I’ve finally gotten into the groove of life here!
CLASSES: My class schedule is finally set! For a while I was frustrated and it didn’t look like I was going to find any political science classes at University of Montpellier III. SO the result: the Law School of University of Montpellier I. I’m the first and only “Americaine” taking classes at the oldest university in Europe, founded in 1297. “The Left France” will definitely be my hardest class, but I really like it. My other classes are going well; students here are more “laid-back” (lazy), and I’m usually the most prepared for class (not normal). I’ve already given a presentation in my French Cinema course and I have another one this Thursday for Mediterranean Cinema on Cinema of Contemporary Spain.
CHURCH: If you didn’t know, people aren’t religious in France…mentioning anything religious never gives me a good response. But I found a Reformed Evangelical Pentecostal church. I’ve gone for 3 Sundays and a Women’s Day. Everything SEEMS normal so far…I think people may have been talking in tongues today, but I’m not really sure – it sounded like Hebrew. My favorite part is the worship - I know a majority of the songs in English.
EXTRA-CURRICULARS: I made the University Choir and we’re singing the works of BRITTAIN, so all the songs are in English. After correcting the director’s pronunciation the first rehearsal in front of 70ish people, I now read the lyrics while everyone repeats - then I translate. I started taking a Hip-Hop class that’s awesome – Take it to the Streets style. I look forward to it every week! I’m going to start volunteering at a high school this week to help some students with their English. They are starting internships as merchants in England, so it should be interesting to see what phrases and conversations I’ll be helping them with. Also, once a week the Americans and the Language students at the Fac de Lettres have a “tower of Babel” conversation night that’s themed. We’ve had an 80’s night and this week it’s Halloween costume night! Everyone who comes out is really nice - this is definitely the easiest way to make my French friends! It’s weird not having track practice everyday or CCF events, but I like the way my week has panned out. I have a lot of free time!
NIGHTLIFE: Seeing that it has been difficult to make French friends, I’ve been “sortiring” with Americans, Brazilians (2 below), Mexicans, Spaniards, Scotts, and Norwegians…There is one bar L’Australien that all the foreigners go, because the locals go to the bars outside of the city accessible only by car.
I’ve also gone to a Karaoke bar that was sooo much fun. Of course we sang the classic American repertoire (Brittney Spears, Backstreet Boys, TLC) - after a few songs the French were into it (I think) and they gave us their hats/canes/helmets? 
The concept of going to someone’s house to watch a movie is definitely not French. Friends don’t hang out at the house…you always have a drink and then go out. We’re trying to start a French movie night at George’s house – it’s been successful so far. French cinema is either cheesy or bizarre; they watch a lot of American dubbed films. You will always find people standing alone waiting at the city’s meeting place, the Trois Graces statue in the Place de la Comedie. (Here’s the statue with the Opera de la Comedie behind it…beautiful at night!) 
SUNDAYS: Montpellier Sundays are a favorite. Since the first few Sundays in France I spent on those excursions, I’ve just now been able to enjoy them along with the pretty weather.
Most everything is closed and it’s definitely the family day. My Montpellier friend said every Sunday growing up he rode the ponies around the Esplanade. 
Bringing many types of people to the Esplanade there is now an awesome Dr. Seuss looking playground (below), a lake, and a giant chess board (the players are serious and always play to American pop music…they asked my to play, but I said I’m just too good).
In the Place de la Comedie there is usually some fair. This past Sunday there was a dog adoption tent – as if Montpellier needed more dogs! They’re everywhere along with their poop; the homeless keep them around because the police can’t arrest them if they have a dog. But they never use a leash!
One dog wouldn’t leave a man eating a sandwich for 20 minutes. (The man heard me taking these pictures, so I would hide the camera and pretend to read – it was not his day.)
The man asked the owner why he’s not holding the leash next to him. “SA LIBERTE!” the homeless owner replied…really the dog’s liberty? The dog followed the man all the way out of the park.
I did go to Paris last weekend, and I’ll write about it in my next post :)
