Bonjour et bienvenue à Paris! Even though I have only been in Paris for a week I am more confident in my metro abilities and discovering the city by myself. I was nervous about managing the metro system but I am now a metro master and know which lines go to the Eiffel Tour or Notre Dame. The days have been busy and filled with exciting visits to museums or simply the opportunity to discover Saint Germain, the Marais, or the 17th arrondissement (where we live with our host family, the de Varax) by ourselves. Besides getting around the city, Sophie and I would consider ourselves experts in people watching and how to choose the perfect café or boulangerie.
I knew that I would be walking all over Paris, but I did not expect that I would walk a half marathon in one day and eleven miles the day before. Instead of trying to have the perfect outfit with the perfect shoes, my feet and I have decided that my Supergas are better than my Jack Rogers. Luckily I wore my sneakers when I climbed the Sacré Coeur yesterday and Montmartre’s “slight” incline is an understatement but the view was spectacular and so was the calf work out. The sun was out and there was not one cloud in the blue sky. I saw everything from the beautiful white basilica-the Eiffel Tour, les Invalides, Notre Dame, Saint Sulpice, and musicians sharing their talent with Paris as they celebrated Fête de la Musique. Needless to say, my short time in Paris has been extensive and I have visited new areas of Paris that were unfamiliar to me before.
Of course there is so much more to experience in Paris than the countless monuments or museums, but to live the daily life as a Parisian. On Saturday, Sophie and I sat in the Luxembourg Gardens and people watched behind our sunglasses. The casualness is so Parisian and as we walked throughout the park, we admired some statues and flowers. Besides sitting in parks, we have enjoyed our “expérience gastronomique” , which has been amazing, how could it not be? We had delicious chocolat-chaud at Angélina and macarons at Ladurée but the smell of fresh baguettes and croissants from the boulangeries has been mind-blowing. We learned about French cheeses, chocolates and award winning prizes for the best éclair or baguette in 2010 or 2012. Our acclimation week has set in because we have all the tools to find a good lunch or how to get home.
Paris is more than the City of Lights, but of experiences, sore feet, shopping, delicious food, and work. The city is not as intimidating as it seems to be from a birds-eye view and is easier to navigate than one thinks. I am so glad to have two weeks left to explore this magnificent city!
À bientôt,
Olivia Vitton
SG’16
The Global Cultural Initiatives Program (GCIP), an innovative program for St. George's students, is a student-centered learning process placed in the context of an international work experience. The program promotes the growth of independent initiative, problem solving, collaboration and information sharing.
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