Back to School

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

My first full week in Paris was a whirlwind. It was very busy and full of fun, exciting sights, delicious food and pastries, cheap wine and jet lag. The nine hour time difference has taken its toll but I will hopefully be into the normal schedule this coming week. I have so much to tell you all about but I am going to start with the first week of being a student again! 


My hand is legit sore from taking 4 hours of notes over 2 days. If that isn't pathetic, I don't know. I have obviously been sitting at a computer screen since college and not with pen and paper. We have an ever changing schedule that consists of mainly pastry lab class (working in the kitchen). We also have bakery class (my first one tomorrow!), French lessons, French history/geography, art class (please help me!!!!),  and theory lessons. Theory lessons is where I exercise my out of shape hand.


The first two days were an orientation and then on Thursday and Friday we had our first pastry theory and lab classes. It was a blast! Once we all got over how ridiculous we may or may not look in our little uniforms we proceeded to make tartes aux pommes (apple tarts) and flan Parisian. Things are harder then our Chef makes them look because he doesn't even blink and all the sudden he has a beautifully made tart and then looks at us "any questions?" like we completely followed every movement he just made without fail. 


Our chef is SO cute though. He is one of those people who are funny just by being themselves. He is entertaining and an expert in French pastry. My classmates are awesome as well. They are from ALL over the world: Australia, Taiwan, India, Germany, Poland, China, USA, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa...it is pretty amazing!


It is going to be an awesome and intense five months and then probably even more intense when we get into our internships in the summer. I am just trying to take it a day at a time. I am really happy I made this decision to come here. I am feeling pretty distant from people at home but having my Mom here is definitely helping ward off the full blown homesickness but I just remember that I am living my dream right now! It is going to be 2013 before I know it so I am trying to soak everything about Parisian life up because it might be the most incredible place in the world!!