In Paris I am still getting used to speaking French, but so far the people I have talked to seem very understanding and helpful.
Since I have been here, it has rained on and off during the day. The morning I first arrived, the whole city was covered in thick fog, then by afternoon the sun came out for a bit. Because this is my first time in Paris, I am not sure if this is normal for this time of year or not.
So far I have seen several species of birds while just walking around, including house sparrows, pigeons and European starlings. I am sure I will see more critters as I explore the city further. I am very much looking forward to going to the Ménagerie, which is a zoo connected to the Paris Botanical Garden and which is supposed to have a lot of interesting animals!
I am always amazed at how much life there can be in cities. My mentor at the museum where I will be working even told me about an endangered species of toad that lives in a little pond behind one of the museum buildings!
