I'm still loving being here, and I'm slowly getting used to the ridiculous weather...have I mentioned that it's as hot here as it is in Virginia, sometimes hotter, but that there's no air conditioning anywhere??? I am also becoming accustomed to the food, but I have to say that it's still a challenge for me to eat enough at meals. If you know me, you know that I'm a fairly picky eater...so not knowing what I'm being served can be difficult, so I sometimes end up eating the same thing over and over because I'm scared to try something new. I am getting better though! I had duck the other day at lunch and tried a quiche this evening even though I had no idea what was in it. I am also getting quite good at using the tram system and even rode the city bus for the first time this morning with great success!! However, there are some things that I just can't get used to...and here they are for you in list form:
1) Almost all food and drinks are served at room temperature, including milk. I don't understand why food isn't either hot or cold. It's always in the middle. Je ne comprends pas du tout.
2) Chivalry is dead. If you drop something, don't expect someone to help you out and pick it up. Get it yourself. Also, no one is going to hold that door for you no matter how many groceries you have in your hands.
3) Speaking of groceries, most grocery stores do not provide bags at all! You have to take your own reusable shopping bags, which is very green and cool. I like it.
4) However, at the same time that France is all forward and modern, it's also very backwards. Again, no air conditioning, really? Also, why don't they use deodorant? And their idea of shopping is also very old school. It's evident from the portions of things in grocery stores, the size of the shopping carts, and the fact that small family businesses like bakers, butchers, vegetable sellers, etc. thrive that most people still go shopping almost every day on their way home from work to get what they need for dinner.
5) Personal space in France does not exist. This can sometimes be hilarious, but usually it's either creepy, sweaty, or dangerous. The personal space thing applies to your body as well as on the roads. The lanes here are just wide enough for a car, with no room on either side, so the several times that I've been in a tour bus, I've felt a little scared and squished.
6) You must put thought into your outfit before stepping out. I love this part about France. No one here wanders outside in their ratty old t-shirt, dollar flip flops, and sweat pants. Everyone takes time to ponder their clothing. Sometimes they miss the mark - case in point, woman in Paris wearing leopard print top and striped pants - but they always try!
My classes are going well so far. I do wish that they were a little less about grammar and more about culture, but I am definitely perfecting my use of the subjunctif!! Also, one of my professors has taken a particular liking to making fun of me in class! He even called me out the other day and told me to quit taking notes and to pay attention to what he was writing on the board...which seems like an oxymoron to me lol. I've got to start drinking more tea in the morning before I get to class because I keep nodding off...luckily my French family loves tea and serves my favorite - Earl Grey English Breakfast Tea!!!
This weekend I felt like I never stopped going. We had classes on Saturday because we didn't have class on Monday. Also, on Friday night, the other William and Mary students and I went to a wine and arts festival in downtown Montpellier, on Saturday night we celebrated the Fourth of July in an Irish pub, and on Sunday we visited the French town of Nimes that was a part of the Roman Empire as well as went to the Pont du Gard, the oldest, largest standing aquaduct in the world. You should check out my pictures of all my epic adventures on facebook!!
Oh, and you should be jealous. The Tour de France comes through Montpellier tomorrow, and guess who's going right after class???!
