First Impressions

This is the first time I have been out of the country other than going to Mexico (does that really count?). I am excited and nervous to be able to experience a different culture and learn what it’s like to live in a different country. I will be honest and say that more than once this first week Jeff and I have looked at each other and asked ourselves if we're out of our minds and wondered if we're going to survive this. Of course we will, but anxiety has been running high.

Before coming to Paris I was warned by many that if you don’t speak the language you will have a very difficult time getting around and the people will give you a hard time and be more on the rude side. While we have certainly experienced some of this, I must say that I have also experienced lovely people here in France. For instance, the ladies at the British Airways counter at the Paris airport were very helpful when they lost our stroller and car seat (they gave us loners to be picked up when our items were delivered); or the Pizza man who delivered our pizza gave us free Coke as a "gift" when he delivered our pizza, probably because he heard about our struggles just to order a pizza for delivery; or the lady at the market who gave Jeff a free baguette all because he said it smelled good and he tried his best to communicate with her in french the night before; or the lady that gave up her seat on the bus so that Mya could sit down. I was very grateful for these acts of kindness! I don’t speak their language but I know we can communicate with a smile…(merci!).