he did call, one day later. He hadn't realized that the tabac where he got the phone cards would be closed on Sunday... We are so used to having everything available, all of the time, we don't stop to think that different countries will not subscribe to the belief of instant gratification...everything is now....everything works, trains and buses run on schedule, stores are open, if not all night, at least really late, and pretty much every day of the year! Not so in Paris....the metro goes on strike it seems every other day, and when it is running, schedules are, at best, iffy.... you very quickly get used to waiting...patiently....because, where else are you going to go...? chances are, if the metro is not running, neither are the buses...so you can either get a taxi (expensive) or you can walk....like most parisiens...wearing black...

I started following his whereabouts, via google earth. earth.google.com For the first 8 days, he was at the 3 ducks, he had left the U.S. a week early because he really wanted to explore the City before he had to  check in at the Cité Universitaire, which is the dormitory for non-parisian students, his program only allowed for him to stay at the Maison des Etudiants Canadiens for 10 days, enough time to find housing.  

The University provided a liason in Paris, the micefa.org the organization provides among other things, housing referrals - a very lucky thing indeed, because that is how he came in contact with Madame Renaut, the loveliest of French women who would prove to be invaluable in the months to come....