BONJOUR!

Well, I've really put this blog off... so many other things going on, but it's nice sometimes to take the time to write about a couple of incidents. Helps me remember them and laugh.

These past few weeks have been very nice. School is going well and I got a very warm letter from the directrice on my progress and work in my classes which made me feel good :) I've also had time to do silly things with friends. Last week we went shopping after school and then watched "Orgeille Prejuge" = Pride and Prejudice on Kathleen's computer. One night we went out for Tapas (which are so so good!) and there's been a lot of Mafia nights- strange mystery game, a little difficult to explain. Francoise was telling me last night- and this is a typical French conversation- that there has been a recent influx of Japanese people in France. She says she hopes that if anything it teaches them not to work so hard! So maybe all this playing and less work is really just me experiencing Frenchness. I'm all for that! Actually, it is true, I find myself feeling terribly guilty when I've had too much fun. So is this the fault of American "culture" and our "master narratives" or is it just crazy eccentric Lauren?

On the American culture note: When Kristen came in from Spain a few weeks ago now, Francoise was so nice to invite her to dinner! Kristen, who has been surrounded by Spanish for a few months now, still remembers some French, so we had a few simple conversations which was very pleasant. Of course we talked about the Spanish and the French (this is a country where grouping peoples doesn't seem to be taboo). Francoise commented that Kristen does not really look representative of an American. Of course, she was proud sitting there in her european scarf and black sweater. So I had to ask, well, what does an American look like? Francoise didn't understand the question so I clarified, "We are under the impression that there are no generalized features to the american face because we come from all over and we are a 'melange' of many races and cultures. It's rare that any caucasian is all English or all Scottish..." She shook her head and corrected me, "Mais oui! You see, an American is a redhead. He looks quite a lot like an Irish. He's not very thin, but not "gros" either. Average height. Fair skin. That's an American". So now, I'm in hysterics and Kristen is look back and forth between Francoise and myself to make sure she is really hearing this correctly. I kind of repeat that we are not all Irish! Francoise says "well no, but you see, your parents were already born in American. You were too. Your kids will be too. Little by little the features in your family will be American." So pretty much, my kids will be redheads.
Gotta love the French!

Yesterday I saw a movie because there is nothing else to do on a Sunday (and by the way, when you're desperate for that one perfect bite of after-meal chocolate on a Sunday, don't bet on finding it! grr). So yes, movie: "Ce soir, je dors chez toi". Romantic commedie and tres americain, meaning, no real depth but a lot of light humor and in the end the guy gets the girl and all is well. No, not French at all actually. But of course, it was in French and took place in Paris. In one seen, the girl is mad at the guy and she flies to New York. Of course he follows her and catches her with an American man and guess what he looks like: Yup! Redhead! Medium build. Freckles. Clueless.
That's who we are :p

Okay, that's a wrap (wrap or rap? the first makes more sense). I will write about my Yeti experience later if I get a chance. Now it's school time. A quick note- the winds are absolutely shockingly violent here. Really, the sound of the wind drowns out the trains at night. Crazy! Sort of fun, but it's getting old. I guess it makes for a cheap treadmill though, I can just go outside and try jogging- i won't get anywhere if I face against the current.

Thanks for Reading. I'll be home soon.
xo, Lauren