continued from "Short review of weeks 1 & 2 (ish)"

DATELINE: 28.01.09 PARIS, FR

... as I was saying before Blogger rudely cut me off:

Since my arrival in Paris, I have seen men in the most pointy shoes imaginable (really, far pointier then the Italian shoes, very much like those women shoes that look like elf shoes).  I have stayed on a couch in a beautiful loft, I have been taken in by perfect strangers, I have eaten my weight in baguettes. I have walked from one end of Paris to the other.  I have mastered the phrase: "Excuse moi, Monsieur/Madame.  Je cherche la Rue/Blvd. -------".  I've learned my left from my right.  I have eaten amazing cheeses, meets, and fruits.  I have befriended an awesome young American couple from Nebraska, an older American couple from Northampton, an Aimee (American) and an Amelie (French) who both totally rock.  I've befriended an Algerian man who works the desk at a hotel and graciously let me use the toilet.  I've befriended the two handsome men who run the café Le Cactus where they let me use their WiFi for hours on end, even when I was in tears and doing battle with Sally Mae.  I've successfully avoided the puppy-land-mines to be found on every block, and only gone the wrong way on the subway once! I successfully purchased my "Pass Navigo" metro pass.  I've done battle with the university, and subsequently the American financial aid system (here, sadly I was defeated).  I've made myself something of a fixture at Sylvie's house.    

As of today, I think that I may have a place to live at least for the foreseeable month.  I will be in an apartment with a young mother (in her 40s) and her two young daughters (7 & 9).  It is an almost too nice apartment in an almost too nice neighborhood.  But I have seen the dregs and kids, this is a good situation.  I am still keeping my eye out for something that I feel more comfortable with, something a bit cheaper maybe.  But for now... this may be what I do.

I've started my classes at the American University, and oh yeah - I've befriended the director of Student Affairs whose office I have plunked down in multiple times in the last two weeks.  I think my adventures are just beginning....

The other night, Dene (of the young American couple I've befriended) went to a weekly meet up for the CouchSurfing community.  Every Monday at Lion's Bar in the 2eme arrondissement they flood the bar (EVERYONE in there was with CS) and have a bar quiz.  It was a lot of fun.  We made some new friends, had what we learned is the best bar-fare to be found in Paris, and tested our knowledge of largely American music.  

The weather here has been consistently grey and about 30 - 40 degrees.  The prediction is for the clouds to clear and the temperature to drop, but so far this has not proven true.

OK... back to my course reading and sessions with Rosetta Stone French.... 

From Paris, France... A plus!!  (pronounced "ah ploos" - meaning, see ya later!)