Why do I get excited when I hear Britney Spears on French radio?

Today I got that "I'm not a complete failure after all" feeling that has been oh so rare these past few weeks!

I had my first test today. And I don't think I completely ruined it! C'est magnifique!

And I spoke in my history class! Everything I said was wrong (he asked us for synonyms of words we didn't know and I guessed!), but at least I'm trying! Haha- that's the same professor who called me "charmante", who is mustachioed in the French style, and who was limping this week. I hate to see other people in pain--especially jolly old French professors who encourage you despite the fact that you're an American who can't speak French. (He's always laughing at Kelley and me when he hears how certain cognates are pronounced in English.)

Furthermore, have I mentioned how much I adore our geography teacher? He's another one of those happy Frenchmen, but he's unintentionally hilarious. I don't know why, I guess I'm just really amused by his enthusiasm for "les villes françaises" and his very kind and slow way of speaking (he makes sure we all understand everything he says).

The lady profs are another story for another day.

Anyway, I remembered (thanks to Mom) that not everyone who reads this has facebook (where I've been posting all of my photographs), so here's a taste of things I've seen (or tasted...) in France.

My dorm room decorated with tons of maps!

More of my room (to the left of the shelf is my closet space/sink/mirror/mini-fridge)

The view of the Cathédrale St. Croix in Orléans

The church where I first had mass in France- St. Aignan (and where I nearly died on my way there and back)

Me at Joan of Arc's House

Uhhh...no explanation needed?

Le Tour Eiffel (when it sparkles!)

The view from outside the Sacré Coeur

Sacré Coeur!! (Kelley on the left, Laura on the right)

My first alcoholic purchase ever! (It's a pink wine that cost 1 euro...not a very good pink wine, but worth a euro! This is my "don't steal my cheap wine!" face that I made while wearing my new sweater that only cost 5 euros!)

Anyway, this weekend I stayed in Orléans and the weather was too crummy to venture out to the castles, but soon! Kelley and I decided to get some shopping done instead and that's when I bought my phone!!! I almost forgot! I bought a French phone so that I can talk to people here (I still want to replace my other one, but this one is good for local calls).

So, if you need to contact me from France/Europe, here's my number: 0646571312

If you have to call from the states, call from a landline because it's cheaper. Here's what to dial if you're calling from home:

011-33-646571312

I think I receive calls for free, which is good considering I don't have any money on my phone yet (I have to buy phone cards for it).

In answer to your question, Mom, I'm hopefully buying a laptop tomorrow since the library's about to close, so don't be on the lookout just yet! :) And don't worry about me getting too attached here- it hasn't happened yet and I'd miss you all way too much to ever live here by myself.