"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you." -Ernest Hemingway
Hi family and friends and welcome to my blog, where I will chronicle my travels to Paris and throughout Europe over the next four months. As you probably know, from February-May I will be studying at the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne and living in a homestay with a family.
I am getting pretty excited although it doesn't quite feel real just yet. Getting my visa last Monday in NYC was a trip all in itself. After watching about 2/3 of the people get turned away and told to be back by 9am the following day, I felt pretty discouraged despite my careful collection of everything I needed. Two and a half hours of waiting later, I was scolded for not having my insurance company draft a letter but instead printing out the comprehensive chart of my coverage. Luckily, I didn't "get the guillotine," and I was granted access to study in Paris! (You need a visa if you'll be studying there for more than 90 days)
You might notice that there are quite a few entries below, last semester I used this space as part of my Visual Literacy class. Now as my life changes this will adapt with me and turn into a great way to keep everyone updated on what I'm up to.
I'm crossing my fingers that I'll have internet access in my homestay so I can update this with photos and stories as much as possible. Below is some additional info on how to contact/stay in touch with my while I'm gone.
- Email- lauren.belisle@american.edu
- Skype (video conferencing)- laurenbelisle
- Leave for DC: January 29
- Leave for Paris: February 1
- Family visits & travel to Brussels, Amsterdam: April 9-18
- Spring break: April 11-26
- Depart Paris for Hartford: May 31
Lauren Belisle
c/o ACCENT Student Mail
89 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine
75011 Paris FRANCE
