Arriving in Paris

I knew ahead of time that my friend with whom I'd be staying with wouldn't be available until about 7:30pm. Unfortunately, my flight got in at 7:30am, which meant that I had 12 hours to kill before I could take a nap. I was probably the only one getting off the plane that wasn't in a rush to do anything. First of all, let me say that I was surprised there weren't any customs coming into France, other than the stamping of my passport. I remember there being customs somewhere along the line in traveling France, but it must have just been when I returned to the U.S.

There was another American who looked very out of place traveling by herself so she asked me for help.  Apparently she was there to visit her uncle for five days.  I gave her that wide eyed expression, "You're only here for five days?! That's quite a trip for such a short stay!" She laughed and agreed, but at least it was something.  Good for her though. She didn't know any French so I walked her to the exit and then sought out a place to sit. I went to bathroom with all of my luggage, which is a very annoying task to do, and then sat down in the waiting area at the airport.  I pulled out my computer to send some emails and let my friends know I made it. I'd thought it would be free wifi, but nothing's free here... or anywhere in general I suppose. I didn't know this, but apparently you can use Skype as a source for the Internet.  This may just be in places that are set up to do it, but nonetheless I was able to use that in order to send out a few emails and check my Facebook.

Great. So by this time about one hour has gone by from getting off the plane and I was utterly jet-lagged and exhausted. I get out my book to read and tried to focus on that for a while.  I was (and still am) in the process of reading Kimberly Snyder's detox book. I ended up focusing on that for a while and then went back forth from that and Facebook.  I couldn't look at the computer anymore so I got out my journal and started writing out my thoughts. I remember feeling lonely, exhausted, etc.

About two hours later (so about three hours total from getting off of the plane), another young woman sat down a chair away from me.  She got on the phone and I heard her talking about going to Paris. Then she needed a pen and I offered her my pen. After her she got off the phone I asked her if she knew where the RER was (I actually knew too, but just felt like making conversation). She asked me if I was going to Paris and wondered if I wanted to go with her. I said sounds great!

It turns out she was on a business trip. She's from Poland, but works for Colgate and comes into Paris about once a month to check on the French department of the company. She was going to Paris to stay with a friend, but he wasn't there so she told him that she would just hang out with me until he got off of work. That way we'd both have some company. Getting into Paris was a lot easier than I remember leaving it. Definitely tricky with luggage, but directionally not difficult. Maybe it's because I remembered the metro well enough.

We got into Paris and went over to the Champs-Élysées in search of a restaurant.  We ended up finding this cute little crêperie restaurant on a side street. The gentleman in charge (there was only one server for the entire restaurant) took hold of our luggage and put it in the stairwell. He ushered us upstairs where we sat down at this little table where I could watch our suitcases from the stairs. I ordered a coffee, which was really a shot of espresso served with a small cookie and a packet of sugar. Anja ordered a tea. Then we both ordered cheese galettes (non-sugary crêpes) and I ordered another coffee.  No matter how much coffee I drank, nothing was helping my jet-lag. 

A group of Italian tourists sat next to us (and when I say next to, I mean next to!) All tables are situated very close together in Paris... there's no extra space just to have space like in the U.S. They were interesting to watch too. The restaurant started clearing out and we realized that the place closed down once lunch was done being served. Anja and I headed over to McDonald's where we knew we wouldn't be pushed out.

I ordered yet another coffee, same with Anja, and then we sat at the window of the McDonald's and talked while people-watching everyone walking by. She was very good at pin-pointing where people were from. I could usually tell if they were French or not, but sometimes it was difficult. We switched over to talking in English instead of French after a while just because I was struggling with putting sentences together at this point (or concentrating on much of anything really) and it gave her a chance to practice English as well.

I left around 5pm or so to go and meet up with another friend of mine at the Eiffel tower. We grabbed a coffee at a bistro nearby and then I got on the train to meet up with my friend that I was staying with. It was so cold that we both agreed being in the métro might be a little warmer. I told Amy to text Camille and let her know that I would wait in the métro for her.

Not sure if she ever got Amy's message because her boyfriend, Anthony, ended up walking up to me around 8pm and asking if I was Rebecca. I told him yes! (It was clear with all my luggage I suppose). They had been waiting for me outside of the métro. We ordered pizza and then I was finally able to sleep around 11pm. I remember not even really being able to sleep during a period of a couple of hours, which seemed very odd as I was so exhausted. They had an air-mattress ready for me and I'm so thankful that they've taken me in until I find something.

