First day is always the hardest...

*my first email update to the close suckers i call FRIENDS. muhahaha.

"Hi all!
I have safely arrived in Paris along with the rest of my luggage and my sanity. The metro was a nightmare dragging my luggage up and down long flights of stairs because there was no escalator. I will definitely take a taxi on the way back to the airport when i leave. However, it was quite the experience i must say hahaha.
I think I have learned more French in the last day than ever before. Even if its just little phrases. The French men dress very well. Boot cut jeans with Black blazers and black or brown leather boots or pointy shoes? The older men look very proper. The women don't all dress fabulously but most of them do have a better fashion sense than us Americans. haha. I hope I fit in, but I fear my height + race makes me stand out. We live on the outside of the center of paris so these folks aren't quite use to tourists and asians. Although I have seen many asians at the airport. An asian old man tried to make me go with him to meet his nephew who was grinning at me in a suit from far away. I told him no. He said "you. chinese." I said "sorry" and ran. what a scary and awkward experience. I never knew being Chinese = being hussled in the airport. (shit like this only happens to me...what can you do?)

My dorm is quite lovely. It's bare with nothing on the walls and starch white sheets. but the bed is surprisingly comfortable and soft and the linens are nice. There's no air conditioning here but the window provides a nice breeze and VIEW. The street is busy with older folks taking a stroll on a lovely afternoon (it's 2pm here. we are 7 hours ahead of you). There are some homeless lying on the ground and I have yet to meet a gypsy. But I doubt that will be for long as they are plenty around Paris I hear.
I live on the 4th floor of Residence Vivaldi at 102 Rue de Reuilly. It's strange that this will be my home for the next 5 weeks but I'm determined to push aside my homesick feeling (which as much as I hate it, is already starting to root in the back of my mind and the bottom of my heart) and live an adventurous life here in the city of lights.

I have already done grocery shopping and some things to note:
- milk comes in strange bottles and cartons and sits on a regular shelf as opposed to the refrigerated section.
- there's such things as 50 cent and 2 dollar coins and change usually occurs in coins. (they are big on this)
- no flip-flops haha i knew that
- men's boxer briefs cost 18 euros per 2. ( i know this b/c the guy who came with us lost one of his luggage and had to purchase barney-colored boxer briefs)
- the first thing i saw when i walked into the store is a refrigerator size container full of real live bees. YUP, FRESH HONEY AVAILABLE FOR SALE!

I will note more as my day go on but right now I'm rather sleepy and will take a quick nap as we are planning on exploring Paris later today and maybe tonight.

I love you all dearly and hope you guys are having a great time in the U.S.
most of you are probably sleepign at this moment. :)
I miss you all!

Joy"