I'm here! Getting here was quite miserable as my flight was delayed nearly four hours and I spotted a bunch of mice in the airport, but I'm just glad I made it! Actually, the friend I was going to meet also experienced delays since it was snowing when we arrived, so despite being 3 hours later than expected, our flights came in within ten minutes of each other. We cabbed to the ACCENT student center and had about a half hour to check into our hotel before a short walking tour.
Yesterday afternoon and all day today were a flurry of orientations, group meals, and little errands. Seven of us went out for a walk and some wine last night, but we stuck to a glass or two since we were feeling pretty jet lagged. I got my cell phone and Navigo metro pass, and picked up a contact case since I couldn't find mine. This afternoon we found out some very basic info on our homestays: the family members ages, and the location of the home.
I was a bit bummed to find out that I was the only student not living within Paris: I'm doomed to life in the suburbs. But in reality it's not really suburbia at all so even though I'll have a farther commute than everyone, it shouldn't be too bad.
Finally this evening we met the homestay coordinator at our hotel and met our families! My family is a recently divorced woman, her 21 and 17 year old daughters, and a cat. Their names are Emmanuelle (mom), Anne Gaelle (21), Charlotte (17), and Noisette (cat). It's a 3 bedroom, 1 bath apartment and it's about a block from the metro station Pont de Levallois. Anne Gaelle doesn't live at home-- she's studying abroad in Seoul this year and leaves in 2 weeks.
Tomorrow we have an academic orientation in the morning, placement tests at the Sorbonne, and then an afternoon boat cruise on the Seine. Lots of the girls (and 2 boys) in my program haven't been to Paris before so I think they are all itching to have time to actually see the sights!
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