15 Janiver: it's the simple things...

Bonjour! I feel as though I have been here for weeks. It's definitely only been five days though. I feel very accomplished though. We've ordered food for lunch, ordered drinks at a local bar, navigated on the RER...all these simple things that make me feel very successful. It's so weird to have such simple things be so rewarding. I feel like a little kid or something. Everyday and everything seems like a challenge but it makes me feel so accomplished at the end of the day. We've been running too so that helps with the endorphins as well. It's so easy to become discouraged and want to give up. But I think it's that drive to succeed, even in the simple things, that keeps you from giving up. Today we went to the Rue de Rivoli and did a little shopping with Tina, our economics teacher. She's quiet but she's so nice- she speaks four languages, English being her least fluent, but she still knows it so well. I can't even imagine how someone's mind works when they have thousands of words from four different languages flying through their heads. We also had our first bar experience, which was a success. We ordered and the man was very nice- I've decided that I'm pretty neutral about the French. Aside from two rude people, everyone else has been petty nice - not overtly friendly but not completely inconsiderate either. I'm not saying everyone at home is a joy to encounter, but I think Americans smile a hell of a lot more. Maybe I just notice it more because I'm paranoid and it's not my familiar home. I'm not sure but I'm sure that I'll create an opinion about it by the time I leave.

I feel very relaxed here, unlike at school. I'm not concerned with deadlines and class and tests and papers and all of that. I feel as though I'm learning things firsthand and I know I'm learning it even though I'm not being tested by it. I also don't miss all the complaining and drama that is inevitable at school. I also don't miss the weather. Its cold and rainy here but nothing like Loretto. None of that freezing snow and wind.