Hail the pages turning..(song quotes, gotta love em)

So the new attention to song quotes is because I finally gave in to using my cd player on the 25 minute bus ride to the tram, and the 7 minute tram ride to campus. Its been fun rediscovering my favorite artists in this French setting. Fun.

Okay, a purely French moment: I was on the tram the other day, and I just so happened to see a small boy, maybe five or six years old, a messy mop of dark curls atop his head, poised at a stoplight, reaching up for the button that allows you to cross. In his arms he clutched two baguettes, both extending past the top of his head, almost as tall as he was. He had a red scarf and poofy blue jacket, and had a look of upmost concentration on his face. And he was alone. He was the cutest thing, and I wanted to jump off the tram and help him across the street. And eat a piece of the baguette. ;)

So Friday I woke up at 6h30 AGAIN (tres tot) for class. I actually made it out of bed by 6h50 this time and into the shower. Since Ive finally figured out the shower, it wasnt an experience I was dreading. I got off to school and had a quiz in my class, and we were given homework for the weekend. An essay. Which should be humorous and 500 words and about an experience in the past. I dont know what to write about yet, but I need to think about it soon since it's due Monday morning. I emailed my advisor about the placement thing, but I havent heard back yet.

So then I met up with Gothy and Jenna for a kebab- which is quickly becoming our new favorite thing in the world. For 4 Euros you can get a huge kebab and bottle of water. A kebab is a pita bread filled sandwich with some kind of meat (no one enlighten me, please because I dont think I want to know- but it tastes yummy!) and lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and various sauces. Delicieux and cheap. And it's the only time of the day I eat meat, because Ive decided my family is vegetarian. The other day for dinner, no joke, we ate: 1. shredded carrots, 2. green beans, 3. salad, 4. cheese, 5. roasted apples. It was yummy, yes, but I felt somehow cheated out of a main course. In America, those would all be sides. Haha. It was hilarious, but I had skipped lunch that day thinking Id have a big dinner (I mean, I ate an apple during the day but still) and then I get home and smell something yummy, but I guess it was the green beans? Who knows. So anyway we ate that kebab and then we took a trip to Carre Four. Let me tell you, apparently Carre Four rivals Wal Mart worldwide. Theyre quite popular in Japan, I hear. So Carre Four is basically, if Wal Mart and Fiesta had a GIANT child, it would be Carre Four. Or Carre Four is like the older, huge, giantess, Hagrid-like, sister of Wal Mart and Fiesta. It's hilarious. (Oh, okay AND more proof that the Olsen twins are taking over the world is that they had Mary Kate and Ashley books in FRENCH in CarreFour. I bet they have stock in it, too.) So I went in there and bought some granola bars and things to munch on during the day. I also bought two childrens books that my host sister, Vero, recognized instantly and apparently loved in her childhood. One is called Le Grand Reve de Monsieur Petit (The Big Dream of Mr. Little) and B..B..Bonjour dit Madame Timide (H..H..Hello says Madam Timid) so I think theyre hilarious and fun to read. You should see the animation! So, the point of my Carrefour story is that there are about 65 cash registers spread in a single line across the front of the store. Every line was long and my friends got in the ten items of less line. I had 11 items and was eager to not break any rules, so I went searching for a shorter line. (I also bought some cahiers and spirals for my class- all have GRAPH paper inside, not regular good ole' American paper) So anyway, I see this line that only has this woman and her young daughter in it. So I get behind the daughter and mother and put my things on the belt. Well, the daughter was cute with blonde hair and huge blue eyes and she was chewing on the corner of a book and I was cooing and saying, "Oh, qu'est-ce que c'est?" and talking baby talk to her, pretty much not paying attention to anything. The mother looked oddly familiar, and for a fleeting moment I thought she was American, even Texan (something about her clothes) so then the cashier turns to me and says something, very quickly, in French. I dont understand so I say, "Desolee" (sorry) and lean in further so she'll repeat what she said. She does, and I catch the words "one must be pregnant or" and then I turn in horror to the sign over the cashier number and it shows a picture of a pregnant woman, a woman with a child, and a handicapped person. I was so embarrased! I start to apologize, and offer to change lines "je peux changer le ligne" but the cashier was super nice and just laughed and said "Ca n'est pas grave"- no big deal, and left me in line. So I am standing there, as red as my hair, and the mother turns and says to me, "Are you from here?" and I said "No- Im an American studying here" and she starts talking in English. Turns out, she's from SAN ANTONIO! of all places, and moved here about six months ago because her husband works for Motorola and they have a big factory/headquarters or something here. And I told her I went to UT and she said her husband and her watched the game on cable and were so excited that we won! I couldn't believe it. She told me good luck with everything and that it all gets easier, and to just act like I was pregnant. It was great, and took a very little bit of the embarassment away. So as I was recounting this to my host family, I got to the Motorola part and just said it in my accent, without putting any French twist on it. And my host dad, Benoit, said, repeat that company. And I said Motorola, how I would say it. "Mode-er-oh-la" and he couldnt comprehend it. And then suddenly he says, "M-oh-tur-oh-lah" and starts laughing. I love how my accent makes even American words difficult to comprehend! Ha. But it was great, and now I have a fun story for cocktail parties. Haha.

On another note, Im sick. Total disgustingness and Im taking Claritin for it. Seems I caught it from the host family. I knew that was going to happen.

Also, I watched Les Choristes in French without the subtitles. I highly recommend this wonderful movie for all of you- you'll fall in love with the soundtrack, I might add. But make sure you watch it with English subtitles. :)

Oh, and I had some crazy dreams again last night. I mean, crazy.
And I watched the West Wing last night. I love that show and my host sister wants to watch to improve her English. She's so great.

So, okay. Today Im going to watch Brokeback Mountain en francais with the girls and then go bowling later. Which will be a great experience, I am SURE of it. I cant wait to have all the details for you guys.

By the way- it's cold again. January, how I love thee. And I almost went skiing this weekend.
Key word is almost.
Okay.

A bientot,
Chelsea :)