Paris, c'est pour la vie!

So I was gonna blog today and then I got to tired and then I started emailing people and realized how relaxing it was to type (weird) so I decided to blog after all.

I had a blast today all by myself with my music, and camera walking around Paris today!

First things first, I strongly advise you women against wearing any type of heels, even if they are the shorter/comfortable kind, if you are going any place that you might possibly get lost in.

That being said, I can continue on. Alright so a couple days ago I clarified on facebook that I was not getting deported. A lot of people assume that since I had issues with the law and I'm leaving the country, it automatically means that I am getting deported.

Hmmm...that's not quite how it works. For those of you who have kept up with my journey, I'm assuming you know how my situation played out. For those of you that are little blurry on the details,  well basically, I didn't get deported, I was accorded "Voluntary Departure" which basically means that I was asked to leave but I can come back as long as I have a valid Visa.
When people are deported, they are usually taken to jail first, and then once they are "kicked" out of the country, they are never allowed back. In some cases, they can come back after a certain period of time. None of that happened to me by the grace of God.

All of this to say that when granted the Voluntary Departure, I was given a document that I had to bring to the US Embassy in Paris to show that I had indeed departed the U.S territory and arrived where I told the government I would arrive.
So this morning, I had to drag my booty out of bed at 5am in order to take the Metro/RER to Paris. There's usually a really long line in front of the Embassy for visa requests(so many people wanna go there :p) so it's always smart to get there even before it opens in order to get a spot.

One of the girls I live with works as an English teacher in Paris, so I was able to ride a metro with her half of the way and then I was on my own for the rest of the day. YIKES.
I got to the Embassy and was #4 line. Which you're probably thinking...Great job!!! That's amazing! Well that's what I thought until I was told that for the document I had, I needed to come back two hours later..... 0__o
I was super grateful though because the guards were extremely friendly towards me. Not in a creepy way. Just genuinely felt bad for me and were simply nice. It always helps to have a smile on your face. One smile can go a long ways!

So I figure...why not start my rediscovering (since it wasn't my first time there) Paris now, at 7:40am (between walking to the metro station, taking a metro, getting a connecting train, and actually finding the embassy...i got there 1h30 after originally leaving the Duplex I live in).
So I asked around and found a little French Boulangerie (pastry shop/Cafe) and my server was super comical and sweet towards me. Then I got a little laughter with him and a couple that walked in to get baguettes and espressos. It was just a good environment to be in. Cheerful. Jolly. Relaxing. Etc....

It was my first time ordering anything here in France in over 5 years. So I didn't know what to ask for. Didn't know whether to leave a tip or not. Didn't know anything really. Which is so hard for me, because a lot of times I wonder if people think I'm an idiot when I ask such obvious questions, since my French is  pretty good. Most people simply assume I've always lived here and just have a "weird" (American---no offense to Americans, since I still love your style) sense of style. Same with when I first moved to the US. I didn't have any type of accent yet everything was so foreign to me and I asked many questions or would break many unwritten rules that I didn't know about, and people just viewed me as a "socially off" human being. I'm not complaining about being bilingual, I'm just saying it's got its cons to.

Well if I've learned something today is that, sometimes you just NEED to put your pride aside and simply ASK. I have that typical male mentality (I doubt any males read my blog, but if you do, I apologize for stereotyping) that hates asking for help. In fact, for reading my blog, I will reward your patience (cus I blabber a lot) and let you in on a little secret of mine. I am actually pretty insecure when it comes to my intellect. I don't think I'm intellectually smart. There ya have it. It's true. I know I'm smart in other ways, but not in this one, but because I am fast learner (I also forget fast lol), I love to observe and decide I can figure things out on my own.
I think that is where this male prideful mentality stems from. My intellectual insecurities lead me to pride which leads me to stubbornness.

Anyways, I've learned today that even though observing does help me learn, sometimes simply asking  will just save the prideful like myself from a migraine.

So here I am at this little Cafe. Loving life.

This was before the couple arrived. They ended up sitting on that green leather seat in front of me :)

I ordered my first real croissant in Forever, and I got a Cappuccino. After asking him many questions such as "Do I pay you when I'm done or do I leave it on the table? Is this a Cafe or pastry shop. Do you even make coffee here? Can I get a coffee to go? Does this place have restrooms? Can I have some change for the metro..." and snapping a few more pictures, I was on my way back to the US Embassy.

