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Musee d’Orsay and Final Projects: Days 20-21

Bonjour de Paris!

Today was our last day of the program! I can’t believe this has gone by so fast! Where has the time gone?!

Musée d'Orsay

We all met up yesterday morning at the Musée d'Orsay, a museum housed in an old train station. Our professors explained to us that as far as chronology of the art goes, the d’Orsay basically began where the Louvre left off, and ends where the Centre Pompidou begins. I was excited to hear that there was a fair amount of Impressionists like Monet and some works of Van Gogh in the museum. 

It was amazing to see Monet’s paintings especially after having gone to Giverny. I feel like I see the artist in a whole new light; a painting of a field of flowers means so much more when you’ve actually walked among that field of flowers. This program has also shown me that I really love Impressionist art. Further, the d’Orsay is home to Van Gogh’s beautiful self portrait, a painting I’ve always loved because it’s all my favorite shades of blue. Though it was frustrating because no one was actually looking at it (they were simply pushing their way to the front to take a picture and then walking away), I found that if I stood leaning against a certain wall near the painting, I could still look at and appreciate it. 

Final Projects

Today we presented our final projects at Éléphant Paname, a dance studio near the Opera Garnier. My group consisted of three dancers (Celine, Sidney, and Simon) and two musicians (Barry and I). I’m actually really proud of our project. I never collaborate on artistic projects, so I was a bit nervous for this assignment at first. But my group was so professional and hard-working, it ended up being more fun than stressful. Barry and I worked on the music, creating a medley that took the audience through three different time periods: Medieval/Baroque, 19th/early 20th century, and Paris in the 1920s. We modernized the music by putting a drum set under it. 

Our first song was a fugue that Barry wrote, which is probably my favorite piece of the three. The second is supposed to mimic Impressionist ideals, so it was super dreamy and nostalgic. I wrote the lyrics to be a bit more story-telling for the audience to understand that we were traveling through time and was called, “Here Goes.” The third was Paris in the 1920s, so we created a jazzy tune and I wrote lyrics that mimicked the cheesy love songs of artists of the era like Cole Porter. I called it, “How Do You Know (When You Know)?” 

I’ll write another post when I get home reflecting on my whole journey in Paris, but for now I would just like to express my insane gratitude for having had this opportunity for this amazing experience. I’ve wanted to come to Paris since I was a little girl, and I can’t believe I’m finally here. This trip was a dream come true. 

As always, check out my pictures on my Les Photographies page! 

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Mosque and Jam Sesh: Day 19

Bonjour de Paris!

It’s weird to think that in less than a week, I’ll be back in Los Angeles. I’m just starting to feel like I’ve adjusted to Paris and learning how to maneuver its quirks. This trip has been amazing, but I am ready to return to my normal life. I miss my bed, my house, my friends, and my boyfriend a lot. I’m excited to get back to real life; I kind of feel like I’ve been living in a dream this past month. I’ll miss Paris, but it’ll be good to get back to my old to-do’s. 

Grande Mosquée de Paris 

This morning, we took a quick tour of a couple rooms in the Grand Mosque of Paris. After two of my female classmates covered their legs with scarves they were given, we were allowed to enter. 

The architecture was beautiful. The Mosque was decorated with gorgeous mosaics in intricate patterns all over the walls. I enjoyed the contrast against the Sacre-Coeur, with it’s gaudy giant Jesus painted on the ceiling. 

The only part of the tour that made me uncomfortable was when the guide explained to us that men and women do not pray together in the Mosque; there are separate rooms for them, with the men’s prayer room being the more decorated, nicer one. When we asked why this was, the guide said that men and women cannot pray together because the men might “get distracted by the women’s bodies.” This really rubbed me the wrong way. 

Jam Session at La Place

Later on, we all met up again at La Place in Las Halles for a jam session our professors organized. 

Honestly, I was not excited at first. I was sick, exhausted, and honestly just not looking forward to it. But it ended up being a fun time. We played a few songs (or tried to), and I got to sing one or two of them (again, tried--it was so loud in there, we really couldn’t actually hear anything).

The highlight, though, was definitely Sidney’s song. He wrote a song where the only words are “zoomy zoom,” and it is one of the best things I’ve ever heard. Very clever and fun. @Sidney, if you’re reading this, I’m still waiting for you to send it to me!! 

