I have homework?

This week, it hit me that I'm studying abroad. Thus, I have homework. I can't complain, because I'm in Paris :) It has taken up a good part of my time though. Sunday and Monday I've been working hard to read all the articles and write papers, or at least I've been trying to. I'm taking two 300 level classes,and I just have to budget my time wisely to finish and understand everything. In Europe, people like to enjoy their food and take their time, so by the time class ends at 1pm and we eat lunch and jump on the metro, I don't get home until a little before 4pm. Factor in another hour, more or less, for eating and talking with my host family. Again, I'm not complaining, just trying to get back into school mode and focus. It's really easy to say, "I'll go to Musee d'Orsay after class" instead of preparing a presentation. Since I am transitioning back into school mode, my sleep is being cut down ever so slightly, and I'm starting to drink coffee. I know, I never saw it coming either. The vending machine at school (I posted a pic of it in a previous entry) gives you a little dixie cup of coffee for 50 cents. I've been getting cafe noisette, because its not too foamy or too coffee-tasting. It's only 10 sips of coffee and is not that effective after the first hour, so I might need to factor in one euro a day into by budget for the rest of my stay. In France, there is no place where I can grab a hot tea and go, like Starbucks. It just goes to show how fast paced we are in America.  Sometimes we just need to sit down and drink our coffee!

Besides being lost in my french history class and dozing off from sleepiness and confusion and being freezing in class, things are going well! Sunday, we went to a classical music concert at Sainte Chapelle! Three violinists, a cellist, and a harpsichord player (I'm pretty sure it was a harpsichord). The music was amazing. The solo violinist was shredding the music apart and he could have powered the city with the intensity of his playing. Not only was I in awe of the beautiful stained glass, but the music was fantastic :)

On Monday, I was tired and came straight home after lunch. I powered through a 2 page paper (hey, two pages is tough in another language) and got some stuff done. During dinner, my host family talked about their favorite music, 90% of which is American. They asked me if I knew who The Beatles were, and after the daughter thought they were an American band, she asked, "What's the difference between Britain and America anyway?" :O After dinner, we played a game! We actually had a mini family game night! It was this big board with different tiny drawings of objects, like a baloon, flowers, a birthday cake, etc. maybe around 100 pictures, and one person picked a tile out of the box, and the first person to find it gets the tile. The person with the most...ok you get it. With all five of us, it got competitive! It helped me though because someone would say the word of whatever object was picked and I learned a few new words. Or at least I knew them during the game and forget them now :/

Today, after lunch, we went to Sacre Coeur. It's actually on my way home from school, and very easy to get to, so I think I'll go there more often! They have constant adoration, so I went to spend some time praying and my friends walked around. I really appreciate how they let me do my thing and didn't rush me to leave. I also appreciate how there are employees who keep everyone quiet and don't let you take pics out of respect. 

My friend and I ventured out to in our neighborhood to find dinner tonight, and we found this nifty little place down the road. It's a creperie, and we both had a crepe with capers, olives, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. It was the perfect thing for dinner. We had to splurge on ice cream, and it was so worth it. Did you know banana ice cream is gray?! I love the fact that I can walk down the street and find a tiny cafe or store with something special inside. Paying about 12 euros for it all isn't bad either ;)

Starting my second week here, the metro has been more forgiving, I'm picking up more French language, and I'm noticing more cultural differences. I'd love to expand on that in my next post because now I have homework to do! Versailles tomorrow :D

Praying that this cold spring weather moves to the US! You can use it more than me!

"Fear is useless, what is needed is trust."

<3 Love,
Anna