La Vie En Rose

"C'est véritablement utile puisque c'est joli."

("It is truly useful since it is beautiful.")  -Le Petit Prince

This quote from "Le Petit Prince" describes the nature of Paris perfectly- it's beauty is useful, whether for inspiration or for the enhancement of one's senses and gratitude for all things lovely. Everywhere I go in this city, the magnificence is palpable, from the architecture, to the arrangement of food on plates, to the flower stalls on every corner, to the gorgeous clothing that everyone seems to own and wears perfectly, etc etc.  This entire French adventure commenced roughly two weeks ago and so much has happened that it is overwhelming to attempt to convey. Regardless, like a stubborn Parisian who presses on in even the worst of strikes (one of which, by happenstance, is occurring tomorrow in the metro), I will doggedly, but also very happily, describe the wonders of this place! (just please forgive me if this post is rather long, merci beaucoup!)

The adventures began straight away when I realized that my neighbor on the plane ride here was a French man who lived in Laguna Beach, and also happened to be a professional skim-boarder. I didn't even know that professional skim-boarding existed, let alone that this was a viable career. But this man told me everything he knew about his trade, as well as kindly practiced French with me, while finally informing me that my name "Ramey" is essentially considered a boy's name in France and that people would be very confused upon meeting me. 

Orientation comprised the entirety of our activities for the next ten days... and I have realized that orientation is like having a big scarlet "O" (rather than "A" for those of you who are "Scarlet Letter" fans) stuck to your forehead- it mainly consists of wandering around in large groups, purchasing mass amounts of cell phones, metro tickets, and croissants, all the while looking incredibly confused. In the midst of this incredible awkwardness however, you do manage to have a ridiculous amount of fun because your only choice is to embrace it- embrace the glaring otherness of yourself as an American in Paris, France. The thirty people of my entire program stayed in a youth hostel called "LE FIAP" for those ten days of orientation, during which we had multiple interesting moments. These entailed: 1. Realizing that the Pretty Neighborhood Across the Street was, in reality, a swanky Mental Hospital, through which people wandered around in pajamas and no shoes. 2. Jumping for one's life out of an elevator that suddenly attempted to eat itself. 3. My roommate's rendezvous with the bartender of the hostel, during which she bluntly explained why she though French men were unattractive, to which he responded by asking her for her phone number. 4. And finally, being told to put all of our suitcases into one extremely narrow room before moving out, which then entailed many of us climbing over literal hills of luggage to salvage our own personal belongings. Let me assure you, we were all Fiap'ed out, by the end of it.

In spite of these rather uncomfortable and hilarious experiences in a youth hostel, it was lovely to spend a concentrated amount of time with everyone in the group before moving into our separate homestays. However, the big move-in day came eventually, and after a 30 minute drive in a taxi blasting Lady Gaga, I arrived in the area known as "Neuilly-Sur Seine," where I will be living for the next few months! I honestly could not have been more relieved, excited, and happy about my homestay and my host family- after trying to get the door to open four times unsuccessfully, I finally entered their apartment, filled with the smell of chocolate cake, while sunlight was streaming in through the large windows, framed with huge pink curtains. Madame Beatrice and Monsieur Phillipe Faures are my host-parents, and they were busy preparing for une grande fete for one of their sons (turning 23, I believe-none of their kids live there anymore)- despite the busy-ness, I felt immediately at home-- maybe because my own home is that chaotic on a daily basis... ha. The moment that really made me stand there and sigh like a sentimental grandmother was when Mme. Faures showed me my very own private balcony, with a view of la tour eiffel and the gorgeous street below! My room could not be any lovelier- it even has wallpaper with tiny blue zebras on it! They seem to be very happy where they are, and so am I!

A few Notable Observations on the city of Paris and the French:

-French children adore razor scooters- I am constantly dodging them on sidewalks, streets, paths- anywhere, really.

-You need to practice your "metro face" in a mirror- your "metro face" must contain no hint of a smile and you must look vaguely aloof.

-There is a bridge over the Seine with a wire fence on both sides- people have placed padlocks all along this bridge with wishes, hopes, thoughts, and declarations of love written/engraved on them. I think I will place my own lock on that bridge eventually as well.

-People know you are American. I asked "How do you know???" to someone once, and they replied simply, "It's just your face." (note to self- practice metro face more!!)

-Getting lost in Paris is the most wonderful thing you can possibly do. 

-There are not only food and flower markets, but also exotic birds markets, old sea equipment markets, vintage photo markets, and keychain markets.

-Hugs are not cool here. Only kisses. On both cheeks.

-Do not take a picture of yourself reading the Bible in front of Notre Dame 15 minutes before mass begins. People will not be amused.

-French clubs will place their DJs inside enormous, neon glowing, 3D cubes.

-The French are lovely. Paris is lovely. Even grocery stores here make me feel close to crying, they are so wonderful. Cafe Culture is real. People play accordions by the Eiffel Tower. Crepes are delicious. So is every other single dessert and morsel of food in this country. People understand pleasure.

In one of my French classes here, we watched a movie called "Paris Je t'aime." Some of you have most likely heard of it- for those of you who have not, please see it! It is a film with a series of vignettes that communicate some essence of Paris in extremely dynamic and creative ways. The last vignette is of a single American woman who travels to Paris alone, and in this city, she finds her spark again. She concludes the scene by saying, "Sitting there, alone in a foreign country, far from my job and everyone I know, a feeling came over me. It was like remembering something I'd never known before or had always been waiting for, but I didn't know what. Maybe it was something I'd forgotten or something I've been missing all my life. All I can say is that I felt, at the same time, joy and sadness. But not too much sadness, because I felt alive. Yes, alive. That was the moment I fell in love with Paris. And I felt Paris fall in love with me."

I couldn't agree with her more. Je me sens vivante ici, aussi. (I feel alive here as well.)