C'est pas au revoir, c'est a tout a l'heure!

I’m sitting in the Heathrow airport only two hours after leaving, and I’m missing Paris already. I’ve said “Pardon” at least 5 times to random Americans on my plane and I got a little bit defensive when my Wagamama noodles waitor kept checking on me (and who would’ve thought after all this time longing for attentive waitstaff, I would miss the cold and neglectful French waiters who refuse to bring your check, leaving you at lunch for two and half hours on your last day in the city).

I’ve also started watching Love Actually in the Heathrow airport during my 5 hour layover. I felt pretty ridiculous watching the opening scene as people greet each other in this airport. Watching Hugh Grant in London, so typical American.

I met up with Katie Lee, another Chi O, a few days ago to take a walk around Paris at night and drink some beer on the seine. She kept telling me that I seemed like a big ball of energy and was super enthusiastic. It could’ve been that I decided to spend the afternoon at Versailles that afternoon or had taken so long at the Bastille market that morning, I managed to make it there for breakfast and lunch. Whatever it is about this city, I like who I’ve become here. Now I realize that this is probably a result of a five month vacation without real stress and easy traveling. I always thought I would hate living in a city and found myself to be a smaller town girl. Now, I’m not so sure. I don’t know how I’ll live without the everyday excitement of stumbling upon street performers and the metro people watching.

As we went for one last dinner at Bistro Paul Bert, completely overdressed for the casual feel of the restaurant, Theresa proposed a toast. “To love. We may not have found it in Paris, but we found each other.” These girls have been my family here, and I’m a little scared about what I will do without Gulfem to walk me home at night and to force me to eat late night ice cream, Diana to share my mushrooms and twisted sense of humor, and Theresa to show me funny youtube videos of puppies and her reassurance that I am properly dressed for whatever club we’re going to that night.

In the words of my new-found friend Sabrina, “Paris is always a good idea.”