Arrival Day (Sleep Day) and Day 2

Bonjour!

I have arrived. I do not have internet in my apartment, so I had to wait until I could get to campus to post anything. I had quite the day yesterday! My plane got in about an hour late but thankfully Deniz (the French student who was to pick me up) was still there waiting for me. Unfortunately, the man who was supposed to let me into my apartment had left Paris for the morning, so we had to wait for him to come back to get the key for my apartment. I was exhausted and really just wanted to go to bed, but we had to wait so we got coffee and then trekked for what seemed miles around the city trying to get me a metro pass, which ended up not happening because I am not a resident of France, which you need to be to get the one we were trying to get. And of course we found this out too late. So I hadn't eaten or slept for more than 3 hours in 2 days and I was running around the city with my suitcase (Deniz had the other) and it sucked. Ha ha. Deniz started to get worried about me because I did not look very well, so he bought me pain au chocolat and made me eat it. So nice!! When the man with my key finally came to town, the lock on my flat was broken so I had to move to a 6 person flat upstairs for the night. By this time I was sweaty and exhausted. Deniz offered to go buy me the card I needed for my french phone while I showered (again, so nice!) so I showered and he came back a little later with the phone card. After that he left and I slept from 130 that day to 9 this morning. I needed it!

Today my landlord came by and moved me into the new apartment (he didnt fix the lock, just told me to be sure not to lock the handle or I will not be able to get back in) so I finally have my stuff in my own flat. I walked around a bit this morning and my neighborhood seems nice - there is a big park right by me, as well as a fruit stand and grocery store. I wanted to buy fruit today, but I was nervous about my French! Not good. I will try soon.

Sorry for the awkward writing! The keyboard I am using is set up different from American keyboards so it is taking me a while to type things. They have set up my laptop for wireless in the school buildings, but it will not be active for 24 hours. Once that is working I will be able to write much faster.

Tomorrow I am going to a party for new international students. I am looking forward to meeting new people! I will also meet Charles, a French student who came to McKendree last spring. It should be fun! If I can find it, haha. Paris is definitely larger than Lebanon!