Ok. Quick updates then. I keep trying to sike myself up for a decent, well thought out, and well written entry and then somehow I am always too tired to deliver it. I don't have an excuse though. I haven't really been that busy.
I have been in Nice since Tuesday. I arrived by train. My train drove right past the Mediterranean sea for several miles and it was beautiful. I was nervous to meet my landlord. Since I had stayed with Melinda, an American, in Paris I had still been speaking a lot of English. Even though she introduced me to several of her friends and gave me some great opportunities to practice, which I was really grateful for. So I was nervous for the real frenchiness of my situation of being picked up by my landlord. But she turned out to be very sweet. When I told her it was my first time in Nice she drove me down the main stretch of the beach so I could see it. Definitely out of our way. She did most of the talking, and even though I couldn't catch it all, we were able to carry the conversation so I was encouraged by that.
I haven't had too many responsibilities this first week, which is fine by me. So I've had time to do a few logistical things, like open a french bank account and get myself a library card. Maybe library card isn't at the top of the list of "things to do when you move to a new place" for everyone. But it should be! Best free thing you can get anywhere. Including here! (Well, except perhaps maybe free food.) I was pleased to discover that it didn't cost me a thing and that this library is huge and beautiful. Very modern looking actually. There are plenty of old looking things to look at in this city but the library isn't one of them. But I'm not picky. I've also discovered a very walmart-esk shopping center not far at all from my apartment. And as my dear friend John who has traveled with me knows, I have this weird liking for supermarkets. I guess I just find it incredibly interesting to see how the rest of the world eats and shops and how much they pay for everything and so on and so forth. It's amazing how much time I can spend looking at different kinds of meat or cheese or pasta that I have no intention of actually buying. :) Yes, it's weird.
I've also spent a fair amount of time exploring the city. Since I don't have a real agenda I walk everywhere right now. I mean everywhere. Probably about 6 miles a day. I've been down to the beach a couple times. Lovely. I've acquired a rather hideous raccoon mask sunburn from my sunglasses and probably many more freckles. I climbed up to the top of the hill that sits over the old city where an ancient castle once sat. There are just a few ruins now and they've turned the place into a park. Probably some of the best views of the city and sea from up there.
My french is coming along slowly. I just worked so hard on Spanish last semester that my French was really in the backseat. I usually get to practice a little with my roommates who are both kind and patient. One is a student from another part of France. She is studying international commerce. The other is a young man from Togo, West Africa getting his doctorate. He was blown away when I told him I had been to Togo. Said I was the first person he's met here who can say that. And he has been in Europe for 10 years. Pretty cool. I don't see them too much. Just when we catch each other in the kitchen.
All in all I'm glad to be here. It is very lonely at times. I've never really been completely by myself in this way. But it is an experience I'm grateful for. Or I know I will be.
All for now. I've been in the country for a week come tomorrow morning!
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