France - 9/11/00

9/11/00

Today in class we worked on questions for an interview form we have to use when we interview ten people on the street.  Yuck.  (I just painted my toes and the red is a lot brighter than I remember - not as pretty.  I should have used the darker one...)  After class, Sarah and I found the computer in the psychology lab that we can use for free!  I had a message from Jamie and one from Alan.  I'm going to spend more time on the computers tomorrow while Sarah works on her presentation with Linda.  Zack, Sarah, & I had lunch at that pizza place on Sablon today and the pizzas took a loooong time.  And they weren't very good!  argh.  After a very short email time, Sarah and I rushed to the 2 [bus number] to Jaude and then to the 13 (which was 5 minutes late) to make it on time to pay rent - and then the 13 broke down!!  We waited at least ten minutes until a replacement bus arrived.  We made it to Cité 1 [The part of the Cézeaux dorms that housed the office; we lived in Cité 2.] at 5:25, but the nice guy there still let us pay!  Then we walked to Cité 2 and basically collapsed.  It was actually hot today!  Yesterday, too.  For dinner, we just stayed here and heated stuff up in the microwave - and the paella was good.  We ate in Sarah's room, and there were 2-3 French guys right outside the door who kept looking in every once in a while.  I felt pretty uncomfortable since I was in their line of sight, so I went to my room to refill my bottle and then closed the door when I came back.  Then we heard them talking about us, saying we were afraid of life, so I went back to my room on the pretense of getting pain au chocolat and apple juice, and left the door open when I returned so that they wouldn't think we were antisocial.  One of the French guys asked me a little later if we were American, but that was the extent of the conversation.  Afterwards, I tried calling the Charrons and there was still no answer.  Then I called Matt & Nat & they called me back - we talked for quite a while!  It was really fun.  They're going to try to visit here soon and I'll visit there fairly soon.  And we're going to go skiing sometime!  And Matt promised they'd cook me Mexican food and grill me something, also.  They asked me for ideas on what to get Jamie for Christmas, but I can't think of anything!  I don't even know what I'm getting him.  I hate that we have to make sure the gifts are small & light & easy to take home.  The mandatory meeting is on the 3rd and classes are on the 9th, so we're going to go to possibly Lyon until the meeting and then Paris afterwards.  Time for a second coat on my nails... I got my first batch of mail today - a card & a letter from Jamie!!!!  I love you, sweetie!

Clermont-Ferrand

Clermont-Ferrand

Sarah