"Look at this photograph."-Nickelback

Some pictures of charming Boulogne:

My little park

Our house. (Chez Devarenne)

"I have been touched by your kids. And I'm pretty sure that I've touched them." Dewy Finn, School of Rock

Went to church this morning! It's held in the same building where we go to school. I love going to church in other countries. I love to be surrounded by people who are so different from myself who have the same beliefs. Such a wonderful experience. Church was, of course, in French and I was surprised by how much I understood! It's comforting that we studied the same things as y'all at home, and that we were on the exact same sunday school lesson. Feels like home.

During church, it was pouring rain. But afterward, the sun came out and it was beautiful. Emily and I went to the Luxembourg Palace gardens and wandered around. Cute kids, cute dogs. Beautiful trees that are in blossom right now, and the wind was blowing so it was perfect.

After the gardens, I rode the metro home by myself. I came back to our house, but it was too beautiful out for me to stay in. I grabbed my book (The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, by David McCullough) and my journal, and wandered among the charming, ancient, ivy-covered buildings along the narrow, crooked streets of Boulogne. But not all who wander are lost. Eventually I found a tiny little park which reminded me of the park in 101 Dalmatians, and sat on a little bench to read. I love this book Dad, thank you so much

I've felt a bit like Owen Wilson's character in Midnight in Paris on this trip. There are some Rachel McAdams characters here who are constantly in motion, wanting to be always on the go, always seeing monuments, always taking pictures, and somehow I was just not into that (which is probably bad because I have no pictures yet). I just want to wander and be lost. I want to take Gil's advice and enjoy Paris the Parisian way. Go to cafes, walk around, and if I stumble upon something famous, I'll wander inside and check it out. So far, what I love about Paris is just walking through it and letting the streets take me wherever they will.
This book describes Paris exactly as I am feeling it. It seems like men like Mark Twain and Nathaniel Hawthorne enjoyed the same things about the city that I do!

One quote from the book, which I love, says

"But then Paris was a continuing lesson in the enjoyment to be found in such simple, unhurried occupations as a walk in a garden or watching children at play or just sitting and observing the human cavalcade. One learned to take time to savor life, much as one took time to savor a good meal or a glass or wine (I guess water or coke for me). The French called it 'l'entente de la vie,' the harmony of life."

Paris really is beautiful. Today I saw it for the first time in the sunlight and I really don't think anyone has ever exaggerated its charms.

Another quote from the book that struck me personally (especially after watching two little girls in rubber rain boots kick a tiny soccer ball around the gardens today) was as follows:
"Since I have been to Paris, I have seen nothing like the children. They move my heart always, more than anything under heaven. It is enough to make anyone forget Napoleon and his wars."
-Nathaniel Willis.

Post pictures of Bailey off to Prom. I want to see them real bad. And someone give Kobe a hug from me and tell him that he would fit in so well here. I wish I had him on the end of a little ribbon to walk around with me EVERYWHERE.

Me at a little place Rachel and I went to for Crepes last night.

IDK, but it's funny. 

"I'd take my puppy everywhere, la la la la, I wouldn't care." Harry Nillson

Dogs are allowed on the metro. I saw one today. On my ride back from class I sat across from two little black boys named Hemez and Fahreed who were pretending to smoke with suckers. I told them I like to do the same thing and they asked me why I don't use a real cigarette. Fahreed told me he's allowed to start smoking when he's 15.

"And I know that I am like the rain." -Paul Simon

The woman we are staying with is the best! She is 99% Omi (my grandmother) and 1% a smoker. Her name is Caroline. She hums and sings all the time, she is so so sweet and always makes us laugh. She and her husband have 5 daughters, but only one still lives at home. Her name is Aude (pronounced like Ode), she is 25 and is so nice and beautiful. She is engaged, preparing for her wedding in June. Our host family is great, we love them. Their house is on the outskirts of Paris in the most charming little village called Boulonge. It's beautiful. For those of you who have seen Amelie, it is a neighborhood just like the one where Amelie lives. Caroline told me that I am "very tiny when [I] walk" and this morning as I was walking down the stairs she said "petite petite petite" with every step that I took. She really reminds me so much of Omi, which is perfect.

Rachel and I had a huge day today. Class started at nine and we have about a 30 minute metro journey to the institute building in Paris. Class is suuuuupère børing but it's only an hour and a half.

After class we visited the Notre Dame and I was wrecked upon discovering that the gargoyles are not a very lively bunch as I had been raised to understand. It was beautiful though. Jaw-dropping in fact.

After that, Rachel, our cute friend Olivia Mayer (no relation to John) and I went and got lunch at a classic little cafe in the Latin Quarter. On the way we stopped into just about every patisserie we could find. Our favorite was owned by a Tunisian named Saied ("sy-eed"). Delicious. Darling. Wish you were here.

I didn't like my hideous raincoat, plus it was not very warm so I bought this one new one and I like it a lot. Plus it makes me feel more french because all the girls here wear cool coats.

Rachel and I rule the metro. Okay, well we're just really good at it now and we love it. There are the cutest kids on the metro! Today I sat next to this little girl who said to her mom "En fait, j'ai fait une blague!" Which means "In fact, I was making a joke!" I want to take one home. All the little boys dress like Jordan Rands. Even with hats.

