So tomorrow when I leave from seeing people at the Institute, I can't say "À demain" (essentially, "See you tomorrow"), because I won't be having a "tomorrow" in Avignon tomorrow. That's insane. I can't believe it.
"Parce qu'on sait jamais, regarde vers la haut."
"Because one never knows. Look up, think to the future."
I woke up this morning at 8am. I left my huge tall windows open (which by the way are awesome and I'm going to miss) because it was really warm, and especially since my bed is lofted and heat rises. SO anyways, the crazy Avignon guido hooligans were being loud and obnoxious at 8am this morning and plus, I think I "turned into" a light sleeper for the past week since I'm so torn about leaving Avignon and going back to the US.
Claudie said "Bon nuit, le dernier."
So I studied in bed for about a half hour (I reviewed my flashcards for my Literature class) then got up and started packing. I wasn't too sure that I was going to fit everything but I did in the end (I didn't finish packing until this afternoon). I will feel a lot better once that suitcase is approved (if its more than 50 lbs it can be checked but with a fee. If its over 70 lbs I'm not allowed to check it) and checked, and I'm through security.
I showered (my last shower in this shower without a "permanent" shower head) then got dressed for the day. I had really worked up a sweat packing! :-) I went to school a few minutes early to say hello to everyone and do a last minute review. The professor thought my flashcards were cute. The exam took over 2 hours for me (which is our allotted time) and some students took over a half hour extra.
Came home and finished packing.
Theater association/company "reunion" - they talked business then we ate dinner.
Two major highlights they asked me that I'll share:
1. what was surprising to me when I arrived in France? I was like, nothing, I can't really remember. They were like, nothing. And I was like, well I don't really know, it's been a 4 months since I arrived. They all laughed!
2. Then they asked me to explain what the word "merdique" is in english. I explained. If you don't speak French, then look it up on google translate or wordreference.com.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Le 107ieme jour: Ç'allait
Exam this morning: 9am
Time I got up this morning: 7:30am
Time I finished my exam: 10:40am
Going to bed at the same time as Claudie last night: timeless
Well okay, not really...it was 2am. I could read the clock no matter how wacky I was feeling. But you get my drift...maybe.
Exams were good. I felt good when I left them, and felt even better just by the fact that I was finished.
Bought stamps to send postcards. Yes, I know I will return home before the postcards get there, but I still want to send them anyway.
Went up on the roof one last time, even though it's interdit. I had to enjoy the 75F weather here before I go home to where it has recently been at least 20 degrees colder.
Dinner, tv, studying, paper writing. ... all successfully completed.
It is so hard to leave. I can't believe it. Four months ago I arrived and there was snow and ice on the ground, and I could barely figure out what people were saying to me. Now 8.5 times out of 10, I understand what people are saying to be the first time they speak and 9.75 times out of 10 I understand the second time. I can navigate my way around Avignon and often get mistaken for a native.
Tomorrow is my last night in Avignon, my second to last night in France for this semester.
Time I got up this morning: 7:30am
Time I finished my exam: 10:40am
Going to bed at the same time as Claudie last night: timeless
Well okay, not really...it was 2am. I could read the clock no matter how wacky I was feeling. But you get my drift...maybe.
Exams were good. I felt good when I left them, and felt even better just by the fact that I was finished.
Bought stamps to send postcards. Yes, I know I will return home before the postcards get there, but I still want to send them anyway.
Went up on the roof one last time, even though it's interdit. I had to enjoy the 75F weather here before I go home to where it has recently been at least 20 degrees colder.
Dinner, tv, studying, paper writing. ... all successfully completed.
It is so hard to leave. I can't believe it. Four months ago I arrived and there was snow and ice on the ground, and I could barely figure out what people were saying to me. Now 8.5 times out of 10, I understand what people are saying to be the first time they speak and 9.75 times out of 10 I understand the second time. I can navigate my way around Avignon and often get mistaken for a native.
Tomorrow is my last night in Avignon, my second to last night in France for this semester.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Le 106ieme jour/T-4: Un bain de boue./A mud bath.
Brief bullets/summary of my day
.Met with a University representative for the Avignon University. She is supposed to be the International Student Relations Coordinator. I've never met her before. I leave in 4 days and have one more class session at the University.
.Sylvie (our director) treated us IAU/University students to lunch outside at a restaurant in Place Louis Pasteur.
.Did some last minute gift/tourist shopping
.Spent the rest of that time studying for Poli Sci. and History exams that I have tomorrow.
.Met with a University representative for the Avignon University. She is supposed to be the International Student Relations Coordinator. I've never met her before. I leave in 4 days and have one more class session at the University.
.Sylvie (our director) treated us IAU/University students to lunch outside at a restaurant in Place Louis Pasteur.
.Did some last minute gift/tourist shopping
.Spent the rest of that time studying for Poli Sci. and History exams that I have tomorrow.
~~~
As my days in France wind down, everyday I find myself thinking of new things that I will miss. Here is my list from today:
.the church hymn that the church bells in Place St Didier play at noon and 7pm that no one seems to know the name of
.the classical music that the neighbor across the street plays spontaneously on random days
.being able to speak in "code" aka English...when I go home, I'll have to find people I can speak in "code" with aka French
.inexpensive "bubbly" (carbonated) water
.strong, delicious, dark coffee (even the instant coffee can sometimes be better than brewed coffee in the US)
.walking under the canopy of the fruit, veggie, bread market and smelling the fresh aroma of all the delicious smells that are captured under the overhang
.the classical music that the neighbor across the street plays spontaneously on random days
.being able to speak in "code" aka English...when I go home, I'll have to find people I can speak in "code" with aka French
.inexpensive "bubbly" (carbonated) water
.strong, delicious, dark coffee (even the instant coffee can sometimes be better than brewed coffee in the US)
.walking under the canopy of the fruit, veggie, bread market and smelling the fresh aroma of all the delicious smells that are captured under the overhang
Le 105ieme jour/T-5: Le dernier jour des cours
-Last day of classes: history and poli sci.
-Michel's last day in France with me. He leaves tomorrow a.m. at 7h45 for his flight from Marseille to Paris and then Paris to Togo.
-Gave them gifts because he was leaving. I gave her the Avatar DVD and I gave him the "singing" motion sensor cicada. Woody loved the cicada, he jumped all around. It was so cute. They really appreciated the letter that I wrote as well. It's amazing how much some honest and kind words can mean.
