I'm still in Paris!

Bonjour Ya’ll!

Well, week 3 is over and done with and Paris is…well…Paris. It is still the City of Lights, it’s still a romantic city, and it is still where I am spending the next 11 months of my life. Ha I wish I could tell you that I have had some amazing adventures but I haven’t yet, but like I said before, I still have 11 months! I have however met some really cool people and seen some really cool places. I have been hanging out with a group of au pairs from different parts of the world which has been so much fun. The only downside is the fact that we speak English to each other so we aren’t practicing our French! But I think there will plenty of time for me to practice my French. I am the newest girl in the group. Everyone else has been here since August or September. That fact alone has helped me realize that everything that I have been feeling and/or will feel is totally normal and everyone has gone through it. I also met a guy while I was waiting in line to apply for my green card(the 2nd time) who is from Portland, Oregon and a girl from Texas while waiting in the same line(the 1st time). It’s amazing who you can meet while waiting in a line, over and over and over again! Haha

Let’s see…since my last blog, I’ve gone to the U.S. Embassy and was irritated for the first time since I’ve been here….and I was dealing with Americans!!! I had an issue with the kiosk that gives you a number so you can wait to be seen. Apparently the woman I spoke to about the kiosk thought I was an idiot and that I didn’t know how to work it. I told her it was probably out of paper and after 20 minutes of having to check, double check, getting 2 random men to check the kiosk with me(that is their policy), guess what the consensus was…..the kiosk was out of paper!! I finally got a number and after another 45 minutes, the same woman asked why I was still there….that all the numbers had been called. I made it very clear that my number had definitely not been called. Luckily there was a woman who was there with me whose number hadn’t been called either. Turns out, the Embassy couldn’t help me with what I came for anyway! Haha C’est la vie!!! And... I successfully applied for my green card last week, after the 4th try. FINALLY!!

I started my French classes last week and they are going well. I can’t believe how much you forget if you don’t use it. I also went to a new church on Friday and I loved it!! It’s the Hillsong Church-Paris so I will probably start going there. It was great to be in a room filled with people who love Jesus. I also watched the inauguration on CNN. It was an indescribable feeling being in another country, watching my country swear in my new president. Let’s just say I prayed a lot that day! Oh, and I move into my apartment this weekend!! I got a chance to see it this past Saturday and I’m excited to have a place of my own. I’ll post pictures when I am completely settled in.

Well, I think that’s all for now. I think I'm going to have to start writing myself notes throughout the week to remind myself of what I want to share with everyone! That or just write more often...I haven't decided what to do yet! I still don't know why God so graciously handed me this amazing opportunity and I'm starting to realize that it's probably not for me to know why...well, at least not now anyway. I am supposed to enjoy this experience and receive this blessing and know that God only does good and IS good. That alone is what I will stand on throughout my time here…and beyond!


Love you and miss you all!!

Jessi