around the world in 5.5 years

C'est my blog’s half-birthday! Yep. Five years, six months, and one day ago, I posted on www.daniellestudiesabroad.blogspot.com for the very first time. I'd only hoped to share healthful food and travels on Around the World in 340 Days as I spent two semesters studying abroad in Ecuador, Chile, and France. Who would’ve guessed we'd reach "expat" status half a decade later in Paris?

Not I. And yet, I have... or I feel like I have anyhow. I was telling Marie this past Sunday night that since I've been a full-time intern (as opposed to being a full-time grad student), I've had to create a "real life routine" here. I'm liking it. Now to answer Belinda's prompt for October's Q&As: how do your family and friends back home perceive your new life, and is it accurate?

Inaccurately, I think, but allow me to explain. "Living abroad in Paris" comes with excessive perceptive strings attached. Many Americans supplement the belief that Parisians are rude with the Haussmannian dream or avant-garde edge that the city itself distributes with pride. This is hardly ever a conscious judgement. How could the vast majority of my friends, family, and fellow citizens know otherwise? Especially when there's ample amount of evidence of beautiful buildings, well-dressed residents, and "careful pleasures" like museums, restaurants, and bicycle lanes. (Aside from those celebrating Earth Day, the latter is probably least well known). The photo above is evidence of me trying my best to blend in before revealing an adorable American accent ;).

But would they assume my apéro haunt is an English pub? Mostly because my best French-American friend works there? In addition to an awesome Zimbabwean and French-Algerian musician raised in the States? Probably not. But, that's okay. I have you, this 5.5-year-old blog (obviously we're celebrating because I missed its fifth birthday/Lara's 26th), and the lovely blog community to make up for it. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to an authentic Parisian life, sans Chanel and (often) champagne...