My First 7 Days in France

Hier, le 3 de septembre 2018 – marks my first full week in France. On August 26th I flew out of the Oakland airport around 8:45pm and landed the next day around 5pm in the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. (The flight is only 10 hours, but the time difference from California is +10). Olivier Tireau, my AuPair dad picked me up and home we went. We listened to (what he calls) “world music,” on the ride home. It was a lot of reggae and African beats. We made small talk about weather, the flight, and random stuff like politics and driving in France v. the U.S. It wasn’t awkward, but just quiet at times. When we finally got home, I was nervous about how the children would approach me, but they surprised me with their geniality. As soon as the front door opened they leaped on me crying with delight, “Bella! Bella! You’re here!” Their small arms gathered me in a warm hug. Eléonore is the youngest, at 7 years old. Noémie is 12. And Raphaël is 15. I immediately felt welcomed and comfortable. Two petits chiens greeted me as well, Yoda and Lucy. The girls commenced to take me on a tour of the house.

Home, for the next 11 months, is a nice three story house in Fourquex. Fourquex is a quiet suburb located about 10 minutes outside of St. Germain En-Laye. (Yes, I strongly support PSG. Fun Fact: Their training camp is right downtown, maybe 15 minutes away, and I can go snap selfies with the players if I feel so inclined. Ya girl wouldn’t mind getting wifed up by one of them fine soccer players. Ya feel me??) I love the house. Despite it being three floors, it’s actually quite cozy. My room is on the very top and is quite spacious; there’s a skylight window that provides great natural light. The entire house actually has many large windows which let sunshine fill the space and allow you to look at the forest outside. Yes, their backyard literally enters into a forest which has trails that I can walk on.

St. Germain en-Laye is actually great. I see myself spending a lot of time here. I can take the bus to get there in about 20 minutes, or I can drive (which means I would have to park…which has been something of a struggle, but I am getting better with practice). (I’m finna be the best parallel parker that the U.S. has ever seen by the end of this year.) There are many cute clothing shops, and also a Monoprix – which is the French equivalent of Target but, dare I say, better? There are boulangeries everywhere (so many croissants and delicately crafted pastries). There is a huge square in the main part of downtown. During the week it is empty besides all the restaurants and cafés spreading their tables and chairs across it so people can enjoy un apéritif while the weather is still nice. On the weekend though, the market takes over this huge space. Rows and rows of colorful, fresh vegetables and fruits span across makeshift tables. You make a left and suddenly the aroma of fish crosses your nose and you see all types of seafood displayed on the ice. The butcher is there as well, with freshly skinned rabbits, plucked chickens, and big slices of le boeuf. Ooh and then you see les fromages. So many different types of cheese, from goat, to sheep, and of course from cows. Hard cheeses, soft cheeses, pungent cheeses, and more palatable ones. You can sample, and probably get full off of all their offerings. In addition to being able to buy your week’s groceries here, you can also get the cutest, unique gifts. There are artisans with their purses, jewelry, clothes, dishware. So much. J’aime le marché.

In my first week I have learned how to take the bus downtown, how to take the train to Paris, I’ve walked Les Champs-Élysées, and done a couple of the big touristy things like see L’Arc de Triomphe and Le Tour Eiffel. They are impressive.

The nice part about being here though for a year is that I’m not stressed to see everything. I have time to really enjoy the museums, the architecture, the quiet side streets, the tree lined avenues, and huge parks. I don’t have to be on a schedule like all of the tourists I observed. “1 hour here. Then stop for lunch. Then on to the Palais de Tokyo. Two hours there. Then to the Eiffel Tower. Are we going to the top? Then back to the tour bus.” I was just strolling, stopping where I wanted to stop. Walking past what I didn’t deem as interesting. It was peaceful.

Speaking French hasn’t been as challenging as I expected. I always start with a greeting, and then I attempt to ask my question or order my food with as much simplicity as possible. I usually get about two or three minutes into my interaction until they say something I don’t understand, and the quizzical look passes my face as I attempt to guess correctly what they asked me. Then they’ll realize I’m not a French speaker, and will promptly switch to English. I’ll continue to respond to them in French and they’ll continue to speak to me in English haha. It’s funny. But I’m getting by and that’s what matters!

If I was going to write about everything I’ve seen and thought about in these first seven days, I’d have a 10 page essay probably haha so I’ll keep this first post brief. Just know that I am content getting to know this French life, and I look forward to the adventures to come.

À la prochaine!

Bisou,

Bella