Une ballade, une foire, and a perfect day!

First order of business, I went hiking with Claudie, her friend Marie-Christine, and the Taiwanese exchange student Mavis along the mountain ridge to the cross that overlooks Chambéry (le croix de Nivolet). It was probably forty-five minutes each way through mostly forest with a few pastures. Hiking through the pastures felt like being in the final scene of The Sound of Music! At the top, on the grassy hills just beneath the cross we had a picnic lunch of grapefruit and ham-and-boursin-and-baguette sandwiches.

Mavis and me at the start of the trail.

Moooooooooooo!

 

 

Our destination.

Idyllic forest.

View of Chambéry below!

Mavis was afraid she was going to fall, so she crouched and edged out slowly.

Le croix.

Me, Claudie, and Mavis. Almost there!

Second order of business: the Foire de Savoie. It's live an expo, and this year the theme was Japan. There were anime pictures, Japanese merchandise, and apparently sushi (though I didn't see it). It was like a regular Rotary dinner, except with three clubs and some Lions clubs too. It was nice to meet some other exchange students and some Rotarians as well! I met two Americans who now live in Chambéry: a woman from Lake Tahoe and a guy from Baltimore. I also talked to the wife of one of my "responsables" who said I could come over any time! She's blonde like me, which is nice because most French people have brown hair and I feel out of place. I got to meet he wife of my other responsable, who's really nice too! Some people there told me I spoke without an accent (which I don't entirely believe, but which is nice all the same)! According to Claudie, I have a British accent when I speak French, not an American one. I really wish I could hear what I sound like!

Mavis (Taiwan), Marina (Brasil), and Ji-soo (Korea).

Me straining to get in the picture, Mauricio (Mexico) and Rogerio (Brasil) who are both in my class.

Bandanas!

Ah, what lovely people.

Awaiting the soon-to-come excellent dinner (which was "just okay" according to the French standards of my responsable).

We got to introduce ourselves (unofficially).

Two turn tables and a microphone.

Third order of business, my day today:
8-10: Class. First history than philosophy.
10-11:30: Break.
11:30: Meet Manon (for first time outside of school), buy cheap and very delicious sandwich from La Michaline (a really popular boulangerie, people walk down the street all the time eating sandwiches from here in the typical yellow paper), eat on steps of the mayor building looking out on a cobblestone square.
12:30: Go to Glup's candy store and buy "bonbons". These include gummy octopi (my favorite), a gummy cow that tastes sour, and some sour strings among other things. Eat candy while walking down street.
1:30: Sit at café and drink hot chocolate.
2:15: Return to school. Talk with lots of French people!
2:35: History-Geography in English with Professor Marmounier. He is British/French and says things like: "Last time, did you give me your opinion? Would you like me to use chalk or felt tip markers?" He asks me questions about American syntax and gave me good feedback on my reflection (on which I got 20/20, it being in English; although he also said my English was of good quality and I was deep for my age).
3:35: Leave class with Rogerio and Cassie (another American with another organization). Stop home to change and find letter from Aunt Jeanne! Go to Monoprix with Rogerio and Cassie, buy cheap cookies (including Oreos).
4:45: Meet Mauricio at the Elephant Fountain. Go to the main park in town, sit and eat cookies. Want coke
5:30: Run back to Monoprix with Cassie to buy Coke.
5:45: Return and make up story about how we had to take the bus to Carrefour to buy the Coke, encountered hobbits, Santa Claus, a grizzly bear, etc. Get carried away speaking rapidly in English.
6:30: Home again to shower, pack for the Rotary weekend (the first orientation, update to come next week), and write this entry!
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