maman!

Today is my last day with my mom. I have yet to well up.

I slept in my room last night and mom slept in her hotel room, and since we don't have phone service despite my new SIM card, we had to communicate through internet. My mom's ipad was dead so I gave her my charger last night before she left so I had to use my computer sparingly today. Last time I decorated to pass the time before bed, but I still cried a little bit. Then I went to bed in silence; I left the light on for a few hours in the kitchen because I was afraid to sleep in my room alone.

I woke up an hour early for my first orientation today so I slowly got ready and listened to music, but half an hour before I had to leave my computer battery was getting dangerously low so I sat by the window and waited until I could leave. On my way to the orientation I saw a guy from the center standing outside the cafe across the street from the Monoprix and I started talking to him. He was with two friends and we all walked to the center together. The first orientation was for living in Daumesnil and it was fairly short with nothing interesting to report.

After the orientation I went downstairs to sign up for excursions. I was disappointed to find out that the garden trip was full, but I signed up for a crepe dinner and a concert and put my name on the waiting list for cheese tasting. I walked home with my neighbor Alex and a few other girls from the dorm. I'm not so sure that I'll be friends with them, but at least they're someone to walk with.

We had a few hours before our academic orientation so we went back home to rest. I was left in my room all alone too scared to turn on my computer and waste the battery. I tried to read some Poe, but I was tired. I tried to nap but I wanted to stay awake. I ended up decorating my room some more and using the internet for a few minutes. Then I met the girls downstairs to walk back to the center.

I got my class schedule!! If I wasn't posting this entry from my mom's hotel room I would post my schedule for you. We have a three week intensive practicum that includes hours a day in the classroom learning French and six excursions over two weeks. I'm so excited to go on excursions! I'm in French language class two (where I belong after taking French one during spring quarter), histories of Paris (that includes excursions on Wednesdays), and a lower division world music class. The best part is that I only have class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but I'm afraid that by Friday I'll be exhausted.

The academic orientation was really long and filled with useful tips about French manners and how to be safe; always say Bonjour Madame/Monsieur, put your money on the counter instead of handing it to the cashier, be careful of other people. This orientation included tips on fire safety; a girl from another program died three years ago in a fire.

After the orientation I ran back home to meet mom. She was already on the bench outside my dorm waiting for me. She had spent the whole day on the Champs-Elysées shopping and buying souvenirs for friends. She brought a pistachio and chocolate crossiant for us, and it was delicious! She also brought more things to decorate my room including pictures of Paris for the kitchen, Paris coasters, and book marks.

Then we went to Monoprix to get dinner. First we stopped at the phone store to try to fix my cell phone problems, but the woman said to come back tomorrow to see the technician. Next we went to the tabac across from Accent to try to buy a carnet of metro tickets, but they didn't sell them. On the way to the metro we found a great store that is kind of like Ikea; all the products are in English and the prices are pretty cheap. Then we went to Monoprix to get food; more chocolate bars for mom to take home, a baguette, two containers of chicken soup, and herbed cheese. Then we went to the metro and mom bought me two carnets of tickets (one carnet has ten tickets in it).

We went home and ate our dinner while watching Gnomeo and Juliet on youtube. Then mommy did my hair. Afterwards we packed up and walked to her hotel room. We've been watching a marathon of The Big Bang Theory as mom packs her bags. Now it's time for our sleepover.

I plan on going to Notre Dame tomorrow, but we'll see what happens.