The downhill.

Okay, so... It started out rough, got better almost immediately, and here I am, 10 days later, having a manque du pays moi-même. Everything is still totally fine. I have people to hang out with, I get along with Lynda, class isn't hard, I'm proficient at speaking French and perfect at understanding it. I miss the States. There is air conditioning there... people I know and want to be around, surroundings I'm familiar with, my native language, windows with screens, and a bed that won't totally screw up my back. The so-called "honeymoon period" of studying abroad has ended for me and the realization of it has truly set in. No, I'm not homesick, per sé; I just kind of want to be around the stuff I know. As I told Brittany today, I know I'll be back to the States before I even know what hit me, and right now I can't wait... but by the time I have to leave France, I will probably want to stay.

Today was the first day we had class in the morning, which means we have all afternoon off. That's definitely a nice touch. I had lunch in the Caféteria Université today - it was actually pretty good. After that, we went to the train station to make plans for this weekend. I am not 100% sure, but I'm probably going to Marseilles with a few other girls in the program. I figure the Côte Mediterranéen can't be too hateful :) After the stop at the train station, we went to the big mall in Grenoble and shopped for a while. I got a cool pink dress and a top to wear out at night. I also bought a couple novels because - not surprisingly - I finished Angels & Demons last night precisely 3 days after I started it.

Now I'm at the Café Internet enjoying the AC and thinking about going for a run this evening before dinner - preparing myself for the massive heat I'll endure. I haven't done too many interesting things for the past couple days, so I don't really have any new pictures to post. You'll have to settle with my words for now. I might be back to make another post later tonight - I feel something worthwhile occurred that I'm forgetting, but that's all for now. A bientôt!