-We watched Arsène Lupin - a drama/mystery show based off books. Claudie said they're similar to the books of Agatha Christie, and they are from the same time period, but instead by a French author, Maurice Leblanc. She read them as a child and loved them! I am going to look for them tomorrow when I am out doing some brief last minute gift shopping.
-Took two group photos. The first one we weren't ready for, but it still came out well of me and Claudie. The second one is the best photo I have of Michel. I think that he just doesn't look at cameras. :-) I cropped the photos of the pairs (Claudie and I, Michel and I), but also kept the originals, the best one of which I will send to Claudie when I get back to the States.
-Michel's last day in France with me. He leaves tomorrow a.m. at 7h45 for his flight from Marseille to Paris and then Paris to Togo.
-Gave them gifts because he was leaving. I gave her the Avatar DVD and I gave him the "singing" motion sensor cicada. Woody loved the cicada, he jumped all around. It was so cute. They really appreciated the letter that I wrote as well. It's amazing how much some honest and kind words can mean.
-We watched Arsène Lupin - a drama/mystery show based off books. Claudie said they're similar to the books of Agatha Christie, and they are from the same time period, but instead by a French author, Maurice Leblanc. She read them as a child and loved them! I am going to look for them tomorrow when I am out doing some brief last minute gift shopping.
-Took two group photos. The first one we weren't ready for, but it still came out well of me and Claudie. The second one is the best photo I have of Michel. I think that he just doesn't look at cameras. :-) I cropped the photos of the pairs (Claudie and I, Michel and I), but also kept the originals, the best one of which I will send to Claudie when I get back to the States.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Le 104ieme jour/T-6: J'ai baladé.
Got up this morning, went to the free market and got some cadeaux for people. It's very overwhelming, there are so many things to choose from and pick between. Mirel met me there after I'd been browsing for about a half hour. She also bought a gift or two. We went back to her house and ate lunch outside on the patio under the purple flowers (seen in the picture).
I returned home and je me suis installée (I got comfortable/situated) on the terrace and 'did some homework', though it was more of an effort and less of actual results. Claudie and Michel had gone to Saintes Mairies de la Mer with Woody.
They came back and gave Woody a bath - which he doesn't like. However, it was amusing to see him all skinny with his fur flat from being wet. He then proceeded to come out on the patio and rub off along the wall, pacing back and forth along the wall to dry off. Claudie came and gave me a little gift - they had bought me the salt and herb mix that she uses and has on the table to use at every meal. Apparently it is special to Saintes Mairies de la Mer, or at least the type she gave me is.
For dinner, we ate a little earlier, and by a little earlier, I mean like maybe 5 minutes, but we'd been eating later the last few days, so it seemed extra early. Anyway, we had chicken (poulet rôti), green beans (haricots verts), and french fries (frites américains).
After dinner was the Molieres, named after the famous french playwright, Moliere (in case you didn't know who he was). This awards ceremony is for french theater only - best actor/actress, best up-and-coming actor/actress, best costumes, best director, etc. There were a lot of people that Claudie and Michel knew or used to work with. I still find that so cool that they know people who are on tv in awards shows.
Michel leaves Tuesday morning for Togo, so I will be giving him his gift of a chirping, motion censor cicada. He likes them according to Claudie, so I found one over Spring Break in Cassis.
Bises.
I returned home and je me suis installée (I got comfortable/situated) on the terrace and 'did some homework', though it was more of an effort and less of actual results. Claudie and Michel had gone to Saintes Mairies de la Mer with Woody.
They came back and gave Woody a bath - which he doesn't like. However, it was amusing to see him all skinny with his fur flat from being wet. He then proceeded to come out on the patio and rub off along the wall, pacing back and forth along the wall to dry off. Claudie came and gave me a little gift - they had bought me the salt and herb mix that she uses and has on the table to use at every meal. Apparently it is special to Saintes Mairies de la Mer, or at least the type she gave me is.
For dinner, we ate a little earlier, and by a little earlier, I mean like maybe 5 minutes, but we'd been eating later the last few days, so it seemed extra early. Anyway, we had chicken (poulet rôti), green beans (haricots verts), and french fries (frites américains).
After dinner was the Molieres, named after the famous french playwright, Moliere (in case you didn't know who he was). This awards ceremony is for french theater only - best actor/actress, best up-and-coming actor/actress, best costumes, best director, etc. There were a lot of people that Claudie and Michel knew or used to work with. I still find that so cool that they know people who are on tv in awards shows.
Michel leaves Tuesday morning for Togo, so I will be giving him his gift of a chirping, motion censor cicada. He likes them according to Claudie, so I found one over Spring Break in Cassis.
Bises.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Le 103ieme jour / T-7: Saintes-Mairies de la Mer
I always start with the "cons" and end with the "pros." It's better to end on a positive note!
La journée: Saintes Mairies de la Mer
Cons:
-I have bug bites.
-It was cloudy and humid.
-My feet straps weren't appropriately adjusted, thus I "bounced" when we trotted instead of moving with the horse.
-Unable to take a lot of pics.
Pros:
+I went to Sts Mairies de la Mer - where Claudie used to go as a child on vacations!
+Went to the beach and collected cool spiral shells!
+Went horseback riding in the dunes!
+Got a great photo of Mirel!
+Saw flamingos! (Who knew, flamingos in France!!??!!)
+My horse went slowly!
+I didn't fall off!
La journée: Saintes Mairies de la Mer
-I have bug bites.
-It was cloudy and humid.
-My feet straps weren't appropriately adjusted, thus I "bounced" when we trotted instead of moving with the horse.
-Unable to take a lot of pics.
Pros:
+I went to Sts Mairies de la Mer - where Claudie used to go as a child on vacations!
+Went to the beach and collected cool spiral shells!
+Went horseback riding in the dunes!
+Got a great photo of Mirel!
+Saw flamingos! (Who knew, flamingos in France!!??!!)
+My horse went slowly!
+I didn't fall off!
La soirée: La soirée salsa
Cons:
-My friends left early.
-The photo I tried to take with Claudie and Michel didn't come out too well.
-Sometimes I have two left feet (...Hmmm, I wonder if there's a translation into french for that?)
