Paris vs Nashville

Bonjour Ya'll!

Well, I'm getting internet in my apartment this week and you don't even know how happy that makes me!! No more McDonald's!!! I might have to have a moment of silence or something..ha...yeah right!!! There is a technician coming to my apartment on Monday to set things up or something like that. I received all of the information on Friday; cable box, the Livebox, which is the source of internet, cable and phone. I started setting everything up, with French directions no less, but I have to wait for the technician to open the lines or something. I'm not even sure what he's going to do but I don't care as long as I have internet and phone in my apartment!
Ok..so here are a few differences between Paris and America. Everything is smaller here; people, food portions, apartments. You don't leave home without your scarf, gloves and umbrella. You never know what the weather will be like. A lot of places, restaurants, bars, stores, have the men and women's bathrooms together. Can I just say how weird it is to come out of a stall and be washing your hands right beside a guy?! I still haven't gotten used to it, nor do I want to. Europeans in general are very open so they don't think anything about it. I just find it weird. haha Some of you might not want to hear this next one but it's a part of life here. People do not pick up after their dogs. And since we're in a big city, there isn't much grass around, so you can imagine what it looks like. It's like trying to walk around landmines or something!! Luckily, I have managed to miss the mines...for now!! Most places close between 7 and 9 at night and are closed on Sundays, sometimes even Mondays too. It just depends on the store. It's not like in the States where you can go to Walmart or Kroger and pick up a few things at midnight if you want. And, everything is more expensive over here....which is why I REALLY miss Walmart and Target:(
If you rely on the public transportation system here, you HAVE to know the schedules; arrival and departure times, the times of the first and last metros, and if you take the bus, which buses go where and when. Or....you will get stranded, on the other side of Paris, knowing where you are but not knowing how you're going to get home, and getting propositioned by a guy on the street and ending up having to pay 18 Euros for a taxi. Not that I know this from personal experience or anything:) The metro(subway) is awesome and I wish Nashville had it...which will never happen because Nashville isn't big enough. I'm really liking this whole not having to drive thing. I walk everywhere and take the metro or the bus. I love finding my way around the system and the city. It's like a challenge for me and I always manage to get to where I want to go. I feel so accomplished when that happens! ha Until you are in a city with a massive public transportation system, you don't realize how much you rely on your car and how much time you spend driving.
Alright, well those are just a few differences between Paris and The State, mainly Nashville. I'll write more soon. I have to go home and clean. I'm hosting movie night tonight so it should be fun!

Bon journee!!!(Have a good day!)