Housing and such

So my housing situation was really stressful, but it has seemed to have worked out. I was originally with another student in a homestay in Boulogne, which is right outside of Paris. When we were told that our house was outside of Paris, we were just like WHAT? Anyways, we set off for our meeting at the house with the woman living there and ended up getting confused with the metro stops and what should have taken us only 8 minutes from the metro stop to the house, took us a whopping 45 minutes. We were unbelievably frustrated and stressed out when we got to the house. The house was nothing special and the woman wasn't the friendliest. We really just didn't get a good feel from her. So when we got back to the FIAP we talked to the housing lady and she said that there were no more options for two students in the same house inside of Paris, but if we wanted to split up, she could do that. So we had to decide if we wanted to brave being in a house by ourselves in Paris or be in a house together, outside of Paris. We eventually decided to separate and I was placed in a home in the 16th arrondissement. It's wonderful and I'm so glad I switched. It's about a 15 minute walk from where I'll be taking most of my classes and it's 20 feet from the metro station. Talk about perfect. Unfortunately the family is going to a wedding this weekend in the South of France, so I can't move in until Monday evening. I'm 1 of probably 10 students still staying at the FIAP, but it's fine with me, seeing as I'll be in a great situation in just a few days.

Also, yesterday we had a picnic at the Eiffel Tower for lunch. NBD.

Today I got up and did some exploring on my own around the Notre Dame/St. Michel area of Paris. After being by myself for a couple hours, I met up with Aubrey and Melissa, two other students, and we ate lunch and explored together. We ate lunch at a cute place and I got a Croque Madame, which is like a Croque Monsieur, only it has egg. Again, something so simple was so delicious. We sat outside and ate and it was hot,  but very enjoyable. We shared a white Sauvignon de Tourraine which we all really liked.

After eating, we headed back over to Notre Dame and went inside this time. Even though I've seen it before, I really liked walking through it again. The stain-glass windows are insanely gorgeous, but I'm always impressed by the exterior of the cathedral.

Aubrey and Melissa got some gelato at Berthillon, the best place in Paris, but I wasn't very hungry, so I didn't get any. We sat along the Seine as they ate it and the weather was very comfortable. I enjoyed watching boats and people go by. After this, we decided to head to Saint Chapelle, because I'd never been there and really wanted to see it, plus it was very close. On the way, we saw a big mass of people and we went to go check it out. Lo and behold, there was a protest. It was SO cool. It probably stretched for a mile and people walked through holding signs for rights for the immigrants of France, bashing Pres. Sarkozy. I really enjoyed it and was given 3 stickers and a bunch of handouts! Talk about cool. I guess protests and such aren't a big deal for people in Paris or even Washington, DC, but for a North Carolina girl, they're legit.

Miss and love yall!