MONTPELLIER

It is extremely hard not to fall in love with this city. I feel pretty equipped to give you some more background with the 2 hours of culture class I have on top to the tours. Montpellier was the 2nd or 3rd largest city in France during the Middle Ages (Le Moyen-Age), which was when it was built - so only about 1,000 years ago...not too old ;). During the medieval period, the roads weren't constructed with straight lines like Roman or Greek cities...so it's really curvy around here, and the streets weren't made wide enough for cars (bikes and the tram have become the means of transportation through "downtown"). The city is actually shaped like a shield, which is pretty cool. It's the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon of France in the Heroult department. (I think that's enough for now, but if I learn something really cool I'll let you know!)

The climate is definitely the high point and the reason why so many people move here. The city has 250,000 inhabitants and then the banlieue

(suburbs) of the city includes another 250,000. The population has been exploding since 1962, when Algeria gained its independance from France.

I didn't realize HOW beautiful it was until Tuesday when I saw the Petit Arc de Triomphe (BELOW) and a bunch of other cool buildings ... I don't really know what they're for. Le Palais du Peyrou (ABOVE).
I started my Pre-Stage on Wednesday, in which all of the Americans (mainly UNC and U of Minnesota students) review a lot of French grammar, so that we'll be prepared for our direct enrollment French classes at the Universite de Paul Valery de Montpellier (or Le Fac des Lettres, because it's the Liberal Arts university in town). It's not what one would imagine as a French universty...French students only pay 200 euro for tuition, not leaving much money for the buildings and amenities :/ So UNC students miss our campus, but we'll survive by hanging out at La Place de la Comedie (a building BELOW) and L'Esplinade in the center of the city. There is also an amazing section of the city called Antigone full (I mean FULL) of Roman statues and fountains, along with two huge fields (George, my fellow yearlong student, and I looked at each other: ULTIMATE FRISBEE anyone!?!?! - and they do play here!)

My family is exactly the type that I needed to live with for an entire year (thanks to Jeannine who studied here last Spring): flexible schedule, night owls, few rules, great food, and LOTS of people ALL the time (my first night, we had 13 people at dinner! - cousins, grandma and all). Christine, my host mother, runs marathons and has 4 children: Julienne (23), Mathieu (21), Caroline (19), and Charlie (17). They're all so much fun, although a little crazy at times! Unfortunately all smoke, but that's pretty unavoidable in France - even though the cigarette packs say FUMER TUE "Smoking kills". I don't know if I'll ever understand the habit. There is also a big, SWEET, 3-year-old black lab named Tibu. Their father passed away Spring of 2007, but it hasn't been mentioned - only pictures. We don't eat dinner until 10pm or later! We sit down around 9 for l'aperatif (cocktails) with chips and peanuts before the meal. Every meal includes tomatoes, lots of very very good tomatoes, and the cheese = dessert - something I'm getting used to.

The house is much much bigger than I was expecting: wrap around patio/porch thing with a swimming pool, 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 toilet closets, and a large kitchen/living room. My room is perfect - a really big closet! I've yet to blow up my excersice ball (Thanks Liz!), but there's plenty of room for it :)

I don't think I've experienced culture shock yet...I do stick out though (blonde and smiles aren't too French). Let me know if there's anything else you want to hear about particularly...

Things are a bit hectic right now, but they'll calm down in 2 weeks after the Pre-Stage and when the French vacation month is over. We did get to go to the beach yesterday (BEAUTIFUL!) and on Sunday we're taking an excursion to Nimes and Le Pont du Gard.

Louis XIV depicted as a Roman general (the original sculptor commited suicide because he didn't put Louis on a saddle...Really?)

La Place du Peyrou (probably my favorite place in the whole city.)