We Be Conquerors

Well friends, Paris has really done it again!
(If you're wondering what "it" actually means, don't. Just go with it.)


 Despite the busy schedules we had in the program this week, we were still able to have experiences that helped us build our character and become better people. Here's a documentary of the fears we've conquered in the past few days:


1. One rainy day, a group of us were headed back home from the Schola when we saw a body laying on the street. The ground was cold and very wet, and it was not moving at all. Well people, I'm not gonna lie. I panicked a little inside because I thought "Oh no, this poor man is dead and now I have to call the police and report his departure of the living world." 

As you can see in the picture, it wasn't until Ken decided to poke him that he actually woke up and started mumbling stuff. Then I realized something. There's no need to fear death. And if you run into it, don't panic. It's most likely a false alarm!


*Fear of death: Conquered.

2. Poor little Rachel got smashed with these doors once, which naturally scarred her and turned into a fear of hers. Every day while walking through the metro she would get this look on her face. A look of pure terror. It was actually really funny to me, but I was really proud of her when she finally was able to stand tall, with a straight face, and walk through those doors showing nothing but confidence. She hasn't gotten smashed in half ever since.

*Fear of being smashed by metro doors: Conquered.

3. I have had a fear of birds since 2008 when I was peacefully walking from the parking lot to class, and some crazy bird started attacking me out of no where. It was a very traumatizing experience for me, mostly because I felt bullied by a creature 20 times smaller than me and I could do nothing about it. I guess that's why flying is such an advantage... but anyway. The birds at Notre Dame helped me gain a new view on their species. Thank goodness for that!

And Rachel became Snow White!

Don't mind my skepticism. At least I did it.

*Fear of birds: Conquered

4. Every teacher in this program told us to not go to the Eiffel Tower during Bastille Day because it was the most dangerous spot in the city for this holiday. They said there was gonna be crazy, out of control people everywhere, that we were going to get mugged, get firecrackers thrown at us, etc. Well, they did manage to strike a bit of fear on us from their remarks, but somehow we ended up going there anyway. And what happened to us? Nothing. The crowds weren't even crazy! Although, Rachel claims that some woman tried to pick pocket my purse, and then went after her purse after she was unsuccessful with mine. If that's true, then that's the most exciting news about the dangers of Bastille Day. On the other hand, the fire works were amazing. Best I've seen all my life, and that's without exaggeration.  

*Fear of getting mugged by Parisians: Conquered.

5. As you all know from our earlier posts, Rachel and I have been cheating the system and have been smuggling me into her apartment for two weeks now. Of course there's been a huge fear of getting caught. Welp, it finally happened after we came back from our Bastille Day celebrations. We did our normal routine of going through the basement, but this time we had to deal with a new security guard that we had never seen before. This man actually took his job seriously, so when he heard weird noises in the basement he came down to explore... and he found his prize. He walked into the bathroom while I was taking my shoes off and gave me a very skeptical look, which to I replied by saying "Hello." To make this story short, basically he escorted Rachel and I to the main floor and kept asking us questions to try to get information and figure out who we were and what we were doing. Luckily he didn't speak English, and we don't speak French, so we were able to pull the "I don't understand what you're saying card." Unfortunately though, we had to leave the apartment complex and sleep in some bushes. Yes, that's right. Bushes. Like wild women. See the red circle in the picture? That's where we slept. This picture was taken from the window of our room. We were so close, yet so far away that night.

Anyway, the man did end up getting Rachel's room number, but nothing has happened since. I'm guessing we're okay, because I've been smuggled in THREE times since then. Suckers. 




*Conquering fear of getting caught cheating the system: 
Ehh... half conquered. At least we've experienced the worst that could happen. I think.

Fun fact:

Our program has provided us with the Roadrunner and Sloth from the Ice Age in human form!

 Meet Ken

And Steven

Good resemblance eh? Hope you enjoyed.