Joie de vivre

It was gorgeous outside today — sunny and warmer than its been in weeks — so I decided to go for a walk in the Orangerie to get some fresh air and take some pictures. The streets were deserted until I got to the park, and then I was amazed. I guess this is where everyone in Strasbourg disappears to on Sundays! Everywhere I looked, there were families of all ages — children playing together, couples holding hands or sharing a blanket while they read their own books, even a big multi-generational group (including an elderly nun) out for a stroll.

More than anything else about France, I love the slower pace of life here. I love taking long walks in the sunshine instead of going to the movies or the mall and running up my credit card bill. I love that the best “budget” foods for poor students are fresh vegetables, hand-made bread, and gourmet cheeses instead of over-processed, high-fat garbage. I love living on a street full of unique and beautiful old buildings for me to study as I stroll by, instead of a generic neighborhood I just want to hurry through on my way home. There’s still a huge part of me that misses the U.S. (and especially college) every day, but I’m trying to prendre le temps de vivre and enjoy this while it lasts.