To the FIAP!

The past few days have been pretty fun. I finally had a chance to visit the Musée d’Orsay which I have heard so many great things about. I saw Waterlilies, Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait and a degrading table (pictured)! From there we walked along the quai past the Hôtel des Invalides to the Eiffel Tower. It’s always so amazing to see the tower up close.

After the short boat cruise along the Seine (quite informational), we tackled the Paris Metro. It’s actually not too different from the NYC Metro, except that all the stops are names of old French people. The underground stations are interesting too. Check out the design on this subway!

On Monday (Jan 11) I visited Colette, the most magnificent boutique in the world! I’d been waiting to go back ever since my first visit to Paris 5 years ago. In the afternoon I opened an HSBC account… no more ATM fees!

And, today. The first day of orientation for NYU in Paris! When I was at lunch with some of the orientation leaders in the dining hall of the FIAP, my friend Dave showed up! I didn’t know he was studying in Paris this semester, so that was nice. I also had a chance to see some other friends again. Emily, Lindsay, and a few others I’d met at the French Consulate in New York. We just had our first orientation meeting as a group and it seems like they are a ton of fun people studying in Paris this semester. I wonder which ones I’ll get to know better. I’d also really like to know where I’ll be living for the semester, but I’ll find out tomorrow.

I got my French phone today! It’s a Nokia 2630, very nice stuff.