Getting Used to the Culture

I had a funny conversation on the train today (in English of course) with a guy traveling to his work. There was a group of women from Venezuela going to the airport, and so they were asking in English (because again that's the second language most people are likely to know) which stop they needed. A French person answered and started chatting, and as I was squeezed right next to them, I chimed in too about the metro in Tokyo. After the group got off on their stop, the French guy started talking to me in French, so I had to apologize in my very broken French that I didn't speak French (which is an oxymoron in a literal sense which always amuses me, but I digress). He then stated he was wondering why my English was so good, so I just told him I had a lot of practice :)

And speaking of people talking to me in French, I've now had 5 different people ask me for directions. Apparently I look like I know what I'm doing and look French enough when just standing around. It also probably helps that I travel on a very non-touristy commuter line with a messenger bag and am dressed up (relatively) for work, so I look about as non-touristy as one possibly could. Of course most of the time I completely go blank and can't even think of how to respond in French that I don't know how to speak it (nor even how to give them the right directions) but after a few seconds of silence they generally get it. One day I'll be able to answer though. One day!

I've also started to get the hang of my new job at work, and am busy planning a bunch of business trips (to the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, and France) so things are starting to feel more normal. My new role involves a LOT more traveling than I used to do, and my mentor/boss travels even more. I like flying and traveling though (obviously, I thought it was a good idea to move halfway across the world to a country I don't speak the language of) so I'm excited.

I've also decided to just keep using the DD/MM/YY European format. Like the metric system, it just makes more sense then the backwards way we do it in the States.

Finally we decided to explore "crepe land" next to Montparnasse, and have learned the hard way never ever to exit out of the Montparnasse station. That thing is a gigantic maze where I could have walked from our flat and gotten there faster I think. Vavin it is from now on. The crepes were quite good though, and I'm sad to say, it took me this a whole week to have my first glass of French wine, but wow was it good!