Barry and I finished writing the music for the final project today, woo! Now he’s going to produce it and make it sound good, and I have to write the lyrics. I’m proud of what we have so far and can’t wait to share it with the dancers in our group! 

Check out my pictures from today on my Les Photographies page!

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Monet’s Gardens: Day 15

Bonjour de Giverny!

Today, I had the pleasure of seeing the inspiration behind one of my favorite paintings: Monet’s gardens. 

After an hour long journey to Giverny from Paris, we found ourselves wandering among the artist’s beautiful flowers. At first I was a bit bummed because there were so many tourists. I could barely take a step without bumping into someone. Finally, I found a spot on a bench and took a seat. 

To my amazement, my view was exactly the view from one of my favorites in his Nymphéas series: 

I sat on the bench for nearly thirty minutes thinking and enjoying the beauty surrounding me. After a while, the people started to clear out; it had started to rain. A lady sat next to me on the other side of the bench and smiled at me. 

“Were you meditating?” she asked. 

“I was,” I laughed. “It’s so beautiful here.” 

She sighed, “It is. It really is.”

By then, her family had finished taking pictures and her daughter sat down with us. “Where are you from?” she asked. I told her Los Angeles; I figured, being in France, they were more likely to know L.A. than my actual home, Nashville, Tennessee. She told me they were from Portland, which was a funny coincidence because one of my friends I came to Giverny with, Barry, was from Portland. We talked for another minute before they made their way through the rest of the garden. 

Not long after they left, the rain began to pour a bit harder and the garden emptied quickly. I soon found myself alone in my part of the garden, something I couldn’t have imagined earlier that day. I spent the rest of my time in the gardens sitting in silence and wandering around the pond and flowers. It was a completely different place without the crowd of people pushing to take pictures. I could actually breathe and look and appreciate where I was. 

The most soul-healing experience I’ve had on my trip thus far was getting to meditate and walk around one of my favorite artist’s sacred spaces--and during a thunderstorm, nonetheless. I leave this place feeling so inspired and humbled and ready to create. 

Giverny, mon coeur t’appartient. 

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Centre Pompidou: Day 18

Bonjour de Paris! 

Today, we visited Paris’s modern art museum, the Centre Pompidou. 

Marcel Duchamp

In the beginning of the class, we were each assigned historical figures to research and speak about at specific locations during the trip, and today I spoke on Marcel Duchamp, a 20th century painter, sculptor, and chess player.

I actually really enjoyed learning about Marcel Duchamp. His art inspired movements like pop art, dada, and surrealism, and he had an interesting, hilarious sense of humor when it came to art itself. He coined the term “Ready-Made,” which is an object that is “already made” turned into art. It is said that he created his first readymade, a wheel strapped to a stool, because he just enjoyed spinning the wheel. 

What I really liked about Duchamp is that he turned art on it’s head. He turned away from the intellectuality associated with art and made it accessible and relatable to anyone and everyone. A quote of his I really liked is: 

“I don't believe in art. I believe in artists.” 

I think that that’s so important for art to progress and grow. There are no rules in art. There is no “high art” or “low art;” there is just art. Art is meant to grow and change, and I like that Duchamp not only understood that, but appreciated and promoted this ideal. 

Modern Art

That being said, I typically am not the biggest fan of a lot of modern art. I’m trying really hard to be more open minded with it. I really enjoy modern art museums, but I will never quite understand the “groundbreaking” white canvas or the piece of metal hanging on the wall. 

However, I really enjoyed the Centre Pompidou. There were some things I didn’t “get,” but for the most part, the art was all really cool to look at, even if there didn’t seem to be meaning behind it. I sat watching a short film featuring a group of teenagers running and hiding through a field with an ancient castle of some sort, using whistles to mimic bird calls and various nature sounds. It was probably my favorite thing I saw in the museum. 

I’m a huge Salvador Dali fan, and I was super excited to see a painting of his for the first time in person, Guillaume Tell. 

We also saw some Picasso, Matisse, and Kandinsky, among many others. From a hall of lights to a “cave,” to a dead mouse in a bright room, we saw a lot of interesting art today. This was one of my favorite museums we’ve visited on this trip. 

As always, be sure to check out my pictures from today on my Les Photographies page! 

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

It’s the Louvre: Day 14

Have I really been in Paris for two whole weeks? 

