First Week Lessons....

Hey everyone, I am sorry to just now be blogging about life in the new city, BUT honestly I am not sure where time goes here!  Although things are off to a fantastic start, things definitely are different than America – and time is one of those things.  Life is so much more different, and days just seem to pass by with the blink of an eye. 

…Since arriving last Monday, we have hit the ground running.  We were greeted at the airport by our wonderful team – who has truly welcomed us with wide open arms and loving hearts.  I could not ask to have joined a more welcoming team.  But, in part of our team leaving soon after our arrival, we spent the next couple days doing logistical things to get us acquainted to life here, the start of language school, and being a part of the team.

We also had a US team come in for a few days to “walk” the city.  This was a wonderful way to kick start life here!  There is nothing better than seeing your city for the first time, as you walk through lifting up the people, buildings, and places around you, to the Father.  The places that we were able to see during this time were truly eye opening and made me realize why the Father has called me to this city.

Sunday morning service was another highlight of the week.  Although I have no idea what announcements were made, and what was spoken to us, it was great to be in a building surrounded by like-minded friends!  I just smiled the whole way through, and read the passages in my English version.  But, after the service was most definitely my favorite part!  We were greeted with beautiful smiling faces, who were eager to know us and share life with us for the next two years – AND the best part, most of these friends know how to speak English (although it may be a little limited)!!  Once they asked me if I could dance, I instantly knew we would become best friends for my stay here in the city!  I proceeded by showing them my famous white girl skills. 

….Other than that, we have spent our first week just getting use to life here.  Trying to get phones and a bank account (which we are still working on), visiting our language school, getting train passes (PRAISE!), sightseeing, and so forth.  It has truly been an awesome start and I could not be more thankful to Him for that!        

Here are just a fewwww…okay 40 things, that I have learned during this first week….I hope you enjoy them! J 

1.        Forget the “push to start button.”  I now literally find myself running to jump on a train!

2.       Apparently in order for the train/metro doors to open you have to push a button!  AKA, they won’t just open if you stare at them.

3.       You “pay” to borrow a grocery cart, and then you get your coin back once you return it to the proper place.

4.       There is no sense of space – especially on trains.

5.       Trains are letters and metros are numbers.

6.       Friendliness totally occurs!!  If you are willing to smile and be friendly, it is amazing how people will respond – I have found most will smile and try to speak English back!

7.       Crepes, Boulangeries, and Pastry places are LEGIT. 

8.       The Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the top of each hour every night!  BEAUTIFUL.

9.       Coffee is a whole new level here – expensive, teacup size, and sooo not American style.  (Unless you pay like $10 for Starbucks)

10.   Credit cards only work ½ of the time.

11.   Time does not exist at all.

12.   We wash clothes on a prearranged schedule.

13.   Markets are CRAZY.

14.   Chipotle, McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, IKEA, football, etc….American life is present here!

15.   The parks here are nooooo joke – insanely breathtaking!

16.   The phrase “our daily bread” is seriously taken here.  Bread is a constant at every meal and snack.

17.   PDA does not exist – this takes some getting used to….awkwardness.

18.   Being under 26 is beneficial.

19.   Coins are totally worth something here!

20.   Dinner happens at like 9pm.

21.   Being a grandma is impossible – learning to thrive with little sleep is an adjustment!

22.   When one hears thunder here you should probably run – getting caught in a hail storm makes for funny memories though.

23.   Things are smaller, yet double the price?!  

24.   Pandora doesn’t work. L  Depressing.

25.   Graffiti is everywhereeeee!

26.   Air conditioning does not exist here…hello fresh air!

27.   Dog poo apparently doesn’t need to be picked up off the sidewalks.

28.   “Sortie” means exit….You could walk around for a long time in the metro stations if you don’t know that…..

29.   Navigo passes make life so much better!

30.   The chocolate is amazing.

31.   I miss grills….I need a steak…seriously.

32.   Peanut butter is a prized possession.

33.   Haircuts are INSANELY expensive.  My boss, who is a man, told me I needed a haircut!!  Yep.  But, who pays 50euros for a haircut?!  Nope.  J

34.   Songs are not edited here at all and are played in any store.  AND, American artists are idolized.

35.   The public restrooms, like port-a-johns here, they wash themselves after each use.  Pretty cool. 

36.   The bike lane is for bike riders and not standing tourists.

37.   Prepare for the breaks on the trains/metros….worse than any chalkboard scratch everrr and it is never ending.

38.   People are free to completely be themselves here…it is amazing to see the different culture and people groups.

39.   Movies are played in different languages!  YES.

40.   ...LIFE IS FABULOUS!