The Past Few Days at a Glance

The Vert Bois lobby, where a lot of important things happen.

Tuesday:
We had a meeting at 1:45. There we learned some terrifying details of a bunch of things we should have done before we came that need to get done and handed in before Monday. We all started to get to know one another as well. One of the coordinators was saying that she notices that ISEP (the program that this is under) students generally clump together and don't make a lot of friends outside of the group. This meeting was the first and only time so far during this trip that I've felt concerned.

Another shot of the lobby. Most of the people in this picture are ISEP students.

Julianne and I also went grocery shopping at a cute little place called the Shopi. I've never seen so much French cheese in my life. I got a few basics and enough food to last me until the weekend if I supplement it with a few things that I get at a cafe or restaurant.

Here is the entrance to the grocery store. There's a downstairs for stuff like utensils and postcards.

Fruit; some of it I've never seen before, like the little things to the right top next to the big green things. They look prickly.

Cheese.

French Kellogg's cereal.

I doubt anyone else remembers Fa body wash, but it came out in the US and it smells sooooo good. Too bad they don't sell it there anymore.

A jar of off-brand Nutella. I couldn't resist it because it's so cute. Now I can use the empty jar for a glass.

 I was really happy to have food, since it isn't provided for us on this program.

Wednesday:
We had our placement tests to see what level classes we'll be taking. It was a two-part paper test, and then later on in the day we had an oral exam. I'm pretty sure I'll be in the lowest level. Not complaining, since I'll also be applying for grad school while I'm here and don't want to take on too much. The results will be revealed Monday.

This was the floor of the building where we took our oral exam. So orange.

Later, Julianne and I went to make copies of things in town for all the stuff that we have to hand in on Monday. After Julianne grabbed a sandwich, we went back to our dorm (building D, it's called). I was so glad to kick back and relax after being tested all day and making sure I could get copies of the things I needed, so I sat down to read some emails, listen to music, and nosh on something.

Cue housekeeping randomly bursting into my room.

Here's the deal. We did not have blankets when we arrived (one guy doesn't even have shower curtains, which is completely necessary in our miniscule bathrooms). Apparently, that is not normal for the program, so the program heads made sure to take care of it when we told them. The housekeeper was coming to deliver the blankets. She was a blonde woman who smelled of cigarettes and was brisk and extremely friendly (she even told Julianne to make sure to lock her door when she's in her room; very motherly!). I thanked her profusely for the blankets, because sleeping with random scarves and a towel strategically tied around one's legs isn't that conducive to a good night's sleep. She came back later to tell me that I need to get some documents from the secretariat, including a list we go through together to check the condition of the room. She then asked me, with a smile, how long I was staying. She was really nice.

*cue angels singing* I slept super well that night.

Thursday:
We were told we had a meeting at 9:30 to figure out our phone situations, and at the last minute the night before the meeting we were told to bring our laptops, and that was it. What we weren't informed of was the fact that we were going to leave campus, hop on a tram, and go all the way out to a place where we could buy phones, our laptop-filled bags digging into our shoulders the entire time. But that's exactly what happened.

Why is the name of the store in English?

I didn't get anything, since I would only be able to make local calls. Plus I have an international calling card. I just need to figure out how to use it on my Tracphone.

A building across the street.

There was a mall called the Polygone right next to us, so a lot of us went in and bought something to eat. It was fun requesting for Lipton Iced Tea and pronouncing it "Leeptoh Ice Tea." Then a group of us girls went to a few stores. Only to window shop, of course, since we're trying to conserve our funds. It was a good day, despite the resulting ache in my shoulder from carrying my laptop everywhere.

Fresh off the tram at the Odysseum.

Today (Friday):
A group of us went to the Odysseum, a huge place with lots of stores and places to eat. The focal point was to go to IKEA, a store that has a little of everything, which is a God-send for international students who are in desperate need of things.

This place is a massive warehouse. It's so big they have maps at the entrance.

The entrance.

After everyone but me got some much needed items, we were famished and grabbed some lunch.

Most of us got the same thing. This is the bag it came in.

This is how the French do pizza: melted mozzarella with random smatterings of delicious Gouda cheese and a black olive.

Water; a lot of us say we've been extra thirsty since we've been here. I know I have.

We sat outside and ate and chatted while watching passersby, then we headed to Géant Casino, France's Wal-Mart. There was so much stuff there.

Mister Clean? Not in France; here he's Monsieur Propre!

I got a few more basics, like stuff to wash dishes with. Once we were done, we left the Odysseum and headed back on the tram. At the next stop we were at, the tram police invaded and checked to make sure everyone had a ticket (it's very easy to ride the tram without one)! This was my first encounter with them; they only get on sporadically, so you never know when it's going to happen. They where in white button-down shirts, black pants, and were sporting name tags and black leather fannypacks. It was frightening (even with the fannypacks) having them suddenly spring inside together and demand to see your ticket, but thankfully I had mine. We arrived back on campus safe and sound.

Tram ticket. "Aller-retour" means the ticket covers you for the trip there and the trip back.

Time is going by here extremely quickly. I was fully convinced that it was Thursday today. Already this week is coming to an end. It feels like I left just yesterday.