In some ways, it feels like I’ve been here for an eternity. Something in me innately feels a connection with this city I have the privilege to call home for a month. But in others, I feel like I just got here yesterday. This city and its people are constantly filling me with amazement, both good and bad. I mean, let’s face it: I’m not a Parisian. I’m an American, and my idea of “politeness” does not mesh well with the “rude” French. 

Two weeks in, I feel like my view of Paris has changed significantly. It is no longer the city I romanticized as a child, but a real place full of beauty and profanity simultaneously, just like any other city. I love it here and I’m so incredibly thankful for this opportunity to not just vacation here, but to actually live here this month. 

The Louvre

We spent today exploring The Louvre, a museum in the building which was once the Louvre Palace, home to French royalty until King Louis XIV decided to move the Royal Court to Versailles. 

Of course, my favorite was the ancient Egyptian exhibit, as I’ve been obsessed with Egyptian archaeology and mythology since I was little. It was amazing getting to see such beautiful and interesting artifacts that I’ve read about my whole life. Although, it was a bit of a bummer not being able to read the descriptions throughout the exhibit since they were all in French. 

However, one of the most memorable things I had the privilege of seeing was the “Mona Lisa.” I pushed my way to the front through the crowd gathered around her. The painting was much smaller than I expected, but beautifully interesting all the same. I got my picture, stood to examine the famous painting for a few minutes, and got out of the way of the ravenous tourists. 

I’m so thankful for this opportunity to explore The Louvre, something I’ve wanted to do for years. Walking through the museum, it was hard to forget that we were in a palace. Contrasting the old with the new, the sacred with the profane seems to be recurring theme here in Paris. One moment I was sitting in the cafe or walking by the Apple Store downstairs, and the next I was brushing my hand against the ancient foundation of the original fortress. It was amazing to be surrounded by so much history and see how we’ve adapted it to work with our modern lives. 

As always, be sure to check out my pictures from today on my Les Photographies page. 

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Opera Garnier: Days 12-13

Bonjour de Paris! 

The past two days have given me some of the most amazing experiences on this trip thus far. I am constantly baffled at the crazy things we are getting to do and how lucky we are to get to be here in this beautiful city. 

BACKSTAGE TOUR: DAY 12

Yesterday began with an early morning tour of the Opera Garnier. Not only did we get to see the beautiful inside of the Palais, but we got an exclusive backstage tour where we got to see a small dance studio, the stage itself, and even the basement. Though I loved the entirety of the tour, my favorite was finally getting to see the “lake” beneath the Opera. The Palais Garnier was built on top of a small reservoir of groundwater, which they had trouble pumping out, so they eventually gave up and worked it into the architectural structure of the building. This “subterranean lake” served as an inspiration for Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera (1910), which was adapted into a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1986. It was amazing to get to see the real life setting for the iconic story. 

AT THE BALLET: DAY 13

Today we met again at the Palais Garnier to explore a bit more of the gigantic opera house. I loved getting to take my time walking around the beautifully ornate halls and imagine what kinds of people walked exactly as I did back when the Opera was first built. 

The best part, however, was the performance at the Palais we got to see tonight. In short, I was absolutely blown away. It was the best dancing I’ve ever seen in my life. 

There were four performances on the program. The first piece was called “Frôlons,” an immersive dance/theatre performance involving light and other-worldly beings. After looking up James Thierrée, the choreographer (because I was so in love with his piece, I wanted to see what else he’d done), I discovered that he is Charlie Chaplin’s grandson, and Eugene O’Neill’s great-grandson. Those are some good genes! 

The second and final performance were stunning as well. Hofesh Shechter’s The Art of Not Looking Back and Crystal Pite’s The Seasons’ Canon were beautiful and so inspiring. 

Tonight made me realize how much I miss dance. I danced on and off my whole life, but since I’ve been in college, my main exposure to dance has been musical theatre shows I’ve done. I miss the cathartic experience of contemporary, or really nailing a good jazz or hiphop routine, or feeling so graceful in ballet/pointe. I’m feeling so inspired to get back into dancing much, much more often this year. Tonight’s performance inspired me to start taking dance classes regularly again when I get back to LA. 

Thanks so much for reading, and as always, check out my Les Photographies page for pictures from the Palais Garnier!

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

An Artist’s Refuge: Day 11

Morning at the Sacré Cœur

Today started with a morning workout we were not prepared for: the steps leading up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. After the somewhat grueling hike (okay, it probably wasn’t that bad), we were rewarded with a beautiful view of Paris, along with a gorgeous church, the Sacré Cœur itself. 

