The morning started out relatively early. I let Sarah go to breakfast on her own as I worked on an application. Got to do something over the summer right? The plan was to go to Cinatown for lunch, and then head to Notre Dame. Chinatown is pretty big here in a way. I learned that there is no Chinatown gate here in Paris, I was really surprised. Ideally thought there was one. But not only this, I learned that there are at least four Chinatowns here. The three of us, Sarah, Jomi, and I went into a random Vietnamese restaurant where all they spoke was Chiu chow. There really must be a lot of them here to my surprise. I didn't even order this time because I had no clue what language they spoke, so I had Jomi order for me. I had no clue what I was getting, but it turned out to be good. It was rice with a sunny side up egg and beef.
We walked to Notre Dame which is a beautiful church, a nice place to take pictures at, then we went off shopping. Don't worry, I didn't buy too much. Rather, anything at all. But we pretty much finished off our day there because I had to visit my family here. I finally got in touch with them. They met me directly at the hostel I was staying at, as it turns out, they live right where Jomi lives, directly near the Chinatown we were at in the morning. The family here is as big as the one I have back in the states so it was really interesting meeting everyone and hearing them try to call everyone to come and see me. They made it seem like a really big deal, I just didn't Matt to impose, but it was amazing that there were soo many people ready to come out just to come meet me. I was floored by their hospitality. I even got scolded a bit because I didn't contact them earlier. They would have put us up. And even, they live all over the city, and close to the airport where I arrived.
They brought me out to dinner, and it was soo nice to just be able to sit down with family for the first time in so long with people who knew my family back home. People who had this very special thing in common with me. It was nice. So even though I was meeting them for the first time, or so it felt like, it's the closest I've felt to people in a while.
After dinner my uncle, who really isn't that old to be an uncle, but nonetheless, brought me around the city, and walked me around. It was nice to see the insiders perspective of the city. He even brought me all the way back to my hostel. Which literally is on the other end of the metro line from where he lives. I told him he really didn't have to, but because his mom said he had to, he walked me all the way. I was in awe at how polite he was, I wonder if my brothers would ever do such a thing. I would like to think they would.
Tomorrow they are going to bring me to Versailles and then I even scored a ride to the airport. Next time, I know to call ahead.
It was a great day, and Sarah seemed to have good family time too.
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