This document is a collection of photos, captions, and journal entries from a student's time studying abroad in Paris, France. It describes visiting many famous Parisian landmarks like Notre Dame, the Louvre, Versailles. It discusses experiences taking classes, singing in choir to practice French, and spending time with friends. The student reflects on feeling homesick but also enjoying exploring the city and experiencing French culture.

1. From
Backpacker
To
Student
-France-

3. View from my window

4. Hôtel des Invalides

5. ISA Group
Walking Tour
Notre Dame

6. La Sorbonne
Paris’ most famous university founded in 1253
as a college for 16 poor theology students.

7. The Panthéon
Font at the Jardin du Luxembourg
(lots of memories here)

8. ISA Group
@
La Catho
I’m wearing my favorite (and
only) Moroccan shirt in this
picture.
An African student asked me
if I was from Africa when he
saw me wearing it.

9. Versailles

11. The gardens are beautiful!
This font plays music sometimes.

17. By Dalí
Pain: Bread in French & what we had for breakfast @ La Maison;
My emotional state as an isolated American ex-patriot
At some point in class, Thomas said he hated asking for
bread in French because he hated asking for pain.

18. Tour Eiffel

20. 4
La Catho

23. Panthéon

28. Musée du
Louvre

30. Egyptian Gallery
La Jaconde
In this picture, I’m
wearing the velveteen
dress that so many
French people liked.

32. Choir Girl’s Memories: I love to sing! Church choirs have been my medium since childhood. Since I could not
converse well in French, I decided to learn to sing in French as the next best thing.
Though I did not have real friends in choir, I did feel a sense of inclusion when choir members would snag me in the
school courtyard to call me to practice. Choir also helped me feel involved in school.

34. Bastille Day
Most romantic fireworks!

35. Mass @
Notre Dame

37. The other reason I wanted to travel Europe was to catch 17 juillet 2001: Coffee with Thomas/Stephan
up to my godmother’s spirit there. Before she passed on
in 1999, she always talked about & remembered France &
Italy as if she had just been there.

38. Awesome concert!!! I love Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons!
Kathia says Napoleon was really self-centered.

39. Centre Pompidou
Hated by French because it looks inside out
Kathia Tours
I would have never left the dorms if Kathia
had not coaxed me out the door to show me
the sites.
Ste. Usule-de-la-Sorbonne
Burial site of Cardinal Richelieu
Pont Neuf by night @ the Seine
One evening we went out for an authentic
French dinner with pate & wine. I bought a
special outfit just for the occasion. After
dinner, I was afraid of falling into the river
due to the dizziness.

40. Chartres

45. Stonehenge
@ Chartres
The real Stonehenge in England. Since I could not go to the real Stonehenge due to
foot-and-mouth disease, I decided to pose with this
petite version in Chartres.

46. Fabienne
Desmon’s
Class

47. My Mexican priest friends that studied in Spain.
(Roberto, Emmanuel, Ulises)
An acquaintance;
friend of the Mexican
priests.
Fabienne & I (wearing my fancy French outfit)
on the last day of class.

50. I found a used copy
@ a good price.
Oh, well, a C ain’t bad.
Last Orders of
Business

51. Farewell
Mass

52. I actually walked all of
this on my last day.
Talk about a 1-day tour!

53. Conceived by St. Louis as a monumental reliquary,
Ste. Chapelle features a unique set of 15 high
stained glass windows.
The upper chapel, view of the chancel
The lower chapel, interior view

57. My picture is more authentic than the postcard
because it shows the dumpsters.

58. My beloved French broach.

59. The FedEx van really caught my
attention. Wow! I did not know they were
international.
Place de la Concorde seen in the
distance on rue Royale from La
Madeleine Church

62. It was amazing walking through the buildings!!!

63. The Pasteur Crypt

64. Memories from La Maison
Kathia, my French friend from the border between Courtyard at La Maison. Site of a summer gathering hosted
France & Germany. She showed me lots of cool by the Sisters. I was eying the cake when I was told not to
places in Paris. This is her common “thinking eat it because it was a “gato.” After they cut it & gave me a
expression” while brainstorming mischievous piece, I was leery of eating it, thinking they might have put
exploits. “cat” in it. I later understood that it was a “cadeaux” - a “gift.”

65. Kathia gave me this souvenir.

71. A Rundown of My Ins & Outs
It felt sort of like traveling
through a revolving door -
but at full speed.
It was quite tiring! And the
experience of a lifetime …

72. By far, the most beautiful & expensive journal I
have ever owned. It was my most loyal companion
throughout my journey.
I ♥ Paris
Back home in San Antonio Viva Paris