The church was a beautiful white limestone on the outside. I loved hearing my professors describe the thoughtfulness that went into its construction: the limestone “cleans itself” every time it rains, symbolic of washing away one’s sins in the Church. The inside was just as striking, with Biblical paintings and high (and I mean high) ceilings. Though the paintings were grandiose and garish with their gold accents, the building itself was beautiful. 

However, as blown away as I was by the architecture (side note: I must say except for the incredible middle rotunda, I enjoyed the Notre-Dame more), I found myself yet again highly uncomfortable. I could not stop thinking about all the harm and terrible things the Church has done, from its conception to modern day. Though it was beautiful, I couldn’t spend much time in the Sacré Cœur, especially not with its gaudy portrait of Jesus staring down at me. 

An Afternoon in Montmartre

After the Basilica, we headed closer to town to see other parts of Montmartre. I was completely blown away by the adorable little town. Not only did we get to tour the Musée de Montmartre, where I got to stand in a room where the likes of Picasso, Renoir, and more painted, but I also got to literally walk in the steps of some of my favorite artists. Montmartre was once home to Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Erik Satie, and so many more. I would have loved to have even gotten a glimpse of life during La Belle Époque for these amazing artists. 

Not to mention, Montmartre is home to the Moulin Rouge, which, aside from being one of my favorite films, is a place that has always fascinated me. When I was younger, my favorite part of my dance classes was when we would do battements across the floor; I loved challenging myself to get my leg higher each time until I could practically kick myself in the face. I always really admired the Can-Can dancers for not only their high-kicks but for breaking boundaries in a time when it was frowned upon for women to show their ankles. 

Honoring Our Artistic Ancestors

We ended the day with a walk through the Montmartre Cemetery, where we visited the graves of some of our artistic ancestors we’ve discussed in our class. I was especially excited to see Marie Taglioni, as I find it so interesting that someone would not only choose to wear pointe shoes, but to love them so much that you would popularize them so that all other ballerinas would eventually be forced to wear them. I got two years into pointe before I realized I didn’t hate myself enough to continue. So props to you, Marie. 

Montmartre was definitely one of my favorite places we’ve visited thus far. I loved getting to literally walk in the footsteps of artists I’ve always admired and to see the places they may have drawn inspiration from. On another note, it was funny to think that those freakin’ cobble stone streets may have hurt their feet just as much as they did mine! 

Merci beaucoup for reading! And as always, be sure to check out my photos from today on my Les Photographies page! 

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Extra, Extra: Days 6-7

I’ve officially been in Paris for a week! What! 

After today, I promise I will try to do a better job of not cramming multiple day’s worth of adventures into one post! As overwhelming as it is for you to read, it’s just as so for me to write. 

Here’s to no more procrastination, woo!!

DAY 6

Yesterday, we woke up early to meet our bus at 8am for the hour-long ride to Versailles. This was one of the things I was most looking forward to on this trip, as I find Louis XIV so fascinating, so I was pretty excited. 

I hate to say it, but I was super underwhelmed. 

The tour only took us through a handful of overly decorated, cold rooms. There are nearly 700 rooms in Versailles, and yet we only saw about 5? What? Further, the building and its rooms gave no appearance of being three centuries old. Everything looked as if it was trying to mimic 1680s decor for a period piece. The paintings were not originally hanging in the chateau, and even most of the furniture was admittadly “a replica of what they would have used.” Needless to say, I was disappointed. I just felt like I was an uncomfortable guest in some rich person’s house, squished between other tourists who were spending more time pushing to the front to take a picture than they were to look at what they were photographing. 

Although the chateau itself didn’t live up to my expectations, the gardens far exceeded them. Celine and I walked around to a large pond towards the center-back and enjoyed the view for a bit, talking about life, art, boys, and everything in between. On our walk, we ran into Barry, and the three of us continued exploring and getting to know one another. 

DAY 7 

Today was a classroom day, so we didn’t really do too much. I got to sleep in for the first time in a loooong time, so that was amazing. Once I was up, Celine and I went to the Marche Bastille to get some produce and look for souvenirs. I got a bunch of clementines and peaches (all for ONE EURO!?!), potatoes for a hash brown breakfast, and a cute pair of pants. 

