mon Dieu!

I am at the Macdo at the La Place de Defense. The McDonald's here, I must say, is pretty awesome. It is super chic and modern and clean and nothing like the ones in the states. I don't even know where to start because I haven't been able to update this day by day like I would have wanted. SOME people on this trip got families with WIFI in the house..I of course do not have it. Boo. My family is super nice and my french Maman and I have definitely bonded so I can't complain.

The flight over was great. I like air france for a number of reasons:
1. All the flight attendants look like French models. Super Sympa (that is a french phrase that I have learned). It means super nice, etc.
2.The food was PAS MAl!
3. I slept for approximately 6 of the 8 hours in the air thanks to my friend Leslie, you gave me some miracle sleeping pill in Atlanta. Thank you Leslie!
4. The served me Merlot ON THE PLANE for FREE.
5. Number four is so good it counts twice.

When we got there we met at Madame Chauchat's house. She grew up in the states but moved to France when she was 18 married a french man at 19 and had 3 boys. She is our grammer teacher. I LOVE HER. Je l'adore. She is honestly an idol of mine. Then all of our french Mamans (mothers) came to get us and then we got to settle in and nap, etc. My mother's name is Chrystel and my french father is Etienne. They are very down to earth for versailles people and I couldn't be happier. They have 3 olders sons, Tomas, Pierre, and Georges who do not live at the house and a daughter, Raphaelle, who is 15 and goes to a boarding school in Paris during the week. She is pretty great though and I learn a lot from her.

Versaille is picture perfect. PERRFFEECCTT. Every house, every stone in the street, every cute little french person that walks by with their fresh baguettes, every boulangerie, etc etc etc. I still feel like I'm in a dream and it's going to end any moment.

Last weekend the group from Furman went to Monmartre and the Latin Quarter (Luxembourg Gardens). My favorite thing was seeing the cafe that Amelie was filmed at. Yes! it actually exists. I would post pictues but it seems to be temporarily out of order. Next, we went to the Chateau for the "Grands Eaux Musicals" at Versailles. Many many fountains and statues and wonderfulness. Unfortunately there was what the french call an Indian Summer and it was HOTT here the last week (it rained yesterday for the first time and today its chilly). The french call sun burns " coup de soleil" meaning a hit from the sun. And we were all hit by the sun last sunday.

We have classes every day (the schedule changes everyday) but we always have 2 that last 2 hours= 4 hours.

Wednesday afternoon the group did the "bateaux mouches" on the Seine. That means "fly boats" and you get to see everything on the Seine. It was so great (slightly breezy). Then Dr. Patton and I (Dr. Patton is the professeur from Furman on this trip) were invited to eat with Jo Petit and his girlfriend Virginie Carrayol (Jo was in charge of the French house at Furman last year and his family lives in Versailles, on my street in fact). We walked around the Tour Eiffel and then ate dinner with them. I will probably stay some free weekends with Virginie so I don't have to worry about returning to Versailles late at night. It pays to have friends.

Tonight we are going to see a Movie, which movie I do not know.

For anyone that has not been to France- everything I put in my mouth (besides McDonalds) is the most amazing thing I've ever tasted. My favorite thing my french mom makes is the tarte a la tomate. It is to die for. The chocolate- I actually like the dark with a slight "parfum" of orange is not bad either:)

I know why french people are skinny. They would have to install all new showers. Yeah, you all know my size. I barely fit. Barely. I have grown to like it but...its just different.

I will try to get these pictures up. Please forgive me! I miss you all.