Pros:
+I got a photo with Claudie & Michel. If nothing more, I can show people a picture of them even if it isn't that good a photo.
+I got mistaken for a French person.
+I got asked to (and accepted) dance!
+I got taught salsa basics!
+Took a "timer photo" with Woody. New profile picture perhaps? :-)
-My friends left early.
-The photo I tried to take with Claudie and Michel didn't come out too well.
-Sometimes I have two left feet (...Hmmm, I wonder if there's a translation into french for that?)
Pros:
+I got a photo with Claudie & Michel. If nothing more, I can show people a picture of them even if it isn't that good a photo.
+I got mistaken for a French person.
+I got asked to (and accepted) dance!
+I got taught salsa basics!
+Took a "timer photo" with Woody. New profile picture perhaps? :-)
Le 102ieme jour: Le dernier vendredi en Avignon./The last Friday in Avignon.
Art History this morning: had class where some students presented and then we had a little picnic in the garden by the tourist office and then went to a museum on Rue Victor Hugo by Porte de St. Marguerite. It was a former mansion and there were tapestries, porcelain cups/dishes, old furniture, etc. Nothing special, but it was one last "hurrah" with the art history prof, who told me when/if I come back to France I need to let her know and that I need to keep her updated on what I end up doing with my life. She was super excited at the beginning of the semester to find out that I wanted to go into museum work. She's so sweet and super cute.
Came home, watched some tv, then went over to Mirel's, hung out, and watched some tv. Yes, I'm sitting in my/her room watching tv, but we just needed some chill time.
I returned home, had dinner, watched Boulevard du Palais - a french police/crime show kind of like a mix of Law&Order and CSI, though Claudie strongly dislikes "Les Experts" as CSI is called in French.
After that, went over the guy's house who is in the Foreign Legion, from Colorado. Most of the IAU students went over there to "celebrate" the last weekend. He also has friends who are from Argentina, the Ukraine, and Germany.
Now I am home, pumped to go to St Marie de la Mer tomorrow, even if it is predicted to be cloudy weather. I don't care...I'm going horse back riding and then sitting on the beach! :-)
À demain.
Came home, watched some tv, then went over to Mirel's, hung out, and watched some tv. Yes, I'm sitting in my/her room watching tv, but we just needed some chill time.
I returned home, had dinner, watched Boulevard du Palais - a french police/crime show kind of like a mix of Law&Order and CSI, though Claudie strongly dislikes "Les Experts" as CSI is called in French.
After that, went over the guy's house who is in the Foreign Legion, from Colorado. Most of the IAU students went over there to "celebrate" the last weekend. He also has friends who are from Argentina, the Ukraine, and Germany.
Now I am home, pumped to go to St Marie de la Mer tomorrow, even if it is predicted to be cloudy weather. I don't care...I'm going horse back riding and then sitting on the beach! :-)
À demain.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Le 101ieme jour: Il a une poussette./He has a stroller-pushchair.
Woke up this morning to beautiful fresh French "morning" air as I intentionally had left my window open overnight. It was a gorgeous way to wake up. Got ready for the day - in and out of the shower, etc. Went to eat breakfast and Michel had Woody sitting up on the table out on the patio and he was cutting/combing his hair! When he finished and Woody jumped off the table, he came in and explained to me that he'd been doing it for over 2 hours. While he was talking to me, Woody was going crazy...he wanted Michel to keep combing his fur! What a crazy dog indeed! :-)
Had my last Lit. class this morning where she went over our exam, how to prepare for it, etc. I don't anticipate any problems on this exam, as she basically gave us the questions that will be on the exam. I spent the rest of the day eating my lunch and working on my art history paper. With the recent arrival of beautiful weather (mid to high 70s), we'd been going up on the roof to hang out during lunch, and have little picnics. I didn't go up today because I was being a busy bee working on my paper, but the directrice discovered that there were students up there and she went up and told them it was not allowed and that they had to come down. Oh well!
At 4:30 I headed out with Jenn for our university class. We popped by Mme Deronne's office to talk to her about our assignment. Because we don't follow the same schedule as they do at the university, Jenn and I get a different final exam assignment. However, Mme Deronne wasn't in her office. We arrived to class about 10 minutes early. -- My rule of thumb since arriving in France has been as follows: If you don't know how you are supposed to act or what you are supposed to do in a particular situation, watch over French people and follow suit. -- This rule has served me quite well. For example, I'm pretty sure that you aren't supposed to enter the classroom before the professor has arrived. However, today seemed to be the exception, as many of the French students/people entered the room before Mme Deronne had gotten there. I don't know how the circumstances were different than other times that they've waited, but I followed suit.
We got our midterm exams back (we don't get to keep them, but we got to look at them). Jenn and I both received an 11/20. Before you freak out, that's actually a really good grade. To give you a frame of reference, Mme Deroone told the whole class that the french students received between an 8 and an 11. Granted, our grades are adjusted because we're not native french speakers, but still, that means we were on the same level as the native French speakers. -- Our directrice will adjust/translate our grade into an actual letter grade for our transcripts. --
Also, Mme Deronne gave us our "final paper" assignment. We have to pick an artist, talk about his works, give examples, put him in context, and talk about what he contributed to the "nature morte" style. It only has to be 3 to 4 pages! How fantastic is that!?!?
Claudie was in on the computer and Michel came in, telling her about he had combed/cut Woody's fur. He called in Woody and then had him hop up on the swivel chair, at which point Michel said, "Il a une poussette," thus inspiring the title of today's post.
Claudie showed me a forwarded email that one of her friends sent her about english-french translation and pronounciation. The following is an example:
Dinner was chicken (cut up like stir fry style in some kind of sauce/juice), ratatouille over rice. I don't care how many times she serves it, I love ratatouille!
After dinner, we watched The Outlaw: Josey Wales (L'hors loi: Josey Wales), a movie created and acted in by Clint Eastwood. Michel recorded it to bring down to Togo to show the people in the village. They are certainly all about there westerns here. Then we watched a short show about jazz/Harlem/New Orleans, and then watched the Breaking Point (Point Break) with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. It just made me want to watch Blue Crush.
