Post Five: Home Sweet Paris? Missing family.

It is my last full day of living in Paris 2010. I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone; I finally feel oriented. There have been many fun, indescribable moments during this trip. Late-night metro rides after nights out at Le Piano Vache with a big group to watch “the boyfriend” play guitar or to get out of study mode, or the discotheques; running to the crepe stand for that afternoon snack or a nutella crepe; expresso shots after breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner; getting lost in a city that could be a labyrinth and finding world shops, piano bars, italian coffee shops that serve chocolate fondue; sneaking food into the FIAP; “BIG FAT WOMAN” and Le Caveau des Oubliettes; some great-looking Parisian men; cheese for dessert: all of these are things that I hope to never forget.

I can honestly say that I am sure I haven’t loved a city more than I love Paris. Perhaps I am still in the honeymoon phase; who knows? The people here are funny, kind, and interesting to watch. I feel good here, like I fit. That is something I have been trying to find for some time; I never thought it would be in Europe.

I was talking to Rachel about the culture shock that we will be encountering when we return home. Being here, I have become used to eating delicious cheeses with every meal; I can stop in for a shot of expresso at any brasserie; croissants and fruit are breakfast; I walk everywhere, and when I can’t walk I take the metro; I am not connected to the Internet at all hours of the day. When I return home, I will have none of that. I will have all of the free water and refills on soda that my American heart desires. I will drive everywhere. I will have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. My idea of an expensive lunch in the States is 6 dollars. Here in Paris, I gladly pay 4euros for a jambon et fromage crepe and then I eat somewhere else later. I have already realized that when I return home, I am going to be homesick for Paris. Tears come to my eyes already when I think about leaving this city.

I walked across the Seine yesterday on the bridge nearest to Le Palais de Justice and Notre Dame; the sun was starting to set and one was able to see the pink, grey, white, and orange colors of the sky for the first time since we arrived here. Usually it is its Parisian January gray. The aged, different colors of gray, white, and tan arches of the nearby bridges were a great contrast to the green and grey waters of the Seine that passed between them. I looked at the beautiful buildings along the Seine; Le Louvre down the river; Musee D’Orsay; L’Hotel de Ville; The Tuilleries (although they JUST took down the Ferris Wheel), then I looked down to the cobblestone bridge beneath my feet and I realized I could stay here forever for that scene alone.

I’ve got a list of a few more things I would like to do before I go. My list has been decreasing at a steady pace for the past few days and tomorrow should be nearly the end of it. There will never be enough time to see or do all that there is, but I am going to try to make the day count.