Tuesdayyyy...and some of Wednesday.

So, class yesterday was awesome. Awesomely short, awesomely easy, awesomely laid back. I am not sure that class will continue to be that way, but for the first day, it was so manageable. Professor Barbour let us out about an hour early.

Hungry, Lauren, Kara, Jennifer and I went on a hunt for crepes. The crepe shop we wanted to go to was closed, so we went to a patisserie (pastry shop). IT WAS DELICIOUS. We each got something different and shared. We had pain chocolate amandes (chocolate croissant with almonds), tarte citron (lemon tarte), flan chocolate (chocolate pie), tarte aux fruits roux (red fruit tart). Like, amazing. I could eat that every day. I'd be fat but super happy.

After that we walked around a market and bought some wine to celebrate Lauren's birthday later in the evening. Kara and I made up a little story on the way back to the hotel, telling Lauren and Jen that'd Kara had lost her sunglasses, so that we could double back and stop at a flower shop to get Lauren some flowers. Genius.

Dinner was at a restaurant called La Table Marocaine. Obviously a Moroccan restaurant, I was unsure if I would find food that I would like. However, it was easily the best dinner I've had since I've been here. I got couscous poulet, which was chicken and couscous with onions, raisins, chickpeas, and other flavorings. Seriously, ate the whole thing. YUM.

After the girls got all dressed up, the group headed out to find the salsa club. Sadly, after about 20 minutes of walking, we realized we couldn't find it. So, instead we headed to an Irish pub called Flannery's. It was super crowded. I ordered an Irish coffee, which is whiskey, coffee, and chantilly (whipped cream). It was a hot drink, and of course whiskey warms you up, and I can easily see that being one of the best drinks you could ever drink on a cold day.

The rest of the evening was fun as well, and I really think Lauren thoroughly enjoyed her 21st birthday!

This morning, everyone slept in. We didn't have class until 2 and a lot of us are still catching up on sleep, so why not sleep in? I got up and finished my homework for class. After that, Peter, Jen, Mary Kate, Kara, and I headed and grabbed lunch at a kebab stand. No, not kabobs, kebabs...very different. They are sandwiches with various kinds of meat ( I think I had mutton?). It was pretty good, a little greasy, but cheap, so who's complaining? Not me.

After class, which was again short, laidback and easy, our group headed to a candy shop. Not interested in eating multiple kinds of gummies that probably all taste the same, Mary Kate and I got icecream at a little stand. Mint chocolate chip on a hot Dijon day = refreshing. We sat at a local park and just hung out for about an hour. It was fun!

Tonight, some of the girls and I are going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince...IN FRENCH (Oh Nicholas, how I wish you could be here with me). Tomorrow morning, we leave for a 4 day trip to Provence. We'll see lots of Roman ruins, fields of lavander, and the OCEAN. We're going to the beach on Saturday, I can't wait!

I can't believe I've only been here for a 5 days. It feels like I have been here for so much longer than that. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing. I know the days are passing slowly because we have so much free time and not a set schedule. I move in with my host family on Sunday night, and I know that could cause several things to happen:

a) beginning of homesickness, as right now living in a hotel with a bunch of friends pretty much feels like vacation.
b) beginning of time flying, as maybe my routine will become more solidified.
c) beginning of true learning, as I will be alone with a French family and not spending all my time with other Americans, even though we do mainly try to speak in French to one another.

I'm still amazed that I am here in France. Every time I walk around and see all these historic buildings, I'm just hit with this overwhelming sense of incredulity. It's just so strange to me, and I really wonder when this place will actually and truly feel like home. It may not ever feel like home...I love my true home, good ol' North Carolina, too much to ever really be able to call another place home. I know that as much fun as I may have here, and as much fondness as I may develop for this place and these people, my heart is truly back in North Carolina.