Deux semaines!

(Two weeks!)

Yes, you heard that right--two weeks left! This whole trip I've been having a good time but still looking forward to coming home to see my friends and family. However, it finally hit me this week--my trip is coming to a close and I don't want it to! Doesn't that always happen? This coming weekend is my last weekend to spend in Tours, because next weekend we go to Paris. It's crazy how fast this trip has gone, but while it was going I thought it was so slow. I have made some good friends, become confident in my French-speaking abilities, and realized again that I can tackle pretty much anything if I just make up my mind to do it. Galavanting (sp?) in Europe really gives me a sense of capability and confidence. Many times in my life I have been scared to do things, to get lost, to ask for help, to try new things--but in Europe something changes inside me and I just do it all because I know I have to. I can't wait to come back over here again and conquer a new city, a new country, a new language. Who wants to join me?

Anyway, I thought I would give you all a little glimpse of what I do during the days since I haven't talked much about school. It has turned out very different than how I thought it would be, which is not bad/good just different. I get to school (L'Institut de Touraine) everyday at 9:00 in the morning. I go to different classes each day, most of them which are "Langue Francaise." The institute is a language school to teach French to non-speakers. So anyone, at any level, from any country could come here to learn French--you don't have to be in college. I, however, am getting graduate credit for my classes and I'm taking a supplementary class to the ones offered by the Institut. So in addition to my Institut classes of French language, oral expression, phonetics lab, civilisation, etc-- I am taking a literature class on Madame Bovary taught by a professor from the U of West Georgia (which is the group I came with to participate in this program--all confusing, I know) We are in class from 9-12:10 in the mornings and then I get an hour and twenty minutes to go eat lunch. Lunch is not a fast thing in France. In the States we are so used to grabbing fast food and eating in the car, but that is something totally foreign here (literally, ha). So we've been walking down the street to a sandwich stand and getting food to sit outside and eat before class again. Tuesdays and Thursdays are really long for me, but I make it through!! Fridays are the best because we get out of class at noon and I just go walking around the city looking at shops and different things. So, that's a glimpse into the french days of Catherine...

Ok, let's get something straight. You all pester me about liking some boy for no reason, and the day that I tell you I actually went out with a foreign boy you don't even comment on it. I'm shocked! Haha well I guess if you don't ask questions then I don't have to give answers. :) I miss everybody so so so much and I can't believe I only have two weeks left. FYI to everyone who is not in my family--my Mom leaves for another one of her People2People trips on Saturday! She is traveling along the Mediterranean to visit Malta, Italy, Monaco, and France... unfortunately she gets to France after I have headed home. I won't get to see her until she gets back July 5 (right, mom?) so everyone keep us in your prayers that our traveling goes well and that we stay safe and happy until we get to see each other again! Aww I know, we're sweet haha. Ok, hope this post today wasn't too boring--can't wait to hear from you all and see you in a few short weeks.

Commençez à planifier les fêtes!

Catherine