Back from the Dead

I think this is the most impressive-looking private home I took a picture of, although the other ones are pretty good too; you can judge for yourself at the same place (I'm not re-posting that URL--find it yourselves). I guess it's kind of weird that I'm posting a picture of some guy's house on the internet, but seriously, look at it.

Even though it's been a week since the last update, there hasn't been too much activity on this front because I have spent from Monday night until this morning in my bed wishing I were dead. I think my partner for the 10-minute presentation I had to give today on Nicolas Sarkozy (the only reason I was not in my bed today, as well) passed along the cold she had last week and it really knocked me out. Fortunately, the host sister who lives in London and whose room I now occupy seems to be a big John Grisham fan, so The Broker and half of The Runaway Jury, as well of both of Mina's CDs on repeat, got me out of the woods. However, I promptly lost all the weight I had gained, so I guess we're starting from scratch again. Sorry, team. Fortunately, my host mother seems determined to do her part, what with the four-course dinners we have every night (appetizer, main course, cheese course, dessert, bien sur!).

Last weekend was great because my friend Emily came from Florence, where she is studying with NYU, with a friend of hers! And my dad was here, so he took us all out to dinner. Quite lovely to spend time with people whose French is worse than mine, for a change (no offense). I also took a tour of the Marais, the oldest neighborhood in Paris, with my program. It's kind of fun to go on tours with them because one of our teachers gives them, and he speaks the slowest, most understandable French I have come into contact with, so not only do I understand him, but everyone around us thinks that we are little French kids and hops on the back of the tour! Obviously, as soon as one of us asks a question in broken French, the moochers figure out what's up. But we look good when we keep our mouths shut.

In other news, I have also recently become an avid supporter of the fleece vest. What a great layering item! Purdie, I feel like you should have my back on this one.

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