Orientation!

Today was my first day of orientation. After discussing the logistics of our stay in France we had a picnic down the street at the Champ de Mars - AKA the park next to the Eiffel Tower. It was amazing and very busy! BU's location is great. It's fairly large, renovated, and clean. The classrooms are nice too, and there are coffee vending machines. Yes.

Then, we had a boat tour ride on the Seine, the river that flows through Paris. We got to see many of the monuments including many scantily clad male sun bathers. It was great seeing the city from the river. When we finished we all went and got prepaid cell phones. I got some of my new friends' numbers so we'll be able to meet up later. :)

My picture is one view from the boat ride.

First day!

I arrived in France today! Here's everything you missed:

The plane ride was long and my tv broke halfway through. By the end my eyes were bulging like a gecko because I was so tired. Somehow, they found me safe enough to be allowed into Paris (despite the eye thing). There was a HUGE crowd around the baggage area. After 15 minutes of hoping the crowd would filter out I realized you had to look through peoples legs then make a run for it when you saw your bag. I think I hit about 15 people in this process. Finally I got on a taxi. My taxi driver kind of looked like Kim Jong Il. Luckily I was distracted because we were driving through downtown France.

This was the moment of truth. It was really awesome because we were right by all these famous monuments and it seemed like they would never end.

Finally, I arrived on campus where I learned about my homestay. My family has 2 apartments on top of each other. The lower one is where the mother, father, and 2 younger kids stay. The upper apartment has a 20 year old daughter, an Italian exchange student, and me. It's nice because we have our own space. It's just scary because I'm the only one in the program at this location and it's kind of far from my campus.

The apartment building is really nice and the people around here are nice as well. It's an old, but very pretty building. When I got to the complex, I spent about 10 minutes struggling with the door until 2 people yelled outside their windows to save me. The elevator is all glass and super teeny. I will probably lose a limb on it at some point. All it will fit is me and one piece of luggage! The apartment is very small. The kitchen doesn't even have room for a full stove and oven; they have a makeshift 2 eye stove top. My room is also small with just enough room for a wardrobe, desk, and twin bed. I do have a window I can open however. :) I also have lots of shelving so I fit all my stuff with room to spare.

My host family wanted to take me to the grocery. This was terrifying. I knew I had to get things for the next few days but didn't know what I wanted! I ended up getting cereal, babybel cheese, turkey sandwich makings, and salad with a mystery salad dressing. I figured that was the best I could do under the pressure and having not slept in forever.

Finally, my home family ate dinner with me and that was really nice and they were really nice. They have a very big family, 6 kids!

Anyways, it's 9:13 now, so I'm going to pass out! XOXO

Fact: Youkilis is part rhino.

Hey!

I heard there have been problems trying to comment on this blog. I'll try to sort them out. Until then you can e-mail me whatever (okay, please no spam) at allisong@bu.edu.

The Sox game last night was all fun and games until Youkilis stormed the pitchers mound. He thought pitcher Porcello intentionally hit him with the ball. When Mike and I go to games, we seem to bring fights with us. When we went to a Bruins hockey game earlier this year, the goalie charged a player of the opposite team in a full on brawl. There are a lot of fights in hockey games, but usually the goalie isn't a part of them. Not when Mike and I go, however.

Either way, the second half of the game had an hour long rain delay. Wet and cold we finished watching the game and the Sox won 7-5. Go sox!

Boston is a little chilly today, which makes me miss Alabama. I know as soon as I'm in Alabama I'll miss Boston. That's just the way it is.

All I have left for the day is a date with the boy, then laundry so I can prepare for my journies. :) Yay!

Still in Boston

I'm about to start the trip of my life - a semester in Paris!

After a bit of a scare with my visa appointment, I'm all set! Currently, I'm still in Boston where I've been working all summer. Here I am a front desk attendant for the dormitories, which means when groups stay at the university dorms I give them their keys. I've been trying to get in a lot of fun Boston activities before I leave. Today, I'm going to see the Red Sox-Tigers game, Go Sox!

On Sunday, I leave for Birmingham, Alabama (hometown!) for a couple of weeks, and then the 29th it's off to Paris!

My program is with Boston University. The first half I take three classes (French politics, French literature, and Intensive French). No, they will not serve French fries, French bread, or French toast in any of my classes, but on some Fridays I have cooking classes I can take! All of my classes are in French. Yes, I'm terrified.

The second half of my trip is an internship. I don't know what mine will be yet, but I already had my interview. For my top three internship choices I selected: International Non-Government Organization, French politics, and Journalism. Last summer I interned on Capitol Hill so I hope that gives me a leg up. I will keep you posted.

Luckily, I have friends abroad in London and Rome as well, so maybe visits will happen there.

Questions? Compliments? Feel free to comment.