Had my last Lit. class this morning where she went over our exam, how to prepare for it, etc. I don't anticipate any problems on this exam, as she basically gave us the questions that will be on the exam. I spent the rest of the day eating my lunch and working on my art history paper. With the recent arrival of beautiful weather (mid to high 70s), we'd been going up on the roof to hang out during lunch, and have little picnics. I didn't go up today because I was being a busy bee working on my paper, but the directrice discovered that there were students up there and she went up and told them it was not allowed and that they had to come down. Oh well!
At 4:30 I headed out with Jenn for our university class. We popped by Mme Deronne's office to talk to her about our assignment. Because we don't follow the same schedule as they do at the university, Jenn and I get a different final exam assignment. However, Mme Deronne wasn't in her office. We arrived to class about 10 minutes early. -- My rule of thumb since arriving in France has been as follows: If you don't know how you are supposed to act or what you are supposed to do in a particular situation, watch over French people and follow suit. -- This rule has served me quite well. For example, I'm pretty sure that you aren't supposed to enter the classroom before the professor has arrived. However, today seemed to be the exception, as many of the French students/people entered the room before Mme Deronne had gotten there. I don't know how the circumstances were different than other times that they've waited, but I followed suit.
We got our midterm exams back (we don't get to keep them, but we got to look at them). Jenn and I both received an 11/20. Before you freak out, that's actually a really good grade. To give you a frame of reference, Mme Deroone told the whole class that the french students received between an 8 and an 11. Granted, our grades are adjusted because we're not native french speakers, but still, that means we were on the same level as the native French speakers. -- Our directrice will adjust/translate our grade into an actual letter grade for our transcripts. --
Also, Mme Deronne gave us our "final paper" assignment. We have to pick an artist, talk about his works, give examples, put him in context, and talk about what he contributed to the "nature morte" style. It only has to be 3 to 4 pages! How fantastic is that!?!?
Claudie was in on the computer and Michel came in, telling her about he had combed/cut Woody's fur. He called in Woody and then had him hop up on the swivel chair, at which point Michel said, "Il a une poussette," thus inspiring the title of today's post.
Claudie showed me a forwarded email that one of her friends sent her about english-french translation and pronounciation. The following is an example:
- FRENCH: donne-moi de l'argent!
- ENGLISH: Give me some money!
- FRENCH pronunciation of ENGLISH: Guy vomit sous mon nez. (Guy [a male name] is vomiting under my nose.
Dinner was chicken (cut up like stir fry style in some kind of sauce/juice), ratatouille over rice. I don't care how many times she serves it, I love ratatouille!
After dinner, we watched The Outlaw: Josey Wales (L'hors loi: Josey Wales), a movie created and acted in by Clint Eastwood. Michel recorded it to bring down to Togo to show the people in the village. They are certainly all about there westerns here. Then we watched a short show about jazz/Harlem/New Orleans, and then watched the Breaking Point (Point Break) with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. It just made me want to watch Blue Crush.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Le 100ieme jour: Je ne sais pas comment te dire. / I don't know how to tell you.
Je ne sais pas comment te dire. / I don't know how to tell you. - a line out of a French Canadian song I have on my computer.
Je suis arrivée en Avignon il y a 99 jours. C'est incroyable!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I arrived in Avignon 99 days ago. That's just unbelievable!
Today was my last Wednesday of classes. It's really bizarre/exciting/confusing to think about that. It's just crazy! I find it hard to believe. I can't even believe that I've been here almost 4 months. I recently emailed with the Dean of International Studies about the Fulbright Fellowship. I'm hoping to come back to France or somewhere in "le monde francophone" at some point after F&M.
As everyday passes, my mind is becoming more mélangé (mixed/jumbled). It's such a bittersweet ending. As my family was unable to come due to the Iceland volcano explosion (Life Lesson: Nature wins over man and there is not a thing you can do about it.), I am missing them especially because of my anticipation/excitement about them visiting. However, at the same time, I am sad to leave Claudie, Michel, and Woody, and the lifestyle to which I have become so accustomed to in France (fresh food, laid back "speed", direct-ness, being 'cultured', etc.). After being here for almost 4 months, it is hard to picture myself back in the States.
Today, I had Art History, History, and Poli Sci. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passée? Franchement, rien de tout. (What happened in my classes? Frankly, not too much.)
Came home after class, sat in my room with my window open, listening to the bells ring at the nearby church in Place St Didier, enjoying every minute of this life, this weather, and this tranquility. Tout de suite, everything will change. Je vous jure.
For dinner, we had an omelet to start and then last night's taboulé (which is "cracked wheat" - I actually think it's quinoa - with vegetables, served cold or hot, whichever you like) mixed with ratatouille. "Yum num num!" as Michel would say.
After that we watched on tv "Les racines et les ailes" (Roots and Wings), a show that talks about places around France. Tonight's was about preserving different historical monuments and getting young people involved in preserving the "patrimony" of France. The archaeologist part of me was freaking out because they weren't preserving the monuments, but instead restoring and rebuilding them. This freaked me out a little.
Then Claudie put on a performance she had recorded on the DVR called the Trial of Ceznac, based on a real historical event. However, it reminded me more of the show, "Edwin Drood" where you pick the ending. People were invited to text, call, or submit their votes of whether or not he was guilty.
À demain. ... oh wait, it is "demain"! :-)
Je suis arrivée en Avignon il y a 99 jours. C'est incroyable!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I arrived in Avignon 99 days ago. That's just unbelievable!
Today was my last Wednesday of classes. It's really bizarre/exciting/confusing to think about that. It's just crazy! I find it hard to believe. I can't even believe that I've been here almost 4 months. I recently emailed with the Dean of International Studies about the Fulbright Fellowship. I'm hoping to come back to France or somewhere in "le monde francophone" at some point after F&M.
As everyday passes, my mind is becoming more mélangé (mixed/jumbled). It's such a bittersweet ending. As my family was unable to come due to the Iceland volcano explosion (Life Lesson: Nature wins over man and there is not a thing you can do about it.), I am missing them especially because of my anticipation/excitement about them visiting. However, at the same time, I am sad to leave Claudie, Michel, and Woody, and the lifestyle to which I have become so accustomed to in France (fresh food, laid back "speed", direct-ness, being 'cultured', etc.). After being here for almost 4 months, it is hard to picture myself back in the States.
Today, I had Art History, History, and Poli Sci. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passée? Franchement, rien de tout. (What happened in my classes? Frankly, not too much.)
