And so it begins!

Step 1: The Departure!

Clearly so ready to go!

My adventures in Paris got underway last Sunday with a successful trip to Montreal with Mom and Tamara to fly off to Charles de Gaulle airport. Gotta love the red eye flight. I arrived bleary-eyed at 1pm local time. Fortunately a direct metro ride took me right to the student residence where I'm staying for September, so not too much of a hassle. Its amazing. Pictures to follow on the buildings, but 40 houses, all with unique architecture thats incredible, house 40 000 students and researchers in Paris. The complex is massive, with parks bordering either side. Not a bad place to start off I figure.

After an early bedtime, I started day one in Paris with a trip to Sciences Po, the school I will be attending this year. It takes about 30 min door to door to get from Cite Universitaire to Sciences Po, about 12min on the metro. Sciences Po is in the heart of the 7th arrondisement in Paris, on la rive gauche. Basically one of the most bourgeois neighbourhoods in Paris. My walk to school goes by Armani, Sonia Rykiel, Dior, Hermes, Crabtree and Evelyn, Burberry, Ralph Lauren...the list goes on. Talk about temptation. Let's see how well I hold out before even venturing inside.

Day one, and all that week is part of a Welcome Program for International. Some social activities including some tours of Paris, as well as instructional classes on class in France, and Sciences Po. Kindof useful, but not so fun to go to 4 straight hours of instruction in French on methodology and language classes from 9am to 1:15 tuesday to saturday. Bit of a shock to the system. Fortunately I had the afternoons off to do some exploring while starting the tedious process of dealing with French administration while getting a bank account set up, a new phone, my carte de sejour etc. There will be a whole rant on French bureaucracy soon, I promise.

With the afternoons free though, I've been able to do some exploring.

Eiffel Tower obviously Sainte Clotilde Church

And let's not forget there has been some socializing. Twice now I've been on the Seine, once for an evening party for international students, and again on Friday for a cruise on the open air "Bateaux Mouches". The canal is amazing, its incredible how many people come and picnic along the Seine. Wonderful.

The Seine at Night

Corina, my Romanian friend, and I on the bateau, going under a bridge

I've met a huge range of people from all over. Many Australians form all over, Americans, and Europeans as well. Not too many French students yet because the official rentree des etudiants (start of school) is not until this week, and I don't start classes until the 13th, so it will be a little bit yet before I am finally among les francais.

So far the best thing: cheap wine. Try a decent bottle for 2 or 3 euro (exchange rate 1.3CAD) Because of this, it is very popular for small house gatherings over baguettes, delicious cheese and a few bottles of wine. Makes for lovely evenings :)

I have this whole week off to try and finish getting settled and find an apartment for october. Wish me luck!