A la mode

no, not a la mode like ice cream (although I did have some particularly good ice cream today).

A la mode as in fashion.

This morning, after a great run (pounded out all my problems on the pavement) and walk/talk with Kara, I went shopping again. Ha.

Kara's host sister, Claire, is awesome and she and her friend Marion came shopping with us. They took Kara and I to all the popular French stores and showed us which clothes are fashionable (MODE), which ones aren't. Marion and Claire are the same age as me, and they are both so cute and sweet. Sadly, Claire leaves Thursday to return to school in Belgium. I can't wait until she comes home on the weekends!!!

After class today, most of us went and sat in parc d'Arcy and ate candy from this awesome shop called Glup's. Glup's has every kind of gummy you could ever imagine. Seriously. Today I ate gummy peach flavored crocodiles. It was very relaxing to just sit around and joke and laugh and feel the warm sun and cool breeze on our faces.

Tomorrow morning, we depart at 7am (yikessss) for a week long trip through Normandy. We're going to the famous beaches of World War II, Rouen (where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake), Chartres, and Mont Saint Michel, along with a few other places that I just can't remember the name of right now.

I am SO EXCITED to go see Mont Saint Michel. Google it if you don't know what it is. Miss Laura Minton told me it was incredible, and I've heard from numerous people how beautiful it is. I can't wait.

I'm also excited to see the beaches of Normandy. World War II has always interested me and I've always wanted to go to Normandy. My Dad has always wanted to go too, and I wish he could share this experience with me!

I know its going to be tiring to travel so much in the next week, but this experience really is unique and I have the opportunity to see SO MUCH of France. I mean really, I've been here for two weeks and I've visited at least 10 different cities.

Pretty darn awesome, and a pretty darn good distraction.