FINALLY IN FRANCE

I AM IN FRANCE.

Granted, I haven't done too much yet, but still: I am finally in France!

So this morning I woke up early to get to Heathrow Airport in time for my flight. My parents kicked me out of the car, left me on the curb, and sped away, eager to have a few days free of pre-study-abroad nervousness.

Just kidding, they were nice enough to get my luggage out of the trunk of the car before they sped away. There may have been a few hugs and words of wisdom, too. No tears, though.

At the airport with my all my luggage for the next 11 months!

 

I've flown many times before, so navigating the airport alone wasn't too hard, but since nearly every stranger seems to think that I look four years younger than I actually am (which makes a difference when you're 19 years old), and since I'm on the shorter side, people kept assuming I was a lost child in the airport, and I was asked "Are you okay? Are you lost?" way too often.

Anyway, the flight was quite quick--nothing like the long 7-hour journeys to England and back that I am used to--and I practically stared out the window for the entire flight (side note: I really hate people who book a window seat on a plane and then never glance outside. Book an aisle seat next time and leave the window seats to those who enjoy gazing out at the clouds and the tiny towns!).

We landed in Paris, and I dragged my suitcase and duffel through the entire airport--and they're not light luggage, I'll tell you--to get to the shuttle station.

Happily, the shuttle driver who drove me to my hotel thought I was French for a full TWO MINUTES! (success!) He realized I wasn't, however, when I completely misheard his question and mindlessly responded with "huh?" After that, he asked, "Wait, you're not French?" and the gig was up.

Tomorrow is a new day, though! I'm meeting my friend Katherine at the airport in the morning, and we're taking the train to Tours together! Maybe some other native will think I'm French...