Arrival in Clermont

          Agathe, my host sister, accompanied me from Rouen to Paris with my luggage. She graciously carried one of my bags along with hers up and down several escalators and down two particularly long staircases. It was incredible that we made it at all. When we arrived in Paris, Agathe had a surprise for me. Our good friend, Vincent, was at the end of the train tracks with a goofy grin on his face. It was so good to see him! We traipsed through the St. Lazare train station and the particularly touristy surroundings and talked for two hours under a red coca-cola umbrella at an outdoor café. It rained and soaked all of our things, but we were so happy to get to see each other, it really didn’t matter. J        

            I spent the night at Agathe’s dormroom, and the next morning we headed out again. Agathe had some business to do at her school before we left, and we made our way through the streets dodging warily to avoid pigeon poop that splattered around us like little wet bombs. Agathe quickly got her affairs straightened out, and as we were getting ready to leave, she kindly asked one of her friends (who had just gotten there) to drive us to the train station. He agreed, and I about cried, I was so thankful. Without him, I would have had to shove and pull over 100 lbs of luggage through tiny metro doors, onto a packed train car, and through pedestrian traffic to get to the train station. As it was, I was an hour early, just enough time to get lost once in the train station, and then hop on the train. My neighbor, a kindly, well-meaning gentlemen, pulled out Star Wars Episode VI as we pulled out of the station. I smiled, and felt right at home. The rest of the ride, I listened to music, and, oh dear, stressed about my train ticket that didn’t look quite like it should. Thankfully, my car wasn’t checked for correct tickets, and I was able to relax with my American rock mix peppered in with the swishing of light-sabers from the gentlemen’s laptop across the aisle.

            The train ride to Clermont becomes especially beautiful once you enter the massive circle of volcanoes that stretches across the landscape on either side of the train. Clermont-Ferrand is the last stop of the train. Right before the mountain chain appears on your left, the train slows as it settles between two steep hills that are covered in even rows of corn. I looked deliciously at them, and could see that the stalks were ready to be picked. It was so cool to see the smiles on people’s faces as they looked out on the beautiful agrarian scene, and I could tell they were happy to be coming home. What a great initiation to Clermont.

            I had the chance to have arranged a meeting with a possible roommate that same evening that I arrived on the train in Clermont, and he kindly offered to come find me at the station and help me with my things. I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome in Clermont, and we arrived at my student hotel/hostel with little to no trouble and in good form. I was tired, but very happy, having to carry my suitcases only a short while that day when I could have very well had to do it from Rouen all the way to Clermont.

            I searched out food and found a cafeteria that sold a vegetable plate for 4 euros and 55 centimes. I was starving, having only eaten an apple pastry that morning and a sandwich at lunch. I attacked the mashed potatoes and spinach first because I didn’t have to chew those, and stuffed green beans and vegetable medley into my mouth at an alarming rate. I felt, and probably looked, like the homeless person that I was. I comforted myself that I was in better shape than my neighbor at the table who had two bottles of wine in front of him and no apparent intention of sharing them. I was in a daze for five minutes as my stomach digested, and then realized how tired I was.

            So here I am, in my little hostel room, exhausted and excited to go out tomorrow for more. My roommates are three noisy flies that took advantage of my brief opening of the window to pilot inside and take up wall space. Whatever, I just hope they stop that annoying buzzing soon… ;) Signing off.