Back at ACCENT, Jackie and Rotem lectured us on a short history of music and dance in Paris, up to just before the turn of the century. I was fascinated to learn that the reason we still use French terminology in ballet is because of Louis XIV: Parisian style of dance (an older form of ballet) was incredibly popular around this time, and so French dance instructors were in high demand. These Frenchman traveled around Europe, Russia, etc. and, of course, when they taught, they used French terminology. And it stuck! 

This evening, we attended two one-acts at Opera Bastille. I’ve always known opera wasn’t quite my thing--I kind of hate it, actually. I respect it, but I hate it. I think opera sounds exactly how people sound when they’re making fun of it, you know? 

But anyways, I tried to go in with an open mind. After all, I’d never actually been to an opera before. That being said though, watching the first one, I thought I was going to die. Not only was I exhausted and kept almost falling asleep, but my seat was so uncomfortable and the story was so awful that I actually considered getting up and leaving. However, after a brief intermission and a lot of stretching and chugging of Coke, I went back in for the second performance prepared for the worst. I was surprised to find that Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi was actually hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it! (Except for Lauretta’s song in which she dramatically says she wants to die in the name of love, clearly one of Puccini’s favorite tropes a la Madame Butterfly, but that’s another problem) 

Tomorrow is our first weekend here, and I’m so excited to get to do some more exploring on my own. It’s been tough adjusting to the super fast-paced style of the program, so I’m looking forward to being able to take my time and not be doing something every second of the day, even if it’s just sitting in a park or at a cafe. I’m here not only to explore and run around, but to relax and live like a Parisian as well. 

As always, find my pictures from yesterday and today on my “Les Photographies” page! 

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Old and the New: Days 4-5

Bonjour!

Today marks five days into my Paris trip, and I'm truly at a loss for words. The sights we have visited the past two days have contrasted the old and the new so eloquently in a way only Paris can do. Whether it be Roman ruins or the fancy-schmancy Le Bon Marche department store, I am constantly seeing a beautiful juxtaposition of historic and modern around this city that makes me feel as if time is happening all at once. As I walk down the street, I find myself asking if the year is 1118 or 2018. And, in all honestly, how much has truly changed.

You'll have to forgive me today on some very bland, pretty objective writing today, as I am exhausted and still at a loss for words from all the amazing, beautiful things I saw!

DAY 4

Our day started off cold and rainy. After a quick stop for a warm breakfast at our favorite local cafe, my roommates and I made our way to Galerie Vivienne to meet up with the rest of our class. Once together, we walked to the Palais-Royal, the former Royal Palace, where we had fun posing on the controversial columns, a modern art installation. We then made our way to the Louvre, where we walked around the surrounding grounds, in awe of the beautiful sculptures, gardens, and fountains. It's crazy to think that royalty once strolled around the very places we were now standing, snapping pictures of each other posing like the statues with our iPhones. Similarly, I wonder if Francis I knew that a giant glass pyramid would be built in his courtyard. Hmm...

The most gut-wrenching part of this day was seeing the space where the Guillotine once stood. This massive instrument of death was used to behead thousands during the Reign of Terror, including the likes of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette. Today, Place de la Concorde stands in its place, along with the Luxor Obelisk, and...a ferris wheel?

Let them eat...funnel cake? 

Continuing on our journey, we stopped by the world famous Ladurée for some delicious macarons before making our way towards the Arc de Triomphe. It was so surreal seeing this monument (built in 1810) standing in the middle of the busiest (not to mention scariest!) roundabout I've ever seen. Yet another example of Paris merging the old and the new to create an eye-opening, time-bending experience.

DAY 5

Today continued with this theme of juxtaposing the old and the new in Paris. Our first stop was the 12th century Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris, which began its construction in 1163. Walking in the dark church, you could feel the history reverberating back to you from the tall, arched ceilings. It blew my mind that this place is so old, and yet it is still a functioning cathedral to this day.

In contrast, Sainte-Chapelle is blocked off, with near-TSA level security to get in. It no longer functions as a place of worship, but rather as purely a historic monument. Its insane stained glass windows were among the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Each panel was different from its neighbor, and no single window repeated a pattern. I sat in the chapel and just stared in awe at not just this beautiful architecture, but at the history that surrounded it.

After a jam/dance session with Rotem and her bagpipes, our group stopped for an ice-cream break at a cafe across the river. I again noticed a sorbet flavor "Mirabelle," and I decided I should try it--especially since importing laws make the Mirabelle plum illegal in the States. And all I can say is: wow. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for unknowingly naming me after such a delicious plum!

