Salut!

School is really different here. I still have absolutely no idea where any of my classes are and if I didn't have a few friends to help me I would be 100% lost all the time. One really cool thing about school here (well for the students at least) is that when the teacher is out sick or on vacation, or unavailable to go to work, there is no class! No substitutes! And luckily for me, my teachers weren't here Monday or Tuesday. I still have no idea what is going on during the classes, however, so I normally sit at my desk and just try to understand a sliver of what my prof is telling us. Hopefully my grades don't tank...

The past couple of days have been a tad harder. With the freezing weather, I of course managed to catch a cold! Being sick and not having my mom here to comfort me has been making me very homesick :( I have been missing home a lot, and with the time difference it is especially hard to keep in contact. Fortunately, or unfortunately—I can't really tell yet—some of my more high-tech friends have been able to keep in contact with me while they are at school (JUSTIN TAING <3) and I have been able to see my friends. But I miss my family and not seeing them has been extremely tough.

This picture is of the family dog, and playing with him is my favorite thing to do! He is wild and crazy and loves to run and get a nice belly rub. Unfortunately, he has to stay outside ALL THE TIME, but it was especially cold today so he came in and enjoyed the fire with me for a little. He loves me :-)

This is my little sister, Emma. She is absolutely adorable and I help her with her English homework and she helps me with my French accent! She is constantly telling me to practice my R's because I have a problem saying them from down in my throat. Emma is always dancing around and she reminds me of my own sister. Oh and mom, that is the blanket you gave me in the corner; it is my life saver with the cold here!

As for the food…it is really, really good!! I did not expect myself to like it as much as I do! I have eaten absolutely everything and I have really enjoyed it! Every night we sit together and talk about politics or watch the news. With elections coming up, Ludmila and my parents (host parents) have a lot to say and tell me about. I feel very informed. Dinner lasts pretty long each night about 45 minutes to an hour and my favorite part is I get to help make it! Last night I made a mashed vegetable soup with my mom and it was absolutely delicious.

Me eating with my family, but please ignore me and just look at my family…bad hair/outfit/face day :( 

My French skills are slowly progressing. I hate to generalize, but the French people as a whole speak extremely quickly. It is really hard to make out what they are saying when it is trop vite! But at home my family speaks slowly to me, and for the most part I have a pretty good understanding of what they are saying. Occasionally, we have to play a bit of charades but Emma and my mom keep telling me I am getting better! I feel that my comprehension is a lot better than my speaking abilities, therefore it is really hard to communicate how I am feeling. Also, I am missing my best friends who understand exactly how I am feeling, even when I don't say a single word. That feeling has probably been the hardest for me as I feel lonely.

But things are looking up! I have one more day of school and then I have a two week vacation! We are going skiing in the Alpes and I have been invited to three parties!

Merci pour les bonnes souhaits et je vous aimez.

A bientot!