Flying from the lonely Lambert St. Louis International Airport to Philadelphia was uneventful in a good way. Parents were left at the check-in counter after an emotional “bon voyage” and the first leg of the French adventure began. Our two hour connecting flight was not what I would consider smooth; turbulence turned the last hour into a flying roller coaster as the plane dipped and dived through the air.

Our noses were overwhelmed with delicious aromas during the first steps we took into the Philadelphia International Airport. Almost every inch of space was taken up by restaurants ranging from chic cafes to rowdy sports bars and everything in between.

The Philadelphia International Airport resembles a large mall, hosting stores such as Pandora, GAP, a Harley Davidson outlet and even an art exhibit. It was too easy to get lost in the twists and turns separating each terminal, and deciding on a restaurant for lunch was certainly a challenge.

After a long four hours, we finally boarded the airbus to Paris. Not only did the flight attendants cover the safety procedures in English, but also in French. The in-flight dinner and breakfast consisted of odd French brands and Gruyère cheese.

In the end, it was a foggy landing at Charles de Gaul Airport to cap off our travels to Paris. The seven hour difference meant that we landed Friday morning, even though in the U.S. it was still Thursday night. A piece of advice: jet lag exists, do not mess around with the in-flight television instead of catching up on some much needed rest.