back soon!
Love to all,
Sunanna
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