Study abroad journals

Going to France

Bonjour Paris! I am here, but it was a difficult voyage. When I left Detroit, I cried a little, but once I got on the plane a very nice woman started talking to me and I calmed down. Then I arrived at Philadelphia and telephoned my parents to make sure my phone card was working. My parents were crying a lot and when I finished talking to them I started to cry again! Finally, I collected myself and then I boarded the plane to leave for France.

At first I had a really unsettling feeling, but once I was on the plane, there were other study abroad students on the plane. We were all seated in the same section, so we all hung out and got to know each other and where we were going to be studying. Nobody seemed to be going to Grenoble, they were all for Paris or another city. We exchanged quite a lot. That actually calmed me down.

Then we arrived at the airport and I exchanged my money. Someone was there to pick me up and they directed me to a van that took me to the hostel. The whole way to the hostel, I found out the difference between how French people drive and how American people drive. They are nuts! Then, I arrived at the hostel, downtown Paris. I was the first student there so I explored a little myself. Eventually other students started arriving. After everyone was there, we took a walk to Notre-dame and then we went out for dinner. It was great! After dinner we went to the Eiffel Tower. Oh, it was so pretty!

All the lights were on and we went just about to the top. Then we went back to the hostel. Tomorrow we are going for a boat ride on la Seine and for a walk around the city.

J.E