Subject: Salut!

Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006

Salut tout le monde!

I have been in Tours France now since the 25th. The flight was fine as French wine. Call me Rupelstiltskin because I sure slept a lot. Other than that, on the plane I sat next to two girls from my program, Pippin and Lauren who go to Kenyon College and Mount Holyoke College, respectively.

Tours is quite a classically beautiful French city dotted with cathedrals and pretty, old houses. There are even a few those medieval looking houses with the brick crisscrossed by wood that dapple the cityscape. I have had the opportunity to look at two of the city cathedrals already, and they are, like most cathedrals, you know, ornate and rather pretty. One is on my block, as is Le Musée des Beaux Arts. For some unexplained reason, the museum had a stuffed elephant behind glass in the garden. Really. Something to do with the circus I believe. Or, maybe Tours is actually the home of Dumbo.

Today I will meet my host parents who have been on vacation. There are two other students living there currently as well and it seems to be a sort of boarding house with students in and out all the time. Nice house though, 5 stories. I'm at the top with a spacious attic room and private bathroom. Not to shabby.

I had my first day of classes today. They split the group according to a placement exam we took the first full day. Most of what we did today was review for me, but then again, I really need review.

I've been able to explore the city a bit and will go out tonight with some kids from the program. We’ll probably grab a glass of wine or go to a hookah bar or maybe even take a midnight skinny dip in the Loire (okay, maybe not that.)

Time to go, the Internet cafe is closing. More soon!!
Au revoir,
Hannah