Home!

This weekend, me and seven of my friends went to Amsterdam- the real sin city. It makes Las Vegas look like Sesame Place. While we were there, we went to the Anne Frank house, took a cruise on the canals, attempted to go to the "Heineken Experience" (basically the Hershey tour but for beer) but it was closed until the Summer [and ended up wasting 3 € on a disgusting and cheesey sex museum - in the Red Light District). The next day we went to the van Gogh museum in "Museumplein" and walked around the dutch version of "5th Avenue." 

Amsterdam was a cute, quaint "faux-tropolis." No big sites to go see, just enjoy the billions of bikes, narrow canals, narrow houses with detailed façades and hoisting beams. The canal cruise really highlighted that well. As for the night life.... The area called "Leidesplein" (Dutch is such a weird language!!!) is the going out area, with bars, clubs, restaurants and "Coffee Shops" (where they coincidentally don't sell coffee- you figure that out).

We had a nice weekend trip (our first independently organized one), but it was wonderful to be back home, for two reasons- first being, home, second being, Paris = home?! Ver nice.

There aren't really any stunning pictures, but here is the link anyway. The weather was sunny but freezing! Those crazy Dutch people- speaking English and eating Hamburgers and Hotdogs EVERYWHERE. They hardly have their own culture! (That's a lie, but really..)

Tonight, we cooked- rather, Lauren and I cooked. We had fresh salad with avocado and chopped peppers (thanks Lauren) and ravioli and tortelloni with red sauce and fresh baguettes and brie cheese. It was good- I did the cooking and Kim and Jessica did the cleaning- just how I like it- lol.

Anyway- it's wonderful to be back home in Paris, yes. Classes aren't bad- well, I only have one- grammar, every day from 14h to 16h (2pm to 4pm, for those of you who don't speak French). I have the 'director's course' on Monday and Wednesday from 9h to 10h30 (9am to 10:30am- again, translated) and that's taught by the program director, Céline, whose hair is shaped like France- after it's been properly blown out. When it's wet, not so much. Her class is basically "Contemporary France". 

My lectures, "conferences" as they're called, begin on 25 February. I'm taking a course on Paris, on Current Events in Europe/France and French Art History- they meet once a week for two hours. Every other week, I have phoenetics for the week, one hour per day (so one week on, one off-). Kind of confusing, but I'm getting into a rhythm which is good. I like that.

Can't think of anything else going on here- having a great time, I'm truly in love with this place!

Bisous!

Josh