Paris Journal: Day 7 (May 28)

Well, I cannot believe that I have already been in Paris for a week. The time is flying and I wish it would just slow down a bit, because I really am having the time of my life.

Today, we got on a bus in the morning and headed off for an eight hour bus tour of the city. I must say, I really enjoyed the cool air conditioning of the bus on this 90 degree day! Peter was basically our tour guide, and we drove all around the city, with him pointing out historical landmarks along the way. We also got to get off and take pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Our first stop was the flea market, and it was quite an experience. It was definitely overwhelming and a bit hectic at times, but it was so cool to see all of the vendors selling their products. There was a lot of counterfeit items, but I mostly enjoyed the artists that handcrafted their products. It is so amazing to me to see people creating things that they are passionate about.

After the flea market, we were also able to go the street that housed stores such as YSL, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Dior, Jimmy Choo, and Chanel. It was so cool to see them in real life.

There was a bit of an incident when we were on our way back to the academy, and a random car was parked in the middle of the street. Our bus was far too big to maneuver around it, so it caused a huge traffic jam and set us back about 30 minutes. In the end, it is a funny memory to look back on.

It was a very informational day and I really feel like I got to see a lot of different areas of Paris!

Paris Journal: Day 6 (May 27)

Some students from Mexico joined us today and it was so nice to meet them all and have class alongside them. I feel like I am finally starting to get the hang of French, and I feel more comfortable talking to people when I am shopping or ordering food.

We then went to the open air market, where we bought food to have a picnic at the academy. It was very similar to a farmer’s market at home, except there were all sorts of homemade cheese, meats, and baked goods. It was very neat to see everyone out and about, and the food was all ridiculously fresh.

After that, we got on a bus and headed to the Perfume Museum. We learned about the history of perfume, and how it used to be used for healing. We then were able to smell a ton of different scents, and even take a scent quiz to determine if we could properly identify smells. Although the combination of different scents was a bit overwhelming and gave me a slight headache, the museum was really interesting and I would highly recommend it.

After the museum, we went off on our own again to vintage shops. A couple of the girls found some really cool things, but I just enjoyed looking. It is so interesting to me to find articles of clothing that were popular ten or twenty years ago. We even found a University of Michigan sweatshirt, and it was funny that it was considered “vintage”. Overall, it was an amazing day!

Flowers at the Open Air Market

The Perfume Museum

Paris Journal: Day 5 (May 26)

This morning we started with a French history lesson, led by our instructor Agnes. She is the sweetest woman, and also a very knowledgeable about fashion and art. The French history lesson was very interesting and Agnes taught us a lot of information that I had never learned before.

After our history lesson, we departed for a museum that focused on the role of women in art and fashion. It was amazing to see the incredible contributions that women have made to the industry, and it was truly inspiring. Then, we headed to the Louvre. It was absolutely breathtaking. There was gold covering the walls and ceilings and the paintings just blew me away. We were also able to see the original Mona Lisa painting as well.

The Ceilings at the Louvre 

The original Mona Lisa

When we left the Louvre, a group of us girls went off on our own to do some more shopping. Its so much fun to shop with people who care just as much about clothes as I do. We ended up eating some leftover pasta for dinner and had a pretty early night, since we were absolutely exhausted after a long day of shopping.

Paris Journal: Day 4 (May 25)

Today was amazing. We finished up our three day workshop with Madame Picco, and it was so informational. I haven’t had a sewing class in college so far, so sewing was a real challenge for me. I had to restart multiple times but in the end, the hard work was totally worth it. My pleated leaf sample turned out great, and it was totally worth the hours I spent working on it. I was very proud that I got through the frustration and the outcome was beautiful.

My pleated leaf

After class was finished, it was time for shopping. It was so much fun going in to the downtown areas and searching through all of the stores. The shopping was very similar to shopping in the United States, and everyone knows I love to shop. It was great to escape the schoolwork for a couple of hours and be able to just relax and shop with all of my friends.

On the way home, we found a little street fair where local artists sold their work and there was also small food items for sale. It was such a cute little area and I’m glad we were able to stop on the way home and check it out.

Public transportation like buses and the subway still stress me out a bit, but I am slowly becoming more comfortable with them.

After shopping, we headed back towards our side of town and stopped at the store to get groceries. My roommate Allison and I picked up ingredients to make spaghetti. After a lot of confusion regarding how to turn on the stove, we finally figured it out and made a delicious dinner in our apartment. What a wonderful day!

Paris Journal: Day 3 (May 24)

Today was another day spent mostly in class. Sewing was a challenge today, and I had to work very hard to work on my pleating sample, even starting completely over. It was stressful and the studio was hot and sweaty, but we worked all day and finally ended class at 6pm.

