La deuxième semaine

I can't believe it is already the end of the second week in France! It is holiday time (yay!) but I actually enjoy school over here. I am understanding more and more in the classes - unfortunately they are still very difficult. It is almost more frustrating now then when I first arrived because I now I understand parts of a conversation instead of close to nothing so I partly understand what's happening. I can understand more french but still, it is the speaking that is difficult. I am going to have to make a conscious effort all the time to speak french - not that I haven't, but I have been listening a lot recently and not speaking it. Now I think I should begin to speak it because that is the only way I will improve (and because I have written it here, I will have to!).

On Saturday I went for my first run and it felt good just to run (something I thought I would never say. Ever.). It was very foggy so the view wasn't the best but it was still amazing for me.

I think Sunday has been the hardest day, particularly in the morning for me. The homesickness started to kick in and I felt pretty bad. Luckily we went shopping that afternoon so that definitely helped me to take my mind away from home. It was nice that evening when I got to Skype Dad and Nana and Granddad. I think throughout the Skype with Dad I had something in my eyes because they kept watering almost non stop...although I don't think I was the only one who had watery eyes. I also got to briefly talk to my grandparents, Aunty Nic, Harriet and Lauren but they were all busy with moving sheep and haircuts so next time! The next day I woke up and felt much better plus the distraction of school helped with that as well.

My friends at school are pretty awesome. As I said in my last blog (I think), they are also very crazy so they remind me of my friends. They are all so welcoming and even if I can't understand them or they don't understand me, we somehow find a way to talk. This means that card games can be a bit competitive...but it's great fun.

Monday was a pretty normal day (you know, as normal as it can be when you are in France). We played cards in our breaks at school and I attempted but failed to answer anything in a chemistry test. At least I understood the questions! I just didn't know the answer...Tuesday was interesting and I was given a list of words translated into English and also given a translation of the lesson..thanks Alexandre. Wednesday = school. Thursday started with 2 hours of french but afterwards we had English where we played a game. And finally Friday was a pretty awesome day. After the french test in the morning, we went to have lunch and then played cards again. We mostly play President but I taught them how to play snap because they didn't know! The rest of the school day went by and then it was time for Paris.

We drove past the Notre Dame which was spectacular. Even driving by in the car I could feel the history and the presence of it. We also drive by 3 museums which were absolutely massive. One of them used to be a castle so that one was huge. After we had parked and gone for a walk down one of the streets, we drove to the Champs-Élysées where we wandered through the Christmas markets. The smells from the food stalls were amazing (except the cheese ones...) and the trinkets and items that were being sold looked great. After we looked around for a bit and took some touristy photos we went to the Arc de Triomphe and drove around the roundabout which was awesome. And finally, there was the Eiffel Tower. What an amazing time. It was quite brief our visit there and we didn't go right up to it, but in the night, the view of it is magnificent. It was so strange to see it right in front of me when I had wanted to go here for quite a lot of my

life!

So yea, this week has been pretty good and gone by very fast. Bring on the next week!