I’ve been living in Reims, France for the past month! The economic champagne capital of the world, it’s a charming city 45 minutes-by-train from Paris, set in the rolling green vineyards of Champagne. The spirit of bubbly infuses the city– even the faces of the colorful trams are shaped like champagne flutes! It feels rather glamorous to drink that sparkling golden liquid in the Unesco-World-Heritage-listed region where it was made.

And yes: I fully intend on becoming a champagne snob while I’m here.

Flattened during WWI, Reims was re-built in the art-deco style of the 1920s, lending a sophisticated feel to the already stylish and welcoming city. I have about a mile-walk to school everyday, and it’s nice to walk past flower shops, boulangeries and tabacs selling magazines and newspapers on my way to school.

There are hair salons about every 100 feet, which I find amusing– how do they all stay in business? Do the French get their hair done all the time? Better yet, I’ll pass a dozen people a day just carrying baguettes– it’s hilarious how true the bread stereotype is. I need to stealthily take photos and make a baguette post with all the different culprits…

Although I felt incompetent when I first got here (my French wasn’t as good as I thought it was) I think I’m finally getting used to listening to the language and living in a foreign city. The Remois don’t speak English as well as in Paris, which is good for my language development, but not good when I have utterly no idea what the person I’m talking to is saying. There have been several embarrassing moments at grocery stores in particular when I’ve just been completely lost– but, hopefully my French will improve considerably while I’m here! Already I’m starting to recognize more words in passing.

The French bureaucracy is agonizing of course– setting up a bank account has taken almost a month so far and counting. Also, the academic system is different: among other things, the curriculum is very public-speaking-based at Sciences Po, so I have to do presentations for each class. There are about 1200 students at Sciences Po Reims, which is smaller than my high school, and a big change from the 18,000 undergrads at UNC. But it’s a nice change, and it’s fun to see people I know in every hallway. Thankfully the workload is less than at UNC, and since I don’t have a job here, I have more time to travel and enjoy myself.

The campus is gorgeous. It’s on the site of an old Jesuit college founded in 1615, so the architecture is a beautiful blend of rustic and contemporary. The vines in the “old courtyard” are actually the oldest grape vines in the world- they were imported from Palestine.

                                                      These blue doors caught my eye as I explored the city.

Anyway, I still can’t quite believe that I’m in France. It feels so surreal, like I’m in a dream! I’ve enjoyed making friends from all over the world– Holland, Britain, Lithuania, Ecuador. And although the French cultural differences are stark sometimes and I’m so far from home, I really am enjoying myself.