End of the First Month

I haven't written on here in a while, so I probably should. Also, I've now been in France for a month (and in Aix for 3 weeks), so it seems as though a post is necessary.

Nothing too out of the ordinary has been going on. Since I last wrote (last Wednesday when we climbed Mont Sainte Victoire), I've had two written tests, an oral test, written a paper, and done two presentations. So clearly, there's a lot of work to do around here. And I've been going to family dinners on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays as usual. I think the only out-of-the-ordinary events have been a wine-tasting this past Monday, trip to Nice on Wednesday, and a visit from my Dad and brother, who have since left for their cycling tour.

This weekend, I'm just relaxing here in Aix and attempting to write another paper. This coming week is going to be packed. We're going to Marseilles on Wednesday, I have two tests on Thursday, and the paper due on Friday. Then we're leaving for Paris on Saturday, and we'll be there for a week. Thankfully we won't have classes at all during our week in Paris, but we will have mandatory activities each day. I'm sure I'll have a lot more to write about as soon as we get to Paris because right now all I do is go to class, go to family dinner, and hang out with the other students in my program. But I'm sure I'll write on here while I'm in Paris and also when I get back. And when I get back, there will only be 3 weeks left in the program!

And now just for some things I've been thinking about...

Things I miss about the U.S.:
1) free restrooms
2) friendly strangers
3) the state of Texas itself and Mexican food

Things I will miss about France:
1) walking everywhere
2) French food
3) the beauty of the south of France (Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, Villefranche, Cap d'Ail, Gordes, etc.) and the fact that all of it is just a train ride away from where you are while you're here

A bientot!