8.28.2011

rue d'aboukir.




This is where I live.  It's small and nothing fancy, but it's home for the next 4 months.  We're trying really hard to not be too messy, but it's hard when you have lots of things and very little storage space!

I was able to spend Saturday morning and afternoon in the George Pompidou Centre, in Paris.  It's a modern art museum and library and movie theatre and cafe and just a really cool building.  I've been before, but they had lots of new art and installations to explore.  The best part?  With my EU student visa, I got in for free!





The Pompidou also offers a wonderful panorama view of the city :)

8.24.2011

bones & catacombs.

My schedule is awesome this semester.  Which mean I only have class Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Specially designed so we can enjoy Europe and the city of Paris.

Wednesday is the day to enjoy the city.  So my roommate and I headed down (literally!) to the catacombs of Paris.  20 meters below street level, the catacombs are over 2 kilometers of quarry-turned-graveyard from the 18th century.  It was a little creepy, but really cool too.



After we got back, it was time to get started on the first assignment of the semester.  Fall semester is always a struggle to get into the grove of actually accomplish homework, so it took a little motivation for me to get moving.  But I'm so glad I did.  I walked along the Seine to the Place des Invalides and back up through the Tuilerie Gardens.  It was a perfect night to walk, sit, and enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the world.


8.22.2011

it's not that different.

Europe.  Just the sound of it can make plenty of hopeless romantic teenage girls squeal.  But I've been here five days now and I can't help but think, it's not that different.

Yes, everyone around me is speaking french.  The streets are all brick.  My screen-less windows are always open and I'm not covered in bug bites.  But I look up in the sky and see the same moon.  My God hasn't changed.  "Conceptual" studio work still makes me anxious.  And my best friends are just a skype call away.  Even though I'm thousands of miles from home I'm realizing that it's not all that different from home.  Each place has it's jaw dropping sites.  It's all about perspective.


I eat a lot of the same foods I do at home.  Except for baguette.  I'm such a sucker for an .80 Euro fresh baguette when I can smell it a block away!


On Saturday night a group of us climbed the stairs up to the second level of the Eiffel Tower, something I've never done before.  It was fun, getting to be inside of the structure.  A really cool view of everything.


Back in front of Notre Dame, 6 years later.  It's crazy to think of how much has changed since then, yet how much is the same.  For example, I brought that same raincoat :)


It's a beautiful place, my friends.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  -Matthew 6:19-22



8.18.2011

this first day: paris

Oh my goodness.  I'm here.  I'm alive.  I'm in my own apartment.  I have a place to sleep tonight.

A few hours ago, I didn't think I'd be able to say those words... well, I figured I'd probably be alive, but the rest was up in the air.

All of my plane traveling went well.  Everything was on time and fairly smooth.  Flying with Aer Lingus was fun because I wasn't the only pale freckly one on the plane :)

The trouble came when I tried to call the Frederic from the apartment agency to check me into my apartment.  I got a calling card before leaving home, so I took it to the pay phone and tried my luck.  It didn't go through.  Every combination of numbers I tried (country code, no country code, city code, no city code, etc) just gave me a message saying the number wasn't valid or had been disconnected.  I began to panic.

I stayed at the airport for a while, trying again and again and thinking about what to do next.  Eventually I gave up and decided to jump on the train.  The ride wasn't that long and soon enough I was on the street, searching for an internet cafe.  My plan was to go online and find another number in hopes that I could contact Frederic before he went home for the day.

The first internet cafe I came to was down a flight of stairs.  The second was up one.  So eventually I sucked it up and carried my 70+ lbs of luggage down the stairs.  And paid way too much to get on the internet for 30 minutes.  After wasting 5 minutes simply trying to type on the strange European keyboard, I was logged on to Gmail.  Thank God for Gmail.  I was able to talk with my roommate who is still at home.  And she was able to talk with Frederic.

I left the cafe still not knowing what I was doing or where I would be sleeping that night.  I headed to the apartment, hoping Frederic would come back and meet me.  Praying that I hadn't missed him again.  Actually I was praying for an angel.  Someone, something to save me from the mess I was in.

I stood outside the door to the apartment for 10 minutes and decided I would stay until 6:00pm, 20 more minutes.  Then I would move on to Plan B.  I stood waiting, praying, trusting that God was at work.  I have him those 20 minutes, simply saying, 'there's nothing else I can do in the situation.  it's up to you.'

With over 10 minutes to spare, Frederic came.  Glory to God.

I feel a little bit overdramatic, and I apologize for such a long post, but after only 3 hours of sleep on a plane, it felt like my world was ending.  So thanks to the reassurance that my God loves me and is always with me, and this amazing view from my apartment window:


I'm safe, happy, blessed beyond belief and home for the next four months.

Dieu est bon, tout le temps.

8.17.2011

heading out.

Today's the day and I'm finally headed to Paris!  I'm flying out of Grand Rapids this afternoon and I'll arrive in Paris late tomorrow morning.  My bags are packed, heavy and I'm ready to go.  I'm nervous but also excited.  I know it's going to be an exciting semester and I'm going to learn so much!

Thanks again to those who supported me through my adventures with eMi this summer.  I'm going to continue to use this bog as I spend the next four months exploring Paris and surrounding countries, so feel free to continue along on the journey with me!  If you're just joining me you can always subscribe by email over there on the right side of the screen.

This past weekend I got to spend time with good friends out in Southern California and celebrate the wedding of Justin and Jessica Van Eaton.  Here's a few photos from the beautiful day!







8.09.2011

home in holland.

I'm home in Holland, MI for a few days!  God is good.  My car got me home safe and I think it likes being home because things seem to be working better.  Being home is pretty nice and relaxing.  The weather is cooler and I get to play with my dog, Lucy :)

My mentor, Kate, and me

The last week in the office was great.  Carissa came to visit!  Carissa is my grand-big sister in Alpha Sigma Alpha and graduated from IIT in 2009.  Since then she's been interning and working in the eMi UK office. She came to Colorado for the eMi World Staff Conference and came a few days early to hang out.  So Hannah, Carissa and I were reunited :)

Carissa, Hannah and me

I'm already missing things at eMi.  But I'm off for more adventures soon.  On Thursday, I'm heading out to Southern California to be in my friend's wedding!  I can't wait, especially because two of my close friends from school will be there as well :)  And I'm planning on taking some photos as well which will be fun.

8.05.2011

heading home!

An awkward eMi intern "family photo"
Tomorrow morning, I'm heading home.  After 11 awesome weeks in Colorado, it's time to say goodbye.  I'll definitely miss all of the people I got to spend time with this summer and of course the beautiful mountains.

Please pray for me tomorrow as I start my 2 day journey home.  Pray for rest and peace, as well as good weather and no car troubles!

I'm so excited to be back in Michigan for a couple of days of seeing my family and hopefully catching up with some friends!