EH? EH.... EH!

SIGH. HELLO.

I'm quite bossy today. Some of you know this side of me, some of you don't. Anyway, that is my mood so be prepared.

I would like to take a minute to talk about the French public transportation system. In general, European transportation is much better than anything I have experienced in America and when I say this, I mean trains. They are really great, really fast, not that expensive, comfortable and convenient. As for air travel, I have heard that it is incredibly, maybe even UNBELIEVABLY inexpensive over here. I'm sure I'll find out. Anyway, all of that is great. The subways/metros/undergrounds are great but what I have issues with is traffic, and BUSES. BUSES..........................

Every morning, now that I am living with the Malfaits, I have to take the bus into town. I really have no problem with this at all. It goes where I need to go, I get to have a nice walk in the morning, and across the Rhone river before I go to class. But these STUPID buses feel entitled to show up whenever the hell they want, pretty much shrugging at the schedule. Yesterday, for example, I get to the bus station at like 8:27. The bus is supposed to come at 8:28. AS I TURN the corner, the bus drives away...its early, whatever. THIS MORNING, I show up 4 minutes early for the bus. I'm ON IT. Well, 9:26 rolls around, NO BUS. 9:36 rolls around. NO BUS FINALLY at 9:40 (3 minutes early from the schedule) The Bus comes a ramblin' down the rue, jolie as can be. Well, i'm pissed by now and my class starts in 5 minutes.

So i'm quite late for class. Which is awkward (but the french have no word for awkward). Anyway, that put me in a defensive mode all day and also established a rivalry with ME and THE BUS. It's ON BUS 29. BRING IT.

Anyway......

I guess i'll fill you in on Lyon. Its a pretty cool city that reminds me a lot of Portland. Its got two rivers that meet up, the Rhone and the Saone and lots of different, really unique parts called arrondissements (I don't know if thats how you spell it). I live in what could be considered the west hills of portland? Like, right on the border of the city where nothings really spread out and the houses are really nice and often times have great views. Mine doesn't but I DO have a pool so thats cool. I'm not sure if I will ever get to use it though because the other thing about Lyon, is that it is VERY WINDY. Comparable to Chicago, to give you another reference. The Chicago of France and I live in Evanston.

There are lots of really old things in Lyon. Everything from old cathedrals, to old cobblestone roads to Gallo-Roman ruins. Lyon has ALOT of history. Today we had a tour of the Gallo-Roman museum where I learned that Lyon used to be the capital of Gaul (when France was still that). My host dad Eric was telling me that whenever they do construction in Lyon, its always really difficult because the often times will hit old artifacts and ruins and stuff. I think thats kind of cool actually.

As far as school goes, my school is right on the Rhone river. For these first 2 weeks, we are doing this thing called "STAGE" (pronounced "stahhhggge") where we just practice reading and speaking and pronunciation where we make really ridiculous faces and make ape noises. I am finding that class quite funny. In order for me to remember things, I compare them to english sounds. Its hard and this is the best example i've come up with. If you were speaking english here would be some grunting differences:

"eh?" (questioning)
"..eh.." (apathetic)
"eh!" (gross!)


well the same thing goes with French except these tinnnnnyy differences in lip and cheek movement mean A LOT. its Annoying and i'm not sure if its actually helping. Anyway, after these two weeks, we will take a test, be put into a level and then i'll start school. I hope I get put in the top level because I really want a challenge. I'm tired of all of the apathy. I still feel like I'm in a very transitional period and that I'm just passing the time. I go on a bunch of tours in the next few days (which I hope are interesting) and take more monkey sounds class. Hope it goes well.....

I'll write when I have my next adventure.