This title is a quote from the movie Sabrina (the 1995 version with Harrison Ford), but it's also a statement of a fact. Shortly after this blog post goes up, I will get on a plane in this airport and fly home to Washington.
Away from Paris.
To be perfectly honest, I'm still pretty numb about this fact. So much--so much--has happened in the past three months, and I've only shared a fraction of it on this blog. I honestly can't believe it's already over; yet somehow, at the same time, it seriously does feel like it's gone on forever. When I'm riding on the metro or walking to class I feel like I've been doing it every single day since I was born. And today, I guess, will be a little bit like dying--leaving behind a country, a culture, and many people that I've come to love.
Well, that's melodramatic.
There's a lot of stuff I'm super excited to see and do once I return home. But I will say this: after Paris, I don't think any place will be quite the same.
I've been doing some thinking about the title of this blog: that one time Alaina went to Paris. I chose it to be a bit of a joke: oh, yeah, remember that one time . . . I went to PARIS???
Reading that title now, though, it makes me a little sad. Because it implies that this is my only shot--my one and only time in Paris. And, yeah, it's true that this study abroad was basically a once-in-a-lifetime event. But somehow, I don't really think I'm totally, 100% done here.
So just for funsies, I'm amending the title of my blog (just on here--too much work to change the URL) to 'The First Time Alaina went to Paris.' Because 'first' is a wonderful word. It means new beginnings and adventures, but even better, it leaves an opportunity for seconds, and thirds, and fourths and fifths and on up to infinity.
So with that in mind, let's see what we can do with this new title:
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she discovered that macarons are some of the most heavenly creations in the universe.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she got to climb to the tops of a lot of really really tall buildings and it made her verrry happy.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she spent way too much time sitting in the Opera Garnier and trying to figure out a way to sneak onto the roof.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she found out that sometimes even when you plan everything down to the minute details, something will still go wrong, and all you can really do is laugh about it. (Hysterically. (While stuffing your backpack inside your suitcase.))
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she met some amazing people who made her life 1000 times better.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she had some things happen to her that made her feel very sad and small--that made her wonder if she was a person of any worth at all.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she had to make the decision that yes, she was, and she wasn't going to let anyone tell her otherwise ever again.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she discovered that sometimes in painful and hard situations, the bravest and strongest choice you can make is to not become bitter and mean as a result of the yucky stuff.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she saw more men peeing in public places than she ever, ever wanted to.
(And, mind you, the first time Alaina went to Paris, she only saw two.)
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she learned that fashion doesn't always have rules that make sense--but that doesn't make it less cool. She learned that just because a piece of clothing doesn't exactly fit the style you like doesn't mean it won't look absolutely bomb on you or somebody else.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she spent a lot of time walking on her own.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she also spent a lot of time laughing and talking and learning with some true friends.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she came to study art and language and history.
The first time Alaina went to Paris, she ended up learning a lot about the world--and herself.
. . . Aaaand the next time Alaina goes to Paris?
Nothing is certain as far as that goes. But she's pretty sure that she won't be climbing any fences.
All right, my plane leaves pretty soon, I'd better go. Last song of the blog is from Sabrina again.
I love you all. I'm so glad I got to be here for these short three months. I know I'll come back to Paris someday--but for now, I'll see you soon.
