As you may know, if you know me personally or follow me on Twitter, I’m going to Paris for two weeks. However you may not know why – or what I’m expecting from it… So here you go!

First of all, the “why”: I’m now in the third year at the Kanti Romanshorn (Something like a highschool in Switzerland) and we’re still learning French (which is the second big language spoken in Switzerland). And to practice our French (which most of the students don’t call their favorite subject), every 3rd year student has the opportunity to go to Paris — and so do I! Our program is half-day language school and half-day culture and sight-seeing. We’re going to visit the Louvre, Montmarte, Montparnasse, Jardin du Luxembourg, Centre Pompidou, Châuteau de Versailles and La Défense (yeah, sure, also the Eiffel Tower).

But what I’m expecting from Paris (after being in China last year and trying to speak some Chinese…)? On one hand, it’s the city itself. It’s my first city-only-journey and it’s going to be much about culture and history (which you, sorry!, can’t find in the US, my favorite destination). Hopefully, I’m getting known a bit better to Paris! However, on the other hand, there’s the language aspect. Personally, I most of the time speak Swiss German and English (thanks to the bilingual class), sometimes I have to speak “real” German, but French plays only a minor part — and whenever I want to speak French, English is coming to my mind… So, I really hope, I can profit from Paris on matters of using French and not just learning its grammar!

Last, but not least, it’s also gonna be fun!

And I’m really looking forward to it! We’re leaving tomorrow around noon (CEST) with the TGV high-speed train…

What about you? Have you ever been to Paris? How about you & French (or another foreign language)?

Stay tuned for a follow.up in some two weeks!

And there wasn’t any water.

When I went down the stairs, I noticed that — at least — the black tube was serving us with water. But still, I was swearing about those guys, who disconnected our water for the weekend.

As I got hungry (and, as usually, was cooking pasta), I went down with our big 10-liter pot, filled it with water, carrying up to the kitchen, and then it came to my mind: In Switzerland we’re swearing, when we don’t have water for two days — or at least not directly from the tap. We’re complaining, if we have to walk down the stairs, and carry up 10 liters of high-quality portable water.

However, at the same time, people — such as in Africa — have to walk hours in the heat for some liters of more-or-less drinking water.

What I want to say (although it might sound cliché), is, when we’re complaining about doing without a huge privilege for some days, remind yourself of others, who would dream of such a privilege!