This picture tends to sum up the mood I have been in as of late. Overall, blue, but broken up by marked, bright glimmers of hope. I don’t normally get sick. I used to think it was because I used to bite my fingernails (I give that up in foreign countries). I used to think it’s because I eat a good diet (I still cook most of my own food here, organic as possible, with an array of fresh colorful foods). I even used to think it was because I had my daily dose of wine (hasn’t changed in France). Alas, I’ve caught the Parisian bug, whatever it may be, and it’s certainly slowing me down, but it has yet to stop me. Nor do I foresee that occuring. I also, perhaps foolishly, opted to be the first person in my class to give a French-style “oral exposé” of a subject I know nothing about, delivered in a style with which I am not familiar. That’s been kind of stressful to learn how to give a speech, in addition to what I wish to present. But my theory is, and has been for quite sometime, dive in head first. We’ll see if I sink or swim come tomorrow. Despite the minor setbacks of being sick and actually having to do work while in Paris (I always assumed the “study” portion of “study abroad” was just a formality), I am thoroughly enjoyed the simple pleasures of getting adjusted to a new way of doing almost everything. From walking into a pharmacy and literally telling the pharmacist what’s wrong with you, to trekking around the city for 40 minutes with a huge French dictionary and a heavy laptop (damn you, apple) looking for a place that’s not McDonalds that offers free wifi, then settling on McDonalds, it has certainly been quite an experience… and it’s only..day 16? Right on.

This picture tends to sum up the mood I have been in as of late. Overall, blue, but broken up by marked, bright glimmers of hope.

I don’t normally get sick. I used to think it was because I used to bite my fingernails (I give that up in foreign countries). I used to think it’s because I eat a good diet (I still cook most of my own food here, organic as possible, with an array of fresh colorful foods). I even used to think it was because I had my daily dose of wine (hasn’t changed in France). Alas, I’ve caught the Parisian bug, whatever it may be, and it’s certainly slowing me down, but it has yet to stop me. Nor do I foresee that occuring.

I also, perhaps foolishly, opted to be the first person in my class to give a French-style “oral exposé” of a subject I know nothing about, delivered in a style with which I am not familiar. That’s been kind of stressful to learn how to give a speech, in addition to what I wish to present. But my theory is, and has been for quite sometime, dive in head first. We’ll see if I sink or swim come tomorrow.

Despite the minor setbacks of being sick and actually having to do work while in Paris (I always assumed the “study” portion of “study abroad” was just a formality), I am thoroughly enjoyed the simple pleasures of getting adjusted to a new way of doing almost everything. From walking into a pharmacy and literally telling the pharmacist what’s wrong with you, to trekking around the city for 40 minutes with a huge French dictionary and a heavy laptop (damn you, apple) looking for a place that’s not McDonalds that offers free wifi, then settling on McDonalds, it has certainly been quite an experience… and it’s only..day 16?

Right on.

Mar 2 2009

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