Part 2 Begins

     Though back in April of last year, it was a MAJOR hassle and I was running all over Belmont's campus and filling out what seemed like endless applications, the choice to participate in two completely separate programs for each semester has been absolutely worth it! One of the best perks has definitely been my two month vacation... That's right. Two months of vacay hanging out in Paris. And in fact, I have not yet started my classes. Still have one more week before the work really begins! 

     People always ask "so what on earth have you been doing in that time??". Well, let me tell you! My lovely family came to visit over Christmas break for two weeks, and that was a ton of fun. We spent one week in Paris and one week in Rome. Coolest Christmas break ever. I still babysit Nadjet twice a week as well. I've been doing a lot of salsa dancing as well, shout out to my girls Marie, Dani, and Abbey who I dragged with me to a possibly slightly sketchy salsa club back in Nashville one time before leaving. Don't worry, I'll take you to my favorite salsa clubs here :) I went to a few art museums, played guitar and piano, read 5 books, and drank a lot coffee. I think there were only 2 days that I never left the house.

     My second program just started four days ago, so I just moved into a new host family. And yet again, God has seriously blessed me and I know this semester is going to be wonderful with my new living arrangements. The second I got the email with the information about my host family, I knew it was all going to be ok, and I didn't need to worry. Last semester I lived with a woman named Dominique who had 2 kids and 2 grandkids (that don't live at home). This semester I'm living with a woman named Dominique Gory who has 3 kids and some grandkids (that don't live at home). Like what!? Probably the most important thing that I should share with you (whoever 'you' may be) is that I actually live on the the top floor of a middle school now...  Madame Gory is the directrice of a middle school and lives on the top floor of the school, a very common thing here in Paris. The apartment is quite large, I have my own room and bathroom and I have an automatic alarm clock set for 8am every morning! It's still a little comical to think about it but so far, I absolutely love it. On top of that, I also live in a really great neighborhood in Paris called The Marais. I am surrounded by a bunch of cute restaurants, cafes, bistros, and of course boulangeries. The Marais is actually known for having some great boulangeries. Ya'll, I have seriously been blessed!! Can't believe I get to call the third arrondissement home for the next 4 months. I'm just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Seine and the majestic Notre Dame is just a five minute walk away.

     No update on classes yet, because like I said, I still haven't started those yet :) I have my french placement exam coming up on Wednesday and after that I'll know how much my french improved since arriving here in August.

His love never fails.