My Parisian Journey: Week 1 Rouen, Chartres

My Parisian Journey Begins : Week 1, Rouen and Chartres

I am returning to one of my favorite cities in the world to become immersed in its culture. This first day here was very surreal as I used a skeleton key to open my “appartement” which will be my new home for the next four months in contrast to staying in a hotel for one week as a tourist. The building is over 200 years old and my room of 10×10 has a definite “Parisian” feel to it: terraced view, wooden floors, a tiny bathroom with bad plumbing, and the sounds of motorcycles and sirens outside!

As I was preparing for bed the first night, I glanced out of my window, over the rooftops of the Latin Quarter, and saw a double rainbow, God’s promise to me that I was in His hands! It was a duplicate of the double rainbow that David and I saw in El Paso that morning (eighteen hours earlier) as we were exercising.

My daughter, Kalie, came with me to help me get settled in and has been such a calming presence. We have made a few day trips by train to Chartes and Rouen and have spent some time taking in the sites of Paris and practicing our French. Surprisingly, I have been able to communicate in French much easier than I imagined. My first mistake, however, was to order the “Plat du jour” (plate of the day) without asking for specifics. Our main course was a cut of pork wrapped in a big fat tongue. Yuk! I guess I’ll just stick to quiche and baguettes until I learn the menu.

Today, Sunday, I am going to visit the American Church of Paris to find that most important connection with other believers. Then my home base will be complete. Tuesday I will meet with my study abroad coordinator and then begin my classes on Wednesday after a language placement test.