La Vie Française
By: Arielle
Currently, I am still packing up for my flight on the 30th to Paris! am so excited that I have the opportunity to study French there. :) This is something I’ve wanted to do for years!!! I am little nervous, since I have to find my host family on my own, with no cellphone. I decided to do it the cheapest way possible by taking public transportation: RER (Réseau Express Régional) and the métro with a suitcase that is almost as big as me! Luckily, I know how to ask for help in french…like “Où est …?” (where is … ?, more informal) or “Pourriez-vous m’aider, S’il vous plaît ? Je cherche…. “ (Can you help me, please? I am looking for…) because I know I won’t be able to read a majority of the signs on the streets and in the métro stations. Fortunately, I arrive to the airport around 9:30AM so that gives me a whole day to get lost (hopefully not). :)
Since I worry so much I have mapped out an idea of how I will get to my host family (this will also help me memorize where I have to go, so I’m writing it out anyways):
I will have to take RER B from Roissy-Charles Du Gaulle Airport, then get off at Denfert-Rochereau, switch to the métro 6 line (to go in the direction of Charles Du Gaulle Étoille), stay on 6 line until the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe station, and switch to the 13 line to go to Doruc station where I will be have a 3 minute walk to get the my family. (well that is a mouthful). Trying to find Reid Hall (my class room) will be a challenge as well, since I believe the fastest way will be to walk to class (20 minutes total!).