Came home after class, sat in my room with my window open, listening to the bells ring at the nearby church in Place St Didier, enjoying every minute of this life, this weather, and this tranquility. Tout de suite, everything will change. Je vous jure.
For dinner, we had an omelet to start and then last night's taboulé (which is "cracked wheat" - I actually think it's quinoa - with vegetables, served cold or hot, whichever you like) mixed with ratatouille. "Yum num num!" as Michel would say.
After that we watched on tv "Les racines et les ailes" (Roots and Wings), a show that talks about places around France. Tonight's was about preserving different historical monuments and getting young people involved in preserving the "patrimony" of France. The archaeologist part of me was freaking out because they weren't preserving the monuments, but instead restoring and rebuilding them. This freaked me out a little.
Then Claudie put on a performance she had recorded on the DVR called the Trial of Ceznac, based on a real historical event. However, it reminded me more of the show, "Edwin Drood" where you pick the ending. People were invited to text, call, or submit their votes of whether or not he was guilty.
À demain. ... oh wait, it is "demain"! :-)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Le 99ieme jour: Presque trois chiffres./Almost three digits!
Ce que me manquerai quand je retour aux Etats-Unis...
- la nourriture: les repas de Claudie, les baguettes, les fruits, les legumes, le vin, la glace italienne, le café,
- Il fait beau maintenant en Avignon (au moindre 70 degres F!)
- Qu'un bouteille de bon vin ne coute pas très cher.
- Ma famille d'accueil (Claudie, Michel, et Woody)
Je suis encore confondue...
- Pourquoi "Microsoft Word" n'a pas appris que j'écris en français?
- Les differences entre des phrases et des verbres comme Bonsoir/bonne nuit, si/oui, dormir/se coucher. Je croyais que je les ai compris, mais il y a quelques jours, j'ai constaté que je ne les ai pas compris, pas de tout!
Ce que je n'aime pas...
- Ma famille me manque
- Le Dunkin Donuts me manque
- Lady Gaga et Kesha
- les grèves! (qui se passe chaque printemps)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Things I Will Miss when I return to the US
- The food: Claudie's meals, the baguettes, the fruits, the vegetables, the wine, the gelato, and the coffee
- It is already nice weather here in Avignon (at least 70 F)
- That a bottle of good vin doesn't cost a lot.
- My host family (Claudie, Michel, and Woody)
I am still confused...
- Why the Microsoft Word on my computer doesn't remember/hasn't learned that I am writing in French?
- The differences between some phrases and some verbs such as Bonsoir/bonne nuit, si/oui, dormir/se coucher. I had thought that I understood the differences, but a few days ago, I realized that I don't in fact understand the differences at all!
Things I don't like...
- I miss my family.
- I miss Dunkin Donuts.
- Lady Gaga and Kesha
- Strikes ! (which happen every spring apparently)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Today it was beautiful weather again. I ate a banana, a kiwi, and strawberries for breakfast, sitting comfortably in the kitchen with the door to the patio wide open!
I only had one class today where we talked about this artist, Andy Goldsworthy, who does something called "Land art," basically making works of art in nature, using nature. It is really cool. He built this kind of conical egg shape "statue" out of rocks that got covered by the ocean and when the tide went back out it was still there.
That was my only class. Then I made myself lunch and went up on the roof for a picnic of roquefort cheese, baguette, and salad.
Then, I returned home, opened the window in my room, charged up my computer for a little while during which time I recharged (aka, I took a half hour nap), then I went outside, sat on the patio, and did some homework.
Dinner was tarte, and some couscous like thing with a combo of vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, olives, and salad. Claudie and Michel decided to start composting after watching this movie about local solutions to global problems, apparently produced by the French equivalent of Michael Moore.
The volcano continues to cause problems and so does the strike. So clearly life as usual aka the status quo continues. :-)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Le 98ieme jour: La princesse et le pois./The princess and the pea.
Happy Monday! I had class bright and early today at 9am, normally I don't have class until 2pm, so this was quite a change. The class was meant to make up for a class meeting that was canceled last week. At like 11am, I felt as though it was already afternoon. There were only 5 students (in a class of I think 9). Two of the students were stuck in a nearby city where they had gone for a day trip yesterday, but due to the strike, had gotten stuck there. Messy business this strike, messy business indeed.
I bought some couscous last week, and I bought the smallest one available. However, according to the box, it will last for 8 servings. I think it will last more for me...probably the rest of my time here. (Wow, that's weird to say.) I do love it so much though, just add a pinch of salt, some pepper and some herb mix, and you're good to go!
Between classes, a friend and I went up on the roof of the Institute to chill and do homework. Well let's just say there was more "chillin'" and less "homework-ing," as you could have probably anticipated. It was beautiful weather today - high of prob 70 with no wind, just beautiful.
Had two more classes the rest of the day (my normal two classes for Mondays). Those were nothing special. The professors hadn't planned to speak about the exam until either Wednesday or next Monday. Our exams for those two classes are next Wednesday! Let me just say, professors have a different stance on exams here despite the fact that they still count for a lot, if not more than they do in the States.
I was having a minor freak out last night/this morning when I couldn't find my cell phone charger as I had only one battery bar left. After much frantic searching (rearranging, unpacking, etc.), I gave up. I was quite tired (as I had my 9am class). I gave one last look as I got into bed for a nap. I looked under my mattress because I usually charge my phone up by my bed. What do you know, it was under my bed, at the head of my bed by my pillow. I kind of felt like the princess and the pea.
-Woody heard a cat while he was out on the terrace and was looking all around.
-Dinner was fish and rice with mushrooms and zucchini. Claudie was upset because the fish had really shrunk in size when she cooked it.
-Watched the movie "La Traductrice" - a Russo-Swiss movie. So some parts of it had French subtitles for the Russian parts.
I bought some couscous last week, and I bought the smallest one available. However, according to the box, it will last for 8 servings. I think it will last more for me...probably the rest of my time here. (Wow, that's weird to say.) I do love it so much though, just add a pinch of salt, some pepper and some herb mix, and you're good to go!
Between classes, a friend and I went up on the roof of the Institute to chill and do homework. Well let's just say there was more "chillin'" and less "homework-ing," as you could have probably anticipated. It was beautiful weather today - high of prob 70 with no wind, just beautiful.
