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Published: January 14th 2010
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Another day in Tours!
Yesterday and today were both beautiful days in Tours! No rain, no snow, and some sun here and there! Yesterday seven of us went out to lunch and had pizza—I had a 4 cheese pizza—including goat cheese! (Now you can’t get that at dominoes!) It was nice to relax for a while after our 3 hour class in the morning, which consists of an hour of listening to each other and the radio (and then trying to determine what the radio new report was saying), an hour of grammar (right now figuring out the many many ways that the French can speak in the past tense), and an hour of “methodologie” as in figuring out how to write an essay in French—which is actually completely different than writing an essay in English. But, no, it still does not sound like something enjoyable to do. We have to write an essay on some aspect of French culture for Wednesday in partners—four pages. Also, our teacher was absolutely shocked slash didn’t understand how American’s write papers double spaced. So four pages, single spaced. Ewwwwww.
Anyway, after lunch we had our hour of “phonetiques” class and I was
The institut
Not very pretty, but so far where I spend most of my time... absolutely awful (although my family still claims that my accent isn’t THAT bad—kind of makes me wonder about all the other Americans they’ve hosted previously…) Allison and I then decided to take some pictures of the city while it was sunny and pretty out (thus the pictures in this post). We stopped at a supermarket where I bought some Orangina and a kinder bar—it was just a tiny supermarket but it also had an entire aisle of wine for as cheap as about 2 euros a bottle! Mildly different than America. We then walked through the Marché des fleurs (flower market on the main street in Tours that happens every Wednesday and Sunday—even though there was still snow on the ground!) There were also little tents selling purses, clothes, etc. Allison stopped to look at a purse and the vendor started telling us about how great the bag was and we were just like, oh, we’re just looking, and walked away—he started yelling after us 15 euro! (The price tag on the bag said 20—good thing to remember if we ever actually want to buy anything…)
We then went to Allison’s house, scared her host mom half to death
Top of St Martin!
My landmark to know how far away I am from the institut, and where my family goes to church! by our sudden appearance upstairs, did our homework, and I walked back to my house to be greeted by a dinner that I will never ever ever eat again. It started out like every other dinner—some sort of vegetable purée soup, and then something was served on my plate that looked kind of like an enchilada—something covered in cheese and wrapped in ham. I began to eat it and it wasn’t so bad at first—although I was completely perplexed as to what it was. However, with each bite it became more and more bitter and I could tell that my gag reflex was dangerously close to kicking in. However, this family never ever leaves anything on their plates. However much is made for lunch or dinner, that’s how much is eaten. Exactly. No crumbs on the places, every last bit of sauces scooped up for the plate, bowl, whatever. Every drop of water in your cup must be gone, and everyone has seconds and thirds as many times as it takes to finish off whatever is in the pan.
Luckily, the mom must have noticed the awful sickly look on my face when I was trying so hard to
Hotel de Ville
Tours city Hall eat the dish that they had all already finished and I was only halfway done. She saved me and said that I didn’t have to eat it, although I felt really bad—apparently it was endive. As in something I will never eat again. Thankfully, we had cheese afterwards with her homemade bread to cleanse the taste from my mouth (goat cheese, sheep cheese, and cow cheese…yum).
Today was like most of my other days—lots of class, lunch at a little sandwich place, then going to a crêperie and splitting a Nutella crêpe with Mackenzie, more class, and then we all had our first class that will last the rest of the term—FREN 216, which will prepare us to take the DELF exam—an exam in France that basically demonstrates proficiency in the language—it’s kind of like the SAT?? but actually totally different—you can show your score to an employer to get a job, or if you go to a university it helps them place you in a class…there are also different levels, and we’re all taking B1 (I think the 3rd of 6 levels, but not sure). Anyway, we just took a practice DELF today, which was actually not that
bad. I don’t think I got a 100% or anything, but I think that an entire semester, 4 hours of class a week to prepare for that exam will be major overkill. Oh well.
After class, Allison, Mackenzie, and I went to a boulangerie that Allison and I found the first day and got donuts—I got a raspberry one, which was delicious. (Allison got an apple one, which has become her daily ritual. At least one apple donut each day—today the woman at the boulangerie remembered her!) Then we went to the office of Tourism in Tours to look for postcards and I bought my first spoon of the semester! (For those of you who don’t know, yes, I collect spoons, and my goal is to get one every place I go this semester.)
I came home, did some homework, had Beâ (the 16 year old) correct my grammar workbook (still having some problems with the past tense…) And now I’m just waiting for dinner! After dinner tonight I’m meeting up with all the Bucknell people at some Irish pub—The Pale tonight—apparently a place that Bucknellians go every year because the people there speak English, which is less
Marche des fleurs
The biweekly flower (and other things) market that happens on the sidewalk on the bvd! intimidating at first. Sarah and Steph (the two girls who were here last semester and are staying for the year) are going to be gone this weekend, so they’re showing us where The Pale is tonight! Luckily I live close to Sarah and one block away from Denise, so I won’t get lost! (Although looking at a map, it shouldn’t be that difficult to find.)
Side note:
Something I forgot to say about Sunday—I dried my hair using the sweet outlet converter that I got for Christmas but it just made the power like half of what it was. After, I plugged in my straightener and began brushing my teeth—then I looked over and saw smoke FUMING from my straightener!!!! The plastic on the handle was melting!!! I unplugged it right away, but Beâ asked me about the smell when I went downstairs…whoops. And now my hairdryer doesn’t work either…I found an extra one in the bathroom, but I’m not really sure if my hairdryer is just done-sauce…luckily my laptop still charges!
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G. Irene/G. Walt
non-member comment
interesting
What an education you are getting and studies are only a small part of it as it seems. Good luck on the food. I wonder if your family are the norm or a little more conservative than some? All is well here with it getting to about 75 during the day. Our love to you.