Happy Sunshine Rainbow KITTIES!!!!

It's a funny thing, coming to live in a foreign country. There are so many things about life over here that are different, yet so many things that are the same. Lately I've been experiencing some pretty intense normal-life withdrawal. Perhaps that's all part of the deal. I mean, in actuality, this is a temporary arrangement- regularly scheduled programming will resume in January. That's not all that far away, though my brain tries to convince me otherwise.

I almost feel guilty even saying anything. I mean, how many people would kill to have an opportunity like this? To have the chance to live in Paris in an apartment with a righteous view is probably something many people dream about, but few ever get the chance to do. I feel sort of ridiculous admitting that I'm not 100% happy all the time, and that is hasn't been one non-stop party. But it's true. This past month and a half has been rough at times- I think in a lot of ways I'm still trying to figure out what it means to live in Paris. Fortunately, it's getting easier. I'm still not satisfied with many aspects of my present academic situation, but that shouldn't kill this experience for me.

I really enjoy living here. I love the fact that I can buy tiramisu-flavored yogurt in little terracotta pots. I love being surrounded by historically significant places and beautiful old buildings that exude that certain Parisian charm. I love living on bread, butter, and cheese, and the fact that real croissants are only a block away at any given moment or location. I love finding new places to explore and people to explore them with. I love walking past my local boulangerie and smelling fresh bread every time I walk to my Metro stop. I love being able to say I have a Metro stop. I love that there are a ton of drunk people singing outside right now, for the second night in a row. I love going for walks by myself, especially now that the leaves have begun to turn.

I suppose the point of all this is to tell you (all 3 of you) that I feel like I'm nearing the end of the adjustment phase. I'm here in a city I love. My time is running out and it's time to embrace the things that will make this experience truly unforgettable.

That being said, I do miss my friends back home. It's sort of pathetic how much I miss studio (I feel like such a loser). I miss having that rapport with people that I care about, that bond that can only come from not sleeping, working too hard, and pushing type around for hours on end.