Studying. But not really.

Now that I'm back from break, I have to do a whole semester's-worth of work in one month. That's why I spent yesterday and today typing and reading online about French history.

But studying here isn't as easy as in Ann Arbor. In Aix, the library is closed on Mondays, so I couldn't get any books for my research. And even if it was open, there's no wifi at the library. Compared to the University of Michigan library, where I can get books almost any time of the week and research online, studying at the Bibliothèque Méjanes seems a bit... pointless.

Another scholarly problem: the French department at home announced a new class that I wanted to take this fall called Spoken French: The Artistic Challenge. It sounded really interesting, and among the requirements was, "Prior daily contact with one of the many varieties of spoken French is desirable"—something I am obviously doing now.

I couldn't sign up for it online, though, because I don't have enough French credits. I do, based on the classes I'm currently taking, but they won't appear on Michigan's computers until July or August. I emailed an advisor and managed to sign up for the class. Yet this just goes to show how different our schedule here in France is to that of Michigan. Michigan's last semester finished at the end of April and spring classes have already started; I only just learned the topics for my final papers and presentations.

One final note: last night for dinner we had mussels and snails, both in garlic butter. I'd had them both before and liked them, although after a whole meal the taste of garlic butter is a little overpower. Mme G told me she thinks trying French cuisine is an equally important part of studying abroad, and I agree—especially given how delicious it is!