A busy week this week with the end of orientation and the start of the language practicum (three hours a day of French grammar - whew!). It's finally Friday though - I finally have the time and energy to recount some of my adventures of the past week!
I took my first trip with the Velib last saturday! Alex recommended that I bicycle while I'm here - what a great suggestion! The Velib is a bicycle sharing program in Paris where you pay 30 euros/a year and then you can take a bike out for 45 minutes for free, with it being 1euro/half-hour after that. They designed it so it encourages commuters, rather than all-day trippers. It was so much fun! I had a great time cruising from my house to meet up with some reid hall friends. Unfortunately, I went 8 minutes over my time and have to pay 1 euro, which I can only do with a bank card. My bank card won't work until monday, so I am a velib-free until then :( At least it gives me time to buy a bike helmet!
 |
| My new purse! |
 |
| My new cape! |
Sunday was another exciting day, with a trip to the bird market, notre dame, and an english language bookstore. It was fun to see all the things - although my Michael Connely novel at the bookstore was ridiculously expensive - 11 euro! I figured they knew that had Americans/English people who wanted books in their home language pretty well suckered in.
 |
| Yellow birds for sale! |
 |
| Ducks for sale - not for eating! |
 |
| 45 euro for a pigeon? We decided it must be a homing pigeon! |
 |
| Staute next to Notre Dame! |
 |
| Notre Dame! |
 |
| The advertisment I described - I said it was different from American ads because the cake was to simple, the ad was to chic, and no one in America advertises for real sugar, only fake! |
Monday marked the first day of the language practicum! I really like my professor, and its been VERY useful to re-learn all of the grammar I have forgotten over the past 6 years. It's been a lot of week, this week I had two oral presentations (one in which I had to interview a person who moved to Paris from another part of France/the world, and one in which I had to explain an advertisment) a written redaction (describing an important person in my life) and a quiz! the rest of the weeks look similarly busy.
Otherwise things have been pretty quiet, things are going well with my host family and American friends. I went to a French/English language event "Franglish" Wednesday night, which is like speed friend-dating sortof. 7 minutes in French 7 minutes in English and then you switch partners. I met a cool French guy and girl who I am hoping to introduce to my American friends.
This weekend I am looking forward to a lot of rest and relaxation. All of my other classes (in addition to the practicum) start next week, so I am going to be ridiculously busy! I'm sure I can handle it - but it is going to be very difficult. Wish me luck!
Katherine
No comments:
Post a Comment