General Update

Crowds of people on strike.
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I know I haven't written much lately, so I'll try and fill in all the gaps. Since I last updated, I've made some French friends (see pictures!) and more American friends here in Paris. Meeting French people is great because they know where all the cheap bars are and can recommend places where students hang out.

I've gone to a few museums...the Institut du Monde Arabe to see an exhibit about oriental influence on the Venetian Empire, the Espace EDF to see a really cool exhibit with tropical plants and photography of rainforests, and the Petit Palais to see the permanent exhibits. I'm going to try and see a bunch more this week and this upcoming weekend because after that i'll be traveling a lot.

JB (french friend) and Kate
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I got a job- once a week I go and talk to a french family's kids in English so they can practice. it's actually a lot of fun...friday we played monopoly (the european union version)!

I witnessed a lot of manifestations (strikes). Different groups are on strike all the time here in paris, and last week there were some really big strikes. Yesterday the workers at the Musee d'Orsay were on strike and they let everyone in for free, but the museum closed early. On the street on Thursday, I came across a HUGE mass of people on strike (teachers and some other groups). It was really interesting to see.

Friends I've meet through my study abroad program.
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I've seen two french movies...we try to pick out the chic flicks because they're not too hard to understand and they're really good practice for understanding French. I think I'll probably go to another one this afternoon...it's raining right now so it's not really a good day to do much.

I started my last class (at the Institut Catholique)...I think it will be interesting. The professor taught at Tulane and UPenn for years, so he's really familiar with Americans and the American university system.

Forgot to write about this...there ARE bad bakeries in Paris and this is one of them. The food was seriously gross. Don't go here!
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I've started a love hate relationship with the metro...i love it most of the time and i hate it at night when it ends and i have to walk home in the rain. :)

It's been great getting to know the city a bit more...I don't use my map nearly as much and going places is much less of a challenge. Last night we went out to dinner in the 13th arrondisement which is someplace I've never been, and it turned out to be a lot of fun! I bought a book that has a ton of French restaurants that offer menus (appetizer, dinner, dessert and sometimes wine) for under 12 Euros, and that has been wonderful.

I also went to see my first play for my theater class (La Cantatrice Chauve). We have another one to go see on Friday, and will see six in total. I'm also working on finishing my personal statement for medical school, so everything will be in order when I apply this spring. It's been really hard getting started.

Right now I'm off to clean my room, grab some lunch and meet up with some friends.