Each day, I leave my apartment and hop in the elevator, ready to embark on a day full of adventures. As soon as I step out of the elevator and onto the street, I am reminded of the beauty that Paris has to offer by the cobblestone streets, people walking their dogs, and the smells of the bakery around the corner, even the beauty of hearing native French is like music to my ears.

My bedroom!

The metro station!

Once on the street, I can hear children laughing and chanting at the school next door. Just past the school is a quaint café with outdoor seating, usually occupied by locals drinking an ice cold Stella Artois or Café. On my way to the metro, which is not far from our apartment, I almost always stop at the Boulangerie that has the most delicious croissants I have ever tasted. Once I have my fresh croissant, I am on my way.

Breakfast from the boulangerie

The streets surrounding my apartment building are quaint, narrow, brick covered, and home to many residents. As you venture through these streets, you eventually come to Avenue du General Leclerc. Avenue du General Leclerc, unlike rue Sarrette is one of the main streets in the 14^th arrondissement. On this street you will hear sirens, horns beeping, people talking, buses driving by, and scooters gliding over the bumps of the uneven sidewalk. Avenue du General Leclerc has everything one could need, whether it is a bank, pharmacy, restaurant, grocery store, clothing shop, or a florist. Although there are no high rises in the area, you feel like you are in a little city right here in the 14^th arrondissement. Walking down the busy streets, I rarely hear English. My neighborhood is residential, full of apartment buildings that are home to native Parisians.

Florist in the neighborhood

After each day, I am always happy to come back to my humble abode on rue Sarrette. A good day never ends without sitting on the balcony of our seventh floor apartment, watching neighbors walk by and motorcyclists zoom by. It is pretty cool to have a view from the top as I reflect on my time in Paris.

The view from the top!

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Shayna is a current student at Rochester Institute of Technology studying at American University of Paris in France during the Fall 2015 term.