Re-Imagining My Own ‘Sabrina’ Movie

       After trying to imagine myself in different outfits in my various and imaginative Parisian markets and rues for four days, I can finally say that I’ve finished packing.

     When I was younger, we used to own a VHS tape of the 1995 movie, ‘Sabrina’ featuring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear. My father, who loved watching the movie over and over would say every half-hour how gorgeous he thought Julia Ormond (Sabrina) was – probably because she looked like a Parisian version of my mother. I didn’t understand the movie growing up, and I haven’t watched the film recently, but all I remember was how beautiful Paris was in the movie. I’ve never been to Paris, and the idea that the city I’ve fantasized myself living in for years and years will be a place I will be calling ‘home’ for the next four months is exciting, yet very, very frightening to me.

       This past week, I haven’t had the need to run around looking for things I’ll need because I’ve been building my baggage up for the past few months this summer. I already owned most of the things that are on the list, but I did have to look for a strong pair of boots. I was hoping on walking through Paris with heeled boots or small petite heels for fun, like Sabrina, but was reminded by M. about the cobblestone roads in France. I’m usually pretty strong-willed (or stubborn) when it comes to walking and to what shoes to wear, but remembered how painful scabs and bunions are, and decided to put away my heeled boots. I was looking through the monthly and yearly weather forecasts in France, and read about how much “light rain” there was during the year, and added in a few more pairs of socks to the list of things I’ll need to bring. It may seem superfluous bringing a bunch of socks and tights for four months, but I am not someone that would be fine with spending the day walking in damp, moist and smelly socks.

four months in one suitcase

      I’ve tried to pack as little as I can, and even asked a friend, S., how she was able to pack for her 9-month study abroad program in Rome, and how she was able to work with ten outfits.  I also tried to make the list as detailed as possible, not because I think there’s a huge difference between “pj pants” and “yoga pants” but I do think it would be a little more helpful for others interested in studying abroad or other students having a difficult time packing if I posted an honest list of what I’m bringing and why I’m bringing them.

Ladijosifee