Bonjour a tous!  

I went to Versailles this weekend with the rest of the students from Pitt as well as many other students from other colleges who are participating in the same program.  Versailles was absolutely beautiful, but I Can’t believe that someone actually lived there- it’s so big it defies reason. I would never want to live somewhere like that- you could forget entire wings of the chateau and it wouldn’t matter.

I’ve been at my job for two full weeks now, and I love it more every day.  My coworkers are all so nice, and love to be helpful in terms of my work and helping me practice and improve my French.  My one coworker actually took me shopping on Friday, to help me dress more like a Parisian and less like a 41 year old real estate agent from the Midwest.  There is also another American intern who works with me now, whose name is also Maddy. She is lovely and we’ve been hanging out lots- we go out to dinner, and we’re planning to go to Monet’s house together this upcoming Saturday!  I’ve been taking long walks along the Seine, visiting the public library at the Centre Pompidou to find French novels to improve my reading, searching for the best chocolate souffle I can find (see the photo below of the current winner), and I’m still loving every day that I live in Paris.

My company works in the NGO sector.  The organizational culture of firms in this sector tends to be very loose.  The employees are at liberty to do their own research and work on their own projects within reason.  The dress code is very casual, and the atmosphere within the office is informal and comfortable between all the employees.  It is relatively informal (the most informal I have ever been employed at), and definitely more open and creative.

Until next time!

Madeleine