"Oh là là, il y a un orage!"

21h30

Class went by more slowly today than yesterday, but it was still good. It's crazy how so much information can be stored in one brain. Our professor is just so smart.

I like Tuesdays because after class I don't have French (although, don't get me wrong, I love French), so I get to go home and go grocery shopping. I don't know why I enjoy grocery shopping so much. I have a feeling it's because I get to make a list and I feel in control of what I get and how much I spend. I especially like it when I can find deals, like I did today on oranges.

But, I still wasn't feeling well by the time I got home, and I decided I shouldn't wait until after I grocery shop to eat. So, I stopped by the Subway. How American. (Hey! I didn't have my McDonald's this week :P ) They were even playing American music. I got my usual, except they also have corn and carrots as vegetable options. Yum. Yum.

When I got home from grocery shopping, I decided to take action on this rut I've been in and start a new project. A few girls in my class knit, and it looked like so much fun. I would have crocheted something, but I couldn't bring myself to buy new supplies when I already have so much at home. So, I'm taking up a knew hobby: knitting. I looked up online places where I could buy yarn in Paris, and found one that was in my district. I found online that I could take a bus.

Well, I got outside and realized I haven't yet had to take a bus. And, I didn't know which side of the street it would come on. And, there were no bus signs. So, I went over to the tram and asked a woman if she knew how to take the bus. She was very kind, and was helpful. She asked what direction I was going, and I showed her on the map. Then, she said I could just take the tram because the buses don't run that frequently and it goes in the same direction. Very helpful.

So, I got on the tram, but about ten minutes later, I realized that although I was going in the right direction overall, I was in the totally wrong area. By this time, I got off the tram and it started to sprinkle. The weather said it was supposed to rain, but it was sunny when I left, and I figured I wouldn't be gone for more than 45 minutes. Anyway, I took the tram back to my metro line and on the way it started to just absolutely downpour. I mean, we're talking strong winds, huge rain drops, thunder and lightening--a full blown thunderstorm. Oh, how I love them!

This older woman and her (presumably?) grandson came on at the next stop and she sat down across from me and told him to sit on her lap. He sat on mine :P I told her it was fine. He was probably about 4 years old, and the cutest thing! I can't get over how cute children speaking French are!

(As a side note, you NEED to see this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ph3DGFMV8c )

He took one look outside, looked at me, and said, "Oh là là, il y a un orage!" "Oh my, there's a storm!"


"Tu n'as pas de parapluie?" "You don't have an umbrella?"

I told him that yes, I had one, but I didn't bring it because it was so sunny outside. He agreed that he forgot his umbrella for this reason too, but his grandma remembered one. He was very cute, and totally made me in a better mood.

Then came my turn to debark into the storm. I had on the jacket Brittany gave me for the rain--Brittany: that is not a rain jacket. But it was exciting to run through the storm to the metro. But cold. Probably not good for my health :P

However, by the time I got off the metro the rain had basically stopped. Now, I had another adventure because this was not the map I had drawn for myself. But, I managed alright and found my way down this avenue that was full of fromageries, boulangeries, crêperies, and all sorts of little boutiques. I also saw a bath of....LIVE CRABS. Without their pincers rubber-banded. The man saw me staring at them (probably with a look of bewilderment) and asked if I wanted one. I told him I most certainly did not, but I wished him luck on catching them for the next customer :)

I found my little shop and the woman was very helpful. I'm so glad I looked up knitting vocabulary before I went, otherwise I would have been totally lost. She helped me find a very pretty color and some good needles. I told her I was from Chicago, and she said she has one customer who is a flight attendant for American Airlines, and every time she stops in Paris, she comes to visit this woman's shop. How cute. I told her I'd hopefully be back in not too long, if this project went well!

My project! Hopefully it will look like something soon!!

I feel much better now that I have something to work on to keep my mind from wandering. I still have to make travel plans for seventh week, and I'll finish that before this week is up. I've been doing well money-wise, so that's encouraging. I really just can't believe that it's fourth week already--I'm going to be home before I know it. In the beginning, I just wanted to go back home. Now, I want to bring my family and friends to me. Or Paris to Chicago. I can't decide. :P