I'm Here!

(Actually, I've been here for a little over 24 hours.) Now for a long-awaited update:
I spent a couple of days just packing and talking with people, like my grandparents and friends. (I'm still sad that I didn't get to talk to Mark.) I had dinner with my dad and grandma Monday night (she made my favorite, chicken paprikash). I'll really miss her.
I left Charlotte Tuesday morning, my flight being at 1:30 pm. The flight was pushed back to 2:30 pm, and we boarded at 1:45 pm. We then sat on the runway until 3:20 pm until we took off (we were told that we couldn't leave until then, for some reason).
I got into Philadelphia about 5:30 pm, and talked with the 'rents and ate some dinner. I got a magazine (W, with James McAvoy-hence the reason for buying it-and Keira Knightley). I also talked with Harlan and Emily before I boarded, I was so happy I got to talk to them.
The plane left at about 9 pm, and I tried to sleep. Nothing really happened on the plane, just your typical overseas international flight. When I woke up about a hour before we landed, I felt like I was on Paris time. (I guess that week of getting up insanely early helped.)
After getting off the plane, I got my luggage and had my communication in French: I asked an airport employee if there was a phone around that accepted change. He told me that there was one outside of customs.
I went through customs and tried to call for the Paris American Academy shuttle. However, I couldn't figure out the phones. A couple of other people were there with the same problem, so we all bonded. Eventually, the two of them got their calls made, but I was still frustrated. Fortunately, a nice man came up and helped me with mine, so I got the shuttle arranged.
(Oh, apparently there was a taxi strike as well. This coexisted with the fact that several taxi drivers were walking around near the airport entrances , saying, "Taxi , madame?" to nearly everyone that crossed their path.)
I went down to the designated gate to wait for the shuttle. An hour passed...still no shuttle. I called the PAA shuttle again, and was told that the shuttle would come in about 3-5 minutes. The shuttle did eventually arrive 20-25 minutes later. It took awhile to drive into Paris from Charles de Gaulle, so I rested my eyes.
After what seemed like an hour (I have no idea how long it actually took), I got dropped off at PAA. I and my luggage went into the archway and tried to open the door. I was locked. I tried to ring the doorbell. Nobody answered. I was frustrated, and banged on the door. Eventually, a guy come out and told me that these were the PAA classrooms, and I needed to go to the
office. He walked me there, and I met Peter, the director of the program. The first thing Peter said was, "So, do you speak French?" I answered that I had taken French for 6 years, but I hadn't taken a class of it for about 4 years. He replied that I might be near the head of the survival French class that will start up along with classes.
Peter's assistant walked me up to my apartment (it has a great view). I was told that this room would be temporary, and that I'd actually be 1 floor below, but the hallway paint was currently being touched-up around the door.
After unpacking a little (but not too much), I went out to get some necessities. I didn't go too far out, but I hit a pharmacie and a grocery for toiletries. (Learned: A person's personal space is not valued when they are waiting in line to purchase food at the marche.) I also got a ready-made paninni and ate half of it.
Today, I woke up to the sound of a knock at the apartment door. (I had went to bed late the night before, and so was more-or-less still sleeping.) It was Peter's assistant, with Andrea, the Meredith student, who was to be my new roommate! (I'm so glad I'm living with someone I've met before.) We talked for awhile as I got dressed, and I left to explore!
I went down Rue St. Jacques, which met up with Boulevard Port Royal, and turned right. I soon guessed that I was in Montparnasse, a neighboring arrondisement, seeing as half the small businesses were Montparnasse-something-or-other. (A later check at my trusty map-book of the Parisian arrondisements confirmed this.) I wasn't going anywhere in particular, I just wanted to see what was around. (Answer: a lot of bookshops, boulangerie/patisseries, charcuteries, cafes, etc.) I bought a croissant from a boulangerie, and walked around eating it. I crossed to the other side of the street and walked in the other direction, passing Rue St. Jacques and walking back though some of the Boulevard Port Royal. I turned around and walked down Rue St. Jacques, passing the school. At one point, a young guy came up to me and started talking. I eventually deduced that they were asking me where some fast food places were. I talked with them for awhile, and they invited me to come along (I said I had some things to do, and was just to stay in that particular part today.) After we parted, I saw (what looked like) a whole class of elementary-school-aged kids with their teacher at the same crosswalk as me. I let them pass in front of me, and was curious to see where they were going. Sure enough, they headed into a school, the Ecole Elementaire Mixte.
A little while later, I was walking down another street and passed the Lycee Lavoisier. Passing it a second time, kids were in groups all outside, hanging out. As I walked on, I kept running into groups of them, waiting at crosswalks, going into shops, getting snacks, etc. I think school had just gotten out (this was about 4-4:30 pm). (Learned: The skinny jeans and flats combination-especially dark wash denim/black and black flats- is still strong here. It made me glad I packed both.)
I stopped at a marche for milk and cotton pads a street over from the school. (Learned: Start bringing my own bags for shopping-aesthetically pleasing ones-, since none are provided.) After dropping those back at the apartment, I went back out and purchased some clementines. (I also saw some Maggi Indian products, which made me miss Sabina.)
I then came back to the apartment and talked with Andrea when she got back and wrote this whole thing. So that's it for now. I'm really hungry, so I think I'll have the rest of that pannini and some milk.