PARIS Day 08

Leaving Paris

After last night's experience, I thought to myself. Should I spend 60 Euros with one Parsian but a garanteed and smooth arrival at the Aeroport, or should I spend 8.20 Euro with many Parsians and an unknown journey to the aeroport?

I choose the 8.20 option.

In my mind, I just wanted to leave the hostel, the metro, the city... I decided to shut my emotion during my journey to the aeroport, expecting the unexpected, and be numb to all the experiences I was going through.

At the Metro, I tried to buy the ticket to the aeroport. The staff at the station was unhelpful. I looked at the ticket machine and couldn't figure out how to use it, so I asked the person next to me for help. He operated the machine once and I remembered the steps. So I tried to do it myself.

First of all, there is this roller under the screen that has no indication on what it is or how to use it. It turns out to be the scroller for you to navigate the interface.

Secondly, there is a multi-language option, but it's on the second page.

Thirdly, the machine I was using has no accepter for paper money, only coins and credit cards.

Fourthly, the machine rejected my credit card.

Lastly, I switched to another machine that took cash, but couldn't figure out where the ticket was dispensed. Then I found out that it was in this pocket below the controls. Again, no indication, bad human factor design.

I had one medium sized luggage on rollers, however, it was almost impossible to get through the metro gates with it. I didn't see any gate for wheel chairs either, so I had to get through the gate, and dragged my luggage from under the rotating bars.

Then I realized how unfriendly the metro stations are for the physically disabled. From one point to another are flights of stairs after flights of stairs without escalators in most of the stations. I saw a handicapped individual dragging his legs up in one Metro station with no one to help him. I wonder if this is another Parisian wonder.

Then at a metro station where I had to change train, I came across this choir, singing a song that sounds like Russian. Somehow, it felt like a "mission accomplished" fair well song for my journey. I wanted to stay to listen to it, but time was catching up with me after spending 20min on the ticket purchase. I did take a small portion of the song with me:



So after that, I took the RER train to the CDG aeroport, where the lines are long and slow. I was emotionally numb, so I didn't care anymore. I was glad that I got onto the plane fine, and on my way out of the city.



On the plane, just as I thought it was over, I started having extreme headache from the two nights which I spend in the cold. Plus the dry environment on the plane, I was also suffering from dehydration. It was not a happy ending for me. And back to Detroit, I had a presentation to prepare 2 days later, but crippled by the massive headache that just wouldn't go away. Paris was haunting me.

Nonetheless, I felt much better the day before the presentation, and was able to put it together. It went well, I was happy, and it was time to move on.


I don't want to discourage anyone from having any anticipation for going to Paris. That was my experience, which is probably unique. I know Laura will be saying "Sorry" for my experience, but I don't think this is her responsibility either. It's an experience and no one's responsible. I myself cannot guarantee that you will have a pleasant experience if you were to visit Detroit or Taiwan. Maybe you will hate it. Who knows. I do look forward to visit other parts of Europe, include the rest of France. My Parisian experience will only shape my impression of the city and no where else.

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Later!