Had two more classes the rest of the day (my normal two classes for Mondays). Those were nothing special. The professors hadn't planned to speak about the exam until either Wednesday or next Monday. Our exams for those two classes are next Wednesday! Let me just say, professors have a different stance on exams here despite the fact that they still count for a lot, if not more than they do in the States.
I was having a minor freak out last night/this morning when I couldn't find my cell phone charger as I had only one battery bar left. After much frantic searching (rearranging, unpacking, etc.), I gave up. I was quite tired (as I had my 9am class). I gave one last look as I got into bed for a nap. I looked under my mattress because I usually charge my phone up by my bed. What do you know, it was under my bed, at the head of my bed by my pillow. I kind of felt like the princess and the pea.
-Woody heard a cat while he was out on the terrace and was looking all around.
-Dinner was fish and rice with mushrooms and zucchini. Claudie was upset because the fish had really shrunk in size when she cooked it.
-Watched the movie "La Traductrice" - a Russo-Swiss movie. So some parts of it had French subtitles for the Russian parts.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Le 97ieme jour: Nous avons fait un pique-nique!/We had a picnic!
Il faisait très beau aujourd'hui - si chaud avec beaucoup de soleil! :-)
D'abord, je suis allée aux Halles et j'ai acheté quelques légumes et des fruits - deux pommes, un nashi (poire-pomme qui vient de la Chine - http://www.only-cookware.com/blog/2007/11/28/the-delightful-delectable-nashi-pear/), et un poivron vert. Le nashi n'était pas si delicieux comme le site-web dit, mais j'aime essayer des nouvelles types de nourriture pendant ma sejour en France.
Après, je cherchais (et j'ai trouvé) le "free market" (comme Michel m'a dit) avec des vêtements, des chaussures, des livres, des tableaux, etc. en Place des Carmes. J'ai acheté deux journaux de l'époque de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale! Je n'ai payé qu'un euro pour les deux! Comme vous savez, j'adore l'histoire, donc, ça me plait beaucoup!
Puis, j'ai appelé Mirel et nous avons décidé de faire un pique-nique. Son hôte d'accueil nous a donné des verres (pour le vin, bien sûr!) et un nap (peut-être pour être semblable aux vrais français). Nous avons fais nôtre pique-nique en haut dans le jardin d'Avignon (près de la Palais des Papes).
Nous avons bien mangé, et après nous avons acheté/mangé du barbe à papa et après, du glace (j'ai choisi le parfum, "crème du marron," qui était très delicieuse!)
Puis, Mirel m'a montré des roue à eau (que j'ai voulu voir), mais la petite fleuve était très sale.
In English:
It was a beautiful day today - so hot with lots of sunshine! :-)
First, I went to Les Halles and I bought some vegetables and fruit - two apples, a nashi (pear-apple that comes from China - http://www.only-cookware.com/blog/2007 / 11/28/the-delightful-delectable-nashi-pear /), and a green pepper. The Nashi was not as delicious as the web-site says, but I like trying new types of food while in France.
Then I looked (and found) the "free market" (as Michael called it) with clothes, shoes, books, pictures, etc.. in Place des Carmes. I bought two newspapers from around the time of the Second World War! I paid one euro for two! As you know, I love history, so, I am quite excited!
Then I called Mirel and we decided to have a picnic. Her host family gave us glasses (for wine, of course!) And a small blanket/table cloth (perhaps for us to seem similar to the real French). We had our own picnic up in the garden of Avignon (near the Palace of the Popes).
We ate well, and after that we bought / ate cotton candy and after the cotton candy, we got some ice cream (I chose the "creme de marron" flavor which was very delicious!) Then, Mirel showed me some water wheels that I had wanted to see, but the stream was quite dirty.
...
Dinner: pork, potatoes, and peas.
Dinner discussion: about the movie they went to see called "Local Solutions for Global Problems" which is a movie about agriculture/pesticides/industrialization and globalization problems.
*Sorry about the weird white highlighting behind some of the text. I don't know why it did that and therefore don't know how to change it.
D'abord, je suis allée aux Halles et j'ai acheté quelques légumes et des fruits - deux pommes, un nashi (poire-pomme qui vient de la Chine - http://www.only-cookware.com/blog/2007/11/28/the-delightful-delectable-nashi-pear/), et un poivron vert. Le nashi n'était pas si delicieux comme le site-web dit, mais j'aime essayer des nouvelles types de nourriture pendant ma sejour en France.
Après, je cherchais (et j'ai trouvé) le "free market" (comme Michel m'a dit) avec des vêtements, des chaussures, des livres, des tableaux, etc. en Place des Carmes. J'ai acheté deux journaux de l'époque de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale! Je n'ai payé qu'un euro pour les deux! Comme vous savez, j'adore l'histoire, donc, ça me plait beaucoup!
Puis, j'ai appelé Mirel et nous avons décidé de faire un pique-nique. Son hôte d'accueil nous a donné des verres (pour le vin, bien sûr!) et un nap (peut-être pour être semblable aux vrais français). Nous avons fais nôtre pique-nique en haut dans le jardin d'Avignon (près de la Palais des Papes).
Nous avons bien mangé, et après nous avons acheté/mangé du barbe à papa et après, du glace (j'ai choisi le parfum, "crème du marron," qui était très delicieuse!)
Puis, Mirel m'a montré des roue à eau (que j'ai voulu voir), mais la petite fleuve était très sale.
In English:
It was a beautiful day today - so hot with lots of sunshine! :-)
First, I went to Les Halles and I bought some vegetables and fruit - two apples, a nashi (pear-apple that comes from China - http://www.only-cookware.com/blog/2007 / 11/28/the-delightful-delectable-nashi-pear /), and a green pepper. The Nashi was not as delicious as the web-site says, but I like trying new types of food while in France.
Then I looked (and found) the "free market" (as Michael called it) with clothes, shoes, books, pictures, etc.. in Place des Carmes. I bought two newspapers from around the time of the Second World War! I paid one euro for two! As you know, I love history, so, I am quite excited!
Then I called Mirel and we decided to have a picnic. Her host family gave us glasses (for wine, of course!) And a small blanket/table cloth (perhaps for us to seem similar to the real French). We had our own picnic up in the garden of Avignon (near the Palace of the Popes).
We ate well, and after that we bought / ate cotton candy and after the cotton candy, we got some ice cream (I chose the "creme de marron" flavor which was very delicious!) Then, Mirel showed me some water wheels that I had wanted to see, but the stream was quite dirty.
