Day 1: Arrival

Well I made it to Paris. My first flight was pretty awful, it left at 6:50pm California time and got to London at got in at 5am California time (1pm London time). I think I slept an hour total, I was very uncomfortable and too excited to sleep. I did watch many movies and sit there with my sleep mask on for a while though. The best thing about the flight was when we flew over Greenland and I looked out my window and saw all these glaciers and icebergs, it was really cool. My second flight was better than the first, and I got so excited when we started our descent into Paris and I could see the Iffle Tower. Somehow I didn't have to go through customs when I got to Paris (which was really nice) and so it was just a quick hop out to where my host family was waiting for me with a sign so they were easy to find. My host family consists of a husband who is 45 and works in a bank, a wife who is 38 and stays at home, a 16 year old son who goes to boarding school during the week but is home on the weekends, a almost 15 year old daughter, a 11 1/2 year old son, and a 1 year old son (who took his first steps today!). They are all very very nice, not at all how I expected. They picked me up from the airport (which they definatly didn't have to do), let me stay here a day early (technically I am not supposed to get here until tomorrow), and are very nice and considerate of all of my possible needs. They are Catholic and obviously very religious so I will probably end up going to church with them once or twice which will be an interesting and difference experience. They have a beautiful (but kinda small) flat that is a 10 min walk from l'arc de triomphe. I have my own room which is tiny, it is just a little bit bigger than my closet at home, but it is nice and quaint, and supprisingly all of my stuff fits in it with lots of room to spair. I think I might have actually packed exactly what I need and not overpacked for once. The language barrier is hard, more for me speaking than for understanding them because sometimes I just don't have the vocabulary to say exactly what I want, but I am bumbling along. I am happy that I can understand almost all of what they are staying, and they all speak english too some degree and the kids are very eager to practice with me. I must say I really am enjoying living in the french language because I like it so much! All though I am sure it will get annoying at some point. Well I am exausted after my sleepless night last night and feel like going to bed.....A bientot!