Post by LHR02 on Oct 29, 2003 7:14:08 GMT -5
The hecticness of it all!
Wednesday, 29 October 2003
Hello all!
I thought I should write a quick entry to let you know that I'm still around. To be honest I have found updating this blog to be more difficult than I could ever imagine. Since I don't have a laptop or internet connection I am forced to use an internet cafe and to be perfectly honest either it's often full or I barely have time to stop by. As such, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of my entries may have to be written upon my return to Canada. I keep a diary so I'll use that to help me write.
I really do have lots to write about:
- weekend visit to Chantilly
- the Montmartre wine festival
- my Thanksgiving in Paris
- and my daily ordeals
Right now I will just quickly mention that I am finally a RESIDENT of France. Go figure, I never thought I'd be one of those! :op After about seven different visits to many locales, a medical examination, two months, and almost $200 CND later I finally obtained my Carte de Séjour this past Friday. And what has all of that effort earned me? Permission to stay 1.5 months longer to finish my course at the Sorbonne. Needless to say I was shocked that after all of that my permit expires at the beginning of February. That means that if I wanted to stay for a second semester I would have to go through all those headaches again.
Either way I have decided that I will be returning to Canada in December. Although I really am enjoying my time here I have to admit I am looking forward to getting home.
In terms of what's going on in my life right now . . .
Courses are good although somewhat difficult at the moment. I do feel however that I am learning a lot and that is what makes it all worthwhile. My French friend claims I'm fluent but I still think it will take sometime before I can make that assertion all by myself.
I have a midterm on Friday - and she just told us this on Monday!!! Not impressed with that one. We've covered an amazing amount and it will all be on it so please don't forget to say a little prayer for me. As far as other things in that class - I did a presentation about a week and a half ago. I decided to talk about the experiences of Canadians with Anglophone-Francophone relations and in particular the referendum. People seemed to enjoy it and they learnt a lot as none of them were aware this had ever happened. I also seemed to impress the Prof. as I got a 13/14. Wahooo!!!
In terms of more fun and exciting things - on the 7th of November I will be taking a long awaited trip. The 11th of November (a Tuesday) we don't have to go to school and as such they decided to " make a bridge " and give us the Monday off too. Daisy and I (a British friend from the foyer) have decided to go on an excursion. We'll be heading out on Friday night to Bavaria and the Tyrol (mainly Munich and Innsbruck) and we'll return to Paris on the Thursday in the wee hours of the morning. I really am looking forward to it all! Coming here I actually didn't think I'd end up going to Germany or even Austria in this trip but I'm glad to have the opportunity to do so.
We're looking forward to many things on the trip BUT in particular we are hoping to see lots of the white stuff in the mountain areas. Anyone who has read my previous BLOGS knows I completely fell in love with Gimmelwald, Switzerland and I have to admit that the mountain scenery was a large motivation for choosing this particular trip instead of heading to Spain or the south of France.
In other news - my Ontario law school applications are due on Monday. Which is my way of telling you that I really must be wrapping this up as there is an essay that needs some work.
Please keep me in all of your prayers and heaven-bound happy thoughts (for the Atheists among you)!
Wednesday, 29 October 2003
Hello all!
I thought I should write a quick entry to let you know that I'm still around. To be honest I have found updating this blog to be more difficult than I could ever imagine. Since I don't have a laptop or internet connection I am forced to use an internet cafe and to be perfectly honest either it's often full or I barely have time to stop by. As such, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of my entries may have to be written upon my return to Canada. I keep a diary so I'll use that to help me write.
I really do have lots to write about:
- weekend visit to Chantilly
- the Montmartre wine festival
- my Thanksgiving in Paris
- and my daily ordeals
Right now I will just quickly mention that I am finally a RESIDENT of France. Go figure, I never thought I'd be one of those! :op After about seven different visits to many locales, a medical examination, two months, and almost $200 CND later I finally obtained my Carte de Séjour this past Friday. And what has all of that effort earned me? Permission to stay 1.5 months longer to finish my course at the Sorbonne. Needless to say I was shocked that after all of that my permit expires at the beginning of February. That means that if I wanted to stay for a second semester I would have to go through all those headaches again.
Either way I have decided that I will be returning to Canada in December. Although I really am enjoying my time here I have to admit I am looking forward to getting home.
In terms of what's going on in my life right now . . .
Courses are good although somewhat difficult at the moment. I do feel however that I am learning a lot and that is what makes it all worthwhile. My French friend claims I'm fluent but I still think it will take sometime before I can make that assertion all by myself.
I have a midterm on Friday - and she just told us this on Monday!!! Not impressed with that one. We've covered an amazing amount and it will all be on it so please don't forget to say a little prayer for me. As far as other things in that class - I did a presentation about a week and a half ago. I decided to talk about the experiences of Canadians with Anglophone-Francophone relations and in particular the referendum. People seemed to enjoy it and they learnt a lot as none of them were aware this had ever happened. I also seemed to impress the Prof. as I got a 13/14. Wahooo!!!
In terms of more fun and exciting things - on the 7th of November I will be taking a long awaited trip. The 11th of November (a Tuesday) we don't have to go to school and as such they decided to " make a bridge " and give us the Monday off too. Daisy and I (a British friend from the foyer) have decided to go on an excursion. We'll be heading out on Friday night to Bavaria and the Tyrol (mainly Munich and Innsbruck) and we'll return to Paris on the Thursday in the wee hours of the morning. I really am looking forward to it all! Coming here I actually didn't think I'd end up going to Germany or even Austria in this trip but I'm glad to have the opportunity to do so.
We're looking forward to many things on the trip BUT in particular we are hoping to see lots of the white stuff in the mountain areas. Anyone who has read my previous BLOGS knows I completely fell in love with Gimmelwald, Switzerland and I have to admit that the mountain scenery was a large motivation for choosing this particular trip instead of heading to Spain or the south of France.
In other news - my Ontario law school applications are due on Monday. Which is my way of telling you that I really must be wrapping this up as there is an essay that needs some work.
Please keep me in all of your prayers and heaven-bound happy thoughts (for the Atheists among you)!