My day of travel went pretty smoothly. Chicago O'Hare --> Dallas Fort Worth --> Paris Charles de Gaulle. I left the dorm at 9:00 a.m. Central time on Thursday and finally got to my dorm in Paris at 10 or 10:30 a.m. Friday.
That afternoon I stopped at the corner store and made two purchases: a bottle of water, and a bottle of wine (1€69).
So me and a couple of the guys who are also in the Astro program just hung out for a while and each drank a bottle of wine.
Mind you, the only thing I had had to eat all day was a miniature croissant on the plane for breakfast (at about 7:00 a.m.) and a small sandwich for lunch (at about noon).
I stumbled back to my room and promptly passed out.
In the morning I was very surprised that I had actually bothered to change into pajamas.
First French hangover: Check.
I found out I had left the water bottle in my friend Ethan's room. It was sorely needed.
Today was a long day. They took us to the University of Chicago Paris Center, where we'll actually have our classes. Brief tour, longer wine and cheese reception.
They herded all of the study abroad students onto a tour bus and took us to the Basilique Saint Denis:
You know, the birth of Gothic architecture and all that jazz. Also known as the "Necropolis of Kings" because many were buried there.
We all (like, 55 of us, I believe) went to dinner at this swanky restaurant near the Paris Center. You know, the modernist "chic" sort of restaurant where you pay more money for less food on your plate, but at least it's nicely arranged. Regardless, it was tasty, and we didn't have to pay for it. (This was also the first meal I'd had all day).
I was seated at the dinner table with the "adults" (meaning some of the Center's staff and a professor). The director of the Paris Center is hilarious. I think I convinced him to wear his "Who the Fuck is Mick Jagger?" t-shirt to work on Monday.
Well, if I'm to have anything resembling a normal sleep schedule I'd better go to sleep soon. Au revoir et à bientôt!
