A Fine Friday in France

Today was my second Friday in France and it was truly a great day.  First I woke up early (around 7:45) to get ready and meet Megan at 9:00. We decided yesterday that we wanted to get up early and check out the soldes.  Soldes are the French sales that last about a month.  It's kind of like Black Friday but a month long! :)  I wanted a leather jacket (so bad) and she wanted some French lingerie so we set out to shop.  When we got to the store, it didn't open for another 20 minutes so we found a mini crepe stand and got nutella crepes.  Best 2 euros I've ever spent!!! :)  After our delicious breakfast, we headed back to the Soldes. Also, as an odd side note, on our way back to the Soldes, we saw a goat and two kittens in a wooden box (see photo below).  Three people were kind of walking around it and keeping people from taking them.  They kept saying we could pet them but there was a sign saying they weren't for sale. Megan and I had no idea what was going on and I still don't.  Why are there goats and kittens in boxes in public being protected by random people??? You know you're in France when you're asking these kinds of questions. :)

We started out at a store called Zara which was way too expensive for my taste.  Which really means that everything was more than 20 euros.  But once we got to H&M, we found some amazing deals! I got a shirt (see photo below), a set of 7 bracelets, a pair of panties, and a hair clip for 10 euros!!! And I love my new French shirt! I can't wait to get a leather jacket and boots to wear with it. :)

After our shopping excursion, we headed back to Cuques.  I wrote a few postcards and ate lunch before heading to class at 2.  However when I got to my class, I found out that instead of being from 2-4 PM, it was from 1-3 PM. :( But another one of my friends, his name is Jeroen (pronounced your-roon), was late too so we sat together. I understood a lot of what the teacher was saying and it was a really interesting topic (the actions of international humanitarian groups), but it was so much easier sitting next to Jeroen because he understood 99% of it and took notes in English (even though he's Dutch)! So every time I didn't understand something, I just looked at his notes and followed along really well. :)

Jeroen and I wanted to take another class later in the day so we went to a brasserie (kind of like a cafe that has coffee, tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, juice, drinks, etc.) with two other students to pass the time between our classes (the next one started at 4 PM).  But when we went back to IEP for the class, we found out it was actually from 5-7 PM. :( So we made the executive decision to just not take the class and head home. :)

On the way home we had this wonderful conversation about the differences between European and American ways of living.  We talked about grocery stores, and eating habits, and health care, and l'art de vivre (the art of living), and everything in between.  It was so interesting to see how many opinions we shared.  And I feel that I've made a new, really good friend here in Aix. :)

GOAT IN A BOX!!! (you can't see the kittens from this angle)

My new French shirt! :)

Another picture of my new French shirt! :)

My new French purse! :)

Now I'm headed out to a party for Jan (another Dutchman).  Sunday will be his last day in Aix-en-Provence so we are having a final send-off party for him. :) Somehow my life keeps getting busier and busier, mais c'est la vie!!!