Go with the flow

Today was full of surprises. Cliche, yes, but accurate. My friend and I got to the metro at 8am to avoid le cauchemar, and it was empty! 15 mins earlier and the metro was basically empty. To reward ourselves for our speedy arrival at school, (1/2 hr early) we walked across the street and got croissants. I learned a new word for can (une canette) when I tried to ask the lady for the can of Lipton iced tea. A nice man behind me helped.

During my first class, we had a quiz. Let's just say that I came in to class, I saw the questions, but I did not conquer the quiz :/ I fully accept whatever grade I deserve. In my second class, we talked about the war on religion way way back in France, and she gave us more croissants! I really do enjoy my conversation class. The professor is really helpful and has a very engaging teaching method.

After class, my friend and I walked a different way to get lunch, and we ended up in a little cafe, of course, where I ordered quiche aux legumes. French quiche, real quiche, is NOTHING like we eat in America. This quiche came from the secret garden, because I have no idea how it tasted that good.

Then we noticed a really big entrance to what we thought was a park. So we walked in, and it was the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery! This is the one with Moliere, Chopin, Jim Morrison, and many other famous people are buried  We just stumbled upon it! It was a cloudy day, but that made everything look really beautiful in the cemetery. There were huge mausoleums and statues all around that were really cool. The grounds are so big that you can get lost walking around. It was so pleasant though to just casually stroll through this place with overhanging trees, moss growing on the statues, and cobblestone streets. It was oddly peaceful.

Chopin's grave

We then had the idea to go to the Musee d'Orsay--a museum with impressionistic work. One metro ride later and we're back on l'Ile. A little lost, we walked and walked and walked along the riverbank until we finally found the museum at 5:15. They clost at 6pm and sell the last tickets at 5pm. Tired and defeated, we sat down on some steps nearby where a man was playing the clarinet. It was nice. Then there was this older man a few paces away from him who was trying to be a street performer. He looked homeless. At first he was awkwardly dancing to the music, expecting people to put money in his tin box, but nothing was working, no matter how funny we thought he was. Then he got the idea to mock people as they walked by. He used whatever little props he had in his bag to mimic passersby, sometimes without them knowing it. We cracked up, and I started crying like crazy. Sometimes he would scare them, sometimes he would try to interact with the kids and parents, and other times he would just awkwardly walk next to people and get in their way. It was absolutely hilarious. A third man set out colored cups in front of the rather large crowd that gathered on the steps and did some rollerskating tricks. He was working with the musician. It was quite a show!

Since today is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, Paris has a fete de la musique. They have musicians everywhere in the city playing on the river, on the corner, and in parks for free! We sat down and listened to a couple, and it was fun! We saw a Spanish group that had one couple dancing the salsa, a group of teens playing instruments, and African music while walking home. It was a party on every street! 

We then decided to treat ourselves and find an Italian restaurant for dinner. It was so comforting to eat pizza. Even the cheese on the pizza is better in France! The pizza is very thin so their personal pies are rather large. We stuck out as Americans in the restaurant because we cut ours into triangular slices and used our hands. Newsflash: the french eat everything but bread with a fork! We ended the night with dessert from heaven. A slice of chocolate mousse cake. I could have stopped after the first bite and have died happy. I may have added a week and half to the end of my life from all the walking I did, but I also may have added it back with all my eating :) I think I've been eating very healthy, walking a lot, and not snacking as much as I do at home, so today, I think I deserved a little reward. At the Italian restaurant, a family next to us was American and trying to order drinks. They didn't know the french word for "lime," so my friend leaned over and said to the waiter, "un citron vert" to help, and he leaned over and said something along the lines of, "I know what they're saying. I just want them to figure it out in French." Moral of the story, the French dislike the Americans who don't make an attempt to speak the language.

Focaccia and margarita pizza

Sent from God's kitchen

Now I get to sleep with a full stomach!!

Thank God that it didn't rain today. Love to all my family and friends back home who are reading this! 

"Fear is useless, what is needed is trust."

Love,
Anna