The Helpful French (Not an Oxymoron)

I've been hanging out a lot with my roommate, Tamara. She doesn't speak really any English, so this has been very interesting. We've been having a lot of fun. She's been joining Molly and me for dinner. There are student restaurants throughout Paris where you can get a large meal for only 2.85 euro. Nothing is that cheap in France, so this is lovely.

Tamara told us the other day (whilest we were yearning for pancakes) that the student restaurants have the best brunch. Apparently you can get pain au chocolat, a hot chocolate, bread, bacon, sausage, and potatoes altogether for 2.85 euro. Or maybe it's even more food than that. Point: there was a lot of food for cheap. I was especially excited when she said (in French), "And you'd expect the pain au chocolat to taste horrible, right? But it's actually really good!" Which is like the magical phrase that made me say, "WE'RE GOING. ALL OF US. SUNDAY. I'M NOT GIVING YOU OPTIONS!" Tamara and Molly were both unresistant. Though I suppose it would be strange for someone to say, "No! I don't want a lot of good-tasting food for cheap! You can't make me go!"

The language exchange went well. I had a test the next day, and I thought it might be a good idea to study there. It was mostly Frenchmen, so I made them all help me study for my test. In return, I taught them more dirty American expressions. I felt it was the least I could do for their efforts. They were helpful until someone said, "You know how drinking alcohol makes it easier to speak a language? You should just get drunk before your test. You'll do really well then." The rest really enjoyed this idea, and the studying deteriorated somewhat after that.

I did not get drunk for my test. I also think I kicked its butt.

I went with Ben and Arnaud to the club with the open bar again last night. Giovanni couldn't go yet again, so he had to miss out. I danced mostly with Ben's brother, Hugo. Hugo turned out to be a surprisingly good dancer for a Frenchman, so he gets an A+. He also helped me get home on the metro so that I wouldn't have to go home late by myself. Apparently, chivalry isn't dead in France. I know everyone always gives the French a bad rep, but I've met some very nice ones.

Tomorrow I head off to Versailles! I'm going with some of the people from Central College and I'm going to meet up with one of the guys from the language exchange in the gardens. (I think I just made it sound like I was going to have an affair in the gardens of Versailles... well, I wouldn't be the first.) I'm really excited and hope to fulfill my dream of biking through the gardens in Paris spring...