I started my studies last Thursday at l’Institut Catholique de Paris, and am very happy with how the program is set up in comparison with the Aix program. It is well organized, the staff is professional and helpful, and the semester is off to a great start for me. I actually missed the first 3 days of school and the placement test, but the staff was very accommodating, and worked to find me a place in my courses. I am enrolled in 4 language classes and an international relations course, which will be interesting. It is a beautiful campus with a garden, which is apparently rare in Paris as one of my professors explained to me.
Along with my studies, I have also started work with my new Au pair family. They are a family of 4 – they have 2 kids, Armance who is 13 and Romain who will be 6. I only take care of Romain, and he is such a polite, well-behaved little boy. They have been very welcoming to me since my arrival, and I like them a lot. I only work in the afternoons for a few hours each day, so that allows for much study / exploration time.
I’ve been walking all around Paris in my after-school hours, and have found some great places. On a long route back to a metro that I enjoy taking, I pass multiple art galleries, churches, and beautiful old buildings.
There is some really interesting art being showed in the different galleries. One of the galleries I pass has a collection of iconic art. The artist’s name is Alexander Kosolapov, and there are some interesting depictions of Jesus, our pop culture, etc. One of his pieces is called the ‘Angel of Carbohydrates’ and is your everyday man in an angelic pose with a florescent McDonalds sign as wings. Another sign reads Jesus saves, Moses invests. Cool stuff.
Another art gallery that I pass used to display the art of Yvette de la Frémondiere, who covered in paper mâché the bodies of mannequins to resemble women of the Muslim religion. One of the mannequins was contorted into a beaten position and was on the ground. Another was sitting in a chair, hands folded, again, completely covered except for the eyes and hands by the paper mâché. All of them were created with a very submissive and helpless mannerism about them. I went back to take a picture today, but unfortunately her entire display had been moved.
I’ve been exploring the bridges along the Seine as well. They are so diverse! My favorite so far is one located by the Louvre, and it is called Le Pont de Beaux Arts. There are always painters, or different craftsmen working, or selling their art, and it is lovely. In addition, people attach locks of all kinds to the grating of the sides of the bridge, which makes for a very unique bridge if you ask me.
I am so happy to be back here in France, submersed in a culture and lifestyle in which I feel truly at home!
