bonjour de paris!!!

so im typing on a french keyboard, which is quite different, so bear with all the mistakes. so ive been in paris now for just about three weeks, and i absolutely love it. i have been to the top of the eiffel tower, ive been to the louvre (for what will probably be the first of many visits) i went to versailles, the notre dame, celebrated bastille day and saw the most incredible fire works of my life, reims (city outside of paris with a gorgeous catherdral with stained glass windows by chagall), did a bike tour tonight that included a boat tour, saw a movie in french, saw a couple in english, went to the ballet of romeo and juliet, and theres tons more but i can think of them off the top of my head.

so the people in the program are mostly very cool. im hanging out with people who are mostly older than me cause most of the people my age seem to not really be my type of crowd. i havent spoken tons of french outside of class and random conversations, but i think i am learning a lot in my class and by the end i will have i^mproved somewhat.

the city certainly has many things different than the states, but its not as different and mind-blowing as i had expectd it to be. its kind of like new york, but less skyscrapers (basically none), and a lot of buildings built before the united states became a possibility in life. as much as i am loving the city, i have not gotten to a point where i feel like i dont want to go back home. i feel like any day i could just up and leave and be completely satisfied with my visit...or maybe i will feel that way after this week, cause im hoping to go to the musèe d`orsay and montmartre (moulin rouge, sacre coeur) and see some other big things this week. after that, i will be content, and everything else will be the icing on the cake.

some interestingly different random facts:
all alcohol at bars is ridiculously expensive, except wine...you can also get pretty decent wine for 3 or 4 euros a bottle, which is snazzy.
the sun does not set until 10:30 at night, so its not really dark til 11 which always throws me off.
the coffee is incredible and comes in super tiny cups
parisien men are disgustingly forward and do not hesitate with anything, its rather disturbing.
the number of fountains is increbile and makes the city a million times prettier than it would be otherwise
peasant skirts are everywhere!!!!!
the metrosexual style in the US is NOTHING compared to male fashion here, but all the men no matter how old pull it off so well
crèpes and baguettes are everywhere for really cheap! that is something i am definitely going to miss when i get home!
...

well its 2:15 in the morning, which is 8:00 pm on the east coast, but i gotta go to bed for class tomorrow. maybe ill update again sometime soon, otherwise i will see you or talk to you all in a few weeks!!!!

ps. suzanne, your pictures of NYC and st marys from a post a while ago made my night! i miss you guys and campus!!!