La Vie Continue

  La Rochelle, France
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Bonjour!

Fire works the other night were amazing.  And if  the fire works themselves weren't spectacular enough, try adding a port, boats and medieval towers, and setting it all in France.  Yeah.  It was awesome.

Feu d'artifice

Nadine's View

We also had dinner at Nadine's first.  And the view from her window... Like you wouldn't believe....

So, I have had one successful red beret expedition.  Any other requests?
I couldn't help myself though...

Beret Fun

Gemma the Cliché

I had my first proper class yesterday (Litterature Français).  The lecture spoke really fast. I'm sure he said more than "19th and 20th century literature" and "revolution français" in those 2 hours, but, you know, maybe he didn't for all I know.  Actually, he did say one other thing. "individualisme", over and over agian.  So I assume that was important.  But I heard that, so that's okay. And Amy (Novacastrian) and Josie (Canadian) were in the class too, so we'll help each other, no doubt.

Today I had two other classes. 

The first began at 8am.  That in itself isn't so bad, but when you take into account that I take an hour to get ready in the mornings and we have to leave 40 mins to walk there...  But you would have been proud.  I sayed in bed until 6:45 and was still ready by 7:20.  But it was still dark when we woke up.  By the time we left it was dawn, and the sun rose red as we walked, the glow of glorious colour to our right,

Sunrise

the moon holding on to our left.

The Moon. yes. MOON.

What a morning.  It was worth the early start, wouldn't you say...?

Morning Glory

The first class was TECEF, which somehow stands for Techniques d'expression ecrit - techniques of written expression.  That was one awesome class, with Amy and Bek.  Only exchange students, so the lecturer was speaking slowly, which meant... I UNDERSTOOD IT ALL!  And it was great.  Not quite a grammar class, but the next best thing. Great for the vocabulary too.

Rue de l'Esclavage

The next class was in the same room, with the same prof and the same Amy, but Bek changed into Josie.  It was a lot harder.  There are real french student in the class too, so it's full speed parole in there.  Crikey! 
Turns out, even though I thought I comprehended nothing, when I was chatting with Amy about it afterwards, turned out I understood pretty much all of it.  Only, it didn't make much sense even in English.  He was asking things like "what is the question of the text", "the answer to the question is found in the description".  Here I was thinking I was just misunderstanding the French, but no.  It was confusing in any language. 

You would not believe my life if I told you...

We (Bek, Amy & I) then wandered into the Old Port and I bought highlighters and CHINESE 5 SPICE.  Sorry, I am excited.  We had to go to a special world spice shop to find it.

Spice Shop

But here it's called cinq parfums (pronounced something like: sank par fum (but rhyming with fun & sun)).

cinq parfums

  So, dinner tonight... Looking forward to that.

Got a letter today from my lovely Suzi.  I LOVE MAIL! *hint hint*.  And it was all in french!  That was exciting, so it's on my wall now, with my lovely collection of recieved goods.  So, anyone feel like having something from them hanging on a beautiful wall in France?  Offer available for a limited time only!
(And seriously, if you don't have my address, do ask me, because I would love to tell you.  I just don't want to put it on the net.  Or ask mum, or gran, or David, or Suzi.)

Amy, Me & Bek at the Port

And and and! It's my birthday soon.  So.... 

Any way - enough of my nagging.  The truth is, I have a few letters I have to post myself, only I am a bit daunted by the idea of a french post office.

3 Arches

It'll all be in french! Perhaps next week, after I make my next wihdrawal (I make weekly withdrawals now to save on bank fees, but also to limit my spending) I will go then when I am pleine de monnie. Gee-whiz I'm slack.  I've been here 2 weeks already.

Another Lane

Okay, I think I'll go and get onto my reply to Suzi and then my homework.

Arcade Arches

Hope you're all looking after yourselves!

Gem

Arches along the streets

xox

p.s. There are some rather handsome gargoyles in this town.  Might ask one out to lunch.

Gargoyled Building

I think he fancies me...

Prudence

Old entance to the town back when it was fortified

More Arches!

Lane

La Grosse Horlorge

It's an Arch Party!