Paris part deux

This week marks my 2nd monthaversary of being in Paris. Looking back on my first two months, I have realized that there is something about Paris that renders me speechless. When I am catching up with people from home or even meeting new people in the city I always get the question: "How do you like Paris?" Honestly, there aren't even words to describe my experience here (and even if there were, I probably couldn't articulate them in an eloquent manner- I would just come off as being PAINFULLY awkward). So for all of those back home: PARIS IS AMAZING. I am fully aware that most of you know how much I already loved Paris, but actually living here has really given me a new perspective on the city.
Here are just a few of the NUMEROUS things I have learned about Paris and myself since living here:
1) The Parisians are NICE. No one can say differently. If you've had a bad experience with a Parisian I am sorry, but there are people like that all over the world. I have met so many genuinely kind people since I've been here. Many helpful people too (especially when i have my panicked "oh no where am I" look on my face).
2)The people from this city are proud to say they come from Paris. Through my classes and meeting Parisians I am constantly told why Paris is so amazing and everything they say is true. This city has so much history and passion behind it. It would be hard to not be proud of something as magical as Paris.
3) I have also learned that what I thought was me speaking French actually sounds like gibberish to most French people. I will start speaking French and people will just automatically start speaking English back to me. It is not a mean gesture, they want to help, but I really need to brush up on my French skills... maybe I should buy Rosetta Stone.
4) Time passes by way too quickly for my liking. I feel like I am constantly turning the page in my calendar and the weeks are just flying by. My friends here and I have decided we need to buckle down and get ready because we do not want to leave Paris with any regrets (that is if we do leave). So naturally we made a bucket list; it is three pages long. I do not want to look back on this year wondering why I didn't completely immerse myself in the culture, what could have been, or regretting that I didn't see everything I wanted to see.
5) I have learned I need to be more confident in myself. This is a big city and it can swallow you whole if you let it. I need to buck up, and learn that making mistakes is okay whether its day to day choices or saying the wrong thing in French, I need to be more confident in my decisions and what I say.
6)On a lighter note I have also learned how to dress properly for the weather. In Paris if it's 50 degrees F you still wear a shirt, a sweater, a scarf, and an overcoat. When it gets colder the layers become more numerous and definitely thicker. Of course I want to use this cold weather as an excuse to go buy more clothes, but that excuse stopped working when I FINALLY realized I am living on an au pair salary.

I am hoping to post more about my daily adventures and random mishaps along the way so I can actually call this a blog and not a monthly life update.