Sunday, June 12, 2011

Au revoir Clermont-Ferrand...

Hi everyone, I only have time for a brief update since I'm packing and cleaning, and don't have much time.  But several people have been begging for an update, so here goes.

First of all, I would like to announce that I survived finals week.  Mostly.  Those of you who are friends with me on facebook might know that on one particular day, I had three finals (all oral presentations).  Well I later discovered, much to my horror, that I was actually supposed to have another (three-hour written) final that morning that I missed because I was confused about the schedule.  Despite all my efforts contacting my professor and various people in charge, I have learned that the only way to retake a final is with a doctor's note, which of course I don't have since I wasn't sick.  So that's frustrating, since I worked hard in that class and would rather not fail.  Grades will be posted at some future undecided date on a bulletin board in some obscure hall in some administrative building, publicly for all to see, as typical of French cultural norms.  So if grades are posted by the time I leave (Tuesday just after 1pm), then I'll know what they are.

Originally, my plans were to fly home early July with Ashley.  However, for several reasons, Ashley decided to change her flight, and will be heading home early tomorrow.  So, due to the lack of my favorite travel buddy and good friend, and also due to homesickness and general fatigue, the prospect of staying an entire month in France after school was out seemed daunting.  But rather than having me miss out on seeing a bit more of France before I leave, my dad arranged for my grandmother to meet me in Paris on the 15th of June.  We will spend several days in Normandy, where we will see an American cemetery, the beaches, and a castle, and then several days in Paris, where we will see some of the major sights and, of course, celebrate La Fete de la Musique.  For those of you who don't know what La Fete de la Musique is, it's a celebration on the summer solstice every year (June 21st) where musicians all go out and sit on street corners and make music after dark.  So I challenge you musicians who read this, on the evening of the 21st you should go out to some public street corner and play a song or two.  Emama and I will be strolling the streets of Paris on the night the City of Lights is transformed into the City of Music.

The next day, we both fly home.  I have had adventure after adventure, but I will be so glad to be home.  More later.

1 comment:

  1. You're going to have a blast touring Normandy, Brittany, and Paris with E-mama! She'll have a great tour guide, too! She' pretty excited about going (I just talked to her as she was about to go to Austin.) I can't wait to read blog updates while you're there, even if they're brief and only have one picture or so. :)
    Love you and can't wait to see you!
    Dad

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