Week 3 in Paris - So Much to Do, So Little Time

I’m having the time of my life in Paris. Time is moving so quickly over here with so much to do and see in such a short period of time. I cannot believe that we’ve already finished Week 3 and will be heading home in 2 weeks!

We had pretty good weather this week. Some days were a bit cloudy and overcast, but it was decent weather overall. So many things happened this week, but here are the highlights:

On Monday the 14th of July, the people of France celebrated Bastille Day with fireworks and parties. Popularly known as le 14 juillet (le ka-torze jui-yay), the day commemorates July 14 in 1789 when French revolutionaries took control of the royal fortress of the Bastille to end being ruled by a monarchy in favor of a democracy. The battle cry of "liberté-égalité-fraternité" (liberty, equality, and brotherhood) became the national motto of France, symbolizing freedom and unity.

The weekly outing of the Sign Language Studies in Paris Global Seminar was the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. Known simply as “musée de la chasse” to locals, this museum of hunting and nature portrays the (often complex) relationship between humans and non-human animals over the years. It’s an interesting museum with some animals portrayed whimsically. A taxidermist’s happy place for sure!

Next up on the museum list for the week for me was Musée d’Orsay— "d’Orsay" for short. It’s  probably my favorite museum in Paris so far and is renowned for its impressionist and post-impressionist art. Looking at paintings and sculptures from all the different styles of art from different periods by world-renowned painters and sculptors was surreal. Seeing Vincent Van Gogh’s post-impressionist painting “Starry Night” (below) meant so much to me because I’ve always wanted to see the real deal from the time I was very young since I have a picture of it in my room.

The detail on Rodin’s “Gates of Hell” (above) is absolutely insane! 

Paris cityscape through the famous clock at the d’Orsay museum.

My next stop was Notre-Dame, which was an achievement since it’s almost impossible to get tickets/reservations (which are free). As a stained glass fanatic, the way the light shines through the vivid panels blew me away. It gives the cathedral an ethereal vibe. I absolutely loved everything about the cathedral—the architecture, the ambiance, the history, the works of art—everything!  

Before ending this week’s blog post, here’s a pic from my 19th birthday celebration last week at Pachamama—the super famous six-story nightclub. With the DJ playing electronic and house music, I had an absolute blast!!! 

Week #3’s Most Surprising (?) Observation: When you enter a store, especially a small one where the person behind the counter can see you, it is customary to greet with a “bonjour” or “bonsoir” depending on the time of day. Parisian culture is heavy on etiquette and good manners that show respect. Something to keep in mind the next time I go to a 7-Eleven 😊

That’s it for this week! À la prochaine!