Bienvenue chez les LeMoens

Saturday began with the usual light doorbell ring, and the quiet rusling of a plastic bag that signals breakfast now hangs appetizingly from your doorknob. Luckily Alex and I woke up 3 hours before our taxis arrived. It took over an hour to finish packing, because somehow our clothes have expanded to a tremendous size and no longer fit into our suitcases. Great. I called and reserved a taxi for another girl and I... And after waiting about 45 minutes I was forced to call another. It ended up being rather fortunate that we were some of the last. The taxis lined up and got stuck in the driveway of P&V, and in case you were unaware, the meter runs from the moment you call the taxi to the moment he takes your bags out of the car. So some unfortunate kids got stuck with a 25euro charge before they had even left the hotel. Soo obnoxious. I think ours was 9ish. The taxi ride took about 25 minutes to go from the 18th to the 14th arrondissment, which is basically from one end of Paris to the other. Not too bad, seeing as that's where Maddie lives. I arrived at my new home and had a mini-heart attack when no one answered cell or home lines. I was ready to grab the next person on the street and ask them if I could move in when they FINALLY answered me. Turns out my homestay father is a little forgetful, which Lilian his wife will remind you several times a day. After popping open a bottle of champagne to celebrate my arrival, Lilian made me crepes and told me lots of stories. She LOVES to talk.


So there they are, Lilian and Alain LeMoen, my homestay family. Their appartment is quaint and Parisien in a very quite, but convenient neighborhood in Montparnasse. Everything I could need is within walking distance, except the Internet. Meh, no big deal, I just have been reading alot. Lilian, who is 68, buys tons of fashion magazines and leaves them on my bed when she has finished reading them. Alain her husband gets bossed around quite a bit but is incredibly kind and charming, just as you'd expect your typical French grandfather to be. My room is fantastically large, and well-lit, with a big desk, a piano, and closet space. I need books, for I am without TV or Internet.


Yesterday I felt a little homesick for the first time... mostly because I had spent the whole day trying to get used to being alone. I decided to go to the Louvre and walk around for several hours, which was incredibly overwhelming but certainly worth the effort of fighting the crowds. Then I walked around the Marais, the gay/Jewish district of Paris for about an hour, just to see some of the ridiculously priced couture there. It's worth window shopping. Then I returned to Montparnasse to get used to my streets a little bit more. All in all, it was a full day with lots of walking...


So now I'm at my Student Center enjoying the Internet in all it's glory. I missed celebrity gossip, and email, and gofug, and facebook... :) But not too much. I know I signed up for a change of scenery, so it's actually a little refreshing to be so out of my comfort zone. I'll get used to it, learn French, and hopefully acquire some cute clothes in the process.


I've been eating all afternoon to make up for my lack of meals yesterday (sans champagne and crepes) so don't worry Maman I'll still be nourished by the time you get here!!


Bisous de Paris!