Blog Anniversaire

When I had the idea back in October 2007 to start a blog about my impending semester in Paris, I envisioned a project that would reach its natural end when I moved back to the U.S. in June. Instead, Parisian Spring saw its first official entry posted on February 20, 2008 and never looked back. One final semester of grad school, a summertime trip extension, an extended stay in Minneapolis, an autumnal return to Paris and a move to Washington, DC later, my little experiment in social media is still going strong. To mark Parisian Spring's first birthday, I'd like to take a trip down memory lane by revisiting some of my all-time favorite posts.


Of the hundreds of posts I've written, none has gotten as much long-lasting attention as Au Marché. People have told me in the comments, in emails and in person that they simply loved the accompanying photo of...lettuce. One of my own early favorites is Early Bird. Recognizing that I had switched to Paris time made the move and the new life ahead of me finally seem real.

Getting yelled at in poor English is always pleasant, and the French are experts at the cross-country voyage. See Going With the Flow and The Only Way to Travel, respectively.

There was the time I left France for Belgium, the faith-in-humanity-restoring random kindness on the metro, and a tribute to an old French general. This moment convinced me that extending my stay through the summer was the right decision, and this post makes me ache for the Parisian lifestyle. Leaving Paris was beyond difficult, but I passed the time by ruminating on travel and exploring my home state. Between then and now I revisited Paris, moved back to DC, and traveled on Christmas Day. Nowadays, I divide my time between work, work, and wondering if reading these signs allows me to take in European culture without buying a plane ticket.

Favorite posts or no favorite posts, Parisian Spring is absolutely one of the most fun things I've ever done. As anyone who keeps a regular blog knows, it can be very time consuming, and there are days when you wonder what you've gotten yourself into, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a total labor of love. To everyone who has supported, promoted, commented on, or simply read Parisian Spring, merci beaucoup! The new people I've met and the old friends who still stop by have made my humble contribution to the blogosphere what it is today. Be sure to tell me if I left out any of your own favorite Parisian Spring moments, and I hope you'll still be around for the next birthday. Same place, same time, but with a few more adventures to remember.