I'm in Paris

The Lonely Forest |MTV Music

I'd like to start with this video. It's of The Lonely Forest, one of my favorite local bands from Anacortes, WA (represent!). Basically this video is quintessential Anacortes -- like there is no better way to visually describe it. And now it's on MTV which is weird... but anyways.... watching that today made me feel a million miles away from something that was so familiar to me for 18 years....

but now I'M IN PARIS! Yes it's true. I'm sitting here in an incredibly spacious apartment located in the 15th arrondissement. It's a half hour walk to the Eiffel Tower (which I intend on doing today). I have two cats named Madam Ouchka and Monssieur Picasso. I'm really happy about this! My host family is lovely : Mom (.... don't actually know her name?), sister Alice who is 14 and very hip, and Michelle (a student from UC Santa Cruz studying here for the semester. We're the same age and I look forward to having someone my own age). There are also two older siblings (21 and 24) that don't live at home but are coming over this weekend. It's interesting for me living in a house full of women - I miss my brother!

The apartment is very airy and bright and there is a lot of art and books around. And I have a little terrace attached to my room AND a tv covered in Heineken labels. This is all rather luxurious for me.

Well I'm going to get started with my day - which will include buying a map, figuring out the metro, and walking walking walking exploring avec mes amis.

Love, Clara