Hello!

Tomorrow I am going to Belgium (Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp) so I thought I should update before I headed out.

Monday I had a low-key day...I updated my blog in the park and then went to see the movie W. with a few people. I'm not sure what the movie is called in the US (maybe it is the same) but it was interesting and rather thought-provoking. And overall Monday was relaxing and nice.

Tuesday we had class. Except instead of normal french class we combined the two groups and met at the Trocadero Plaza overlooking the Eiffel Tower, and then walked around that area looking at some of the World Expo sights and then going to the Palais Tokyo, which has art expositions.

Then I ate lunch with my french TA and his daughter and he gave me a bunch of suggestions for french books to read, and that night he wrote me a big list, which was nice of him. And then we walked back towards class and discussed life and our futures and Paris and class. Monday and Tuesday were both sunny, so it was nice being out walking around again.

Also, I wouldn't say I walk a million miles a day since I have a metro pass and can ride the metro as much as I want. But when it is sunny out, it is much more pleasant to walk, as long as you are not in a rush.

Plus also, Tuesday was election day. The US election has been all over the news here. And by that, I mean it has been the front page of the newspaper with few exceptions for over a week. And yesterday they did a whole special election edition with an extra 12 page supplement on Obama, so everyone is very aware of what is going on and how important it is. And they all like Obama.

But anyways, after class I went back home and slept for an hour, and then I ate dinner, and then I met up with most of our study abroad group at a Canadian Bar (yeah, I know. But it was the best option) and we stayed up all night and watched the election, and it was great. They played CNN and everyone was emotionally charged and cheering and booing, and it was a good time. When we arrived they were still playing a soccer game, and when the game ended and they switched to CNN everyone started cheering, and I never thought I would hear a bar cheer because someone had put on CNN.

But it was very fun and exciting and I talked to some french people and all the people in our group, and it was a great. And I wasn't too tired, either. Except, for some reason I am the only person who gets into half hour long conversations with random french men, and I don't know how or why that is. But they were nice, and I got to speak french, so I suppose it is alright. And my friends kept checking to make sure I didn't need an escape, which was nice of them.

The west coast polls closed at 5am our time and they announced the President and everyone cheered and someone started singing the national anthem and it turned out that basically our group and like 2 other people were American, so we were singing enthusiastically. And the bartender complimented us on adding to the atmosphere and making it a touching moment (and she was being sincere) and it was great.

And then we were tired. We tried to get breakfast but the place we had heard was open had a line out the door, so instead we went home and fell asleep (at about 6:30 am).

At 12:45 we met outside the Louvre and toured the French paintings wing. Our philosophy professor led a tour and it was interesting, although it wasn't the "biggest hits" part of the Louvre, so our french teacher was disappointed because now we all still need to go back. But I was planning on going back anyway, so it was actually kind of nice to have someone narrate a different wing.

After that I went and bought some of the French books Will (that's the french teacher. And we get to use his first name because he is a graduate student and that is how it works) had recommended. I want to start reading them, but I know if I do I will never finish Proust in time. So my plan is to buy a whole lot here where they are cheap, and then read them in the US when I have more time and don't want to forget my french.

And then I went home and had dinner. And Ingrid came home! That is exciting, because she was gone for 10 days and I was used to just having Jean Claude around.

Today I had class and I made a French presentation on smoking in France. And then I watched Will's daughter Maddie while he taught the other french class, because his wife is out of town. And we went to the park and played on the playground, and it was fun.

Now I need to go eat lunch! But I am heading to Belgium tomorrow around 11am, and will be back Tuesday evening.

Oh yeah! Colors of Paris. I've been thinking about that all this time, and I've decided that Paris doesn't have colors. It is too classy for that. It more has shades that all blend together. But if I had to pick: sand, pearl gray, ice blue, green, burnt sienna.

But it is very pretty, I promise.