I’m welcoming June with a mélange of feelings. These are my last days here in my city.

I’ve made the most of these five months — of that, I’m certain. I’ve seen and done things I never imagined and I now have friends and contacts on my phone from all over the world to show for it. And, most importantly, I’ve lived like a Parisian.

It’s strange not having Alliance Française in my routine now. I miss it, yes, even the stairs. AF was base camp for me. I learned so much whilst there, and not just the French language, but the French culture and tours and recommendations. I met most of my friends there.

AF nourished my heart, soul, mind – and yes, even my stomach, every day (the only mediocre food I had in Paris). AF gave me the confidence to ask questions and expand my circle at my own pace. It was my refuge when I didn’t know a soul, and later my designated meeting spot with friends. It was a place to go whenever I had questions of any kind because they always knew the answers or would find them for me. They even showed me the Métro system, which gave me the confidence to journey from Paris to Giverny for a 3-day excursion. A memory I’ll cherish forever.

I am so sad, but so fulfilled. I’ll return home to my loved ones, and hope my cat, Lulu will forgive me. I’ll try to make her understand that this was just something Mommy had to do. I can’t wait to hug everyone American style and share the French bisous, too.

I received an email from the landlord, who wants to show « mon appartement » to someone on the 6th. 💔 My countdown begins. I journaled last night, and thought I’d make up a list of things I have to do, and found I didn’t really have a list’s worth. I’ve had more cultural experiences than I can count. And I accomplished so much language-wise, taking away the most valuable lesson of all with an exchange I had with a sales woman in Giverny that ended like this:

MOI: Je suis ici pour apprendre le français à l’alliance française à Paris.

ELLE: La langue française est très difficile – même pour les français.

MOI: Ah, oui, je n’ai jamais pensé à ca.

ELLE: Et vous parlez français très bien, Madame. Je vous comprends très bien.

MOI: Merci beaucoup. Lol! Je rougis. Vraiment?

ELLE: Oui, absolument – nous avons une conversation, non?

MOI: Oui, Madame. Merci.

I’ve had many compliments on my French, and I know the only thing holding me back is my limited vocabulary and using the words I already know in the different tenses. My French studies will continue, because it’s always been my first passion – and I have to keep exercising this muscle.

So… back to what to do for these last 10 days. Last night I checked out Les Deux Magots (café) online. They had a « booking » tab, and when I clicked it, I was shocked to see it was booked solid till June 15th. WHAT? I’m leaving on the 10th. I realized the default number of personnes was selected at 2, so I quickly changed it to 1 — and even with that I was only able to find ONE reservation slot open, and I grabbed it for lunch on the 3rd. (I’m meeting my bestie from the U.S. later that day for a tour of the Louvre!) Ce sera parfait!

Today, I’m breakfasting at home, and heading to Shakespeare & Co. à pied. It’s a tourist trap, I know, but I want to see it — make a photo to paint later, etc. For those who don’t know, Shakespeare & Co. is probably the world’s most famous independent bookstore. It’s where artists, writers, and other ex-Pat types hung out. From there, I decided I will return to Montmartre, because I loved that village feel, and all the artists painting in the square. This means I’ll wear smart shoes because it’s hilly AND cobblestoned. Then, later in the afternoon, I’m going to a meetup at an exquisite brasserie: Les Grandes Marches à La Place de la Bastille, for a French conversation group.

What to wear? Je serai à pied, en Métro, et en funiculaire going from cobblestones and hills to a lovely brasserie. That’s quite a transition. Le météo: Sunny 73 degrees. Maybe a sundress with sneakers will help with the transitions.

À bientôt!