First Days

Hello! I decided to start this blog to share my stories with you all, my friends, family, and loved ones. For those of you who aren't up to speed, or a bit confused, here's the story:
I have left America for the next three months to work on a dairy farm in rural france. I'm wwoof-ing, which stands for "world-wide opportunities in organic farming" and will be exchanging room and board for my labor. I've only taken one year of college french, and have prepared only slightly for this adventure, so my ideas about how this semester will go are unknown. I'm trying to live in that zen "here and now" mentality and take things as they come. No Reservations style. I will return in December. For now, I'm missing you all, but excited for this part of my life to begin.

I made it safely overseas, and am now in a small suburb of Paris, staying with an extremely generous family of a friend. After much travel, and a wonderful four day stay at MHC, I am now in Paris, city of love. Though I slept though most of day one yesterday, I more than made up for it today. I made it into the city, and visited the Pompidou Center for Modern Art. The gallery there was about a woman's place, or lack there of, in art and art museums. It was very provoking, and included a full gallery devoted to pornography. I have to say I felt a little under-cultured, and found myself walking briskly out of that room and headed for the Frida Kahlo paintings which offered something slightly tamer.
I then took a long walk down the Seine, and did some people watching. The Eiffel Tower was in front of me the whole time. I made it to the Louvre, and sat outside and ate a baguette before entering and wandering through the halls there. I found that I was one of the few in the museum who was not holding up a camera or video camera while looking at the art. I made a mental note that Jack Kerouac or H.D. Thoreau would be able to turn that observation into a sharp and witty commentary on society.
Finally I made my way back to St. Germain where I was picked up and brought back to this wonderful home I have the priviledge of staying in.
Traveling alone is quite the adventure, and I am relishing in the freedom that comes with it. Tomorrow is unplanned as of yet. Tuesday I head to the farm. Got an email that we will be harvesting corn this friday. Must get over jet lag by then.

All my love,
Ariel