Week 2

So it's really hard to believe that I've been here over a week!  Lots has happened since the last time I posted, so I will try to distill it into a fairly short post.

The end of last week began the process of researching and registering for courses, a process that is stressful enough in the US, where information is actually posted online and made available.  In France, nothing is really posted, and where the information is available, it is not well organized.  However, I have now been to a couple courses, and am pretty set on my two courses in the French University system to go along with my two TIP courses.  I went to a History of Photography course at UP1 today, in which the focus is on 1960s photojournalism.  Definetly a different  course, but it cuts across a bunch of different things I'm interested in (art, history, journalism, etc.).  The second course I want to take is at L'Institute Catholique, and it's about political ideology of the 20th century, but that doesn't start until next week.  Hopefully both of these courses go well, otherwise I'm not sure what I will do.

In the realm of fun/touristy things, TIP took the group to the Loire Valley to visit the Chateaux of the Royalty and French nobility built during the early French Renaissance this past weekend.  It was amazing to finally get to see something I've studied every year in French class since 6th grade.  Our itinerary included Blois, Chambord, and Cheverny.  All three of them were incredible, but I think Chambord was my favorite.  However, the best part of the trip was getting to know the other students and administrators of the program.  Both days included meals with the program (including a 3 hour dinner sitting at a table with Laurent, the program director) and we also had lots of free time to get to know one another.  Bar/discotheque Le Loch Ness will never be the same, after being invaded by the entire TIP program for several hours on Saturday night.  Also, all the guys in the program have adopted French names (Louis-me, Claude, Pascal, Gustave, and Le Duc).  Overall the trip was really interesting and a lot of fun.

Tomorrow is the beginning of actual TIP classes (French language and History of the EU).  While orientation was fun, it will be good to get into more of a normal academic routine.  Hopefully I'll have the time to report on how those go tomorrow afternoon.

Anyways, off to go eat dinner.  No one is home because my host parents went to their second home in Normandy today (they only told me about it this morning- WHAT WHAT??)  and everyone else is out for the evening.  Maybe I'll post some photos of my house later!