My bags are all packed and sitting in a rather large pile by the bed. How did I accumulate so much stuff since I arrived in March? How am I ever going to get it all back home? I remember being quite proud of myself that I arrived with only what I could carry – two suitcases and my laptop bag. Now I have four times that. But I can’t seem to get rid of anything else.

There’s the wine I bought in Italy wrapped carefully in bubble wrap. I’ve never spent so much on one bottle of wine – I hope it proves to be worth the price. Then there are the cookbooks, all in French, on chocolate, foie gras, sugar sculptures, and bread. Over there are the few Christmas presents I’ll be bringing home. Next to those are the files of various paperwork that I can’t lose. Funny how my life in Paris so far can be boiled down to a pile of things. But of course there are the memories which only take up space in my head.

Although I did enjoy living here and being so close to school, that chapter in my life ha closed and it’s time for a new place. I’m moving to my favorite neighborhood in all of Paris – Rue Cler. It will be closer to my internship, steps away from some wonderful markets, and a five minute walk to La Tour Eiffel. It’s a place I feel quite comfortable and I look forward to making it home.

The new apartment is small – a tiny one bedroom – but for me, it will be perfect. I do have some hesitations though about living by myself in such a big city. What if it’s lonely? Only three members of Group A remain and our schedules are so different we hardly get to see each other. This is such a big city. Will I get lost in the sea of faces?

I feel a sense of finality I didn’t really get until now. Graduation is long gone, my dear friends are back in the “real world”, and as soon as I unpack, I have to repack for my trip back home. A new chapter begins in the new year – appropriate enough. I wonder what adventures I will have and what 2007 brings.

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