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Published: October 11th 2006
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Alix and his cotton candy
At the Forum Jeunes. Sarah's photo. I can hardly believe it's the middle of October! Dad comes in:
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Yeah!!!
Well, I've kept busy. Classes went fine last week and then Thursday evening Sarah and I met with Jeffrey Hopes, our advisor who is an English professor here (from England originally).
He had to stay in town Thursday night (usually commutes from Paris) for late meetings Thursday and early ones Friday. So we went to an Irish pub called McKinleys to catch up on how things were going and just generally visit about France. Turns out (not surprisingly, if you've seen many French films) Woody Allen movies are huge here. As is Without a Trace (FBI: Port Disparu).
Afterwards Sarah and I caught up with Leanna, Alix and Eugene at the Colorado - a tabac/cafe/bar across the street where student groups frequently sponsor events.
We stayed there pretty late, despite the awful attempt they had at a strobe light.
Friday I went into town with Sarah and got groceries and a bunch of warm clothes, as it has gotten really cold and damp here. Then Friday night we had a movie night in my room and watched 50 First Dates with
Scary photo of me and Leanna
The settings on the camera make it look like Leanna is a ghost about to eat me. And my third eye. Wierd. Alix, Leanna, Ruth and Sarah. We started to watch Love, Actually but some friends of Leanna's called and invited us to visit them in centre ville.
So we walked into town and visited for a while which was nice to use our French. Luckily by this late in the evening/night the rain had stopped. They decided to go out to a club, but Ruth was pretty tired so we walked back together.
Saturday I went into town again- this time though it was sunny and beautiful - for a few more groceries and met up with Alix and Ruth. I learned that a jumper is a sweater in British. Ruth bought a cute green striped jumper and we got some groceries and she and I headed back.
We had just got back to campus when Leanna called to say that Alix had called her and said the thing he stayed in Centre Ville for was pretty interesting. It is called the Forum Jeunes and it's a big event sponsored by the city with random booths and games and then concerts in the evening.
So I put my groceries up and she and I and Sarah headed
Vieux Mans
The old Roman Wall, taken on the way to the Forum Jeunes. back into town. We found Alix and a lot of the things were closing up to prepare for the concerts. We stayed for one band that was alright- an upright and 2 guitars - and then another band that sang half their songs in English. They were more electronic and pretty good actually, but as the event seems to attract mostly 14 year olds with little or no personal space issues, we headed home after a few of their songs.
We decided to instead watch Love, Actually so Sarah finally got to see it.
Sunday I enjoyed being lazy for most of the day. I tried to make some minestrone soup (prepackaged) but it sucked. Luckily Ruth texted to say she was making pasta.
I went over and enjoyed some homemade arrabiata sauce and then abandoned my study plans to do yet another movie night.
We watched the 2nd half of Harry Potter 2 (Leanna and Sarah had started it before dinner), all of Harry Potter 3 and Napoleon Dynamite, which was actually better the second time (though the sarcastic company mocking it helped). Then we played on YouTube for a bit before deciding to walk
The Cathedral
Also taken on the way to the Forum Jeunes. down and see if Speedy Burger was open.
In France, they don't really have the 24 hour concept. There's a lunch period, and a dinner period, and that's that. But we thought it would be worth finding out and it turns out they close at 11.
Finally went to bed and got up Monday and went to the kebab place with Leanna. That's another interesting thing about France. They frequently just shove your fries in the sandwhich and it is just assumed that if you want a sauce with your fries then you want the same on the sandwhich and vice versa. Even when Leanna asked for half ketchup half mayonaise, she was given that on the sandwhich and a little cup of the same for her fries.
The we went to our Geography TD that had been rescheduled from last week to Monday. After class I spent a nice lazy evening studying.
Tuesday was a full day of classes - our last geography lecture/td for geography of the population. The final is this next week and then we start Urban Geography the week after. Also 18th century lit where we finally got our paper topic, and translation.
In Geography Val mentioned that she and Nici were planning a weekend trip to Rome. Leanna and I both said we'd like to go. Well, that evening I get a text from Leanna "Come watch Princess Bride and we're booking flights to Rome".
So, yet another movie night. You'd think this would get old, but no. Ruth had never seen it and Fiona was finally convinced by the end of it that she in fact had. Then we went to Val's room and got all the details on Rome- they had found a cheap flight, Nic was going to drive to the airport, and we found an apartment for not too much right in the center.
Plus, the plans were to go November 23. MY BIRTHDAY! So I couldn't pass it up and we all booked flights and I'm waiting for confirmation on the room. I can not imagine a better 21st birthday!!! I can't wait to see everyone and eat all the Italian food!!! That's also Thanksgiving. Can. Not. Wait!
All I have to do now is make it another 5 weeks without exploding from excitement.
Today we had a bit of a thunderstorm which was exciting. And I've just rested/studied which I need to get back to! Hope everyone is doing well back home and making it through midterms ok!
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Mary Margaret
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Gorgeous Pictures! Sounds like you're having a blast!