Back at the embassy all my guard buddies were still there and we were joking around and all and finally they let me in earlier than I was originally supposed to. I ended up waiting about 1h30 to get the document deposited, signed, and ended up getting a copy for myself. It all worked out!

While waiting around, I observed a ton. I may have creeped some out. Oh well. Didn't retain much information though. Since I wasn't necessarily interacting with anyone for the most part and wasn't fully awake yet. The one piece of info I retained however, will hopefully have a great affect on me. I was wowed by how freakin' stylish Europeans are. I've known it, but witnessing it is a whole other story! I got really inspired today. Which is good because my roomies are beginning to question my style more and more :/ lol

So apparently we are back to the 70s which makes sense. Right? ....

Here are examples of things I saw today

                                                 

Here's a link to more style inspiration for the winter.

http://www.tendances-de-mode.com/2011/04/15/2124-tendances-automne-hiver-2011-2012




After the embassy stuff got taken care of, I decided since I was already in Paris, why not explore. So I cranked my Ipod while listening to "Good Life" by One Republic and just went wandering around, minding my own business, and smiling at strangers. :) while taking pictures of course. (the sun had just come out at this point.)

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At one point, My ipod's battery was low and I needed the directions to get back to the place I live...so I decided to take a picture of them in case my Ipod did die. which it eventually did about 1h later.

So all in all, quite a fun day. I can't really say I met any particular individual or had any crazy conversations or adventures, but after spending a few hours in Paris, I realized I wasn't the only one who was out of place. I guess one would expect that, especially around the Eiffel Tower with all the tourists that travel miles and miles to see this somewhat imposing and awkwardly shaped tower; but I soon found out that even the French  didn't know their way around a lot of times. I can't tell you the amount of times that French people were asking me questions.
At one point a girl around my age asked me questions on my way home while using the RER and I confidently told her which train to take after double checking the map. She was so grateful that she bought me a chocolate bar. As soon as she hopped on that train, something in me didn't feel right and I looked at the signs that were behind me and realized the train she took was going the complete opposite way of her destination. I felt HORRIBLE. I wished I'd taken her phone number and could text her, but I still don't have a phone. So all I could do was pray that she somehow realized it and got off before it was to late. At that point, I realized that I was just as lost as she was. It wasn't till 2h30 later that I finally got home.... hence the advice on the heeled shoes!
Even after FINALLY getting to my destination, I unfortunately arrived at a completely different exit and could not find my way home.
Luckily, my bad experience of getting locked into a cemetery yesterday evening (at sundown) paid off. I  was able to locate various reference points and taller landmarks that helped me find my way back.

Yea yesterday evening my curiosity took the best of me. I wandered into a graveyard to take pictures of French coffins and such, and ended up staying in there far to long because on my way out, the gate I'd entered into was locked and no one was around. The sun was setting and though I was trying really hard not to panic, I couldn't help but feel my heart beating faster and faster as I took each step. Finally I caught eye of what seemed to be a narrow passage leading towards a separate part of the gate that had by chance been unlocked. I did have to squeeze through a few caskets to get through. Just writing about it is giving me the chills. I got out of there so fast!!! It was ridiculous. Plus I didn't have a phone, so Lord knows what could've happened otherwise. I dodged a bullet.

Well at least I think some of the pictures were worth it. I hope.

This is actually the first cemetary pic
I took. I wasn't planning on going in, but I just could
not help myself.

I really am grateful for these, they were my landmarks
that brought me back home today!

                                    

      




And because I don't like ending my blogs on scary morbid notes.......Here are is a quick summary of things I learned today. lol.

• Do not be afraid to ask
• In order to find yourself, you need to get lost first
• Smile. Even when you don't want to. You don't know where that smile can take you
• Europeans' style rock/back in the 70s
• Be friendly to strangers because you might need one someday yourself
• Don't ever wear heels if you think you'll get lost
• Life in France is expensive

And here are a few more pictures from my day that I'd like to share. I do plan on posting a LOT more on my facebook photography page soon! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Djolife-Photography/114008375351893

Thank you for joining me on my journey :) Please continue to pray for guidance.

PS: I get to possibly meet my niece for the first time tomorrow and spend some quality time with my sister in law and kiddos! Eeek!!!! :D