Bonjour et Bienvenue!

Hello everyone!

I'm going to attempt to write about my life here in Paris so that everyone can stay up to date with what I've been doing. Arrived in Paris around 12 noon and had to figure out the underground public transportation system all on my lonesome. Thankfully, I had three big bags stuffed with a year's worth of clothes to make things less stressful, not! Eventually I figured out where I was supposed to go and how I was supposed to get there. Sweaty, and twitching from my bags I sprawled myself onto the RER (similar to the Bay area's BART) and was welcomed by the smell of sweat, B.O., and piss. My stop was only three away though so I was able to endure.

Just a short walk from the station was my hostel, my new home for the next two weeks. Checked in at the front desk and went up to my room in the most claustrophobic friendly elevator I've ever seen!

--Not too bad for a hostel, I'd say! But what really got me was the view from the terrace on the Fifth floor I happened to stumble upon while in search of internet.

Yeah, that pretty much took my breath away and made the sweaty journey and stressful traveling all worth while. A little while after this I took a short walk through the Jardin du Luxembourg.

C'est beau, non? After a while I could feel my feet begin to crumble beneath me so I decided to head back to my room and just give myself time to relax. Eventually met up with some other students from SFSU and we headed off to dinner. Something I've found I am going to have to get used to is eating everything with my silverware. Including the sandwich I ordered! Tomorrow is our first orientation, we have a written exam on Wednesday and an oral interview on Thursday. Wish me luck! Also, wish me good luck on sleeping tonight not only is it midnight here and I am wide awake but the humidity has got me feeling super sticky!

A plus tard,
Michael.