The first moments in Paris were exhilarating and exhausting. Preparing for the trip was a very emotional process, so by the time I arrived I felt almost no emotion. It all felt surreal, but I was very tired from traveling. I instantly loved the little apartment and made the adorable space feel like home! Out the window, luscious green vines cover the walls inclosing the apartments. Every couple minutes the whirling sound of the train zips by, a foreign sound to American ears. The weather was crisp and cool, quite a relief after sticky summer days in Tulsa. My heart was brimming with wonder as we explored the local stores and began navigating the metro. Something is so magical about boarding the dark grungy underground train with anticipation, walking up the steps into the daylight again, and stepping into a beautiful unknown world.

I am surprised how quickly we adapted to Créteil. In a few days, I knew where to find specific food in the grocery store. It did, however, take a while for our bodies to recover from jetlag. Within the first couple days, my roommate and I were both sick. This was due to lack of sleep, water, and food. As far as being culture shocked goes, I do not think I experienced any. I have been to several countries in which they don’t speak English and so I felt a sense of comfort to return to this. I love observing the people, wondering at their worldview. I love their confidence and individualism. The French language is beautiful to listen to while imagining what sort of things they might be saying.