Today Larisa left to visit a pal in Luxembourg for a couple days so it is back to solo livin' for me. We have had some fun adventures in only a few short days. Arc de Triomphe, concert at Notre Dame and of course a little shopping. We will resume adventure-finding when she returns to Paris on Saturday.
After being here for three weeks, I am feeling very comfortable here. My language skills are improving even after this short time and I am more confident either engaging in conversation or telling someone to speak more slowly (which is of course the point where they start speaking to me in English).
There are other subtle things that make me feel at home like the bakery guy who now says "see you tomorrow" when I leave or the butcher who smiles and likes to make me say things in proper French. I've mastered the train system and can get anyplace with ease. I'm also getting lost when walking much less often. Making Paris feel like home was a goal of this "vacation plus" and it's been met. I have thought so many times about what it would be like to live here and now I have at least an idealized idea.
Perhaps this can be a yearly trip so I maintain this feeling of comfort and connection to this city. Obviously, I won't be able to spend a month here again any time soon but maybe a week or two to get caught up on all things French? There are so many places I've yet to see so don't know if this will happen but for now I can think of both Seattle and Paris as home.
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