Totally Frenched Out

From the blogger formerly known as Samdebretagne

Thursday, May 28, 2009

I woke up this morning and took my time getting up, enjoying the feeling of sleeping in my own bed for more than a few nights at a time. As I lay there, I started thinking about all the good things planned for this summer. And then it hit me - today marks one full year that I've been in Paris.

On May 28, 2008, I arrived at the Gare de Montparnasse, trying to figure out how the hell I was going to get to my new (and supposedly temporary) lodgings. The mom had talked about taking a bus - but what did I know about taking a bus in Paris? Little did I know that the trajet would soon become so familiar that I would be able to do it blindfolded and walking backwards.

But up until that point, I'd just been going and going and going. Trying to keep moving so that I wouldn't break down. But once I finally got here and was able to breath and set my bags down for more than a day, I was suddenly hit with panic. I thought to myself "What are you doing here? You've never lived on your own before. You don't know really anyone in Paris besides Kendra - everyone else is just from the internet. And besides, you don't even like France". I felt so alone, thinking about how my whole life had done a 180 in just a matter of a few weeks. Still not believing that I'd gone from living in a lovely stone gîte with all my nice stuff to a tiny chambre de bonne with practically nothing. And I cried myself to sleep that night, fearful that I'd made the wrong decision.

But the next morning, I woke up, opened the curtains and saw this:
And I said to myself "Suck it up, there are worse places in the world to pick up the pieces and mend a broken heart." Sure there were a few rough times, namely in January when I wasn't working much and the weather was terrible. But I have to say that Paris has been good to me. I feel like myself again, and am no longer the shell of a person that I was in Bretagne. I've made a life for myself here. And I'm oh-so-very happy I stuck it out and that I've been able to get to know another side of France. On my own terms.

Tonight is girls' night out, so I will toast to that - and to all the lovely ladies I've met in the past year!

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17 Comments:

Blogger Anne said...

Good for you. Now you know you can do anything.

May 28, 2009 at 11:49 AM  
Blogger Emily said...

Happy Paris Anniversary!!! I'm so glad things have gone so well for you here the past year and I'm excited to see everyone tonight! bisousssss

May 28, 2009 at 1:16 PM  
Blogger Penny said...

Happy Anniversary! I'm glad its been a good year for you :)

May 28, 2009 at 3:29 PM  
Blogger Starman said...

Bon anniversaire! You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. You have come a long, long way.

May 28, 2009 at 8:49 PM  
Blogger Katie said...

It sounds like you've come a long way. I'm sure at first it was very difficult to live in a new place. You sound very happy now! It takes courage to start a new life on your own but you've done a great job. I hope that one day I'll be able to get to Paris as well!

May 28, 2009 at 9:07 PM  
Blogger Sally said...

Happy one year anniversary! Today is my birthday so a special day for both of us :-)
Good luck for your second year in Paris!

May 28, 2009 at 11:22 PM  
Blogger Mallory said...

Comparing your bretagne entries and your paris entries, there are a lot more positive posts now that you're in paris. or maybe you just don't have the time or the need to complain about the crappy side of france. i'm sure some of the same difficulties are still present but it seems that they don't bother you as much anymore.

all i'm saying is. you seem a lot more happy now, and it's awesome to read about your adventures and your new relationship..with paris!

May 29, 2009 at 8:05 AM  
Blogger Pierre said...

« and to all the lovely ladies I've met in the past year! »

Thank you *so much* for all the lovely *guys* you've met in the past year! :P

What you've done initially was a really tough decision, jumping without a net, but you've done pretty good so far!

Keep having a good time in Paris!

May 29, 2009 at 9:58 AM  
Blogger Ksam said...

Happy Birthday Sally!

And Pierre, besides everyone's husbands, you, Steve & Frog are probably the only men I've met here. But you are all certainly *lovely* as well. ;)

May 29, 2009 at 10:23 AM  
Blogger Pierre said...

Ahhh, j'aime mieux ça !

If I'm the only hetero you've met here, it's high time for you to turn your nightclubber mode on! No?

May 29, 2009 at 10:26 AM  
Blogger Veronica said...

well, congratulations! It must have been hard, and you have done really well in this short time.

May 29, 2009 at 12:52 PM  
Blogger Quantumhollapena said...

Way to go Sam!!! I remember when you, Kaitlyn and I all got the relationship-altering, ultimately life-changing news from our respective "exes" over a year ago! We all thought men were trash and wanted to drink the weight of our woes away...

Never would I have thought it would all lead where I am now, how I've grown and how truly thankful I am that it all happened the way it did.

Cheers to you Sam, to us, and to everyone who becomes stronger and better because they can pick themselves up when they fall. ^_^

May 30, 2009 at 7:22 AM  
Blogger julia said...

Happy New Life Anniversary!
I'll remember your words today as I battle the bad guys in a glass and steel cage. Yes, there ARE worse places to be right now

May 31, 2009 at 7:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you're a terrific girl, and the world is your oyster. how you gonna keep em down on the farm now?
xxx

May 31, 2009 at 2:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amazing what one year can do. Congratulations on your bravado, and for feeling like you've found yourself- you have a life so many people would love to have!

June 1, 2009 at 12:16 AM  
Blogger A Tank said...

glad to hear all is well :)

you've definitely come a long way!

June 1, 2009 at 12:50 AM  
Blogger Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

learning to appreciate France on its own merits should be an adventure all its own. bon courage for the coming year ...

June 1, 2009 at 3:39 PM  

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