Classes begin :)

Hey everyone :) I just woke up after sleeping really late for the first time and am sitting in the hallway typing this because the internet works everywhere except in my bedroom! Go figure. Anyway this was definitely a busy week! Classes started on Thursday, so far they're going really well! My French professor is very motivated to make sure we speak PERFECT French, which seems ambitious but she said she can do it in six weeks! I already knew a few of the people in my class before it started, and there's only 13 people in there so I'm getting to know everyone pretty well! I'm also taking an art history class that's taught only in French, which is scary but I actually understood all of it! And I know absolutely nothing about art history so it should be a really good class to take! We have French class for three and a half hours every morning, which sounds terrible but really isn't that bad. We get to take breaks and there's a vending machine that makes really good coffee down the hall :p Then on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons we have our elective class, so for me art history, for two hours. And they're not that big on homework in France so that leaves us plenty of time to have fun!!

We've really just been settling in the past few days, but today we're starting the exploring for real! We're going to Les Halles, which is sort of like an enormous farmer's market. Then we're going to explore the city! Last night we went out for my first French bar experience!! I loved it! There's a whole string of bars right next door to each other, and there is tons of outdoor seating all running together so everyone can go from place to place! They had my favorite, kir, for only 2.50 euro which was nice because most cocktails are at least 5 euro if not 6. For a while in the beginning we were just hanging out with the Americans, maybe we intimidated the French, but after we went outside we got to meet a lot of French people! I had fun translating for my friends! They all said I spoke French really well too which is a good :) But as I said, I'm a big fan of French bars! They're kind of just like very loud cafes, everyone is just relaxing and chatting and having a good time. There is music but not overwhelming like in America, it was very enjoyable! I think we're going to go back tonight.

Tomorrow we're thinking about going to Bordeaux for a day trip. I can't wait!