Dreaming of Paris

Boarding the plane and flying halfway across the world was not enough to convince me that I was going abroad. Touching down and navigating the streets, looking around at all of the pretty sights and never-ending aesthetic buildings, I still couldn’t comprehend how this was my life. 

This is the life I’m currently living. I wasn’t watching a movie, but it felt like I was watching my experiences and the scenery as an outsider. I’d been dreaming of Paris since my childhood years and couldn’t process that this was truly happening.  

It wasn’t until my second night in Paris, learning how to navigate the metro, that I felt an abrupt force of realization wash over me. Seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time and standing under it as I watched it light up and glitter into the night sky, I realized that I was in the middle of a dream.

I would be lying if I said my eyes didn’t start to tear up. It was a dream come to life. I was in the middle of an experience I’d been ardently wishing for since before I could remember.  

Ever since coming to Paris for my marketing study abroad program, I’ve been easing myself into the culture and diligently spending my days gaining new experiences and cultivating knowledge about history and the arts. 

Walking around the city, I’ve learned how to navigate public transportation as well as interactions with the locals, always having to remember to say “Bonjour” and “Merci.” As a thrift shopping enthusiast, I’ve gone to secondhand and vintage shops many times, often spending a day sifting through flea markets.

This allows me to explore the city and meet all kinds of people on the way. Paris offers a unique shopping experience, and I truly feel immersed when going through the markets and exchanging phrases with the locals — except the one time I asked for a price and forgot to say “Bonjour!” 

I’ve tried many types of croissants and have a new pastry flavor every other day, including chocolate, raspberry, almond and butter. Since coming here, I’ve made it my goal to try as many new dishes as I can. I’ve tried octopus, duck and even the famed escargot. I already know that when I’m back home, I’m going to miss fine dining and walking down the street of my program center to grab a fresh bread delicacy.  

A moment I will treasure and keep close to my heart is one very specific dining experience with an elderly Parisian woman who insisted I call her “Grandmère,” or grandmother in French. Although there was a language barrier, I ordered the dish of the day from her, and my friend and I waited for our meal while spreading butter on the bread that Grandmère had laid out for us.  

When the plate came, it held steaming-hot chicken with French fries and a salad. It was one of the best meals I’ve had. It had been cooked as if it came from a broth, and you could tell there were special ingredients added to the dish. Throughout our meal, the woman was very attentive, making small conversation, taking our pictures and even giving us a small souvenir after the meal.  

Despite having felt like we’d been at the restaurant for far too long and getting worried that we were taking up too much time because the place had limited seating, she kept us there even longer by giving us tea and cookies. She truly did embody a grandmère to those who were dining. After our meal, both my stomach and my heart were full. 

Exploring museums, I’ve seen many different paintings and art from artists I’d never imagined myself seeing. From the Mona Lisa to Monet’s water lilies, I’m constantly left in awe.  My program took us on an excursion to Claude Monet’s house in Giverny, a place that was like a fairytale. The blooming flowers and water lilies looked to be straight out of one of his paintings.

The scenery that surrounded me was awe-inspiring and simultaneously filled me with nostalgia. Surrounded by lilies, poppies, daisies, tulips and all the wisteria, I felt like a kid again. Having a picnic, visiting his home, going to a small museum and looking at different art pieces — all was filled with light-hearted joy and child-like wonder.  

After visiting the Montmartre neighborhood in Paris, I understand why everyone hyped it up. Climbing the steps to the Sacré-Cœur, or Sacred Heart Basilica, I found the building and the sights surrounding it breathtaking. If the inside of the building and the religious depictions through art and sculptures weren’t enough, the view from the top of the stairs was the highlight. Surrounded by fences filled with love locks, the view gave way to the entire city; from the tops of buildings to the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris looked like a faraway city.  

The dream of one day coming to Paris once seemed so far away. But now that I’m living in this moment, I thank God every day that I have been given this opportunity and hope to continue living new experiences and getting the most out of what this city of light and love has to offer. 

This post was contributed by Melani Alanis, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2024. Melani is a senior advertising and communications leadership major studying abroad in Paris, France.