Who would have thought that moving to the other side of the world to a country where you can't speak the language with a family and children you have never met would be difficult? This week has had a few ups and downs. It has been a week of firsts, and hopefully lasts. I have attempted to solve my first problem in French (and failed, finding someone who spoke English) and have already got lost coming out of the metro so many times! I have reluctantly discovered how to use the late night bus service but have already met many new people along the way.
There are so many Aupairs in Paris and we seem to be able to recognise each other from a mile away! It is reassuring to get together and swap stories of attemps to bath screaming children and tips on making them do what you say, although it is scary hearing some horror stories about some families.
Although it has been stressful at times I have had already some amazing experiences in Paris. On Saturday I somehow managed to convince myself to get up early and go for a morning run. It's slightly less painful when you are in Paris along the Seine running past Notre-Dam Cathedral and back again.In the afternoon, Lucinda, Jess and I discovered the Marais district and spent hours chatting in a park avoiding children with water pistols soaking up the 29C French sun. I ate my first macaroon on the Champs-Elysee and we spent the warm Parisian night chatting and laughing under the Arch de Triomphe. On Sunday the true Paris showed itself and the weather changed for the worse. Apparently Paris is a very wet city and this held true on the day a group of Aupairs had organised to do a walking tour. We tramped around the beautiful city under the safety of our umbrellas and all took overpriced hot chocolates in just one of the many quaint cafes in the city.
After working this afternoon I organised to meet with Jess and we tried and succeeded in finding a Parisian China town. We ordered our food in a combination of Chinese, English and French and I am proud to say the first meal I have eaten entirely in chopsticks was in Paris. Sitting in the restaurant chatting away with my good friend from home, we lost ourselves in conversation and I could have been anywhere in the world. I was shocked to be spoken to in French and it took a moment to remember that we were in France.
After some pretty difficult times, it is moments like my first macaroon in Paris and chatting with friends under the Arch de Triomphe which remind me why I chose to move away and go on such a big adventure. I can't wait until my french classes start and I can improve my language and get to know more people and have more nights like tonight.
Until then
Love Sarah
xx
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