Days Go By

Hello everyone from Paris...FINALLY. Since getting here on Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, I haven't had internet so I apologize for the delay of entries into "Da Blog". Anyway, here we go:

It's hard to believe I've already been here for a week, but what an eventful and interesting week it has been thus far. For the first two nights here, all of the API students in my certain program (The language and Culture Studies Program through the Sorbonne) were housed in the Hotel Citadines right in the middle of the city, the 1st arrondissement. The area was absolutely amazing, being located only a few blocks from Notre Dame, La Seine, and tons of other landmarks. Naturally, we immediately started sightseeing for a bit, however it was a pretty busy first two days with various orientation activities scheduled by API that ranged anywhere from housing information sessions to welcome dinners, all the while running on very VERY few hours of sleep thanks to my intense case of jet-lag, which seems to finally be coming to a halt.

Other than all the meetings that had been scheduled, the first few days were also spent socializing with and getting to know the other students within the program by performing the greatest of all ice-breakers: going out. Needless to say it's been a great bonding experience to be able to explore this new and amazing place with people from all over the country. Though I won't go into too much detail, it seems that my friends and I have already established some stomping grounds in the area near our program center in the 1st Arrondissement, especially at two bars known as "The Hideout" (1st floor = Bar. Basement = underground dungeon mini dance club complete with strobe lights) and "BeHo" (small karaoke café with a great happy hour) that have kept us out until ALL hours of the night, forcing me to ride the Paris métro home at 5:30 AM while many adults are just now commuting to work..c'est la vie, n'est pas?

The beloved Hideout

Lastly, this past week has also been full of various excursions throughout the city put on by our program providers. While most of them involve tours of different sites and areas such as the Louvre, Montmartre, and the Latin Quarter, one excursion in particular has definitely stood out among the rest: Le Cirque D'Hiver. Why would we go to a circus you may ask? Good question. I personally have no idea why the circus was chosen, however it did in fact provide a few good laughs as we watched some of the most bizarre talents I've ever seen. If you've seen my photo album on facebook, you might have noticed the numerous acts of the night that ranged from lion-taming, to some cirque du soleil action, to the ever so erotic striptease performed by a woman being suspended in the air by a giant hula hoop. All in all, the show was definitely a "spectacle" of some sorts so here's a video for you to have some idea of the talents Parisians have to offer...