I was just getting settled into my nice big seat in 1st class when the captain announced we were preparing to land. What? Already? I mean, I know these new jets are fast, but it seemed like we had just taken off! As a stewardess walked by I reached out and got her attention so I could ask her where we were landing at...her reply...Paris. What??? Paris??? I told her no, I was on my way to Quebec, not Paris! She smiled and told me this was the flight to Paris, I would have a 90minute layover there before boarding my flight to Quebec.

I grabbed my mobile to look at my ticket (yes, I had it in airplane mode and had saved my ticket information on my mobile) and there it was, plain as day, a layover in Paris. I will get into Quebec at 2:55PM local time, but I will be spending 90 minutes in Charles De Gaulle Airport! Guess I get to practice my French earlier than I thought! As I got my stuff and got off of the plane, I entered the lounge of the airport when a steward from Air France approached me, "Mr Boudreaux, the 1st Class Lounge is this way." Yea, I am going to like this!

As I walk in, I see some of the passengers from my flight, I tripped over my feet as I tried to find a place to sit. Boy, this is alot different than flying economy! I got on my mobile and called Ma, I had to tell her where I was. I am sure my Irish brogue stood out like a sore thumb in this quiet lounge. The waitress came up and I was ready, I had practiced it in my head, repeating it over and over....

She said, "Bonjour monsieur, que puis-je vous apporter ?" Oh man, I hope she was asking what I wanted...I understood the first 2 words...but not the rest...here goes though....as I smiled and said "Bonjour, puis-je avoir un café noir et un croissant s'il vous plaît ?" She smiled, wrote something down and replied "Merci, je vais vous le faire parvenir." I didnt understand anything except "Merci" and I smiled and replied with my most confident "Merci" I could muster. Wondering all the while what I just said to her. Was I going to end up with snails or something? Did I just ask for a bottle of washing up liquid? I guess we will see....

A few minutes later she returns and yes, I had said it correctly! Or at least she could figure out what I had said. I had a cup of black coffee and a croissant! I sipped my coffee, after adding some milk and sugar, I didnt want to risk asking for that to be put in the coffee, I dont know what I would have ended up with.

It seemed like no time at all had passed when a steward approached me and told me that my flight would be boarding soon. I was able to have a cup of coffee with Ma. She was having a cup as well, Facetime is a wonderful thing, I miss my family already, but with this modern tech, I can pretty much see them whenever I want. She said Da had went to work, I think that is his escape sometimes. I told Ma goodbye, that I would let her know when I landed in Quebec and I headed back out to the gate to board the next aircraft in my journey.

As I walked down the ramp to board the aircraft, I realized that I was afraid and confident at the same time, nervous and excited...was that what being an "adult" felt like? I dont know what comes next, but I cant wait to find out!