Ahhh Paris...

Now you will have to excuse my English for this entry because I have only been speaking french for the last two weeks. Since my return I have been scrambling for almost every English word in the dictionary and although you can't really hear it, my French accent is stronger than ever. I also spent the first few days after my arrival fighting against the 6 hour Jet Lag. So Today, I finally found the physical and creative strength to start writing you all about my fabulous Parisian adventures.

I am back from my two week vacation from the city of love and romance. Seeing all of these beautiful things in such a short period of time has been very overwhelming. After visiting so many castles and museums I have been completely drenched in France's incredible history. Many people were warning us that maybe two weeks in Paris was too long, but I don't think it would have been possible to see all the things I have seen and enjoy the city like I have in less than two weeks. In fact, I wish we would have stayed longer.

I went to Paris with my mother and my younger brother. My mother offered me and my brother this trip as a graduation gift. I guess you can agree that we are quite spoiled, but I also have to say that we probably and definitely deserved it. The family has experienced a lot of ups and downs in the last couple of months so it was nice to get away from everything for two weeks. However, so many times I wished that I had my friends there with me to see all of this wonder. In fact there was this one night when we were having a pic-nic on Les Champs de Mars, the huge lawn space in front of the Eiffel Tower. We had dinner there one night and we were surrounded by groups of friends that also brought their food and copious amount of wine (because you see, you can drink in public spaces in France.) It was like a giant garden party by the most beautiful monument of the world. It was so crowded and all you could hear was the loud humming sound of friends having a good time. Sure it was nice to be with my family, we had brought a nice assortment of Lebanese dishes and 2 bottles of wine, but I also wished that one day I could do the same with my friends. That is what they do in France, they hardly spend any time at home alone and they are always out gallivanting with their friends enjoying themselves. We had taken a cruise on the Seine River one night, and we could see all of these French people dancing La Salsa and the Meringue on random quays along the river surrounded by friends eating and passing a bottle of wine. French people seem so carefree; nothing seems to matter to them other than being in good company and to have a good time no matter what. Life does not seem so complicated there.

Love does not seem so complicated there either. Everywhere you look couples are holding hands and kissing. These people do not hide their love for each other, even if they are in public spaces. For us here, this could make people feel awkward and uncomfortable, but for the French, Love conquers all and they do not care about what others think! There is nothing better than to be in love! Also they don't seem to make relationships seem so difficult. There was a legitimate sign that was put up in one of the subways stations that said, ''To be happy is to be in love.'' You know all of the questions you ask yourself when u start a relationship? ''Am I coming on too strong? Should I be worried if he doesn't call me? How long should I wait before I tell him that I love him?'' Over there, they go with the flow; there are no games and no limits. Love takes its course as freely and as normally as it should. Nothing gets in the way of it. Life can be difficult, but love does not have to be. If things in your life are not going as smoothly as it should, there is always this love that you can fall back on. Because let's face it, being in love is probably the best feeling in the world, so why spoil it?

I have a lot more to say about my stay in Paris. So please come back for my next entry.
Je vous aime!
a la prochaine,
e.