By Request....A Day in the Life.

My mother has requested and perhaps other readers would like, an account of an average day in Montpellier.

Here goes.

Well, depending on when I have class, which is only Mon-Thurs, and late on monday and wednesday, I manage to pull myself out of bed. Then, it's on to the shower in my host family's apartment. The shower is very nice, full tub, decent water pressure, good temp....the only slight problem is that it is removable, but not stationed on the wall. It can make for some awkward maneuvering at times, but it works alright. So in conclusion: Just like the French people, my shower head does whatever it damn well pleases.
After I daddle around the apartment for a while, I suddenly realize I will miss my bus, so I stuff some (good) bread in my mouth, grab my bag and bus pass and run out the door. Luckily the bus stop is close: just across the street, and the 15 (my bus) comes incredibly often, every 5 minutes!...or so they claim.

I happen to enjoy public transportation, especially buses. You meet the most interesting people on the bus. The 15 happens to be the most used and latest running bus in Montpellier, so there are always families, kids, teens, creeps, grandmothers, and all kinds of ethnicities. It runs through a large North African/Middle Eastern part of town, so I like to look out the window at all the markets and Hallal butcher shops. The people in the area are amazing to watch as well. I really want to take pictures of some of the elders....but I don't know how to do this without seeming crazy or creepy....hmmm.

The rest of the journey to school is fairly uneventful, after the bus, I jump on a tram and then walk a few blocks to Paul Valery Universite. I have quite a few required classes for Americans, which have been very useful for me. I have only two classes in the regular college system and they are both literature courses...one francophone lit and the other english. They are not easy. The french university system is still a mystery to me and the professors are not required to be helpful in the least. Although I pay quite a lot for it, I do enjoy profesors that have office hours, and are available to speak after class. I miss the U rather often.

Depending on how much time I have after my last class, I generally like to do a little exploring. Often, I head down to the program office first, to mingle with the staff, get something to drink, go on the computer. I really Natacha (one of our assistants), she always calls me belle, and is refreshingly friendly...plus, she smells wonderful. Must find out her perfume....
After that, I like to wander around the city center looking for interesting stores and cafe. I found this chocolate shop the other day, and for 3 Euro, I gorged myself ......bad idea....but soooo good. At some point, I decide it's best to return home where I greet my family, talk a bit about my day, unload my homework and get ready for dinner. My host mom is an amazing cook....I'm surprised I haven't gained more weight. After dinner, my host siblings usually watch something on the tv, and if I don't have much homework (rare occurrence) I join them and try to figure out what's going on. My french is improving daily thanks to my host family. I made the right housing choice.

On tuesday nights, I head down to the Shakespeare Pub with a couple friends for their weekly Quiz Night. I've gone three times now, and once we came in 2nd! We keep getting beat by these old english guys...but they have quiz tee-shirts. I don't feel quite so bad losing to a guy with a tee-shirt.

On weekend nights, I usually go out with friends, if we're especially broke, we go to one of the apartments, if not we find a pub or bar to hang out at. I haven't made it to any of the discotheques yet, but I see people boarding them when I'm catching my bus HOME...and the crowd seems rather teenaged and irritating...I guess we'll see.

Otherwise, it's rinse and repeat here. Some weekends we have excursions or friends travel around. This weekend the program is taking us for a weekend in Barcelona!
Pictures to come.

Love,
Becca