France

Flew from LA at 10:40, got in to JFK around 7 or so-

I held up the Ernest Hemingway required reading, "A Moveable Feast" on purpose to attract fellow NYU-ers. A girl walked up to me and we started talking. Then another girl walked up to us and it was the girl that the girl I met at the consulate told me about and wanted me to meet. I was seated all the way in the back of the plane next to some bitchy lady. It was unfortunate, but luckily she was re seated, and the flight crew winked at me and smiled suggesting that they did their best to get her out.

Air France was aaamaaaazing! We had so many movies to choose from and complimentary wine. I had a glass of white wine and passed out to Greenberg, and woke up 1 hour before landing.

Got in around 12pm to Paris, I met a girl who spends every summer as a tour guide in Paris. We took the bus together to the hostel. I was expecting some shit hole with 10 beds per room, but actually it is an amazingly gorgeous and modern hostel called the FIAP

I checked in to a 2 person room with a polish girl named Carla. We have our own bathroom. Thank goodness, because I was really dreading showering in a 10 person shared room.

Went to the meeting room, and it triggered so many memories from Shanghai. It felt like I was simultaneously reliving Shanghai, while living Paris. All these pure memories and feelings I haven't thought of in a long long time came back. The nervousness, the anticipation, not knowing who was going to be my friend at the end of the trip, and what to expect.

I met some cool people. We had espresso together and then we got dinner, wine, and sat out in the back yard of the hostel which is BEAUTIFUL. Pics to come soon. It didn't hit any of us that we were actually in Paris, felt like we were in some secluded institution somewhere far away, as Will said, probably in Arizona.

After dinner we walked for a few hours, maybe 3, I lost track. We walked around the Latin Quarter and to the Notre Dame. It was stunning. I couldn't even believe how beautiful it was. I died a little bit inside.

When I figure out this plug situation (I didn't bring the right adaptor) and internet situation I'll upload some pix.

Tomorrow we have to be up really early to start orientation. We have a 2.5 week long orientation.

Man... it's only been a few hours, barely half a day.. and already it's been amazing.