...
Dinner: pork, potatoes, and peas.
Dinner discussion: about the movie they went to see called "Local Solutions for Global Problems" which is a movie about agriculture/pesticides/industrialization and globalization problems.
*Sorry about the weird white highlighting behind some of the text. I don't know why it did that and therefore don't know how to change it.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Le 95ieme jour: Je ne peux pas chercher les mots./I can't find the words.
Current event - A volcano erupted in Iceland.
Effect - All flights canceled into most of Europe aka Charles de Gaulle Paris Airport closed.
Had class this morning.
Went to "the island" on the free ferry (which literally takes less than 4 minutes).
Enjoyed good company and wine on the island.
Went back "to the mainland".
Did some shopping.
Found a good gift for Claudie.
Went to a movie at Utopia (Huits Fois Debouts)
Claudie kept dinner for me.
Carpentras tomorrow.
Effect - All flights canceled into most of Europe aka Charles de Gaulle Paris Airport closed.
Had class this morning.
Went to "the island" on the free ferry (which literally takes less than 4 minutes).
Enjoyed good company and wine on the island.
Went back "to the mainland".
Did some shopping.
Found a good gift for Claudie.
Went to a movie at Utopia (Huits Fois Debouts)
Claudie kept dinner for me.
Carpentras tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Le 94ieme jour: J'écrit en français./I am writing in french.
Je vais écrire seulement quelques mots parce qu'il est très tard (ou très tôt, ça dépends sur votre point de vue!).
Aujourd'hui, j'ai eu deux cours - une séance de Science Po. et une séance de Littérature. La séance de Science Po. était pour rattraper une autre séance que le prof a annulé. Mais, hier, il a annulé la séance, donc nous devons rattraper une autre séance lundi matin de la semaine prochaine!
Après mes cours, j'essayais de commencer de réviser pour mes examens (parce que ce week-end, ma famille vient à la France, et je serai très occupée, je suis sûre.) Mais, je n'ai pas réussi en commençant mes études.
Donc, je suis partie de l'Institut Américain et je suis rentré chez moi. Maintenant, il y a des ouvriers qui s'installent (ça n'est pas la traduction, mais j'espère que vous pouvez comprendre ce que je veux dire) des carreaux sur la terrasse. J'ai commencé à faire ma valise (je sais, ça semble si en avance, mais...), et ça m'a rendu triste, donc j'ai arreté tout de suite.
Nous avons bien mangé ce soir - un pizza de fromage des chevres, une salade, et un artichaut (plus grand que d'habitude!).
Maintenant, je veux me coucher.
À demain.
En dessous, vous trouverez la traduction de la texte du français à anglais. J'ai utilisé l'Outil linguistique de Google et après je l'ai corrigé un peu.
Below, you will find the translation of my posting from french to english. I used google Language Tools and I corrected it a little afterwards.
"I'll write a few words because it is very late (or early, it depends on your point of view!).
Today I had two classes - one session of Poli Sci and one session of Literature. Today's Poli Sci class was to make up for another one that the teacher had canceled. But yesterday, he canceled class, so we have to make up another class session on Monday morning of next week!
After class, I tried to start reviewing for my exams (because this weekend my family is coming to France, and I will busy I'm sure.) However, I did not succeed in starting to study.
So, I left the Institute and I went back home. Currently, there are workers who are installing (this is not the translation, but I hope you can understand what I mean) tiles on the terrace. I started packing my suitcase (I know it seems so early, but ...), and it made me sad, so I stopped immediately.
We ate well tonight night - a goat cheese pizza, salad and an artichoke (larger than usual!).
Now I want to sleep.
See you tomorrow.
Aujourd'hui, j'ai eu deux cours - une séance de Science Po. et une séance de Littérature. La séance de Science Po. était pour rattraper une autre séance que le prof a annulé. Mais, hier, il a annulé la séance, donc nous devons rattraper une autre séance lundi matin de la semaine prochaine!
Après mes cours, j'essayais de commencer de réviser pour mes examens (parce que ce week-end, ma famille vient à la France, et je serai très occupée, je suis sûre.) Mais, je n'ai pas réussi en commençant mes études.
Donc, je suis partie de l'Institut Américain et je suis rentré chez moi. Maintenant, il y a des ouvriers qui s'installent (ça n'est pas la traduction, mais j'espère que vous pouvez comprendre ce que je veux dire) des carreaux sur la terrasse. J'ai commencé à faire ma valise (je sais, ça semble si en avance, mais...), et ça m'a rendu triste, donc j'ai arreté tout de suite.
Nous avons bien mangé ce soir - un pizza de fromage des chevres, une salade, et un artichaut (plus grand que d'habitude!).
Maintenant, je veux me coucher.
À demain.
En dessous, vous trouverez la traduction de la texte du français à anglais. J'ai utilisé l'Outil linguistique de Google et après je l'ai corrigé un peu.
Below, you will find the translation of my posting from french to english. I used google Language Tools and I corrected it a little afterwards.
"I'll write a few words because it is very late (or early, it depends on your point of view!).
Today I had two classes - one session of Poli Sci and one session of Literature. Today's Poli Sci class was to make up for another one that the teacher had canceled. But yesterday, he canceled class, so we have to make up another class session on Monday morning of next week!
After class, I tried to start reviewing for my exams (because this weekend my family is coming to France, and I will busy I'm sure.) However, I did not succeed in starting to study.
So, I left the Institute and I went back home. Currently, there are workers who are installing (this is not the translation, but I hope you can understand what I mean) tiles on the terrace. I started packing my suitcase (I know it seems so early, but ...), and it made me sad, so I stopped immediately.
We ate well tonight night - a goat cheese pizza, salad and an artichoke (larger than usual!).
Now I want to sleep.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Le 92ieme jour: Mon visa est devenu necessaire hier./My visa became nessary as of yesterday.
So starting with yesterday, my visa actually became important because you only need a visa if you are going to be in France for over 90 days. So I better make good use of the next 3ish weeks I have left and get my money's worth. Goodness knows I had to pay lots of Euros to get a valid visa. Thanks France!
