A Word From Jenny...
Wednesday, September 28
Jenny sent out a mass e-mail to people the other day. For those of you who didn't get it, here it is. It seems she's doing well and having fun. I'm happy for her.
Hello Everybody!!!
I'm sorry to be impersonal by sending out one mass email, but please write me back and I can start emailing you directly! I should have done a better job of tracking email addresses, so feel lucky if you get this because I am missing so many.
Anyway, Paris is an absolutely amazing city. It has all the excitement of big cities like New York and Chicago, with so much more flavor!! There are probably at least 3 cafe's in each city block and patisseries and tabacs everywhere. I have a cute yellow loft apartment (it even has a fun bright red door) and one roommate - Anne. We live right by "Le Bastille" (if you don't know what that is you should google it - it's fairly famous!) My roommate and I get along really well. I love it here. I'm trying to contrive a way to bring back a sporty Smart car with me - they are so cute!!! and talk about great miles per gallon!
I've already seen a lot of the city in my first couple weeks thanks to the wonderful Metro transportation system. Other than doing the touristy stuff and drinking lots of coffee and wine, I actually have to study and read a lot. Lame, I know! :) The program that I'm in is for Western Civilization so I get to read stuff like Voltaire, Illiad, Descartes, Aristotle, Locke...yes it's all so thrilling. I'm also taking an Art History class - which pretty much involves visiting the Louvre and other art museums every other day - and a European Culture class. On a side note, I saw the Mona Lisa yesterday and found it to be overrated. I did really enjoy seeing the van Gogh collection though.
The men in France are very flirty, and I hear they are more so in Italy (where I'll be going in a few weeks). One guy actually got on bended knee and proposed to me in a coffee shop the other day. Thank God he spoke English or I would have been really confused by what was happening.
I don't actually speak any French so getting my point across has been interesting. Eating out is definitely an adventure - half the time I just pick something on the menu and hope for the best. So I've tried some interesting dishes - to include a raw beef salad. Yuck. (I thought choosing a salad would be a safe bet but I was incredibly wrong!) These people eat some crazy food.
Later this week I'll be going to Normandy and Brittany, as well as visiting the Notre Dame cathedral...so check back for more stories! I hope everyone is doing well, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Take care,
Jenny
P.S. Don't worry, I'm still showering.
