Lessons Learned

Last night we had our first dessert night with the BYU students.  Because we can't comfortably fit everyone in our apartment, we've split them into groups and will have about half over each week.  Interestingly, one of the major complications getting ready was that it is nearly impossible to find baking supplies like baking powder and baking soda which meant we had to pick up dessert at a bakery.  Luckily there are approximately 10 bakeries on our street.

Since it was our first night, we played a little get-to-know-you game where everyone wrote a question and then answered someone else's question.  Luke's question: Did you like the movie Cars?  He was genuinely upset that the person who got his question has not seen the movie Cars.  He reminded me again today that he was still mad about that!

My question to answer was "How many countries have you visited?"  Until 10 days ago my answer would have been 1 - and now it is 2 (although a kind student pointed out that my answer should be 1 now and was 0 before, since I shouldn't count the United States because I live there!).

This has been an extremely exhausting week for me.  I'm not sure if the fact that it is my first time out of the country has made it harder.  Everything is just different enough to make nearly everything a little more difficult than usual. The language barrier has been harder than I anticipated.  Before coming I thought a lot about problems I would have trying to communicate around the city, but never thought about the difficulties in the apartment.  I can't read the washer/dryer or any of the cleaning supplies, food labels, desktop computer, and on and on.  It makes me feel like a child and I've had to rely on Chris to help me more than I'd like.

I've been learning a lot since we've been here (unfortunately not a lot of French!).  Here are my top 20 lessons learned:

1.  Jet lag stinks!  Jet lag with 3 kids with jet lags stinks even more.

2.  Paris drivers are worse than Uncle Tim (and that is pretty bad according to my kids).

3.  Just because something looks like a sidewalk or pedestrian path doesn't mean a car/motorbike won't drive on it.

4.  French people are not nearly as rude as their reputation.  Of course I have no idea what they are saying so they could be very rude and I just don't understand.

5.  There is something very nice about saying bonjour (hello) and merci (thank you) as part of any conversation, including checking out at the grocery store.  As my friend Cindy taught me "but first you say hello."  So far the only French words I know are bonjour and merci, and I get to use them a lot.

6.  While the metro may be crowded and smelly (not as smelly as the El in Chicago), it is extremely convenient and easy to navigate.  Isaac has been a great co-pilot to Chris.

7.  The Eiffel tower is much bigger than you think and pretty awesome.

10.  Old hardwood floors may be beautiful, but they are super squeaky!

11.  Cigarette smoke travels from the street to the 1st floor (American 2nd floor) apartment.  Which means we smell the faint smell of cigarette smoke all day.

12.  There are LOTS of homeless people in Paris.  Isaac has been the most affected by seeing homeless people on every block (sometimes more frequently).  He has tried to have change in his pocket every time we go out so he can give it to someone.  It's a difficult, unsolvable problem that is in our face everyday.

13.  The modesty obsession in Utah culture is beyond crazy.  It is refreshing to be away from it (except of course on Facebook).

14.    BYU study abroad students are pretty cool (so far, at least).

15.  A dryer that dries your clothes is good and I'll be grateful to have that again in 2 1/2 months.

16.  Diabetes is still a pain even in Paris, and they don't have fruit snacks,  Libby's sugar source of choice when she needs to get her blood sugar up.

17.  Baguettes are delicious and no American version comes close.

18.  Eclairs are delicious and no American version comes close.

19.  Isaac, Libby, and Luke have been great travelers and not too obnoxious American-like.

20.  Paris is full of blue skies and great weather; whoever told me otherwise (Chris) is crazy.

Metro

Hanging the clothes after not drying in the dryer.

Water filling station

Place des Vosges fountain.
Victor Hugo's house is across the street.

Place des Vosges sunbather.

Luke being Luke.