Est-ce que tu veux diner?

So I knew that meals here would be a little different. Aside from eating somewhere around bedtime (often close to 9:00, or excuse me 21:00), I knew portions would be smaller and food would be different. So I spent the first couple of days just trying to watch and learn so as not to make a fool out of myself. I always wait to see how they eat things first so that I don't go digging unattractively into something when, clearly, I should be eating it daintily. First of all, meals are oftentimes served in courses, especially those that are large and celebratory (which we've had a coupe of). If there's an appetizer or aperitif (like cheese or champagne), that comes out first. Then the plates are cleared for the main course (that's right, different courses, different plates). I told myself before meeting my family that, even if they served me a living breathing thing, I was going to eat whatever was put on my plate. Well nothing has had a pulse (yet), but I often don't know what I'm eating. The first night we had what looked like fried terds. I haven't a clue as to what they were, but I ate them and they were good. Last night we had a big log of some sort. I asked what it was, and she tried to explain it to me, but I was still puzzled (because I didn't exactly know what she was talking about, but I think it had zucchini in it). On a side note, I don't ever want to hear anyone complain that healthy isn't able to taste good, because the only thing I eat here is healthy food, and it's all good. And I never fully knew the meaning of "clearing your plate" until I came here. Nobody leaves anything on a plate. Anyways, after the main course, the plates are cleared (again) and the salad is brought out. And the salad is different every night. Sometimes it's fruit or tomatoes with some kind of cheese or sometimes regular salad greens (another side note: to those of you who cook, sliced oranges with cinnamon is an excellent salad). After that, plates are cleared again for dessert. And do you know what dessert usually is? Yogurt and fruit. Don't ever again wonder why French people are skinny (and they are). Meals are simple yet complete. Mom, you'd do just fine here.

Last night, though, I was a little embarrassed during dinner. I have told my family that I am fine with them correcting me (I am here to learn, right?). So even after all my observations during mealtime, I clearly missed a couple of things. First of all, apparently you don't put your bread on your plate; you put it on the placemat beside your plate. Didn't even notice. But they did. Also, for lack of something better to do with it, I ususally leave my left hand in my lap whenI eat unless I need it (also, we eat outised and I'm often trying to keep my napkin from blowing away). Apparently this is very "American" of me (and apparently makes me lean sideways), which stunk to hear since I'm here trying to be as French as possible. So now I have to be more aware of where my hands and bread are. Also, out of habit from talking to my friends and our professor (who i svery laid back and has been my professor before this trip at GT), I almost always say "ouay" (pronounced "way") instead of "oui" (pronounced "we", and meaning "yes" for those of you who are inferior frenchies). It basically means the same thing as "yeah". A bad habit, I know. But I've gotten to the point that I don't really notice anymore that I say it, and nobody corrects me. Until dinner last night. I was told that it's "oui", not "ouay" (reminding me eerily of Mom yelling, "Not 'yeah'! 'Yes'!"). "Ouay" is slang, so I guess that means I shouldn't use it (even though I'd love to be at the level of Frenchness to be able to use slang). I felt like had been rude, which was never my intention. So I felt bad. In general I guess I need to pay more attention. Oh, and for a fantastic end to a lovely dinner, a bird crapped right on my hand. Bon appetit!

Getting Started...

So last week was my first week being a student in Toulouse. I pretty quickly fell into a routine. I run every morning that I'm in town, then I go to class. I have to walk to the bus stop, take the bus into town, then walk from there to the school (about 45 min total). In general, class is pretty laid back, though 6 hours a day of French can get a little tedious. I also get headaches fairly frequently from thinking in another language. We go to little boulangeries and sandwicheries (adding -erie to the end of anything makes it a shop for that thing) for lunch, which there are certainly no shortage of in France. Then the problem arises that dinner isn't until about 8:30, leaving about 8 hours between lunch and dinner. But have no fear, patisseries are also in abundance (and tarts are a little piece of heaven). Still, with the small portions served here in France, I tend to spend a lot of time being hungry. Then after class, I'm hoping to make it part of my routine to have some internet time to talk to people and post on my très awesome blog. But that has been difficult with the primitive internet that my school possesses. Then I go home eventually to have dinner with my family and practice my French with them. Then I go to bed and do it all again the next day.

Most of my adventures will happen over the weekends. This past weekend we went to Nice. We went in a fairly large group of about 9 people, so as you can imagine not much got done (as groups are not good at making decisions), and a lot of beach going occurred (at all times of the day and night, mind you). The highlight of the weekend really was the trip to Monte Carlo in Monaco. We went there on a train, and as we rounded a corner and Monte Carlo came into view, we all scrambled for the window. It was so beautiful. I think all the money in the world rests in Monte Carlo. There were so many huge yachts and boats. There were some of the fanciest cars I have ever seen. I can only imagine the living expenses in a place like that. Aside from that, the beaches were beautiful, and the water was perfectly crystal clear. And mountains rose up behind the sea, and the town was built into the mountains. After we got there, we bought gelato and walked around eating it while drooling over the city. Then we went to the beach, which was beautiful of course. Unfortunately, we had to go back to Nice. That night we went searching for a discothèque, but couldn't find one. So we all went dancing at some club/bar instead. The next day, we did the beach thing again and went shopping. I got myself a couple of cute dresses that I can brag about having gotten in France. The next morning we returned to Toulouse. But the 7 hour train ride made it take up a fair portion of the day, and of course left us all tired. So what did I do upon returning to my house? That's right. I went running. *Le sigh*

A quick recap

The internet was down at school today (something about the interent and air conditioning interfering with each other--funny because the 85° in our room convinced me that the air conditioning wasn't even on), so I can only make a quick post with no pictures. I arrived here last Sunday after almost a full day of travelling and waiting and sitting. Somehow all those things make you really tired. I met my family the first night, the Gendres. They are very nice and speak a fair amount of English (more than I speak French), which is helpful for learning things in French that I don't know. After about a week, I think that they are beginning to realize that I'm not quite as dumb as I look when I don't understand something, they just have to speak slowly for me. I've spent most of the first week adjusting and figuring out how things work (buses, trains, stores, food, etc).

Over the first weekend, most of us went to Nice (which is nice by the way). Right now it looks as though a tornado came straight through the main strip of the city. Major construction was being done on the roads, so it might not have been as attractive as it normally is. The beaches were nice. They are made of stone and not sand. One afternoon we took a short trip to Monte Carlo, which was incredible (more pictures to come, but the two on my profile right now were taken in Monte Carlo). After a couple days in Nice, we returned to Toulouse. Overall things have been going well, and I promise to deliver more details later!
P.S. Shelly, I need your address.

Yay Internet!

So I finally have internet in France so that I can start my blog. Right now, it's getting a little late and I need to get home for dinner. But over the next couple of days I will update everyone on how things have been going. Feel free to leave comments along the way!