Classes Begin

Bonjour!!

I hope that everything is going well with you back at home! I wanted to just give you a little update because our classes started this week! I had two classes yesterday, and just one this morning. So far, so good - of course its kind of hard to tell how difficult a class will be within the first few days! I will say though, unlike back home.. it is impossible to day dream a little bit..since the teachers speak strictly in french - I have to pay attention to their every word! I hope that they will be interesting though.. The classes I am taking are: Topics in French Language and Composition; France and the United States in the Middle East since 1945; Government and Politics in France since 1958; and Religion, Society, and the State in Modern France. All of those classes take place at the actual IES Center located in downtown Nantes ..with the other American students in my group. I am also taking a course at the university of nantes (l'universite de Nantes) in English-French French-English translation. So that will be more of a real french-classroom setting... which should be interesting! That class, however, does not start until next Monday. This weekend was also fun Friday night we went out and explored Nantes a little bit and then Saturday I spent the day at home.. watched a few movies, had lunch and dinner with my family, etc. Sunday I had the chance to go with my family to their daughter's (Mildrede) home located about 20 minutes outside of Nantes. The house was very quaint and located amongst miles and miles of pretty vineyards. Mildrede is married and is expecting a baby in April. We had lunch there and one of the things that I love the most about French culture is how sacredly they treat their meals. They do not full around! We got there at about noon and probably did not officially finish lunch until 2:30-3:00. It started out with an aperatif and appetizers in the family room, then into the dining room for an entree of salami and pickles, then the main plate of chicken and fresh vegetables, then dessert (which was the traditional desert for the month of January..again the "king cake,") then it was back into the living room to top it all off with a "cafe." So it was a very good meal... and we spent a couple more hours at the house, and they took me for a walk amongst the vineyards. We left around 6:30 only to come back home to...surprise...eat again! The temperature is nice here, however, its practically always cloudy (which can get depressing!)-- but some sun finally broke through today! A friend and I went for a walk just to get out and soak up the sun. I have had a few bouts of home sickness, but i know that it is only normal in adjusting to a completely new culture and language... I am sure that everything will get better with time! This weekend ... they are taking us to Mont St Michel (google image search: Mont St Michel if you are not sure what this is!!) I have been there before but it is a truly astounding place that I can not wait to go back to! So I will update you after that to tell you how it goes!! After that... its off to London next weekend to visit a friend from home and see the sights there.... can't wait! Miss you and love you all very much!!!

Au Revoir-

Colin (or as the french say "co-lean"..basically "clean" with an O between the c and the l!)