le 27 janvier

Hello all,

I have officially been in the city of light for four full days. It all feels surreal. As a relatively inexperienced European traveler, I have come to realize that Paris is all of the beautiful clichés and much, much more.

The first day was more exhausting, then I realized it would be. I left Charles de Gualle airport with van full of other CEA students and we made our way through the suburbs into the city and to the CEA Paris campus located at 6 rue de Braque in the 3rd arrondissement. A large deep sea blue door contrasted the classique beige building walls set on a small cobblestone French Parisien alley. As our chauffeur opened the great blue door, we stepped into a beautiful courtyard. The architecture of Paris is truely striking. It is unique and undeniably gorgeous. I feel so grateful to live in one of the most aesthtically pleasing cities in the world. At CEA, we met with our student coordinators, recieved our apartment keys, and were sent on our ways. The apartment is wonderful. As an older European apartment it has charachters, quirks, and bright pink walls. The walls don't seem to be a common European tradition, but they brighten the room, none the less. My roomates are fabolous. They are all from different areas of California and are best friends at California Berkeley. We all get along fabolous. Claire is my roommate, and Hannah and Allison share the second bedroom.

Within these short few days, I have went on a bus tour allowing me to see every major monument or attraction in Paris, strolled along the Seine at night on our way to admire the gorgeous gothic architecture of Notre Dame, got fruity drinks at Cafe Jade, and french onion soup at Pavé. If that was four days, I can't even imagine what four months will be like. I'll update again soon with pictures and more posts, I'm too busy enjoying myself. :)

Bien à toi, Erin