Other places we stopped by today included Jardin du Luxembourg, the bookstore Shakespeare & Company, Gertrude Stein's apartment, and Le Bon Marché. After an overwhelming grocery run at the market in the latter, my friends and I made our way back to my apartment for what we jokingly called "cheese commune." We sat around sharing funny stories while we munched on delicious cheese and bread.

I look forward to many more "cheese communes" and days like this past week...though hopefully with warmer and drier weather! I'm so lucky to call Paris my home for the month!

Feel free to check out my photos from these adventures on my “Les Photographies” page!

À bientôt!

Caitlin

[petiteaparis]

Premières Impressions: Days 1-3

Bonjour de Paris!

Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamt of coming to this beautiful city. With a family hailing from Louisiana, I've always been aware and proud of my French heritage and often fantasized about strolling through the streets of La Ville Lumière, walking in the footsteps of not only my familial ancestors, but my artistic ones as well.

Before Friday, I had never left the United States. However, I am so grateful to have been presented this amazing opportunity to go abroad for the first time to study two of my favorite things in a city I've craved for years: music and dance in Paris.

Today marks my third day here, and I am absolutely loving it so far. From the food to the history to the beautiful language, there is so much culture surrounding you, waiting to be soaked in.

So what have I been up to these past three days? Let's begin...

DAY 1

My first day in Paris did not actually get off to a great start. I was alone in a city whose language I did not speak, a day early for my program with no solid plans, and absolutely exhausted. But after hurdling some language barriers at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I was finally on the RER heading into the city. After checking into my hostel, Auberge Internationale des Jeune, I was off to see one of my best friends of ~10 years who had been studying abroad in Paris for this past semester. Olivia and I met up at the Jardin des Plantes and walked around nearby areas, exploring Île de la Cité, Le Marais, Bastille, and ending with a sit in Place des Vosges, Paris's oldest public square.

DAY 2

My second day in Paris was the actual beginning of my program with USC/ACCENT. I arrived at the ACCENT Center around 10am on Saturday. Since our housing orientation wasn't until 4:30pm later that day, two of my classmates and I decided to go explore the city for the afternoon. Barry, Sloane, and I hopped on the Paris Métro and after a pit-stop at La Cathédrale Notre-Dame, we made our way along the Seine to La Tour Eiffel.

When we stopped in a cafe for lunch that day, I was surprised to see that one of their wines and I shared the name "Mirabelle," though spelled differently. Again, I felt that sense of nostalgia for this place I'd never been; a place which I come from but do not call home.

DAY 3

Celine, Mica, and I met up with Mark for breakfast this morning at Ten Belles, an adorable cafe just down the street from our apartment in the hip Bastille neighborhood. One "breakfast bun" and a delicious iced latte later, we finished up our "Meet and Greet" assignments and started making our way towards ACCENT for our official orientation activities.

On our way there, we stumbled upon Marché Bastille, a famous market in our neighborhood that happens each Thursday and Sunday. Walking around the crowded market, Celine laughed and commented that she "felt so French." It was true; this was the first time since being here that I didn't quite feel like a tourist. I made all three of my purchases (gold hoop earrings, un fondant chocolat, and a pair of pants) in French for the first time. Hey, if I'm going to be living here for a month, may as well try to pick up some of the language, oui? :)

Our day ended with a group excursion on a relaxing--but freezing--boat tour on the Seine. I sat in awe of all the history surrounding the river, trying to imagine what life must have been like under King Louis XIV, or if those who built the Eiffel Tower could have imagined how symbolic it would become. As we drifted down the river, I thought of all the souls who came across its waters. What was Paris to them? Were they as in love with it as I was? What can I learn from all the artists who sought refuge here, embracing la vie Bohème?

FINAL THOUGHTS

I can't stop thinking about how appropriate it is that my first trip outside the U.S. is to the country whose blood runs through my veins. What a beautiful experience it is to return home after nearly three centuries. Though the past few days have been colder and rainier than I expected, they could not have been more perfect. I've seen so much these past three days, and I still have many more to enjoy. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to study with such a passionate, amazing group of artists, and I can't wait to see what more La Ville Lumière has in store for me.

Find my photos from my first few days here in Paris on my “Les Photographies” page! 

À bientôt!

Caitlin