Orientation Week!

*Disclaimer : All opinions of this experience are my own and not representative of the U.S. Government or The Fulbright Program.

Day 1: Flying In

This starts like any other trip, trying to catch a train from the lower Hudson Valley, and catching connections to JFK around 2 am. Saying goodbye to my family for 9 months was much harder than I thought, even though this time five years ago I left for college. It helps me also understand what my husband experienced when he left India to obtain his Master’s  at our university. I am very lucky to have married someone who has been through a version of this type of life transition, and that he is with me to help me settle for a little while.

We checked my bag at 3 am, made it to our gate at 4 am, and by 5 am, the whole airport was alive again with hustle and bustle of weary and excited travelers. My husband and I made sure to grab something to eat before boarding began at 7:15. The flight was great, even with intermittent sleep I was comfortable. It just doesn’t feel real, that my whole life last year working to apply for this amazing opportunity, is coming to fruition and beginning this week!

I keep wondering if I forgot anything, or how things will be at home now that I’ve left again. Of course life moves on for our family, but I still think, “oh I hope someone fed the cat…how will the dogs behave…can Dad redo the bathroom floor without getting injured….”

Upon our very smooth arrival to Charles de Gaulle at 10:40, and I mean really smooth, my trip to India was a lot more steps to get into the country. We boarded several trains to get to our hotel at 2 am, and spent 15 minutes trying to figure out how to lock our room door. After a shower, we finally slept.

Day 2: Starting Out

I woke up at noon, feeling the same exhaustion as my wedding day in India all over again. Aashish and I had a slow start, we met the receptionist at our hotel and got a rundown of the city. I felt much better already about starting the next few months of my life here in France. Even though my French is pretty heckin’ rusty, a lot of what I studied was flooding back once I got off the plane. In all honesty, getting around Paris is quite similar to the metro in New York City.

We will see about outer France once we get to the Loire Valley. I am a country girl at heart, having spent most of my life loving the rural rhythms of the Berkshires and the Finger Lakes, so I anticipate a similar feeling. We had easy access to our local grocery store, got our necessities, and at around 4 pm, we had our “gouter” (light afternoon meal) of a fresh baguette from the local bakery, butter, and espresso.

Day 3: Finally at Fulbright!

When I was younger, before wanting to be an artist, I wanted to be a linguist. I loved my French classes in high school, and many of my favorite movies take place in France, such as Sabrina, The Hundred-Foot Journey, Chocolat, and Midnight in Paris. I will probably say this a lot over the course of this blog, but I have a never-ending amount of gratitude to be here in France, and the fact that my skills as a writer and artist got me here…I mean, man, I am beyond lucky.

We had a meeting regarding diversity and inclusion protocols in France, and they are quite different than they are in the U.S. It is a good thing to be aware of such ways in other countries, because this is all so different, it makes it easier to adjust in a way. It’s been raining a lot in Paris, so it was quite dreary along the Seine, but, wow, nothing beats the sight of the Eiffel Tower as you get closer to the city center on the train. Aashish and I decided to regroup and explore the Marais, now a hip neighborhood in the 4th Arrondissement. We had pita bassar and falafel, and a croque monsieur and hot chocolate at another spot. A very nice way to end the evening.

Day 4: Fulbright Orientation!

Remember how I said that the trains in Paris are like New York City? They are, but Paris is divided into 5 zones. This means that when you are within the city and need to get to another zone, you MUST buy a point to point ticket. Aashish and I got stuck in La Corneuve until a kind metro officer came to help us out. The purchase of these tickets are rather simple, once you have the hang of it. A Navigo pass is a must in Paris if you are staying more than a week. I definitely feel more comfortable living in Paris for 4 months, knowing all of this now. Our orientation was wonderful, as it is a true pleasure to be with people of like mindedness. We all have incredibly niche projects to pursue in our studies. I met many more of our cohort, and I am excited to reunite with them back in Paris on several occasions. We were able to explore the Diplomatic Archives, and there was some pretty cool documents we got to see. There are no pictures with this post, sorry, the jet lag is really killing me.

Day 5:

We took it easy on Friday, as Aashish is working hard for his own different opportunities. I needed rest, as my body just could not catch up. He did his thing and I took my time, but we definitely had to coordinate how to get a rental car to get the Loire Valley. Aashish and I were trying to fanagle a crazy train schedule, which was just not as productive or easy. Eventually after many hours into the night, we figured out why we couldn’t book our rental car on our laptops. You should only book by your phone in France. This means we got an extra day in Paris, to explore.

Day 6:

I think understanding that this time is really for me to settle, and not to explore right off the bat is extremely important. Being in another country is quite daunting, and there is just so much to process. My head hurts just from thinking too hard. I tend to put too much pressure on myself to make things work, rather than to just let them come as they are. It’s easier to solve problems that way. Aashish and I relaxed and went out to the 1st Arrondissement, the true city center, so he could get a nice haircut. We then grabbed a meal, and maybe had too many crepes and waffles. We explored the area, and saw the Pont des Arts, and the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. It was an extremely nice way to end our time in Paris for now, and we can really explore a great deal in December when we both come back.

Day 7:

The first week closes and opens doors to new challenges in France, such as getting, and renting a manual car. Now, my husband is from India, and he learned how to drive a manual…when he was 17. He is 29 now, having driven our automatic for 3 years…and there was a good chunk of time where he was only traveling by metro, bike, or bus. In all honesty, as someone who doesn’t drive, and feels the rustiness of some of my own knowledge in terms of language…Aashish handled the trip down to Neuilly like a champ.

Thankfully, France’s road signs and means of traveling out here are clearly labeled. They also drive on the right, so the rules are quite similar as to home. We made it to Neuilly very safely, and met our gracious host, Nirdosh Petra Van Heesbeen, who is both my landlady and ceramics teacher while I am staying here. She is incredibly kind and fair, and laid everything out quite clearly for me. The gite (apartment) where I am staying is so nice, and the area is quite reminiscent of my grandparents’ house in the Catskills region. Neuilly and the Loire Valley are actually quite like if you smushed the Catskills and Finger Lakes regions of New York State together. There are vineyards everywhere! Nirdosh herself has planted a beautiful garden, and we’ve made tea from the herbs she grows. (Fresh lavender and rosemary, please try it!)

The Eiffel at Night!

Talk soon!

Emu