Le Premier jour d'ecole!

Aujourd'hui etait mon premier jour d'ecole a AUP!
As I walked to my first class today, I tried to sink in everything so I would always remember the moment. Walking down le passage Jean Nicot, a cute cobble-stone street that leads to the building I needed to go to. I wore a dress I've had forever, a black and purple striped Betsey Johnson that it both comfortable, familiar, and (I think) kind of French looking. I arrived first, since I did not want to be late to my first class. But I also didn't want to be the loser that was first in the classroom. So I stalled some time, and walked in about 4th, taking a seat in the second row, which to me says "I am not an overachieving wierdo - but I take class seriously". I have solid class from 9am - 3pm on Monday, so it was a long day and I got a little taste of all my classes.
Marketing, French, Media Law, and Speech.
While I could comment on them all, I will stick to just speaking about French, because it was my favorite, the most funny, and seems the most promising.
From the time Madame arrived in the classroom, until the time class was fini she spoke maybe 1 sentence of English. Which, I suppose I had expected but as it was actually happening, all I could think was merde, I am rusty! She explained our class in French, syllabus in French, rules and expectations, everything! It was tres funny because a majority of the time, I was only taking in about 50% of what was being said! What I did comprenhend, is that the class is going to be very cool. There are only about 8 students, so we will all get a lot of personal attention, and personal assignments based on our skills and needs. We will also often conduct class in a cafe or somewhere in Paris that relates to what we're learning. How fun! It is French for commuication and culture, so I think it is exactly what I need to learn how to speak better, more vocabulary, and some street slang so I actually sound Parisienne. I hope that tomorrow, my french is better than today, and that trend continues! I think I will really be able to learn a lot in the class, and so I am really contente.

After school was over, Caroline and I went to lay in the sun on the Champs des Mars and look at the beautiful Eiffel Tower, towering above us beneath the clear blue sky. I think this is something I will have to do everyday. I velib-ed home after a petit of shopping at l'Opera, and rode past the Louvre, down the Seine, and right up to our rue. It was magnifique. I cannot put into words how beautiful Paris is on a sunny day, velib-ing around. I am tres obbsessed.

As dinnertime approached, I decided to go down to fanprix where I bought some jambon, chevre, spinach, and a bottle of beaujolis. I proceeded to make the most wonderful salad of spinach and jambon, topped with toasted goat cheese toasts of pain complete et chevre that I enjoyed with a glass of vin, and a petit scoop of Nutella on shortbread (made by Caroline) for dessert. I would normally never make myself a late night dinner of this magnitude and frenchness, but something about being in France makes you want to go the extra mile to treat yourself right.

I just had to take a fifteen minute break in my posting, because of the following events...

Ratatouille appeared
I screamed for Caroline
Ratatouille ran under the sink
Caroline ran into the kitchen
Caroline banged on the cabinets above the sink to scare Ratatouille away
We sprayed Febreeze everywhere, including under the sink, to posion Ratatouille with chemicals We got rid of all crumbs with a quick cleaning job
I poured myself a large glass of wine to ensure I sleep tonight
I ran into my room and stuffed a towel under my room so Ratatouille cannot enter, hopefully.
I resumed my posting, sitting on my bed, in fear.

The mort aux rats is obviously not working. Rataouille must know that it is actually death food and not real food. Blast! I am awaiting the peppermint oil to arrive from Amazon France, which is apparently supposed to keep them away. Until then, I sleep only by the power of vin, and in fear. Tonight I got a good look at him, and he is actually quite tiny, definitetly a mouse not a rat, which is a huge relief. If he was not terrozing mon apartement, I may even say he is cute. But mon fromage et ma vie is in danger while he lives, so he is nothing but the mouse of doom.