Bienvenue!

After a lovely 5 hour layover in Cincinnati, and a spectacular 8 hour flight, I finally arrived in PARIS! Customs, baggage claim, etc. went surprisingly smoothly, and, suddenly, I was in a taxi on my way to the apartment on Boulevard de Clichy. I've pretty much been a nervous, jittery, wreck since I stepped off the plane. (Granted, that could largely be due to the jet lag or the one hundred cups of coffee I've had since I've been here. Who knows.)

I was, however, extremely comforted when I hopped in the taxi at Charles de Gaulle. Not only was I surprisingly able to hold my own and carry a conversation with the driver, but about five minutes into the trip, I heard a familiar tune on the radio. And suddenly, a little voice from home stared singing, "I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan. Welcome to the land of fame excess, (woah) am I gonna fit in?"

And the Miley song was on, and the Miley song was on...

So I (secretly, in my head) put my hands up, they're playin' my song, and the butterflies fly away! I had to laugh at this DJ's perfect timing, and instantly felt better. Although it was a little strange to be greeted in Paris by "Party in the USA..."

As soon as the taxi hit the city, I was glued to the window. I knew we were getting close to the apartment when the Parisian boulangeries and patisseries turned into "Sexodomes" and "Adult Spectacles." Ah, the red light district... But I assure you, I'm living a little ways away from all the neon obscenities in what my host mom, M-N, calls "the safest neighborhood in all of Paris."

The rest of the day has basically been an attempt to unpack, switch my brain into French mode, and, of course, not freak out. M-N's four-year-old daughter, C, helps a lot with the French. She is quite the little firecracker and has been chatting away all day. (In fact, she is in the bathtub serenading us all with "It's a Hard-Knock Life" as we speak...) C is addicted to Annie and The Sound of Music, and was ecstatic to find that she didn't have to worry about teaching me any of the songs. We've been singing buddies ever since. :)

Aside from the shock of actually being here, it's been a pretty relaxed day. I did have a little bit of trouble unpacking thanks to my new friend who has taken a liking to my shelves...

Meet Alice, C's kitten (petite chatte). Alice hops into my shelves, even now that they are full of clothes. Alice runs circles around my room and thinks my blackberry is a toy. Alice has also decided that she and I are going to share my bed. But alas, Alice is too darn cute to care.

Anyway, orientation starts Monday, and by then, I promise to have more interesting posts/pictures.

Until then, Au Revoir!