So I decided to create a blog to keep track of my trip and share with everybody back home. I'm going to TRY to stay consistent but I'm already posting behind a day- not a good start!
Yesterday was really hard for me. I actually found myself not wanting to leave home and my family and friends which is weird for me since I usually love to travel and get out of Everett. I just love you all so much! I managed to get over it when I remembered I was going to the place of my dreams, literally: Paris!
So after a very tearful goodbye with momma and roxy at the airport I was off to fly alone for the first time in my life. No big deal right? I've flown hundreds of times and felt confident with seatac (too bad I forgot I'd have to deal with charles de gaule airport later!). I made it to my gate in 5 minutes and was rather proud of my navigating. Once we finally boarded the plane I realized my seat partner was IN MY SEAT ( this is a big deal because I specifically reserved the window seat so I could sleep haha). I sat down and debated whether or not to say something...being a Zakhary I did. "Hey I think you're in my seat.." all I got back was a very confused look, time to switch to french..."ahh je pense que vous etes dans ma place" now I received not only a confused look but also scared and a "no anglais..hablas espagnol?" GREAT just my luck. I decided to back off and just smile and sink into my seat for a 9 hour flight in the aisle. The whole way the guy kept asking me if I was SURE I didn't speak spanish- did he think I was just lying?? We spent 9 hours communicating via signals and our own version of sign language. It was quite the sight. The plane ride actually wasn't too bad, we got 2 meals and watched videos and played games. Fancy shmancy new airplanes.
When we finally landed it took about 40 minutes to get off the plane and then we had to be shuttled from the plane to the baggage claim. Reality started to set in when nobody around me was speaking english. I had to speak only french and ask questions to people who would probably hate me since I was American. It began the second we got off the tram, I had no idea what was going on! I managed to recall french and ask a lady that was rather annoyed. Apparently I had to go through customs in a random line reserved for the slow Americans. After that I also realized that I had to get internet asap to find my friend Julie to get to the school together. I didn't have the directions so I was in big trouble if I didn't get internet to email her. Of course the internet did not work. How on earth was I supposed to find her in this big foreign airport?? I decided to ask a lady where the baggage claim for the Continental flights was- she didn't know. The next lady I asked told me to "arrete" when I was speaking to her, this translates into "stop". She proceeded to roll her eyes then say "what do you want?" I almost lunged at her. Not only was she mean but she also was of no help to me. After about 1 hour of waiting for my baggage I gave up on the waiting and took a stroll to find her baggage claim: no luck :( . I literally sat there and prayed for a miracle to find her or else I'd be lost with no idea of how to get to the MEC. I went back to my baggage claim and saw a man on a pay phone. I asked him if you needed a phone card to use them; of course you did. GREAT. He came back and told me he would give me his phone card. I called Julie and by an act of God she answered and we were finally able to find each other! This story doesn't sound that bad but trust me I was actually quite worried.
After we finally left the airport we began our trek to the school. We had to take a train ride which was quite the experience. Everything from people smoking in our faces to getting hit on by strangers winking, blowing kisses and saying "bon voyage". After about an hour of that we finally arrived to the school! I have never been so happy to see a college campus in my life. We got to school and got our rooms at la maison des etudiants canadiens. I have my own room and bathroom , pictures will be posted soon! The rest of the day consisted of roaming the area and eating food.
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