First Week!

Hey all!

Sorry it's taken me so long to update, but it looks like wifi is a little sparse around here...or rather free wifi, which is the only wifi I'm lookin' to use is sparse around here (luckily, I found that in my friend's foyer's courtyard there is wifi....mwhahahaha). So, here we are. Let's go back, shall we?

Left Sunday, the plane was almost on time. Cried like a maniac in the airport the entire time until the plane arrived. Went to DC. Got some euros out (excellent idea!) and then got on the plane to Paris. To my right was a Mr. I can't keep my legs in my own space the entire ride and to my left was crazy chick my age who can't follow airline rules. I made my decision wisely and picked her to make friends with. We watched "The Proposal" together and laughed (until the end during which she thought it wise to sob uncontrollably). This is when I decided our friendship should end. I then played sudoku/read (thanks, again for the book, Jarrod) and attempted to sleep (which was impossible). When I arrived in CDG I only got lost a few times (it's a huge circle, so I just kept walking until I found what I needed). I then proceeded to wait 3 hours for the girl I was supposed to meet up with (Krystal). After these 3 hours I realized I was at the United airlines arrivals only gate. So, I decided to head to the gare. Took the tram to the gare, got a ticket and my carte 12-25. Then waited about 4 hours for the train. Hopped on the train (I will not explain the difficulties there...just let me say.....it sucked. Sucked A LOT). Then got off the train (which equally sucked). When we arrived at Tours (st. Pierre des corps) Krystal finally found me! We chatted and stood together on the train to actual Tours. I took a taxi to the hostel (he charged me 4 euros to put my bags in the trunk) and was ready to check in. Now the adventure begins:

After I walked into the hostel the lady starts gabbering away in French and I hardly caught any of it. Then she said something to do with suitcases and motioned for me to follow. At this point I understood that I was leaving my suitcases in a room. So, I put them in the room (made sure she locked the door, of course) and proceeded back to the lobby....where she disappeared. At this point I assumed I was not checking in and left. I looked at the door of the hostel and realized I arrived 2 hours too early to check in. (8-12 and 5-9 apparently). So, I realized I did not have a map of Tours and that I was going to just have to walk around and get lost. I stayed on a straight path at first and then saw pretty things and decided I would just get lost. At the point of my lostness that I realized I could never find the hostel I started to freak out....began walking a little faster...and then I heard somebody call my name. May I just say that the fact that somebody called my name is PROOF that there is a God. I turned and saw all the girls I've been talking to on facebook sitting at a cafe. Sigh. It was fate and I have no idea what I would've done if I had not randomly run into them. We all hung out, they walked me back to the hostel where I checked in, then I took at 10 minute nap, showered, and then we went to dinner (pizza and wine!) and then out for drinks (more wine!).

The hostel is very crappy. It's falling apart, but it's clean. Breakfast is included, but I still don't think that 18 euros a day is very fair for what you're getting.

Today, I woke up (see later) and we all grabbed a sandwich and went over next to the river to eat (soooo pretty). Afterwards I went with one of the girls to her foyer to use the free wifi, let my father know I was alive and then left shortly thereafter because I realized today I have no way to charge my laptop (must head to fnac tomorrow to buy a three prong adaptor/convertor). I then headed back to the hostel, ate some poptarts (mmm), and fell asleep from 6:30 to 10. Chelsea woke me up around 10 to tell me we are going to see the apartment tomorrow (see later) and invited me to watch a movie.

Apartment hunt update: As soon as we got here I found out that the apartment that we were looking at is gone (sob). I guess, also, one of the girls made the landlord mad, so he said he didn't have anything else for us. Chelsea and Emma (with whom I will be living) had been looking, but said they did not find anything for 3 people. We did find several doubles and singles, so I knew I'd find a place. I was then told by Liz (another one of the girls) that there was another room in her house. I did not want to live there because there is an 11 o'clock curfew (WTF???), the room is tiny, can't move in until next week and there's no heat. Plus, this is not the time in my life when I need to be living under somebody else's house. I was prepared to move in there.....until.........

I was awoken by Emma and Chelsea this morning at 12:30! Turns out they had just seen a 3 bedroom apartment that would end up costing us all 300 euros a month in rent (which includes the extra utilities we would have to pay...internet.........and such). It's furnished and that includes glasses/plates/pots/pans, etc. It's right in the center of town next to the Hotel de Ville. It has two bathrooms, 3 rooms, and a kitchen. He had an int'l student last year, so they think he understands the lack of cosigner and such. Problem is, must pay 320 euro fee and 2 months rent to move in. Luckily, I have an amazing father who arranged a loan with me and now it's very possible that we will be moving in on the first. All three of us are going to see the apartment tomorrow at 2:30 and hopefully sign papers and such. It would be so nice to be out of this crappy hostel and into a permanent residence. It still doesn't feel like I'm staying here for any extended period of time because I'm still living out of suitcases.

Job update: Meeting on Tuesday was cancelled. Am meeting with people on Thursday, then being driven to my school which is turning out to be really f-ing far away. The buses and train don't even go there...so I guess I will have to ask the person exactly how they expect me to get there. Then headed to Orleans on Friday for the big orientation. It sounds like the week after that will be observation/training (a whole week! :) and then I teach for a week and then we get vacation. mmmmmmm....... and AJ will be here! HUZZAH!

Life update: The wine is sooo good. Tours is a beautiful, beautiful city. It's exactly like Avignon (even smells the same) just extended 4 fold. It's really big, but not intimidating big. I'm still at the point where I get lost everytime I leave the hostel, but that's to be expected for awhile, I suppose. I found out I can get a cell phone for 30 euros from a wal-mart like place....so that's on the list after I get paid. God, what else. My french is horrible, apparently, but I'm getting by with being in a group of people the entire time. The lady at the hostel speaks broken English with me :). Food is good. Still haven't had steakfrites. Maybe tomorrow.

9/30/09
Woke up today to get breakfast with Chelsea and her German boyfriend Tobi (who is REALLY nice). Got to breakfast and they were not there, but another boy from the program, Jay was. Ate some food, took a shower, and on my way back from the shower some British people asked me if I drink beer....to which I replied..."yes?"...and then they gave me 3 kronenburgs. :) I guess they're leaving the hostel today and don't feel like carrying it. Mind you...alcohol is strictly forbidden in this hostel.... right. Whatever. Right now I'm letting my laptop charge with Chelsea's borrowed charger and then.... I don't know. We have to meet at 2 to go see the apartment, but that's in 4 hours. I'm terrified of stepping outside by myself because of all the french-ness and I wish I had some way to get in touch with the other girls, so we could go grab a glass of wine or something. Anyway, for now I'm going to let my computer charge and load my (few) pictures on it, so when I'm around the internet later today y'all can see them. I hope everything goes well at the meeting today.