Il neige!

The last couple of days have gone by so fast!

Jean and I have seen far more of Avignon than we had anticipated because we've now taken the wrong bus several times in the opposite direction of our intentions. It's an easy system to manage, I think it's just that we're still figuring out where everything is and very little is familiar, so we end up saying, "I think this looks wrong, but...let's go with it anyway because I have no idea." Still, I think we're experts now.

And the city is beautiful! A very old and medieval wall surrounds the downtown and the University, and the buildings are also designed very intricately.

But it has also been very cold, so I haven't enjoyed being outside very much yet. We had a high of 39 today with lots of wind, so when I left this morning it was around 20! The day before last it even snowed a bit. I miss Florida's February, a good 75 would be perfect right about now. My host mother decided my jacket from home was not warm enough and bundled me up with a large poofy ski coat for the last few days, so I've been warm enough. I felt bad, though, so I bought a new jacket yesterday and it's working out good. I got a wonderful deal on it too because almost every single store in Avignon has sales until Feb. 14. The local government decides when the shops are allowed to have sales and it's prime discount time right now. That's one way to regulate your local economy I suppose!

Mme Catherine is so very nice and takes such good care of me, but is also trying to make me a vegetarian. Everyone who knows me also knows of my great love for hamburgers, but I haven't told her that, haha. She cooks me breakfast and dinner, so I eat meat when I'm in town for lunch. Her food is always very good, though. So far I've had a greens and cheese quiche, yogurt with jam in it, a creamy meringue dessert, lots of bread, cereal, pasta topped with cooked onions, and a homemade vegetable pizza. Everything tastes a bit funny to me, but I believe it's because of the lack of preservatives in french food. My taste buds are not used to everything being so fresh and organic.

I've seen very few overweight people since I landed in Paris too, and I think it may be because they eat so healthy here. They do love pastries and rich sweets, but only eat them in very small portions and the same with very fatty foods. I guess it helps that they walk so much too and I've seen tons of people riding bikes, even though it's so cold.

In other news, I turned twenty-one today. I had almost forgotten about it, but I had to get a sports physical this morning and the doctor remarked on my date of birth. Jean discovered it this afternoon and immediately set to collaborating with Mme Catherine and Antonia. They scolded me for not telling them sooner so they could buy more gifts and celebrate elaborately, but I had a wonderful time anyway.

Antonia set about baking me the most delicious chocolate cake, and Mme Catherine gave me Voltaire's Candide en francais. We were just discussing our studies and favorite authors the night before, so it was perfect. She also gave me a package of the finest salt in France. I haven't opened it yet, but I expect it's amazing. She told me it's very common to gift high quality spices in France as they are very practical and greatly appreciated. If they can use it, they love it and especially so when they can show it off in their meals at dinner parties.

I have my first class early tomorrow morning for three hours. Then another three hour class soon after. I'm very intimidated by the length as I've only had one three hour class at Stetson and it was brutal but only met once per week. these classes will be three or four times a week! They say this is normal for European classes, so I guess I'll get used to it. I'm sure I'll be fine if the subjects are interesting enough. My placement test went well and I'm in the level that I wanted! It's an intermediate/advanced class and only three of us, including Jean, scored into it. The other four are one level below us, so I'm a little bummed that I won't see them as often, but also pleased with myself for doing well.

I really miss my family a lot, and my wonderful boyfriend too, but I just keep telling myself that I'll be home soon and to enjoy it. My amazing sister-in-law is sending me a package soon with pictures from my niece and nephew and my favorite mint oreos, so that helps.

I miss my pets way more here than I do when I'm at Stetson because their doppelgangers are always around to remind me of them. PonPon, the cat, has taken a liking to napping on my stomach and she fusses at me if I don't cover her with the blanket. I guess spoiled pets are universal! Still Mme Catherine tells me "there is no need for the homesick" because her house is also my house, so I'll be fine with such nice people around me all of the time.

More pictures to come soon!