Round 2

Day 2 in Paris began at noon when I finally managed to get out of bed. After being awake from 2 to 7 a.m., I managed to fall asleep again. I got dressed and found Mme. Beguin, who offered me food, as usual. For the first time I said yes, and she asked if I wanted to eat lunch with the family. I said yes, and she said that when her husband finished working on her car, we would go to the marché to pick something up.

The marché was an experience tres Parisien. We went to the Place de la Bastille, which was filled with fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, crepes, etc. She started by buying some shrimp, then came back for more shellfish, then potatoes, flowers, herbs, avocados, cucumbers. I just followed her in awe and carried the bags. I definitely want to return there next weekend. The liveliness of the place and the kindness of the people were amazing.

When we returned Mme. Beguin and Laure began to make lunch. I offered to help and she let me snap the tops off the green beans (my favorite job at home). She promised to give me cooking lessons so that I will be able to cook fabulous French meals for my family and friends when I return. It turns out that she teaches the cooking lessons for the Middlebury school, so I'll definitely be signing up. For lunch she made shrimp in a sauce of mustard and olive oil and put in on top of half an avocado. It was delicious. She also made a delicious salad, plus we had bread and cheese and fruit afterwards. We drank red and white wine. M. Beguin made me a concoction of white wine and black current juice, which I greatly enjoyed. I tried to follow the lunchtime conversation, but the family talks fast when they are together and I only caught pieces. I did fine if I was listening from the beginning, but I got lost if I tried to jump into the middle of conversations. For the first time they brought up politics, asking if I liked "Boosh". I imagine there will be many more political conversations to come. I'm not very articulate about anything yet and I'm barely articulte about politics in English, so I'll have to prepare for those conversations.

After lunch I headed out to wander the city again. I planned on walking to the Centre Madelaine (my school) so that I'd be prepared for the morning and know how long it takes to get there. The subway closest to my house goes directly to the school's Metro stop, but at least for a while I'd prefer to walk. I got distracted along the way and didn't figure out how long it would take, but I know more or less how to get there now. I'm going to study my map again tonight to make sure I know the way.

While I was wandering up and down the street of the Centre Madeleine (never found the school...there is no sign...I guess we'll find it in the morning), I ran into Jess Tietjen, another Middlebury student and one of the few that I actually know. We were both extremely excited to find another Middkid and both confused b/c we couldn't find the school. We wound up walking together for almost an hour, sharing stories about our travels and our host-families. It was nice to find someone who is as overwhelmed by Paris as I am and who speaks English. It will be nice to meet all the other Middkids tomorrow. Jess and I agreed to meet at the bridge closest to our school tomorrow so we can arrive together. She knows lots of the other Middkids who are coming so she can introduce me. After wandering around the rive droit (right side of the Seine) for a while, Jess and I walked home. She lives in the 7th directly across from the Seine, and about a twenty minute walk from my building. I think we'll be able to arrange it so that I can pick her up on the way to school, as soon as I can orient myself better and figure out exactly how to get there.

When I returned home I took my first European shower. It feels very good to be clean again. The shower is not enclosed at all...it's just a showerhead in the corner of the bathroom. The water pressure was great and there was hot water.

Dinner started at 10 p.m. tonight and I didn't return to my room until 11:30. The Beguins oldest daughter, Marie, and the father of her child (I'm not sure if they are engaged yet), Julien, came over. Like Laure, they both talk extremely fast and are difficult to understand. They also argue constantly. Laure, Marie, and Julien all seem to correspond well with the stereotype of the French - they are young, tall, thin, fashionably dressed, opinionated, loud, and enjoy arguing. When I could understand, I enjoyed listening. Mme. Beguin helped me out from time to time understanding what they were saying.

The meal was excellent again. I had my first opportunity to try a new and unusual French food (unusual my my standards). We had calamari, which I enjoyed, and two kinds of shellfish which I cannot even name in English. I think one was mussels. They had a really tasty pesto sauceon them, so I tried them and didn't mind them at all. Except for the strange consistency. Experiment one with French food was a success though. We also celebrated the Epiphany with a galette des rois (king's cake), a cake that has a fevre, or a little trinket inside. Whoever gets the piece with the fevre is the king for the day and wears a crown. M. Beguin had the fevre in his slice. The meal was long but lively. I am heading to bed full, happy, and excited for tomorrow.