i'm soooo lucky, there's no one in the internet room today, so i'll be able to write a relatively in depth blog now.

school is really good right now. i was put in the level one french classes, but since i actually have a background in french, everything that i am learning right now, i actually learned before. it can be a little bit boring, but i'm glad i'm in the beginner class because i can focus on the fine attention detail. i have classes everday which really sucks (and the prof won't change the day of our test next friday so i HAVE to go back to Tours for a little dictation) but it's also kind of good because for a good couple hours each day, i'm just hearing french because the professors refuse to speak in english (but they KNOW english.) i have two professors. one of them, Monsieur Bolo, is the regular professor and he teaches grammar and comprehension. the other, Mademosielle Laurie, teaches us pronounciation. we also have classes in the library and labo where we wear headphones and speak into a microphone to listen to our pronounciation. it's a really good technique!

i really like it here in Tours, but the weather is forever changing. one min it's sunny and hot, another min it's raining, windy and cold. if i look out my window in the morning, it means pretty much nothing if the suns out because at noon, dimples will point out that it's raining.

i wonder if culture shock has set in? hahaa, here are some things i've noticed that are different from home:
- dogs and people shit everywhere, everyone HAS TO watch where we're going, and when we are walking in a pack, people will shout out "watch out for the poo!"
- the convenience store is called a tabac, and stores are called magazins.
- people driving cars have a different way of defensive driving. actually, it's not really defensive, they just drive. they pay absolutely no attention to anything on the right side, but if anything happens on the left (such as turning left) and an accident happen, they take full responsiblity.
- there are no stop signs at the small intersections, us pedestrians just have to keep our eyes peeled.
- milk is not in boxes or bags, they are in jugs, either frozen or not.

yah, so that's just a bit of stuff i've noticed.

SHOPPING here is amazing. in my post yesterday, i mentioned that i spent alot of money. but almost all of it was spent on my institut trips to mont st. michel, chenonceau, and d'azay le rideau. those trips are taking place next saturday (the 16th), and 2 wednesdays. because i have afternoons free on wednesdays and fridays, what better time? the trips will definitely be interesting as they will guide us in french. not like the amboise trip which was part of u of t and was guided in english. i'm actually kind of excited because i know that i understand alot more then i can speak. but i'm proud to say that my french classes actually paid off because i can now converse alot better to people such as the lady who booked the institut trips, and the lady at the poste office when i went to cash in a traveller's cheque today.

oh yes, back to shopping. well, since i don't have class until 11:15am on thursdays, i got up early yesterday to walk along rue de bordeaux and rue nationale. they are the best streets for shopping. i bought a dress, and pretty sweater at this shop called promod, a very very pretty pink satin tank top, earrings and a beautiful purse (soft like butter) at MANGO for just under 60€. it's sale season here, so all these clothing at usually expensive shops are sooooo cheap!!! like the purse from mango, i'd never buy anything from toronto, but here it was 8.95€. soooo cheap! i also so this really nice jacket, but i'm going to hold off buying it just for now, i don't want to spend ALL my money now. hahaha.

anyway, this was good, i was really sad that i had to rush my blog from yesterday, there was a lady waiting for the computer and she kept sighing, so i couldn't think on the spot. but it's now 3pm and i have to be at the train station for 6:57pm and i have to pack, and look for a hostel in Paris for next weekend's Bastille Day.

Off to pack! ;)