What I Learned in France Today

2/10/2009

Well, first of all, I learned that you can meet some really kick ass people in some unlikely places. I had an amazing seat on the the plane from D.C. to Paris. First row behind first class with ample leg room and easy access to the bathroom. My neighbors were Parisians, and very kind at that. We worked on some of the French phrases I would need, how to get around on the Metro, how to take the RER from Charles de Gaulle to Gobelins (where I'm staying)... don't tell my Dad that I didn't take a cab from the airport, please.

I also learned that I don't speak French. Let me qualify that, I do speak some French. I don't understand French. At all. To the point that when I asked my waiter 'Combien ca coute le bus?' he launched into a three minute dissertation about how to buy a bus ticket. He then saw the extremely puzzled look on my face and proceeded to give me a bus ticket. He just gave it to me.

Which brings me to my next point, everyone in Paris is very kind. They are welcome to travelers and people ATTEMPTING to communicate. There hasn't been any negative energy thrown my way. I would like to keep it that way.

I can't use the computer at the hostel (which is called Oops! by the way) much longer but I am a little sad because I miss all my friends and my family. But everything is okay. I might try to take make a couple 1 minute phone calls tomorrow.

Bisous,
corkdork