I read books

This is a breakthrough for me. I have read 2 whole books since I've lived in France. Therefor, I have read 2 books in three months. That is incredible. For those who don't know me that well...I never used to read, and never is not an exaggeration. I don't think that I have finished a book since middle school...among the unread and unfinished are all the required readings through school attempted 'leisure' readings. I just never was able to sit down and read a book. I've started countless and only got so far and then just gave up, but since I've been in France something changed...I actually like it now. I have read My Best Friends Girl and Mountains Beyond Mountains and I'm on the look for a new one. I think a big reason why I like reading now is that I don't feel stressed about not running around like a crazy person trying to get errands and chores done. It feels nice to be a reader. :)

Wine in class?? In France, Oui!

Today was a rather interesting day in my 9 a.m. language class with Monsieur Chapus. A classmate gave a speech on Le Beaujolais nouveau. Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks then officially released for sale on the third Thursday of November. This "Beaujolais Day", or "Beaujolais Nouveau Day" sees heavy marketing from the producers, with races to get the first bottles of the vintage to different markets. Evidently, as a 'visual' he brought a bottle and our professor was nice enough to go get an enormous chocolate cake from one of the best bakeries in town because he said it was a good pair, and couldn't imagine us drinking the wine and not having something to accompany it. His 5 minute presentation proceeded into us learning about wine and wine tasting and pairing...in my language class, from my professor, for an hour. I love it!

Mousse au Chacolat

Yesterday, Saturday, I went to a little cooking class to learn how to make chocolate mousse. It wasn't at a facility or anything professional, it was at a friends host home. Her host mom puts on cooking classes every once and a while to teach foreign students how to make some of the most popular french desserts. The mousse turned out to be really simple and turned out delicious. After we finished learning how to make it she had some pre-prepared mousse for us to eat and we sat in her living room practicing our french with her. She was the sweetest woman and she sat at the table with us just listening and would politely help or correct us when we got stuck in our conversation. We got a tour of her home and she gave us a little insight on a 'normal' french lifestyle. Overall, the day was really fun and I felt like I really experienced France. I now know how to make mousse au chacolate and am more familiar with what goes on inside a french home.

Barcelona, a little late.

Barcelona was amazing. It was vibrant, and full of life. It was not what I was expecting but it was a pleasant surprise. It was though, to my expectaions of not being truly 'Spanish.' They actually speak Catalan and while they have most of the same traditions and food. Either way, Barcelona was full of things to do. There were so many little things to go see and do that one could spend years there and still not see and experience everything. Brie and I did all the main Gaudi stops, the houses, Sagrada Familia, and Parc Guell. All of which were interestingly captivating. Honestly, before learning about Gaudi and his works, i just thought they were too over the top and simply too much. Although, after the mini museum in Sagrada Familia about him and his work, I understand it. I still think it's rather unnecessarily loud, but I at least appreciate it. We went to the HUGE market on La Rambla and up and down La Rambla in all the shops and side streets. One of my favorite parts of the trip was just wandering, and getting lost in the Gothic Quater. Which was just an array of churches, gothic architecture, shops and restaurants. One thing that caught my attention in Barcelona was all of the street performers and how amazing they were. Most all were musicians and I seriously would have listened to their music if they were famous. There was everything from a classical violinist to a crazzzy reggae band. There was a point where a high school drum line started a mini parade through the streets and everyone started dancing and following. All the energy and happiness was contagious. I loved it.

Barcelona night life isn't so bad either. :) The first night we went to a local couch surfing house through a friend and shared wine while conversing with people from all over the world. On Halloween we did a pub crawl, which was an experience to say the least. It was so fun and I now know why it is a pub 'crawl' and not a pub hop, or walk. Every Friday and Saturday night there is an extremely large fountain that does a show, with lights and music. It was nothing short of spectacular. The colors and water show combined with the music was something that everyone needs to see, after all, it was FREE!

The food was also great in Barcelona. The Paella and tapas were delicious, and the sangria was perfect. The market had fresh juice smoothies for a euro that they made that day with all their fresh fruits, I had 2 a day :)

Overall Barcelona is a beautiful city that is full of life, and I definitely would go back.

winter has begun.

While it is not officially winter, it is cold enough in by book to be classified as the winter season. It is still beautiful and sunny, but the winter bite followed by the wind is what kills it. October-ness is in full effect also. Although, it is weird not having Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations everywhere, it's just going straight to Christmas (which has already begun to come out in the stores, but only a little)School is going well, I finally know what classes im taking and they are..dun dun dunnn, Theater, Texts of Theater, French Political Institutions, and English/French Translation, along with the language class. They all seem to be good so far, but we'll see after the break. Speaking of break, we have our first one already next week. Ahh, how I love the French lifestyle; never work too long or too hard. Anyway, I'm going to Barcelona! We are only going for 3 days but it was a great deal and I'm so excited to go to Espana! It will be the first time out of France. Since that is only a long weekend trip, we are also going to a fete (party, festival..)of 1720 in La Ciotat. It should be interesting.

what's school?

So classes finally started last week. I almost forgot I was really here to learn...Well I made it through PLP (prep language program) which was 4 weeks of class from 9-1 Monday through Friday. it was a bit intense having 4 hours of class every morning, but i didn't have much else to do so it didn't seem so bad. We then got a week off, which was when we went to Paris and actual university classes started last Monday. The way the classes here are by Niveau 1 through 5. In preparing transfer classes I was told I would only be in level 2, which wasn't upper division so I wouldn't get full credit, BUT little did they know, I knew more then they thought! ha. so I'm in three and I'm taking 12 hours of language class and 6 or 8 hours of electives. The electives I'm taking are a theater class, french stories, and french business. All the electives are taught in French so it gives new meaning to 'paying attention' in class. but they are only once a week for 2 hours. The first few days of last week were so hectic because here, you don't sign up for specific classes and then only go to those, you get the schedule of all the electives and then you just go to whatever you want and keep going to the ones you like and stop going to the ones you don't like. So, I went to so many classes trying to figure out what ones i wanted and which ones I didn't want. Not only that but I was originally placed in level 4 which was pretty hard so i was going to 4 and 3 classes until i could officially switch. But, I survived and I know my classes and I like them and Im going to be a French major instead of minor because i get into a higher level. so school is officially underway in France. WHEW.

As far as this weekend went, it was nice. Both of my roommates went to Spain for a Fiesta so I have the place all to myself, and it is the first time in about 2 months that I have been alone. So it's been nice to say the least. The other night some of us went to French house party and that was really fun and funny, and today I have been a cleaning machine. but it feels nice to have a clean place :) Tomorrow I start to fall into somewhat regularity of school which will be tight and then ill be off on improving my french. (which I already am feeling more comfortable using)
love you all!!

Sunday mass in the Notre Dame, Napoleons not-so-little casket, and baby Mona