My feet are tired and the bug bites are no joke
Did you know Louis IX built an entire chapel (Sainte Chapelle) simply to house the crown of thorns, which today aren't even housed there? Everywhere you walk their is history and magic in Paris, you just happen upon it.
I have started to find my way through this phase of life. I had a lovely pain au chocolate with a friend on her balcony and we connected over mornings being hard, missing distanced love ones, and wanting to figure out how to keep our joy in a stern Paris. This conversation took place at my two weeks in Paris mark, and I feel like it helped me turn things around. She reminded me of things I had forgotten about myself - I used to read affirmations to start my day positively (so why not do that in Paris?!), mornings are my most productive time (so why not create a routine that sets me up for success ie: writing my blog, doing my Bible reading, planning my activities for the day, cleaning my place). I have also started going live on Instagram to externally process and hopefully help others. Don't be fooled, I still struggle, but I actually can see myself enjoying the ride.
My Morning Routine in Paris:
Step One: grab toilet paper, slide on flip flops, go pee
Step Two: Put shades up, Open Chambre de Bonne windows and say Good morning to Paris
Step Three: Make a fizz stick (I will run out before I can get more and that will be a sad day)
Step Four: STRETCH (my body has been against me recently so I have added this to my routine. All the walking and playing has taken its toll - will I get used to it? Time will tell. It is also a moment to center myself. I listen to my Bible reading of the day. Its breathing in Jesus and out the body pain lol)
Step Five: Get dressed and Read my Affirmations
But of course there is room for this to flow differently some mornings, I am presently in between step four and five writing this post. It is about listening to your mind and body and doing what it needs.
So what I have I been up to in Paris?
SO MUCH and it has not even been a full month.
Museé d'Orsay was BEAUTIFUL. It has different kinds of art and sculpture and is not an intimidating museum to tackle. The building itself is an old train station which was super cool to walk around. My favorite paintings where Monet's. I kept trying to love something else, but I would look and see it was also painted by him. Impressionism is one of the ways France became a dream place to visit. There are two of this one woman on a hill holding a parasol and the paintings are just her from different angles and I adore them. She looks content and simple. Paintings and art are just so cool because they can express so much emotion and story, yet every person who looks at them is going to feel something different.
GO TO MONTMARTRE. This is the hill and neighborhood where Sacre Coeur sits. Walking the streets and seeing the view and cafés, I took a breathe and said "This is what I thought Paris looked like". Be prepared to walk up sooo many stairs and hills, but the view is WORTH it. And there are many side streets with instagram worthy moments.
I have realized that everything in Paris is a lot closer together than you think it is. Yes it may take 40mins on the metro to get to the heart of Paris from my place, but you start walking and suddenly happen upon another important or famous part of the city. Hence why I have photos outside the Louvre but haven't been inside yet (don't worry I will).
The bugs here are NO JOKE. I thought usa mosquito bites itched, but the bites here are relentless. I have had some hot nights and have kept my windows open as long as possible but that has had to stop because I cannot take these little bites. Thankfully I think we are headed into true fall now.
My host family is half Italian and every Sunday night is homemade pizza and guests night, and I am always invited. This past week I went and it was so refreshing. I hung out with my host parents and the couple they invited over. We ate our own pizza and drank a lot of champagne. I finally started to feel like this experience was going to work. Seeing my host parents in their own environment, laughing, eating and drinking, not stressed from work or worrying about the kids. I chose this family because they wanted me to be apart of it, they are not just a job. Which is something I had to remind myself. Everybody au pairs for a different reason and everyone's experience looks different. I took a breathe and remembered that I DO like kids so in the afternoon when I am with my host kids it isn't just a job I have to go to but a chance to pour into these littles and let them pour into me. *I also realized I am old(er) and I don't have to be their entertainment or always participate in everything, I can just be around and engage when they ask or when I feel like it. Being present can be enough.
I could ramble and write more but alas I need to get dressed so I can go meet some Au Pairs at Shakespeare and Co and take touristy artsy photos inside the famous book shop.
Thank you for the love and support and prayers. For the first time since I've been here, I feel like I am going to make it through this year and probably even enjoy it and miss it when its over.
~Be you
Rachel
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