Hey Everyone!

It seems like a lot of you are reading my blog. I really don't like taking pictures or writing journals or anything of that kind, but I am doing my best to keep you posted!

This week we had our first week of class. We all have to go through a French review class to go over grammar, pronunciation, and writing before we begin taking all of our normal classes (in French)! The teachers are both amusing and engaging so it isn't too bad, but still a little tedious. I have finally met with my Paris adviser who also happens to be the librarian at NYU in France. She was really great and we got to talk about what I want to do in Paris and my plan for the semester. Everything is taken care of except for the class I want to take at Universite de Paris. The French university system is run by the government. Therefore while it is affordable and accessible, it is also somewhat inefficient and makes no sense. Rarely can you just look online for class times and locations. You have to physically go to a special room at each university and look up all your classes. Some French students have to do this at more than one location! It would drive me insane...luckily I only have to do it once. I am confused about some things so I am going to ask the woman who arranges our exchange at the university and see what she can do for me.

I have also been able to go out a bit and see the city! I love the feeling of the city very much. I will always be a New York girl, but it's nice to be able to slow down a bit and have a little bit less crazy around me all the time. The night life also seems to be a bit more low key which I love and I have already found a few bars that offer good deals so we go there when we can. I also love French food, especially the bread and crepes. Since I can't eat much else, my vegetarian friends and I just love stopping in the bakeries near school for a baguette or croissant or my favorite brioche. I have also been hanging out with my friends doing some shopping and walking around, and of course grabbing chocolat chaud at cafes. I end up in the Latin Quarter in the Left Bank a lot as I live in an area with very little nightlife.

This week I also got to meet the French grandchildren. My host family's younger daughter has two kids, Clotarde (4) and Adelaide (1). Both are so adorable and we had fun playing together. Clotarde is having a hard time because he is in a dinosaur phase. Before that he liked knights and castles, and before that pyramids. But apparently dinosaurs are not a popular trend in toys in Paris and he has little to work with. I hope that my parents can bring me one or two to give him to ease his burden. They often come over after school or sleep over when their parents are busy and it's fun for me!

Friday, the school organized a boat cruise on the Seine for us. I have done it before but you can't say no to that! So basically all my friends and I went and had a good time even though it was FREEZING. We immediately ran into a cafe for some dinner when it was over to warm up.

I have one friend who has never been to Paris before. She and I have been going to things that I either want to see again or haven't done yet and we have a good time together. This afternoon we went to the Pantheon, where all the famous men of France are buried. This includes Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Voltaire, and Jean Jacques Rousseau. The last time I was here I skipped it in favor of another museum but it was amazing to finally see it. There are beautiful sculptures and murals on the main floor. It used to be a church, but it was turned into a resting place for the great men of France during/after the Revolution. The murals of all the great saints in France are there from the 1800's so I think it has a bit of an identity crisis. It has served as both the Pantheon and the Church of St. Genevieve depending on who was in power and it was a little confusing.

I am glad we only have another week of the French class I am ready to learn something new. Have to go do work now! I hope to also go to synagogue this week for Shabbat (I got back too late this week).

A tout l'heure!