One Week In

Life has definitely improved since my last post. The day of my last post was probably the saddest day ever...I spoke to no one but the shop lady when I bought some food and my friend Liz on skype, haha. not typical for me. But Wednesday I registered for classes, a confusing process to say the least that took two and a half hours; I definitely did not think it would take that long. But at registration I met many Americans that are studying here, including a girl named Dani who lives across the street from me in another dorm. We have become good friends and always go out and about together. I also met four students from Westpoint who are also very interesting and have become my friends. After the disorganization of registration I have a new appreciation for NC State's foolproof system. Big Difference # 1: nothing here is online....it is on paper and they can't check the course descriptions with ease for you. # 2: teachers do not email students when class is cancelled or the room is changed(yes they can do that), there are notice boards all over the school building on which they post any information about the class. So you have to check those ATLEAST once a day in order to not be totally screwed. So Wednesday Dani and I grabbed a bite to eat, but it was early so we had to walk a fair ways until we found something open and serving because the French like to eat late. I can't figure it out because the dining on campus closes at 1:30 for lunch....I just don't know how they make it until 8. Though not everyone eats this late because my two friends doing homestays eat earlier, like 6 or 6:30. I have also made friends in the management school through Kayla, the girl from NC State. It has been very icy here in Lille (because it is freaking cold all the time....always below 0 celsius, and usally much below like -5, -8, -11) and I have slipped twice on the sidewalk, haha but who wouldnt expect that of me.
I went to an open air market today, Marche de Wazemmes, so CUTE! and unbelievable prices: I bought two knitted hats at 2 euro each! and of course I bought a delicious baguette which I have been consuming while writing this post and a pain au chocolat, which is a pastry kind of like a rectangular croissant with a thin layer of chocolate inside along the bottom..and yes I bought them both for 1.85 :) Today is such a gorgeous day in Lille, I was upset that I did not take my camera with me to the market because the sun was just right and the sky was blue and the streets and roads all looked so colorful and pretty. ( I hope there is another day like it soon, though the forecast tomorrow is rain) Dani and I also passed a patisserie on the other side of the market and we tried chocolate eclairs, which were AMAZING of course! I will definitely eat those again!
I have a french placement test this week...so I hope that goes well. Classes starting bright and early tuesday morning at 8 with french lit and then 4 hours of history in the afternoon :) Here you only have class once a week, which is different from class 2 or 3 days a week. Everyday that I have class I have 4 hours of classes in a row in the afternoon so that will be intense. I hope the professors don't talk too fast otherwise the first week will be full of me missing important things I'm sure. Oh another difference, is they don't have a bookstore at all like NC State, but it seems that maybe they don't have so many text books as we do. More like there are articles and readings and actual books to read. Apparently the bookstore is dowtown, where I also bought my french phone, that was interesting. Dani and I were in the phone store forever but the Orange workers were having a good time with us I think. I have the cutest little orange flip phone. I also went to IKEA for the first time on thursday morning and I am IN LOVE! They have the most darling kitchens and bedrooms and offices and every room of the house. I would have bought more at IKEA if we hadn't headed to the Carrefour first. Carrefour is like the equivalent of walmart in content and lower pricing. So I bought a towel, wash cloths, bowl, mug, plate, knife, pretty striped fleece blanket for my bed, two pillows, lotion, soap....everything I needed for my room. I did buy a desk lamp at IKEA but not yet a bulb....so that is not quite up and running but I synced my ipod the other day, the one that I got for christmas so that is exciting to have finally done :) Well that is enough for now, I need to clean up my room as it has become a mess over the past several days, as anyone who knows me can imagine, though since there is much floor space there is still plenty of room to walk around all of my stuff, haha ;)