This weekend has passed by so quickly. I got my french bank account, I walked around last night along the Seine, swam, relaxed, practiced driving, and met up with some friends today.

Today was the second day of driving on French roads. Can you say- nerve wrecking?!?! There are two main issues I have- maybe three… 1. stickshift. Although I practiced for months in the states, I had a break right before I left and now, I’m having to practically relearn everything. 2. The impatient french drivers behind me. I have the most difficult time at stop lights, probably because of my nerves due to the people behind me staring at the green light like it’s a big piece of gold. so. much. pressure. which foot goes where? which hand is my right?? pathetic anxiety. 3. Driving rules- even though they’re fairly similar to the ones in the states, my nerves get the best of me with roundabouts, people seem to just zip in and out between you, cyclists come out of nowhere, you have to yield at random points. Needless to say, I still have my nerves wound up from today. 

I don’t want to sound ungrateful or whiny, but I am really having a hard time adjusting to France. Of course, the food is amazing, the architecture is beautiful, the way of life is relaxing, the metro is FUN and EXCITING, the people are beautiful, ohhhh the french language is so great to listen to. But, Let’s consider that I lived in BFE, SC for how many years? Been on maybe a total of 20 subway rides in my life? Had no french language training, besides audio cds and movies, and I am not used to eating this much food.  Imagine plopping yourself right into your dream come true… how would you handle it? Sure, there are moments where I’m jumping for joy or relieving a huge exhale. Because France, is the best. But as mentioned before , I have things that I miss. It’s all part of the adjusting stage. I just hope that I will be done adjusting within the next week. I think a phone will definitely smooth that over. 

Today Pierre and I met up with Jerome and Ella, our friends from SC when they were all there interning/studying.  Our plan was perfect. Pierre gave me specific, clear cut directions to his apartment, or if I was running late, we even had a back up plan to just meet at the metro station where I would be getting off. From there, we would go together to meet Jerome and Ella in St. Michel. Piece of cake. 

Mistake number 1- I left maybe 15 mins late, (because I was stuffing my face with cantelope- side note: the fruits and vegetables here are so aromatic and tasty, I can’t get enough) so I was in a hurry, walking to the station in Rueil. The walk is about ten minutes from the house. When I got there, As I normally do, I went to the machine to purchase a ticket. The one I am getting in the meantime, while waiting for my navigo pass, is either the Paris visit ticket, for zones 3 and 5 or the student ticket on the weekends for 3 zones. I mistakenly bought the wrong ticket, out of being flustered because the one I usually get wasn’t available, at-least not at that machine (it was right next to the one that did, in fact have the appropriate ticket) SIMPLY PUT- I spent three times as much for 2 right tickets, and 4 wrong ones. viola.

So, I put in my ticket, everything is going great, I know where I’m going…. I thought…

The first leg went great, I took the A line to The Auben stop, got off, went to the 7 line towards Ivry, and then— Instead of taking the Porte d’italie, I took the Place d’italie.(hence mistake number 2)  Putting me at a wrong metro station, waiting for an hour for Pierre to show up. In this hour, I was trying to figure out a way that I could call, because I have yet to get a cell, and the payphone available only took credit cards.  I also people watched— there was a guy grilling corn in a buggy, a family waiting on a bench, and many people walking by.  After the hour, around the time we were suppose to be meeting jerome and ella, I decided to find out on my own, how to get to the intersection that we agreed to meet at. I was proud of myself for this step. I had to take the seven to the ten to the four, and get off at St. Michel. When I exited the metro, I looked around to find which street I was on, and Jerome, thank god, came up behind me and greeted me. Out of pure luck though,(with my third mistake) because if I would’ve been on the right street, we never would’ve found each other. I sat down, we all talked, Pierre was on his way—- probably fuming from me not being where I was suppose to be to meet him, and at last, we all sat down, I got a milkshake, they talked in french, and I tried to keep up!   We are all going out to the Duplex on Friday, and I can’t wait!  

Tomorrow is my first official day of work- taking the children to and from school, cooking lunch, and english lessons! Woooot! I will also be going to get a cell phone this week, taking my french placement exam for school (intermediate- I already know this), and browsing around to get used to my surroundings. I can’t wait for this adjustment period to be over, my french to become better, and to stuff my face with more amazing french cuisine.