Five Hours in Paris

Last week I had a break from school, so I went to Berlin to visit old family friends. It was a great trip! (more about that later, maybe)

My journey took me through Paris. I took a train from Limoges to Paris and then flew from Paris to Berlin and then did the same on the way back. Making the connection from the train station to the airport in Paris on the way to Berlin almost proved disastrous. I scheduled two hours between arriving on the train and taking off on the plane. I thought that would be plenty of time. Wrong. The Paris metro system is crap, and I nearly got completely lost under Paris. Despairing thoughts like never seeing the light of day again started to creep into my mind. But, I resolved to not let that happen and managed to find my way to the airport with a little help from a very unwilling French women. But, thats not exactly what I intended to write about.

Anyways, on the way back I had five hours scheduled between landing in Paris and catching the train south back to Limoges. I thought it would be nice to wander around Paris a little bit, but I was a little apprehensive after my first encounter with Paris underground. Well, I arrived in Paris and boarded the dreaded metro and headed into the city. I selected the metro stop near Notre Dame. I wasn't sure what awaited me on the surface. I wasn't even sure how to get street level. I selected a set of stairs going up and started climbing. When I finally reached the top it was glorious. I stepped into the bright sunshine right in front of Notre Dome to the sound of the bells ringing.

My first view of Paris

I just sat down and soaked it all in. I couldn't believe I was actually in Paris standing in front of THE Notre Dame. I kept muttering to myself, "Oh my gosh, I'm in Paris." I had to convince myself it was real. After I collected myself and took a few pictures for other tourists I headed off to walk around the city. I didn't really know where I was going. I hadn't planned anything, and I didn't know where anything was. After walking down the Seine a little ways I spotted the Eiffel Tower. I made that my target and snapped pictures along the way.

Heres a few shots from the city.

I walked all around Paris for five hours dragging my suitcase the whole way. At the end my feet seriously hurt, but it was so much fun. I made it to the train station on the metro with no problems. Maybe the metro system isn't that terrible.

I'm going to spend a few days in Paris in December before flying home. I'm looking forward to spending more time in the city.

Fall comes to France

Fall is my favorite time of year, and Limoges is putting on it's brightest colors for me. It's just beautiful. Here are few pictures from around the city.

A Misplaced Heart

I miss my covenant family. I miss your smiles and hugs. I miss Sundays, worshiping together, confessing our sins together, eating lunch together, and Sunday nights talking on the Porch together.

I don't have anymore words to express this feeling. Pray for me friends.

Music in the Streets

Limoges is a small city, but it hasn't lacked in fun things to see and do. For the last month, there has been a city wide push to promote the arts which has provided lots of entertainment. This promotion of the arts has ranged from large scale productions of musicals, ballets and orchestras to caricature exhibits, French rappers from the Congo, and small time bands playing in the streets.

I ran across one such street playing band a few weeks ago. It was a very entertaining little show. This group has to be one of the most active bands I have ever seen, and the music was a lot of fun. I even bought their CD. The name of the band is Orchestre International Du Vetex. Check them out at www.oidv.net

Here are a few pictures.

24 hour Internet Connection

I finally have internet in my room!!!

After much putting off until tomorrow, the office here at the dorms saw fit to get the job done. They promised that there would be internet connection available in the rooms by the middle of September. That promise actually meant that's when they would start the process of connecting the buildings here. So, after much waiting, and not very patiently I might add, I no longer have to sit in the empty hallway of the chemistry building on campus to catch a few minutes online before they kick me out at 8pm. I now have uninterrupted access to that precious link to my life back home in my cozy little room.

One Month

Today I have been in Limoges, France for exactly four weeks. At times it feels like I have been here forever. As if I have walked these streets and known the people I now spend my time with for years. It seems like this is how life has always been. I have memories of another place, other friends, and a different language. But, those memories are distant. At other times, those memories come crashing into the forefront of my thoughts, and I am transported home. I see the faces of dear friends and hear their voices vividly. I recall moments of laughter and rehearse conversations as if I were living those moments over again. My heart breaks, and I long to be back in the States. At these times I realize my time here has been pretty short and four months to live away from home isn't that long in the grand scheme of things. That is a comforting thought. (And there is always Facebook. Keep writing to me friends. I may not respond very quickly, but I'm reading every word.)

This first month has been one of much transition. Obviously moving to a foreign country is a huge transition, but I've found myself changing in unexpected ways. A few days after arriving in Limoges I went to the orientation for exchange students. The whole thing was in rapid French, and I had absolutely no idea what was going on the whole time. I felt so overwhelmed. Before I arrived in France I had this idea that at the end of four months I would be fluent in French and able to converse at ease. That rosy idea was shattered at the orientation. I knew then that learning to speak French was going to be a long slow processes for me. But, I was overwhelmed for more than the difficulty with the language. The end of one week found me completely freaked out about being here. A knot of fear was perpetually lodged in my stomach. I felt alone and helpless and very inadequate. All my coping skills were failing, and I cried myself to sleep most nights. However, I stopped worrying long enough to pray and felt so much more at peace about the whole situation. I realized I had been deeply concerned about how people here perceive me and I had been trusting in my own ability to succeed. I didn't want to look foolish, and I definitely didn't want to admit that I was inadequate in anyway.

But, you see, I was trying to live for my own glory in all those attempts at looking like I have everything together. As a friend put it so well in an email to me, this situation shows me for who I really am, lost and incapable in every way without Christ. Christ has come and he covers my inadequacies with his life, and he has not left me alone. In this truth I have found great freedom. I don't speak French very well, but I am here to learn and looking foolish in the process in ok. I don't have that knot of fear anymore. When I live acknowledging my failures, I can point to the work of Christ on my behalf and rest in his ability.

Hey, good news, I get internet in my room TOMORROW!! So, I will have more time for blogging. I know the posts have been more than sparse.

Hello from France

I promised all you Norman dwellers and dear friends that I would start a blog to keep everyone posted on what's happening here on the other side of the Atlantic.

Well, I started my journey to Limoges, France on August 31. I made a day stop over in London and then caught a cheap flight on to France. The day in London consisted of stumbling sleepily on and off the Underground and through city streets with the words 'please mind the gap' running through my mind. I saw lots of wonderfully old buildings, ate a plate of real English 'Fish and Chips', and took a nap in a beautiful old park. All in all, it was a good day. But, I wish I could have had someone to share it with. I think some day I would like to go back to England and stay a bit longer.

Here are a few pictures from the day.