A New "Home"

I can't believe I've only been in France for 8 days-that's less than a normal vacation, but I feel like I've already been living here for months. As each day passes, I'm getting more and more comfortable living with this family. For instance, Sunday night I asked permission to have one of the best desserts in the world-a Magnum icecream bar. Since my hosts were surprised that I even asked and told me I could eat one anytime I wanted, I explained that Magnum bars were "special" in my family. Meaning, last time I bought a pack of Magnum bars in Mt. Pleasant, SC, I hid them in the back of the freezer so my dad wouldn't find them! To my happy surprise, my host mother came home one night later with a 8 bar variety pack of Magnum bars!! She already knows me so well :) I can't go long without my ice cream.

Sunday, I attended my first church service at Hillsong Paris! (Shout out to Allen Shuford who connected me with people there-THANK YOU) I don't have enough words to express the joy I had while being there. Upon walking up on the rainy morning, I was running late and didn't really know where the church was (location: a rented-out Parisian theatre... awesome!). I was greeted in the street with a black umbrella labeled "Hillsong" and a smiling face. Once I told him "Je suis nouvelle," he welcomed me to the church, walked me to the door, and told me where I could sit. After that experience, I know how important church greeters are! The service was amazing. I cried happy tears multiple times because that was the first time in a few days of feeling lonely that I felt "home." I was surrounded by believers in a foreign country-one of the coolest feelings. The services are bilingual-perfect for me! Every other song traded between French and English. The sermon was given by a British pastor and translated in French as he went along. After the service, I talked to some people about getting plugged into a connect group. I can't wait to meet people my age (which is the majority of the congregation)!

My lunch after church

Monday, I got to sign up for my French class! I'm excited about this for several reasons: (1) Finally school doesn't count for anything (no GPA, no parents to make proud with a good report card, etc.)-I'm just in school because I want to learn French, that's all. No pressure from the outside; this is something I want to do. (2) I get to perfect the French that I'm learning so rapidly in daily life. (3) I will meet friends! School is where I expect to meet most of my friends. Yay! A bunch of international friends again (although of course I can't replace the ones I met in Vichy). :)

I start my French class Monday, September 26th. The class will meet 3 times a week for two hours. Until then, for the next week and a half, I'm looking at my life as a vacation in Paris (with no hotel to pay for)! From the time I wake up until I have to get the youngest child from school at 4:20, I am a tourist. As of last night, I have 32 sites on my list. That's a little much to do in a week, so I'll just pick some to do next week and just make sure I get the rest checked off before I leave! Tomorrow, I will be going to Forum des Halles, Centre Pompidou, Ile de St. Louis, and Notre Dame. I'll be taking lots of pictures on my excursions!

Saturday, I have a special item to cross of my list. I will be taking a day trip to Chartres, just an hour train ride away from Paris! There is a cathedral there that is said to rival Notre Dame de Paris! We'll see!! I'll be getting a tour from Malcolm Miller, who was recommended to me by a friend. He is a British man who's studied the Chartres Cathedral for many years, so I'm excited to learn from his wisdom!

So happy to be here! Doing what I do best... loving France.