Life

Things are calming down here and I'm slowly settling into a routine.
Good news is... my routine here is awesome.

Everyday is something new and fun. There is always SOMETHING to go do or see here- and I have a bunch of great new friends to do it with!

Some highlights of the past few days (sorry I am so bad at keeping this updated!)

Chartres- This is such an amazing cathedral! I learned so much here- it is about an hour away from Paris and definitely worth the trip!



Eiffel Tower lights- OK.. we've done this more than once. But seriously, can you blame us? It is so magical!



We've hung out at the Jardins du Luxembourg (great place for a picnic by the way)



I've made it to two museums. The Louvre (a very small part) and Le Centre Pompidou. Both have been great. I want to go back to both.




So everyday life here is pretty great- and it has only been just over a week. Plus there is a lot we still have to look forward to... (think trips to Normandy, London, Lyon, and Geneva...)

First Photo Essay

For my photography class in Paris, I have to turn in photo essays each week. Here is #1.

(This is copied directly from my class blog. Check it out- my classmates are insanely talented!)

From Their View...

While walking through Paris, there is one view that you are almost always guaranteed- the back of someone's head.

Whether or not I know the person ahead of me, I often wonder what they are thinking or what the world seems like from their point of view.

Like Cartier-Bresson, I experimented with attempting to find and catch the “decisive moment” to give each photograph meaning. I hoped to capture a glimpse of what the world looked like- at that time- to each person.

Change of Address.

I live here for now...



... sorry, BYU. Way better than the dorms.

School

We started school Tuesday. I guess you actually have to study on study abroad... I'm taking 3 classes French 202 (Intermediate French 2), French 345 (culture/paris walks class), French 457 (French photography). So on Tuesday and Wednesday, I have 5 hours of class and Thursdays I have 4.

It is really hard to do homework while you're in Paris. BUT- class has be fun. On Wednesday during 345 we had a chocolate tasting. Which was incredible. So many different delicious chocolates.

First Day(s) in Paris.

My first flight to Paris was cancelled- Thanks to storms all over the east coast. That was disappointing- but it gave me another opportunity to say goodbye to these cuties. (I know they look sad- but I promise they love me)



After a long flight (complete with crying baby), I arrived in Paris yesterday.

My host family and my roommates are great! We all had dinner together last night. It was delicious- and we had cheese before dessert. Also- I learned that the French do not put their bread on their plates! Here, it is correct to place your bread on the tablecloth! Seriously, their house looks straight out of a French movie (pictures to come).

Yesterday was fun, but today was really my first day in Paris. We woke up early to go to church- it was way cool! I love how universal the gospel is. (AND I actually understood some of it) PS- guess who is in my ward? Not that I actually talked to her... Way too intimidating... Maybe next Sunday?

After church we went to find food, as we were ALL starving. Our host families don't ever feed us lunch- and none of us planned ahead...



So I had my first crepe in France! Jambon et Fromage- delicious. (AND of course I had to have a Coca-Cola Light. I promise- in Europe they so much better... I miss them at home)

Our Professor had told us that all museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of each month- so we walked to the Louvre to go check it out.



Sadly, the museum was closed (tomorrow is the French labor day)- but I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to go later. I'm with my roommates in the picture.

We spent the rest of the day just wandering through the city. It is so beautiful- it is so unreal that I am actually here!

Here we go...

Leaving for Paris TODAY.

Being in North Carolina was great. I spent a lot of time with my mom and saw some friends, but I mainly slept and watched movies :)

As great as NC always is, I'm so ready for Paris!


PS. Look how cute my nieces and nephews are, I love visiting them.

Check it.

I'm two weeks and four finals away from Paris!
I am now the proud owner of a "BYU Study Abroad" Backpack. You better believe I've been wearing this badboy around campus with pride.

L.W. & Conference Weekend

Lauren, one of my favorite friends from North Carolina, came to visit over conference weekend. We had so much fun- we ate lots of delicious food (Cafe Rio, Sammy's, Panda, Cannon, etc..) and just had a great time being together.


I don't get to see Lauren often (She is super smart and goes to UNC) so this weekend was a nice chance to catch up with her. We both got to go to General Conference for the first time. We were lucky enough to get tickets to three sessions, and our tickets were pretty close!

The highlight of the weekend (other than hearing the Prophet speak, of course) was probably the time we spent in the car driving back and forth from Salt Lake to Provo. We had great talks and we had fun catching up on eachother's lives.

Update

So much has happened since my last post-

-I went to college! I have had two of the best roommates anyone could ever have.



-I went on a road trip to Portland with two of my friends.


-I changed my major... Still not sure about those plans either... We'll see what happens!

but best of all

-I am spending Spring term (Mid April- Mid June) in... PARIS