Ma Chambre De Bonne

Before tonight, I'd never lived alone. At 18 I moved out of my parents' house into a dorm which I shared with a girl who would become one of my best friends; the following year I lived with her again and two others in an apartment; I spent my third year abroad, but with host families in Ecuador, Chile, and France; and I lived in a sorority house in my last year at SU. Then I moved back home while freelancing, and eventually, relocated to Manhattan for my first job where I moved into my college friend's 3-bedroom apartment. As a graduate student at AUP though, I have the opportunity to live on my own for the very first time. {via pinterest} My studio is known as a chambre de bonne. It's not unlike those found in American cities... except for a few characteristics: top floor, back staircase, hot plate, and a shared toilet. Who knew living in Paris could be so glamourous? I promise I'm not complaining though :) my view alone makes it worth it. Ma chambre de bonne overlooks Parc Monceau. It was originally designed as a private hideaway for the duc d'Orléans in 1778. Today, it features a pyramid, oval naumachia fringed by a colonnade, open lawns, monuments, lovely gardens, and even free public WiFi. Yes, that is the Eiffel Tower in the distance as well.
Still, it hasn't hit me that I am residing in Paris for at least the next year. Since Iceland, I had been staying in a hotel, meeting amazing fellow graduate students, and attending orientation meetings. But now that I have ma chambre de bonne am I actually going to live here, and complete a masters degree, and (hopefully) master the French language? It's hard to believe. I flip flop between "oh my gosh, how freaking lucky am I?!" and "holy shit, what the hell am I doing here?!" {via pinterest} And yet, I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now. Paris may not be easy, but little by little, I will settle into my Parisian life. I'll get into a routine with my classes (of which I'm very excited to start next week, by the way); I'll discover the best boulangerie, patiserrie, bistro, and let's be serious, bar in my neighborhood; I'll get used to living by myself in this devastatingly beautiful city. I can do this. And I hope you'll join me as I share my misadventures along the way. Bonne nuit.