I woke up today and the sky was gray. I seem to be getting headaches the morning of my French quizzes; maybe it's the stress. I was sleepy and not looking forward to taking the quiz. I got myself dressed in a comfy, but not fashionable, outfit and hit the road. Let's fast forward to the quiz. The dictation was actually pretty easy. Yay! The oral questions were a little difficult, but I usually don't do very well on those anyway. The majority of the quiz was pretty hard. I kept rewriting my answers and putting things in parentheses hoping that she'd give me some credit for effort. I also complain after French quizzes, but I have always done really well on them. I'm going to choose to think that is what's going to happen this time.
We took our break, and I used the time to read more of The Phantom Tollbooth. I think that I'm going to keep a book in my purse from now on. After the quiz we continued watching the movie that we started after the last quiz (Entre le Mur). Raven's head was in the way so I couldn't see most of the subtitles. I still had a headache, and was growing more tired by the second, so I chose slouch in my chair and not stress about understanding the film.
After French I read some more while waiting for histories to start. I knew that I would be getting back my monument analysis today, and I was dreading it. I haven't been doing as well as hoped on my papers lately. I saw the clock strike 11:15, and Christina was nowhere to be found. I kept reading thinking that she was late. At about 11:25 someone looked out the window and saw Christina sitting in the courtyard calmly smoking a cigarette. No one went to get her. At 11:30 Remy decided that she wanted class to start. She went downstairs, despite Nico chasing after her, and Christina came up in a few moments. She said that she was sick and had forgotten her watch, and that she was really sorry. She seemed really frantic and kept apologizing. Postive side? I got to read the book that I'm thoroughly enjoying.
She handed out the questions for next week's midterm, and then explained them. By the time lecture actually began it was almost 12. 12:45 came quickly today. After class I went up to Christina's desk to collect my paper. There were scribbles everywhere, and I knew that I was in trouble. I had glimpsed another girl's paper last week, and she had scribbles everywhere too. Maybe we all suck. I flipped straight to the back page to see "90" in a circle. So positivity. Right. 1) A 90 is still an A. 2) Christina has a rewrite policy 3) I don't have that far to improve 4) Her comments were positive…kinda
I took my paper and went home. I actually read Christina's comments later in the day, and they at least made my laugh. Her comments are filled with words like "boo" "meow" "woo!" "kind of perfect" and "ooh!" You can tell the type of person she is just from those words. Her summary states "Clever, Michaela, almost there. Taut and tender and daring. Not perfect, yet, but obviously going that way." Can I be described as taut, tender, and daring from now on?
I got home and went to immediately studying for pop. My histories group was meeting at 2:30 so I had to get a move on. So positives: 1) My new highlighers are amazing. Seeing my notes in alternating pink and yellow is kinda stellar 2) I ate my potato chips from Lauren while I did it 3) Then I switched to cheetos from Jimmy 4) I got to listen to music. I still have "Les Nouveaux Parisians" stuck in my head.
Annie had sent her section of the paper to me last night, but I had more pressing matters than reading someone else's paper. I quickly read it before the group meeting. Her part hadn't improved much since the last time I read it, and she still didn't have her paragraph for the first section done. Our group met, and Morgan said that she'd format the paper. I quickly sent her my images and added the image citations into my portion of the paper and sent it to her.
Next up was fixing my French composition. There's really nothing negative to say about that. I got a few "oui"s which I had never seen written on a paper before. The best part about doing compositions in France (or at least with my professor) is that you get a second chance to write them. Fantastic.
It was already four by this time, so I turned my attention to studying for my histories midterm. The first question (which I won't burden you with what it is) took forever to answer, but I have some good ideas. Postive: If I had to do the exam today at least I'd have something to write. The second question didn't go so well. I emailed Christina in search of help. I do, however, have one pretty strong section. Sections one and three are still in the works. Ideas are flowing, though.
By this time it was about six. I was supposed to skype with my mom at eight, and my stomach was grumbling. I wanted something different besides my usual chips and nutella diet. I ripped open a package of chicken noodle soup mix that I had bought at Franprix awhile ago. The directions said to add in one litre of water. Oh France, it's so cute that you think that the American knows how much a litre is. I added in three cupfuls of water and then tasted it at the end. It seemed fine to me. Technically it's a family sized portion (for a family of two children), but I ended up eating the whole thing during three different rounds. Negative: overeating. Positive: It was delicious.
By this time I had convinced myself that I could spend a few minutes studying for French before mom and I skyped. I tried to focus, but I kept getting distracted by Morgan talking to me about our project. Annie's sections are a mess, and Morgan started to freak out. She is overhauling Annie's section, and asked me to send her Annie's photographs. I had also forgotten to send her the photos for my paragraph in section one so I had to do that. At this point it was 7:50 and my time for studying for French was fading fast. I started studying, but my eyelids were droopy. I struggled to do any kind of review at all especially since my attention was being taken elsewhere. I finished up a bit of review and checked my email.
No emails from mom, but I did get an email from UCSB stating that I was scheduled for a senior portrait. Bad news: I won't be in the country, and I can't reschedule for January. Positive: I'm not that interested anyway. I ate a caramel and got in bed to write to you. Mom can't skype tonight because she can't get her skype application to work. Also, her email is broken. We rescheduled for tomorrow.
While I was writing this I got an email from Christina.
Just to reconfirm:
Group A on the steps of the Palais Garnier at 1:45 as usual.
Group B requested to be there 15 minutes earlier -- at 3:30. By taking the direct # 8 to Opéra, you will all arrive early, as usual.
And I wish to apologize for completely spacing out this morning as to when class should have begun. This marks the second time I've done that in 20 years. Both times, other problems led to the confusion. But my problems do not count as an excuse.
Maybe we all need a break. A colleague told me that this morning she got on the metro in the other direction! "Look at that, I never realized the Opéra was on the way to Accent...two stops later...oops!"
Christina
She's adorable.
I'm so tired you have no idea. I'm now going to have to deal with my histories project again. I can't. That's not very positive at all…...
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