Oh, what a day. I'm almost ready to move on.
I woke up half an hour before my alarm this morning. I guess that's what happens to kids who wake up at seven for days and then suddenly try to wake up at 7:30 instead. I got on facebook in bed for a few minutes until it was actually time to get up. I made my coffee and started doing my makeup. Only later when I was looking in the mirror at school did I realize I didn't put on enough blush. Minor problem, but one in the laundry list of my day. After I did my makeup I picked out an outfit. I picked a black dress with my long sleeved shirt underneath with my cropped black sweater on top. The necklines didn't match up but it was close enough to get by. I finished my look with glittery tights over my fleece tights and my rosary for good luck. I then ate my waffles while surfing the internet. The waffles weren't fantastic but they were food. That's more than I can say about yesterday's breakfast.
I wanted to leave a few minutes early so that I could drop off my letters, but I barely managed to leave on time. Later when I got to school I realized that I had totally forgotten to bring Poe with me! What was I supposed to do without my book?! Arg. I dropped off the letters and then went to school. I was early of course and was happily surprised that the heater had been left on upstairs. It was roasting..but the bad kind of roasting. We finally opened up a few of the windows to let in some air. I was really proud of myself for understanding the French one professor who teaches next door when she said "baisse le chauffage." I know that phrase! While we waited for our professor the other kids were freaking out and studying out loud. I hate when kids study out loud because it makes me nervous. Hanna was really freaking out so I offered her some gum to be nice. She turned me down saying that it'd make her throw up. At least I tried to be nice. My French professor didn't come upstairs until 8:45. Then came the exam.
Of course I felt like I totally failed. I totally forgot how to spell esperer for each of the pronouns and the other questions were a mumble of sadness for me. The exam also took me forever. I saw Irene get up and give her exam to our professor before leaving the room. Our professor looked over her exam and gave her some suggestions on how to fix it when she got back. I was so done at that point that I didn't even want to give it to her. Sierra got up next to have her exam read. I got up after Sierra and then asked if I could go to the bathroom if I gave her my exam. She said of course and I went downstairs. This was the first time that cheating has ever crossed my mind during an exam, but I was a sad and desperate woman. I went back upstairs and sat down. My professor didn't say anything. Then she saw me sitting there and asked if I wanted to take a break. I didn't have a book so I said that it was fine. She then asked me if I wanted to come up and get the program evaluation to do while I waited. I got up to get it and also picked up my composition three. I got an A+. She's not returning the composition four because she hasn't graded them yet. I asked her if there were any problems with my exam and she said that it was close to perfect so not to worry. I still think that it's a lie.
I did the evaluation just in enough time before class ended. The only thing now was to figure out something to do for 15 minutes before histories started. I went downstairs for a minute and then came upstairs and proceeded to draw on my notebook. After awhile Christina came over and handed me my synecdoche paper. I got an A+. Now 55% of my histories grade is an A+. That's not too shabby at all. Class went as usual. It was interesting, but the same as our normal routine. I'm really going to miss my histories class. At the end of lecture we did evaluations. I think everyone gave her great reviews. There's nothing about Christina that one can't like. I saw her while I was leaving and talked to her about how my paper had improved and how I could see the difference.
I then came back home, put down my stuff, and went to Gare de Lyon. I told mom yesterday that I'd find out how much train tickets were from a booking agent. I got my ticket and waited for my number to be called. After a lot wait, most of which I had to watch an annoying couple being weird, my number was called. The woman wasn't very nice, and she reaffirmed that a one way ticket was 176 euros. No way in fuck. I left the station and stopped to get a baguette for lunch on my way home.
I got home and emailed mom about the development in my life (or more like continuation of previous knowledge). I then answered some facebook messages. One of them was from Patrick (you remember the awkward sex conversation guy, right?). He asked how I was doing and I started to complain to him about how difficult planning my trip was and how I needed to find somewhere to store my luggage. He said that he could do it for me. All I have to do is take the luggage to him on Thursday night and then he'll meet me at the train station to pick it up. Thank the sweet lord jesus! I do have to deal with his weird behavior towards me, but who cares. Between answering facebook messages, I did my first histories essay (in 44 minutes no less). The review session really clarified some issues that I was having in my essay. Christina said that the prompt was supposed to be about uses of power. That really ties my ideas together. Thanks, Christina.
Next up was working on my french presentation. I was really distracted by everything that was going on in my life (and I was trying to eat my baguette at the same time) but I managed to finish today's one slide. The question was "what is your favorite experience." The presentation is entitled "Mon Paris" so I figured that I should pick an experience that happened in Paris. So much has happened to me here. You've read the posts (or at least this one, but you can imagine that I haven't only watched tv for four months); there's too much to say. The experience that immediately came to mind was when I saw Notre Dame at night for the first time. That was the moment that I really said "wow. I'm in Paris and I'm the luckiest girl in the world." I know the other kids aren't going to approve of me and my life (but who really cares about them anyway. I'm about to never see them again in two days), but that's my favorite experience that I can think of. Honestly, my life here has been my favorite experience. I can't just pick one moment.
After the slide I wrote my second histories essay. This one was written in about 42 minutes. Great. I have a three minute grace period this time. That's so much more than my zero minutes of grace last time (and actual going over time). I pray that my final goes well, but I know in my heart that I'll be fine. I just have to stay calm and let the knowledge flow.
By this time it was already a few minutes until four and I had to go to pop at 4:30 due to the finals week schedule. I did a few things online and then went to class. I walked over with Heather because we were in the elevator at the same time. I really like her. Pop went okay. We got our presentation grades back. I got a 95%. What. The. Fuck. That class is the thorn in my side. The death blow to my perfect Parisian experience. I don't even want to talk about it. On the plus side, the review session was super helpful. Mindy pointed out a lot of really good details that I can use for my essay. I know that I won't remember a lot of the points, but I can't cram too much into a 20ish minute essay. I'm going to review the main points tomorrow and pray that everything works out well.
After class I came home to review the pop readings. I know that they were on the list of things to do over the weekend, but you know that I bypassed them in favor of some form of a life. Well tonight was the night that I paid for my sins. I didn't get started working until 6:30. I read the Looseley article until 7:15 then made the last of my ramen for dinner. I spent my dinner time looking up flights. I think that the lowest rate is $230.98. I have a webpage on my browser right now that says $180, but I'm not sure if they'll still let me have that price. $230 is way better than the 176 euros one way. Pricey, but I guess it's fine. I wanted to talk to mom so that I could book the flight right then and there but I knew that she wasn't near her email. Finally not having a phone has really caught up with me. I messaged Matthew on Facebook to call mom to tell her to get online. He thankfully answered right away, but Mom didn't pick up the phone. I'm still waiting for her to call.
I finished the last article about rap with my computer next to me just in case mom called. The article was mostly useless for my essay, but it did have two good main points. Rap is from marginalized areas that the French state continuously says that it doesn't want in existence. The other point is that rap artists have taken over production and publicity themselves. Oh, the third point is that rap is very focused on its local banlieue identity which is not the national French identity championed by Republicanism or chanson. The other point (okay there were more than two points in the article) is that rappers say that they're not political leaders but simply mouthpieces for what is happening in the banlieue.
I finished the article in a daze. I'm so tired that I can't even think straight. I then took my shower. After my shower I knew that I needed to get some packing done. I decided that today was the day that all of the decoration comes off of the walls. It's all packed/thrown away now and my room doesn't feel like mine anymore. This box isn't the home it once was to me. It's hard to say goodbye, but I think that I'm ready to go now. Just a few more days until it's over. Life can be so bittersweet sometimes.
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