The blog title is a quote from a wonderful book that I am reading, "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris" by David McCullough. John Sanderson, an American who voyaged to Paris in the 1830's, said that upon discovering the way the French patiently enjoy their meals instead of hurrying through them American-style. As I make my voyage to France for a third time, I hope to make this my focus, patiently savoring every moment that comes my way.
As many have heard, I plan to leave for Paris on the 6th of September (my little brother's 19th birthday) and will live there until next July. Yes, you read correctly. I will be in France for 10.5 months, breaking for only a week to be a part of my beautiful best friend's wedding in March.
Why go now? Why go again? Well, after graduating from Clemson this past May (woohoo!) with a degree in French and International Trade and two study abroad trips to France under my belt, I am not yet fluent in French. It's harder than I thought! I want to be confidently "fluent in French" both for my sake and my resume's sake. When better to go off for a year-long European adventure than when I'm fresh out of college and have no husband, nor kids, nor career? Exactly! Living out my dreams while they still make sense!
You may wonder what I will be doing in Paris besides gallivanting around. Well, I found a wonderful French family through the website "aupairworld.net" (check it out if I've inspired you in any way) who was looking for an au pair, AKA live-in nanny, for a year. After many e-mails and Skype conversations with them and their previous au pair, I am certain that kidnapping me is not their motive ;) They live in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre and have three adorable children, ages 6, 11, and 12, named Inès, Tanguy, and Margot. While the children are in school, I will be taking French language classes three days a week in the city of Paris. I have nights and weekends off to do whatever I please and get a weekly stipend! Pretty good deal, huh?
I hope to share more in this blog than I did during my last trip to Vichy-I got overwhelmed with details and ended up too lazy to write long posts! Therefore, this time around, I vow (to try) to just give little details from time to time and not feel pressured to write about every single detail of my day-to-day life. That being said, enjoy! I am so blessed to go on this adventure of a lifetime and hope that I can inspire and provide some entertainment for you along my way.
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