Before long I was able to get out, return on the next train back, and then finally get on the right train. A helpful stranger helped me make sure I was going in the right direction.
It still takes me a little bit of trial and error when I am taking the Métro to new places, but I am much better now about reading all of the signs. I even sometimes ask people if I am unsure where a particular train is going. Little by little I have gotten the hang of using the Métro, and I now feel much more comfortable using it.
I really think it is connected, because so many Parisians use the Métro. It makes the people of the city very interconnected. Someone who lives on one side of Paris can work in or visit the other side of the city very easily. I would also say that using the Métro forces people to walk around. Since they aren't relying on their cars, they walk to and from the stations, and also in between stations when they are changing train lines. Having all of these people moving about really makes Paris feel alive and bustling with energy!
