Non, Rien de Rien

Today's my last day in Paris. I leave tomorrow morning, bright and shining, and I'm truly not looking forward to it. I don't think I can eloquently write a summary about my time here without sounding dramatic or silly, so I won't. I'll just stop myself after saying this was probably the best time of my life, that I will be a bit lost when I leave, and I hope I can come back soon and often. And, maybe one day, I will stay.

Last night we had a dinner and amateur karaoke send-off with all the professors and most of the kids in the program. It started getting hilarious after everyone's fourth glass of wine, when we broke out the karaoke and did some classics and some unconventional songs. We brought the house down singing "Je ne regrette rien" by Edith Piaf.

One of my profs asked if I was coming back to Paris, a loaded question that Parisians use, meaning "are you coming back to stay permanently?" I sort of waffled around and said I wish I could take a break for the holidays and come back after and finish out the academic year. She told me I could go home, graduate, take my break, and then come back after. "A year isn't that long, in the course of a lifetime, you know."

After, we met up at Charbon, on Oberkampf, and had a pretty good time chilling and talking. I'll miss that little corner of the 11th (and Bastille, too) next semester--it's the best bar scene in the city.

Today I'll work half a day and then hopefully get all my errands taken care of. I need to buy presents, see some sights, eat some crêpes, and drink some hot chocolate. I'll finish it off at Sèvres-Babylone and then try to pack up my life before dinner.

There is one big incentive for the flight home, however: a business class upgrade. Score!

I'll see you on the flipside.