So far I have seen nothing but rain. But as Owen Wilson taught me, Paris is the most beautiful in the rain. I have nothing to compare it to, but I agree that a wet, shiny Paris is the most poetic thing I have ever beheld. A wet, shiny Paris full of tiny dogs is enough that I could lay down and die in the street the happiest woman alive.

Rachel and I plan to go out to dinner with some friends. Today I saw the French version of Aunt Angie and just about every 7 1/2 guys I see are the french version of Dave Fryer.

Shout outs: Debra! I wish you were here with me to see all these flower shops! I think of you every single time I pass one. Marina: today we saw high-heeled  hip hop shoes and thought of you. Mom, Dad, Family: miss you. Kobe: #############

Off to my rainy Paris. Forecast for the next ten days: rain, rain, rain, rain. Or as the French say: pluie, pluie, pluie, pluie.

An example of the dogs I keep obsessing about. 

Rachel, Olivia et moi at Notre Dame.

Yummy little things that we ate with Saied.

Rachel and I holding hands outside the Institute building. 

Musical Experiences with the Paris Metro 1

The most French thing that's ever happened to me in my life.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you about staring?" -Meg Ryan, French Kiss

Today marked my first experience with the Paris metro system. As could have been expected by those who know me well, I'm falling in love with French children on the metro. This morning the cutest little French boy of about 4 or 5 years old wearing trousers and a little peacoat was starting at Rachel and me. His mother told him several times in French that he was being inappropriate, but he just kept looking at us. When I walked out of the metro car, I smiled at him and he gave me the cutest, most crooked smile I have ever seen, tugged at his mother's sleeve and pointed at me.

I'm still suffering in a bad way from jet lag. It's going to take a few days to get over this. I'm grateful to have so much time here because I've been able to take today and yesterday to just kind of vedge out and adjust to the time zone, the culture, and the teensie tinsie cans of coca-cola.
Prof. Erickson showed us to the institute building today where we will be having class. It is beautiful and the missionaries who live there seem very funny.
Rachel and I have unknowingly become the Ren and Stimpy of the trip. Everyone in our group thinks that we are the funniest thing they've seen since whatever the funniest thing they last saw was. One girl Fran literally is reduced to tears by our interactions and shenanigans.

All in all I think this is going to be an amazing trip. I've only really had a glimpse of the romantic side of Paris at this point, and I can just feel it all calling to me. Tomorrow I have my first day of classes, and then I have the whole afternoon to dive into this city. I feel like Charles Sumner on his first voyage to Paris which he claimed was a necessity which begged at him his entire life. "But I go for purposes of education, and to gratify longings that prey upon my mind and time...The temptations of France I have been warned against...I can only pray that I may be able to pass through them in safety...May I return with an undiminished love for my friends and country, with a heart and mind untainted by the immoralities of the old world, manners untouched by inaffections, and a willingness to resume my labors with unabated determination to devote myself faithfully to the duties of an American!"

In a few minutes a taxi will be here at the hotel to take Rachel and I to meet our host family! We are very excited and also very exhausted. I plan to spend the afternoon unpacking, sleeping, reading and watching Sleepless in Seattle on my computer.

For lunch I had a mango the size of my head that I got from an outdoor market and a can of coke that was not the size of my head.

In the words of the beloved little orphan Annie: "I think I'm gonna like it here."

French Graffiti: "A man?"

Outside the pretty institute building in the heart of Paris. 

"'Kevin's not here,' 'kevin's not here,' 'Kevin's not here.' " -Home Alone

Imagine, if you will, two young, curly haired blondes in the Salt Lake City airport who were hungry. They decided to go get some Cinnabons without looking at the time. When they casually returned, they sat in their seats and waited for their plane to board. Not long after they sat down they heard: "Emily Robinson and Darian Tibbitts report to gate D9 immediately." They rushed up to see what was the matter, and discovered that the plane was 5 minutes from taking off and had been waiting for them. So they rushed aboard feeling stupid but laughing the whole time.
Now imagine two curly haired blondes at George Bush International airport who did EXACTLY THE SAME THING. Only this time they were delayed by veggie burgers instead of cinnamon rolls.

At long last, I made it! AirFrance is really nice. Tons of free movies, I tried to watch Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. Had a whole row of 4 seats to myself (what luck).
Upon arriving at the airport, I had the perfect introduction to France. On my way to the baggage claim I came across a sprawling and growing pool of blood. As I got closer, I realized it was a bottle of wine that had fallen and shattered on the gray marble floor.
Paris is cold and rainy. The shuttle ride into town was miserable (because the driver was crazy, I was carsick and tired) and the whole while I was saying in my head "Why did I come on this stupid study abroad? I wish I hadn't."
But after taking a nap, I had a new and positive perspective. I looked out my rainy hotel window, and saw.....
The Eiffel Tower.

"So you're leaving, in the morning." -Phil Collins

"When good Americans die, they go to Paris." -Oscar Wilde.

Off to Paris! Check back for what I hope will be daily updates and posts!
<3 Darian