Aujourd'hui so far..
First post from the University of Chicago Paris Center! Huzzah!
Margaret and I arrived here about about an hour early because I thought my class started at 10:30 instead of 11:30... Oops. That's okay, though. I walked all by myself this morning to the boulangerie and bought breakfast for the two of us-- 1 euro for a pain au chocolat isn't a bad deal at all.
Arriving at the center, I had to buzz in-- "Je suis une étudiante.." Then, upon realizing that the young professor we'd had lunch with the other day was teaching a class in the room where I had French (we smiled at each other the second time I walked by, which was nice), it occurred to me to check my planner to see if I'd gotten the times right.
Et... Me voici. I talked with Arnaud and got my computer configured for the internet, set up my fingerprint for the lock on the gate, and finished two chapters of Dostoevsky. This morning on the métro, I remembered to bring a book along with me-- The French read all the time on the train, and I figured it'd be better to get some actual pleasure-reading done instead of just sitting there staring into space for half an hour. Maupassant and I bonded, alors, and that was pleasant. There's a lot to Pierre et Jean that I'd forgotten since AP French V-- I'm about 70 pages in again at the moment, and bits and pieces of the plot are starting to flit back into my mind.
I'm becoming more conscious of where things are, which is a huge advantage-- I found my way to the boulanger's and back this morning sans problème, and I know which way to go to get to the Paris Center now (it's on Rue Thomas Mann, which is just a left-turn from the station métro). So... That's progressing nicely.
Yesterday was a fabulous tour of the Quartier Latin with Margaret and Mallory that included kebabs for dinner with Margaret and a couple amusing conversations. The first was reported to me by Margaret after we'd both bought postcards:
Postcard-Vendor: "Your friend speaks very good French, even though she is American!"
Then, later, at the Kebab place:
Waiter/Owner/Man who served us: "Vous êtes anglaises?"
Me: "... Oui."
Not to deny my beloved American roots or anything, but around here, I'd rather be thought of as English than Obnoxious any day.
I should probably head off to class pretty soon; it starts around 11:30.. J'ai 17 minutes qui restent, mais... On ne sait jamais.
Love,
CJ
Margaret and I arrived here about about an hour early because I thought my class started at 10:30 instead of 11:30... Oops. That's okay, though. I walked all by myself this morning to the boulangerie and bought breakfast for the two of us-- 1 euro for a pain au chocolat isn't a bad deal at all.
Arriving at the center, I had to buzz in-- "Je suis une étudiante.." Then, upon realizing that the young professor we'd had lunch with the other day was teaching a class in the room where I had French (we smiled at each other the second time I walked by, which was nice), it occurred to me to check my planner to see if I'd gotten the times right.
Et... Me voici. I talked with Arnaud and got my computer configured for the internet, set up my fingerprint for the lock on the gate, and finished two chapters of Dostoevsky. This morning on the métro, I remembered to bring a book along with me-- The French read all the time on the train, and I figured it'd be better to get some actual pleasure-reading done instead of just sitting there staring into space for half an hour. Maupassant and I bonded, alors, and that was pleasant. There's a lot to Pierre et Jean that I'd forgotten since AP French V-- I'm about 70 pages in again at the moment, and bits and pieces of the plot are starting to flit back into my mind.
I'm becoming more conscious of where things are, which is a huge advantage-- I found my way to the boulanger's and back this morning sans problème, and I know which way to go to get to the Paris Center now (it's on Rue Thomas Mann, which is just a left-turn from the station métro). So... That's progressing nicely.
Yesterday was a fabulous tour of the Quartier Latin with Margaret and Mallory that included kebabs for dinner with Margaret and a couple amusing conversations. The first was reported to me by Margaret after we'd both bought postcards:
Postcard-Vendor: "Your friend speaks very good French, even though she is American!"
Then, later, at the Kebab place:
Waiter/Owner/Man who served us: "Vous êtes anglaises?"
Me: "... Oui."
Not to deny my beloved American roots or anything, but around here, I'd rather be thought of as English than Obnoxious any day.
I should probably head off to class pretty soon; it starts around 11:30.. J'ai 17 minutes qui restent, mais... On ne sait jamais.
Love,
CJ