September 3, 2004

Hello everyone!!!

Today, school started. It was hard to get up, partially because I haven't been sleeping very well. I think the problem is I get too hot, then too cold at night. I'm very glad I brought my horse pillow, because my pillow is so thin - it's like a little air pillow. Today I had French and English. I usually will have a chemistry and physics class (yuck) on Friday, but not today since it's the first day. I have 7 hours of English a week, 6 of French (a French lit class, which is TERRIBLY HARD) 5 hours of Spanish, 3 of Math, 6 of different kinds of history, 2 of PE and 2 of science. Obviously spread out during the week. But the classes are good. The teachers are wonderful. (My French teacher is gorgeous ((yes it's a guy))).

I met a girl, who's in my class, and is an exchange student from Norway. She speaks English as well as the German's do, so it was nice to have someone understand me well, and she understands more French than I do, so she was a great help. Plus it's someone to get lost and confused with.

The school isn't that big and most of my classes are on the same floor. Everyone in my class is wonderful. There are about 25 girls and 5 boys. This is the premier, technically 11th grade, class, literature studies, class 2 - that's how they break the classes down here. The lit part is how many of each subject I take. Because I'm in the lit, I have more languages. If I were in Math, obviously it would be more math and science, so on and so forth. I also made very good acquaintance with a girl named Gladys (it sounds much prettier in French, like Glahdiis) and her friend. But everyone is wonderful. I was shocked in the advanced English class because I just said the typical my name is... I'm from... I have so many siblings... in English, as the teacher asked, and they all just stared at me blankly. Maybe it's just because it's the first day. But the teachers and students and staff are all helpful and friendly as can be.

Last night I went to the Romorantin Rotary meeting. There were 14 members there, about 20 total, and only two women in the club. I met the other three host families that I will be staying with (well just the fathers). They're all friendly and cheery and out-going. I feel like I have gobs of grandpas and uncles now =) well, that's all for now.

Aimee