Orientation #2 and the Catacombs!

Bonjour tous!

Today was our second day of orientation, with the morning devoted to fifteen-minute presentations by the teachers of half of the courses at Reid Hall. Unlike how this would have been done in the US (in a giant group lecture), we were broken up into smaller groups of 15 students and the teachers rotated between our rooms, each giving us their fifteen minute-spiel and then moving on. I (as well as the other students I spoke with) was very impressed by the teachers enthusiasm for their subjects as well as their level of knowledge and their wit. We heard from the professors of urban history of paris, arts in paris, community in paris, political life in france, and a joint honors seminar about the theory behind diversity. I don't plan to take any of the courses, but it was still nice to meet some professors and see the clear quality of those that Reid Hall/Columbia has recruited. 

We had a sandwich break for lunch that lasted an hour and forty-five minutes (I love the French!) so a few friends and I went to the Catacombs, a ten to fifteen (if you don't get lost) minute walk from Reid Hall. For anyone interested in background, read the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris

Basically, Paris had six million sets of human bones that needed to be moved because they were a contamination issue so they moved them all to line tunnels underground. For four euros, you can check out this testament to something. IT WAS SO COOL! It also made me want to vomit kindof a lot. Six million people is really a big number. They had the packing of bones down - it all appeared very efficient! Here are some photos:

The tunnel down to the catacombs was super dungeon-y and creepy/awesome

Statue built underground (don't quite know why)

BONES! Dr. Temperance Brenan would love this stuff! I wish bones would film an episode here!

I totally did! Just one though. shhh

More bones!

Looking appropriately somber (I hope)

After lunch, we returned to Reid Hall, where my group stayed while the other three went on different  walking tours around Paris (we'll have our walking tours the other days). Instead, we learned about all of the different activities in and around Paris that Reid Hall offers us (for free!). It was super exciting, the ones I am going to try and sign up for are: a class learning how to make crepes, an potluck dinner with an international group of students from the Sorbonne, a series of classes and lunches with the political club of Paris #2 (a university) and their faculty leader about the upcoming French presidential election, French cooking classes (we are each allowed to take two), a baking class to learn how to make macarons (!), a wine tasting course, and a performance of Swan Lake by the Moscow ballet. I am very excited about what the semester has to offer!

After all of this learning and exploring, I headed home for a long nap! Now I am sitting on the couch talking (or trying to talk) to Fabien (23) and watching Stephane trying to fix the TV. I think I might know which buttons to push but I am not getting in between a man and his toys! He has been trying to fix it for over an hour now and I have yet to hear him swear and he hasn't gotten frustrated and stormed away in fury! Much different than my home ;) It should be interesting to see how this turns out - he has now started to unplug the TV. 

I have postcards for many of you, but until I figure out how to buy stamps they aren't going anywhere. Please be patient and know that I haven't forgetten about any of you!

Katherine

Update: Veronique is giving Stephane a despairing look. The TV is plugged back in but it is not working any better. Stephane has given up. C'est la vie!