Kind of a side note, but restaurants work very differently here. You walk in and they'll ask if you're they're to drink, to snack or to eat, and this determines where you will be seated. Then once you are seated a server will not come for about 10-15 minutes and you just have to order everything at once. It's definitely not like the United States where the server comes every two minutes refilling your drink or asking how everything is. After ordering they only come back to deliver the drinks then the food then to deliver the check. After you get the check, they will come back and ask for the money and count it right in front of you. Very bizarre. But I guess it's understandable since you don't need to tip here. Service is always already included in the price of your meal…this could explain why prices are so high! Also I've figured out that places (not just restaurants) appreciate when you have exact change. They get so frustrated when they need to make change for you! Annoying.
After dinner we wanted dessert (obviously) so we walked and walked until we were out of the asian zone to a little cafe. With coffee, dessert and about 3 hours of talking, I felt so french.
Today I woke up early and went to mass at Notre Dame with a few friends. It was incredible. Although I'm not catholique and the priest spoke french, it was easier to understand and follow than I expected. Such a great experience. Upon walking into Notre Dame, the power of the room takes over you. It's beautiful and simply sitting inside the church is unlike anything I've experienced. The place was packed.. Tourists are still able to walk through while mass is going on so that's a little annoying but no talking is allowed. The mass was called an "international service" so some parts were in English, some were in Latin, but for the most part it was in French.
before it filled up
After that, we decided to make our way to the Champs-Elysees. On our way there we found this tiny little market about a block long just outside Notre Dame and decided to check it out. Turns out it's a pet market. All the venders were selling BIRDS. I saw literally 1,000 birds today. They had all kinds of supplies for sale like cages, bird food, toys, everything. Strange, but pretty cool.
After walking away from the market along the Seine, we're on a random street and I see all these cages outside of a shop. I get excited, like yay a pet store! Let's go in! We go in, so cute. We come out..another pet store next door. Then another and another and another. We seriously found the best street in Paris. Animal central. <3 My friends and I decided to call it "Rue des Animaux" and said we'd come here anytime we're feeling down or homesick. Here are some of the highlights:
It was so hard to leave! All the little babies were sticking their paws out just looking for some love :( But we finally dragged ourselves out 5 pet stores later..
Here are a few random other pictures so you can see what I'm up to…
Macarones! They're sold everywhere, even McDonalds, but this specific place is Laduree, the oldest pastry shop (patisserie) in Paris. So far I've tried coffee, chocolate, salted caramel, and raspberry.
L'institut Catholique!! Just the outside of it of course, but this is where I'll be taking two french language courses, starting February 17th.
My host families apartment building. Kinda weird right now because my host mom had to go to New York on Saturday and won't be back until Wednesday. I have this huge, beautiful french apartment to myself. I wonder if it's normal to trust a stranger in your home for 5 days?
Moon! He's keeping me company and my new sleeping buddy :)
A group of people in my program in front of the Louvre; most are from UW-Madison.
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