I'm still surprised I made it that long without a nap whatsoever. The coffee probably helped even though it didn't seem like it. Plus my eyes just started to water near the last few hours and near then I didn't even feel tired because I think I was past that point. Exhaustion is a weird thing.

Traveling to Paris

I have to write this down as separate entry all together because it was quite silly.  Luckily for me, my ears didn't do the whole pressure plugging thing for two days together like last time I came over here.  Anyways, I had a safe trip from Minneapolis to Philadelphia.  I didn't have much of a layover while I was in Philly so I knew from my previous experience that I had to rush to my gate leaving for Paris because the international flight gates are a long ways away from the regular ones.  I hadn't eaten anything other than a scone from leaving MSP earlier in the day so I grabbed a pretzel and a bottle of water before boarding the plane.

My flight went smoothly except for when I spilled each of my drinks on me and the nice older French gentleman sitting next to me.  I had apple juice with dinner and then near the end of the whole thing reached up to grab my cup, but bounced my hand on the TV screen on the seat and front of me and ended up spilling my juice all over myself and him.  He said, "no problem! They're just jeans luckily!" I apologized profusely.  He seemed like an all put together traveler anyways because I remember glancing over at his tray and the garbage from his airplane meal was all nicely stacked and put together.  I then looked over at my own heaping and disorganized pile and finally realizing that I had to do something... that's when I spilled the juice.  Nevertheless, I thought it would only happen once.

Usually after the meal, those accustomed to traveling overseas know that it'll be 8:00 in the morning when they arrive and need to get some sleep.  I snuck a couple of Benadryl while my friend went to the bathroom and was able to sleep for a couple of hours (I think).  It's very hard to sleep on a plane no matter what.

Waking up, we were served a pastry and a beverage.  I took a glass of water and a cup of coffee, just like my friend.  I reached to grab my glass of water and this time dumped the full thing all over myself and my friend yet again.  He didn't get too wet, but I used the blanket that the plane gives out to wipe up the mess, keeping a close eye on my coffee.  He laughingly said, "You'd better be careful in France!  I'm just glad it's not the coffee."

Thanks for being such a good sport, my friend!  I'm glad I didn't spill the coffee either.  I ended up arriving in Paris on early Friday January 6th, 2012 (at about 7:30am).

Packing for Paris

If you're reading this for what to pack for Paris, then I wouldn't advise you to continue. If you're reading this to find out what I did and maybe for some added humor to your day, then go right ahead. I've always been a procrastinator and always will be. I find there's a certain thrill to it that pushes me forward... it's not something I specifically enjoy, but it's just how it is. At least I get it done just in the knick of time.


I actually didn't pack until the night before I left. Now most people moving to Paris with a visa for a year would probably have planned out their outfits and their necessities. Not me. At any rate, luckily I had my friend Clairo over the night before and she told me that it may just be a good idea to pack a couple weeks worth of clothes and go from there.  It's easier said than done, but it worked perfectly for me. I knew I would be traveling somewhat and they always say that when you travel you end up buying more anyways.  I ended up only bringing two suitcases with me, but from my previous experience traveling through the metro system, I'm glad I did. The only thing I've really forgotten so far was the cord that connects my camera to my computer... so therefore I won't have any pictures for a little while until I track one down. My friend's boyfriend has the same camera so it shouldn't be too difficult to find one.


I spent most of that last day I was in good old MN going to the storage unit and finding my clothes, taking a trip to Target to get those nice little travel goodies they have, and then the evening was spent uploading my computer onto an external hard-drive and packing.  Mind you I left my sister's room in a utter mess with clothes in every other direction and the rest of my belongings in a few other boxes (I'd just moved back from Florida, which is another story all together).


I brought two pairs of jeggings, a pair of sweatpants, a pair of leggings, and two or three dresses among with a heap load of underwear and quite a few shirts.  I only brought one sweater, a fleece, a winter coat, a black spring coat, and six pairs of shoes.  After that, it's all the other things such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup, etc.  Somehow I forgot to bring a pair of nice black pants even though I knew I'd be interviewing. Luckily, I was able to borrow a pair from Camille, my friend that I've been staying with.


Since I didn't pack much, there isn't too much else to say.