After class, we headed out for dinner as a group. We chose to eat at a local Indian restaurant. It was such a new experience because I have never eaten Indian food before, and now I was eating it in France! The waiter spoke some English so it made things a bit easier. I ended up getting a spicy grilled chicken with rice that was absolutely delicious.

When we were finished with dinner, we headed to downtown Notre Dam. Security was very tight but we still got to get pretty close to the breathtaking building and take some good pictures. We saw lots of artists selling paintings and prints along the way, and these really caught my eye.

In front of Notre Dame

Art for sale on the streets

On our way back home, we of course had to stop and buy some gelato after a long day of walking around the town and sewing. I got lemon and vanilla gelato and it was quite tasty. It is amazing how fresh everything is here, you can really taste the difference. I can’t wait to do this all over again tomorrow!

 

Paris Journal: Day 2 (May 23rd)

When I woke up this morning, I was so tired. To be honest, I probably could have slept all day today. But at 9am sharp, I had to be at the Paris American Academy for my French lesson. (Actually 8:50, because “on time is late”). We started the day off with a basic French language session led by one of the instructors at the Academy, Agnes.

After that, we met with a miraculous woman by the name of Madame Picco. She worked as one of the courtiers for Madame Gres, who revolutionized dress making by creating pleating techniques. Madame Gres has passed away, but Madame Picco continues to carry on her legacy by sharing her story. Madame Gres worked hard to achieve her high status in the haute couture world, and even when others doubted her, her husband left her, and the Nazis shut down her shop, she stayed true to herself and the vision of her brand.

Some of Madame Picco’s handmade dresses. Each dress could take up to 300 hours to make!

After a short lunch break, we headed to our six hour pleating workshop with Madame Picco. As a fashion merchandising student, sewing is not my favorite. I respect and appreciate the art of hand sewing, but I do not enjoy doing it myself. However, I was being instructed by masters of haute couture, so I decided I would just go in with an open mind and absorb all of the information that I could. The day was intense, and was very challenging for me, because I have not sewn in years. However, it was very reassuring to see that the instructors, especially Madame Picco, really truly wanted me to succeed, and my techniques to be perfect. Coming from a true master, I really valued Madame Picco’s critiques.

After class, we bought dinner from a local market and walked to the Siene River, where we picnicked. Unfortunately, my camera was dropped in the River, which was a real bummer (its soaking in rice currently.) Besides that, it was a lovely night to walk around and sit by the water. It is so fascinating to see what the Parisians are wearing just walking around the town. I am still shocked that I am actually here and this is dream is coming true.

Tomorrow, we meet again for class with Madame Picco at 10am, and I am beyond excited to get up and get started again in the morning!

Enjoying all the sights by the river!

 

Paris Journal: Day 1 (May 22)

This morning, I woke up on an airplane and by lunch time, I was in my apartment in Paris. The flight was a breeze, and I slept most of the time. We took about an hour bus ride to the Paris American Academy after we landed, and then checked into our hotel.

We ate lunch in our apartments, and then we immediately left to go explore the city. Peter, a member of the Paris American Academy, took us on the underground subways and to ride on the buses, so that we could become familiar with the public transportation. Today, we also visited the Eiffel Tower, and it was absolutely breathtaking. I had not pictured it to be so large in real life!

After our short (and very sweaty) tour of the city, Peter took us to a lovely French family owned restaurant. We enjoyed a lamb dish with eggplant, and of course wine. The food was absolutely amazing, and I was great to be able to enjoy some quality time with my classmates.

Today was a whirlwind, and I’m exhausted, but also overjoyed to know that when I wake up in the morning, I will be in the heart of Paris.

Study Abroad: Pre Departure Reflection

As I sit at the Detroit airport waiting to board my flight to Paris, I am finding it important to really take a moment to myself and reflect. In an hour, I will get on a plane, and after an eight hour flight, I will arrive in the world’s fashion capital: Paris, France. I will be studying Fashion Merchandising and Design at the prestigious Paris American Academy. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of an opportunity like this one. I am still in disbelief that this dream is really coming true, and this trip is happening. I would not be able to be here today without the amazing support of my family. Walking away from my mom, dad, and brother to go through security was such an odd feeling. I felt so free and independent. Here I am, doing something way out of my comfort zone, traveling to a foreign country all by myself. I am so excited to see what adventures this next month brings me.

While I am studying at the Paris American Academy, I will learn so many amazing techniques while diving into Parisian culture. Each night, I will be blogging about my experiences that day. Stay tuned for updates on my European adventure!!

XOXO, Allie