Allegra's France journal: untitled

Dear all,

I've been negligent, I'm sorry. To be honest, my too-smart mac decided to translate everything from English to French, and it took me a while to figure out how to make a new blog! But now everything is back in English, so all if well :)

I've been in Aix for one week today! I've been very busy, and have been learning alot. I'm all moved in with my host family, who are wonderful. They are so sweet and are very patient with me and my broken French. I'm very fond of them and already feel at home here. They have two children, a daughter and a son, whom Im also very fond of. I've adopted them...I enjoy having younger siblings! The family and I are very similar in terms of interests. The daughter studies psychology and biology, the brother takes theater classes (which I now take aswell), and the mother and Robert are very hip, energetic, and love all things cultural. They also enjoy cooking. I feel so lucky to have been placed with them!

Their apartment is about five minutes from the center of town and ten minutes from the Cours Mirabeau (the Champs-Elysées of Aix). It's very easy and convenient to go anywhere I want to go!

Since my arrival I've met a few new international friends on a trip to Avignon organized by Erasmus- (anyone heard the song?). That was a fun day!

I've started courses this week, and they are...interesting. Much different than what I'm used to: much bigger and impersonal than Wellesley. It will take getting used to, that's for sure.

I have yet to pick all my courses, as these next two weeks are the "trial period". I know I'll be taking a translation class, which is mandatory for my major. There's a literature course on the texts of Molière I'm pretty sure I'll love, and an archeology class I have yet to try, so that leaves 1 more for me to choose. It should be easy to find: there are lots of interesting history course options.

And I'm loving Aix! It's a very charming city, full of small streets full of vendors, daily produce markets, cafés, parks, fountains...I could go on and on. And its WARM! So much warmer than Paris. Though it's usually quite cool and night and in the morning, there's sun everyday. The wind can make things complicated, though.

Aix is definitly a walking city: the university is a 25 minute walk for me. I don't mind it though, when its nice out (which it has been thus far, and will only get better!)

Apart from courses, promenading, and eating, I have little to do. My boredom won't last long though, I know. It will be fabulous when I figure everything out!I'm enrolled in a theater course, and hope to enroll in some dance and cooking classes, and join a gym!

Last night the family and I went to a movie premiere, which was alot of fun!

That's all for now...on with my life!

my love to you all!