The Joys of Starting School

This week marks our first week of classes, which is an exciting thing except when I realize that I have five, three hour classes a week. Let me tell you, three hours is a long time to sit and listen to a professor who doesn't speak English very well... It gets a little confusing.

Monday was a restful day after a long Sunday of traveling through Nice, Eze and Monaco. We got to tour a perfume factory, go to the Casino Monte Carlo, see an open-air flower and fruit market, and explore the region around us! The view of the Alps was beautiful and we could see Italy only a short ways away. I still continually pinch myself so I can make sure this is all real!

Here's a great picture looking down on Monaco and the road where the Grand Prix is run!

And here's my beautiful roommates that I get to spend this semester with! From the left to right, Lindsay, Courtney, me, Samantha and Theresa! Our house is precious. The kitchen and bathrooms are tiny- good thing no one is over 300 pounds because we wouldn't be able to wash ourselves in the tiny little shower we have. It's definitely an adjustment, but it's one I've enjoyed trying to make! 

Classes are super interesting. You go for three hours once a week, and since I'm taking 15 hours I'll be at school for five different classes. They all seem interesting though so at least they won't be total snooze fests! I go to school with not only Americans with CEA but Americans here through other schools and international students from around the world. Also, I get to study alongside French students so this experience has been amazing meeting people from so many other places! I can't wait to start planning trips with my friends. Hopefully London, Paris and Barcelona will all be on the agenda very soon- thanks to Rick Steve's I have a helping hand in planning these trips! Oh! One interesting thing that's vastly different from the U of A and SKEMA is that students here just chill outside smoking cigarettes and the student organization that's in charge of I guess welcome stuff and sign up for the ski trip just passes out free alcohol. That would never happen on my campus. It's so funny to me how much those things don't matter to the French. And you don't ever seen a French person walking around completely smashed. Something makes me wonder if we have it all wrong in the United States.

Well, it's getting late here (I still haven't gotten used to all my friends and family being so far behind me) so I guess in order to actually look presentable tomorrow for my class I should catch some sleep soon! Miss you all in the States and wish you all could come out and visit me in this spectacular place! 

Au revoir!

Jackie