Today I only had one class, in which I presented my Lit project. One more major assignment that I can cross off of my list. <*Phew*>
Tomorrow I have a presentation for History, and that will be the last thing for me in terms of major assignments before exams. I am still waiting to hear back from my University professor with guidelines about my final paper for her class. I hope we find out soon, as I'd like to get started on it ASAP.
Nothing major happened today. I am looking forward to visiting the "island" on the free ferry on Friday with some friends from the Institute.
Today I only had one class, in which I presented my Lit project. One more major assignment that I can cross off of my list. <*Phew*>
Tomorrow I have a presentation for History, and that will be the last thing for me in terms of major assignments before exams. I am still waiting to hear back from my University professor with guidelines about my final paper for her class. I hope we find out soon, as I'd like to get started on it ASAP.
Nothing major happened today. I am looking forward to visiting the "island" on the free ferry on Friday with some friends from the Institute.
Le 91ieme jour: Après la vacance./After vacation.
Here is a short (Reader's Digest version) description of what Sam and I did while she visited this past weekend.
Had class today in the afternoon - History and Political Science - both which I felt went better than normal. Maybe that's because I've been on break, who knows. But it was a nice change whatever the reason for the difference.
Tomorrow I have a presentation (poem and performance) for Littérature using "my five assigned words" - un pneu, quasiment, s'asseoir, l'escalier, un fauteuil. Translation: tire, practically, to sit, stair, armchair. Yes, I know, random words! I had picked them and then by chance (we were randomly handed out each others' lists of words), I received my own. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, and I'll post about it.
For dinner, an asparagus omelette, pasta, and pistachio cake! Afterward, we watched a movie by Hayao Miyazaki (some of you may recognize his name because he produced "Princess Monoke"), but we watched a different one - "Le Chateau [something]". It was really cute!
This video is one of the many that I took while at the bull fight. Enjoy!
- We conquered the greve. Well not quite, but almost. They only thing it stopped us from doing was from seeing the Pont du Gard. But besides that, we got everywhere we wanted to in spite of all the havoc it is causing.
- We baked a cake. Actually it is my grandmother's recipe that my parents sent me for a pistachio cake. Claudie and Michel liked it. They went back for seconds (which made it less noticeable/uncomfortable for us to go back and get seconds!)
- We went around Avignon: the Pont Benezet ("Sur le pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse..."), the Palais des Papes, the Jardins des Roches, and the other church in the Palais des Papes "square" (the name escapes me at the moment).
- We went to Nîmes: saw a bull fight "training session" in the ancient Roman arena for free. 'Gratuit' is one of my new favorite words in French. This adventure was completely unplanned and ended up being worthwhile since we ultimately ran out of things to do in the afternoon because we couldn't get to Pont du Gard. It was what I imagine to be the French version of the Kentucky Derby - classy people wearing big hats as seen in this picture of the woman with the white hat.
However, seeing a "Ralph Lauren model" at the bull fight was certainly worth the visit! Sam insisted I take a photo (and I didn't need much persuading) and right before I took the photo, he "swished" his hair back with his hand. What a true model move!!! 
- We went to Marseille: have to say, Michel warned us. Marseille was very dirty. There were parts that were so dirty, I don't think I have seen anywhere else in my life as dirty. But at the same time, there were parts that were really pretty near the Vieux Port and along the water in general. It was Sam's first time seeing/touching the Mediterranean.
Good thing she is going to Greece at the end of her time in Europe! However, I feel as though it is the one city I can "check off my list." I feel no need to go back. We both ordered without really knowing what exactly we were going to get. I lucked out, Sam not did not fare as well.
Had class today in the afternoon - History and Political Science - both which I felt went better than normal. Maybe that's because I've been on break, who knows. But it was a nice change whatever the reason for the difference.
Tomorrow I have a presentation (poem and performance) for Littérature using "my five assigned words" - un pneu, quasiment, s'asseoir, l'escalier, un fauteuil. Translation: tire, practically, to sit, stair, armchair. Yes, I know, random words! I had picked them and then by chance (we were randomly handed out each others' lists of words), I received my own. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, and I'll post about it.
For dinner, an asparagus omelette, pasta, and pistachio cake! Afterward, we watched a movie by Hayao Miyazaki (some of you may recognize his name because he produced "Princess Monoke"), but we watched a different one - "Le Chateau [something]". It was really cute!
This video is one of the many that I took while at the bull fight. Enjoy!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Le 89ieme jour: Les grèves. / The strikes.
Since last writing the following things have transpired:
- Went to Bath, England and v
isited with Annie, Christine, Terry, and Chris - F&M International Rendez-Vous
- Flew into Toulouse (returning from Bath) and had my first run in with French strikes (les mouvements nationaux or les grèves). A nice French woman also headed back to Avignon guided me through the process of navigating the transportation system.
- Went to Cassis (pronounced Cah see) where it was nice the first day but rainy the other two days. We went on a boat excursion and saw the calanques, which is primarily what Cassis is known for. It's these huge cliffs carved out along the coast line. I think they would have been prettier if it had been nicer out. We met some people from Washington state who we ran into again at the train station.
- Encountered more issues because of les mouvements nationaux, but worked through them like champs. My wish for this week is that they end soon.
- Sam arrived on Thursday evening, also after a debacle with her train because it was canceled and she had to find another that was going to Avignon.
- We went to Avignon sites first (Palais des Papes, Le Pont, and Les Halles), to Nîmes -where we saw a bull "fight" training/technique competition for free in the Roman arena, but weren't able to make it to Pont du Gard because of the strike (we are going to try to find a bus there on Monday morning).
- Tomorrow, we are headed to Marseille to see the Mediterranean!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Le 80ieme jour: En retard. / Late.
- Michel gets used cell phones donated to him that he gives to stores to sell. He saves that money for the village in Togo. They recently bought a motor water pump.
- Art class a lot of people missing.
- History we talked about the influence of youth on fashion and what was "in" back in the 60s.
- Poli. Sci. cancelled, but don't you fret, it got rescheduled for after break.
- Studied all day.
- My minutes expire today on my cell phone, so I called and chatted with my parents for a little while.
- Chorale = drama. Discussion throughout the entirety of rehearsal. No singing took place.
- Dinner: pork, ratatouille, gnocci
- Watched a tv show about the H1N1 scare/scam.
- Studying, studying, studying. ... but in my spare time thinking of things I want to do in Avignon (when Sam comes to visit soon!!). ... I've got a list going.
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