sometimes a little whipped cream can make all the difference

Well. I have been in France for three weeks now. Crazy! Can I still say I just got here? That's how I feel at least.

I've actually been settling in more each day. It's really little things that help: bonding with other CIREFE students, finally finding my homeward bus stop at Ste. Anne, buying yarn and needles for knitting, finding a coffee shop that has real-sized coffees, etc. Speaking of which, the place where we found real-sized coffees is called Le Haricot Rouge, which means the Red Bean. Incidentally, the coffee shop where I always hang out in Greensboro is called the Green Bean. I love it when things like that happen. Le Haricot Rouge is going to be a problem though, I can tell. The coffee is delicious, it has a nice atmosphere, and it's right in the middle of town. Today I went there and sat around with friends for like two hours, and it was really nice. Afterward, I realized how very French it was of me to do so. Hehe.

On Sunday afternoon, my host parents invited me to come with them to their friends' house for "un petit blanc," that is to say, a few drinks before lunch. So I went with them to the edge of town, and their friends were very pleasant, and it was everyone from the grandmother to the newest baby. One of them asked me what Americans usually drink as an "apéritif" and I tried to explain that it's not particularly habitual to drink before meals in the U.S. except on special occasions. They didn't get it. I found that I kept up with the conversation pretty easily, which is a wonder considering the French like to talk loudly over each other about things like politics and religion (which they did, of course). I'm perfectly happy just listening...It only gets nerve-wracking when they ask MY opinion. Uhhhhhhh....

Today I got home later than usual to find my host mom busy making crêpes. She told me that it's a holiday, so we have to eat crêpes for dinner. I asked her what kind of holiday, and she could tell me nothing except that it is some kind of Breton holiday, maybe religious, but that crêpes and cider are essential. I then attempted to explain Groundhog Day (which is also today), and you can just imagine how well that went...
So we ate crêpes for dinner. With nutella and butter/sugar and strawberry jam. My host mom got out the peanut butter that she bought especially for me as if to dare me to put it in one. I decided to take up the dare, and everyone was thoroughly disgusted. Except me, of course. I cannot believe how much sugar I have consumed in the past few hours...

Classes are going pretty well, except for the horrid grammar class I had today. It's the only class I've had so far in which I've felt completely lost. It is geared towards people who have been here for at least a semester already (NOT me). However, I was talking to a girl who actually was here last semester, and she told me she was a bit lost as well, which made me feel a little better. I'm not sure what to do...I guess tough it out? We'll see.

Tomorrow night I am going ice skating with some friends. Excited! I don't think I've been ice skating since I was like 10. Brice asked me if I was any good at it, and I said no, to which he said "good!" and gave me a high five. At least I won't be the only one who looks like an idiot.