SANCTUARY!

I am supposed to be doing the reading for my class tomorrow, but instead I'm going to blog. Procrastinating? Maybe.

I made a list of all the things I have to do before I leave Paris because sadly, there is not much time left. I thought 4 months was going to seem long, but as the last 3 (and a bit) weeks lie ahead, I am filled with a incompleteness, as if I am missing something in this city before I have even left. In comes my type A personality with a list.

Today's items crossed off: The garden at Musee Rodin and The top of Notre Dame cathedral

To be perfectly honest, I don't know much about Rodin or his work. I know the Thinker... yah, I thought about it and that's all I know. Though I don't have a huge background in his work, I knew I wanted to see Rodin's thinker while I was here, so today we headed off to the gardens. Lucky for us, our student cards and visas get us into all museums and monuments for free.

The gardens were beautiful. Very well kept and, I was surprised to learn, not receiving funding from the government. The Thinker statue was right by the entrance, sandwiched between views of Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. We explored all the gardens and also had tea and breakfast (baguettes with butter and jam) at the small cafe on the grounds.

We headed from Musee Rodin to Notre Dame. I have been waiting for this day my whole life. I'm sure most kids loved Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. Most kids did not theme their birthday party after it. And I mean, I had my mom making a Quasimodo pinata and my dad working on grey frosting for the Notre Dame cake. Best. Birthday. EVER! Anyways, back to today. So I was pretty excited to go up where Quasimodo lives. We even got to go inside and see the big bell! And the gargoyles! It was definitely an amazing experience. Unfortunately it was a little foggy over the city today, but it didn't hurt the beautiful view.

Bored by the Pompidou

He gets to look at the Eiffel Tower every day

It's after days like this that I get scared to go back to the US. I'm scared of the culture shock. I am living in one of the most cultured places in the world. Manners are not optional, they are customary. I say bonjour when I enter a store and merci, au revoir when I leave. It's not a matter of being nice or not, it's just polite. I don't want to have to worry that I will be rushed from my table when I am finished eating at a restaurant. I want to be able to take my time and enjoy the company of those around me. I am scared I will no longer fit.