Ever since I had my experience abroad in Italy, I've always wanted to return and do something like that again. And with my bad luck (but to me I take it as good luck), at working at a company that doesn't go out of a business...I keep having to find a new job, but always in between I end up doing some kind of internship in another city or country. This time it's in Paris!
Since the end of last year, I knew I'd probably have to find a new job again and also I would be graduating in May. So I started to pursue a bunch of options hoping that things would naturally fall into place. I spent most of the 1st quarter of the year traveling back and forth from Boston to California for vacation and also for interviewing. There were some great companies I got accepted into, but the pay was horrible. I also interviewed at a few places in Boston, but as luck would have it...Paris came calling!
I reached out to everyone and anyone I knew that could have any connection to helping me get some kind of internship in Paris. I told my teacher Jenn that I really wanted to spend the summer in Paris and was hoping I could find a way on my own instead of going through this program that would cost a fortune. Although I knew it wouldn't be easy, I knew it wasn't impossible and if I could make it work on my own, I would be spending half the cost!
There was this opportunity for Paris with a Bridal haute couture fashion house, but unfortunately it didn't work out. I was really disappointed, but didn't give up! I told my teacher to see if there were any other opportunities in Paris and luckily the owner of Metal Flaque was willing to take me on! I had only 2 1/2 weeks to get everything ready to head to Paris!
It seemed like it was just meant to be and that everything was lining up! I was really lucky that my friend, Viet's cousin Michel was generous enough to let me stay at his place in Paris while he is away traveling on vacation! He is a SAINT!!!! His place has everything that I need and on top of that, he has a phone I can use to call the US for free and he's letting me borrow his iphone so I can use Googlemaps and not get lost and his metro pass!
So I left Boston to go to Paris on the 26th.
My suitcases were extremely heavy and over the weight limit, but the lady at the airport was kind enough to let me slide on by without charging me extra..although I did have to take a few things out of one of my suitcases. Then I went to switch my seat to a row that wasn't as full and I am sooo glad I did! I met this amazingly generous woman Francie from Texas sitting next to me that was heading to France for a vacation at a villa! We got chatting and she was so sweet she offered to buy me some wine and on top of that, she gave me her French guide/phrase book as a gift! She also waited with me to help me with my luggage! We of course exchanged information and plan to meet up again in Paris some time this week! :) I took a cab to my friend's place and I was dreading carrying up my luggage that weighed more than me up 6 stories! I started working on my 1st suitcase and only made it up a few steps before a gentleman living in the complex offered to help me carry it up all the way! I was soooo thankful for that! I had to carry my other one by myself, but I made it and was so happy to just crash at that point! My friend Michel finally came back from work and we went to dinner with his friends at this Italian restaurant, which was delicious!
Today, I woke up and went to get ready for the day. As I was showering, Michel came back with some pain au chocolat and made some tea. I felt so French just sitting and relaxing in the living room hehe
He later showed me around the neighborhood, which has everything conveniently located by his apartment. We are also located near Asia town...we went to this chinese bakery where I was pleasantly surprised to be able to speak to the lady in Cantonese! It reminded me of my experience in Italy, where I was able to communicate with the Chinese people there in Mandarin and Italian...and in Paris, it'll be in Cantonese and French! :) We then had some pho and Michel was telling me they have banh mi's here too, using French baguette! I can't wait to try! Unfortunately, I am still a bit jetlagged and caught a cold on my way here so I haven't explored too much outside my neighborhood, but I will! I did make it to the grocery store to buy a few things though and I was able to get by with my limited French! For some reason I love shopping at the supermarkets when I'm abroad haha
I really am truly grateful for this opportunity. I learned a lot so far through speaking with my friends and of course reading my self help books haha. I learned to stay positive, because negativity is really a disease that is infectious! Positivity is infectious too, but in a good way! I learned in order to make things happen, you need to visualize it! I kept imagining myself in Paris and here I am! I also learned that you need to share knowledge and be good to others because when you are, good things will happen back to you. Don't be afraid to throw out to the universe what you want out of life, because someone out there is listening and they want to help! I learned that people really want to see you succeed and are willing to help you get there..sometimes all you have to do is ask. BUT, you have to give back too!
Hopefully, I'll have more interesting things to post later on! Au revoir for now! :)
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