Matt E's Food & Travel Blog

So lets see whats new with me...

This past weekend I went to this sushi restaurant, Matsuyama with some girls I met in French class. The food was surprisingly good and reasonably priced. Afterwards we hit up a bar in the Latin Quarter for a few drinks. Later on, after a lot of walking we found a fun pub in the 9th district where we pounded some more drinks. I still haven't gotten used to all the cigarette smoke in bars. Its a small price to pay for a good time, but the smoke in this pub you could cut with a knife. I left around 3:30am and tried to hail a taxi in the rain. You never know in Paris where you will be stranded and unable to catch a taxi. Walking home in the rain at 3am for a few hours is jolly good fun, but I'd rather splurge for a taxi. All's well that ends well, I guess.

Last week my French class finally started. I was eager to see how easily I would absorb the language. It's very surreal to be back in a classroom after so long, and even more suprising that I haven't dropped out of school yet! lol Its only been 7 days but thats 6 more than I thought I would last. Those who know me, know that I have turned dropping out practically into an art form. Naturally the course is taught entirely in French and it definitely takes some getting used to since I have no background with the language.

Some days are more difficult than others. I would probably say I'm often the most lost student in the class, but at least I think I have the best accent of anybody there. The teacher is pretty cool, but its frustrating at times when he won't clarify things in English or that he won't let you ask him questions in English. But being forced to speak the language is perhaps the best way to absorb it. Some days are easier than others. Some days I understand 80% of what the teacher says. And others I feel like I'm watching a Chinese movie dubbed in Vietnamese with Thai subtitles.. I've had more than my share of moments in class where I've been totally lost. I like to call them Monday-Friday. j/k I give myself 6 months to become conversational before I snap and climb a clocktower with a high powered rifle. We shall see...

A bientôt!

Today I went to the 5th arrondissement to pick up my class schedule at the Sorbonne. As I was hoping, I got the 10am-Noon time slot which is pefect after a late night of drinking. They were going to place me in the Advanced Conversational French Level IV class, but they decided it was best to put me in the beginner level course so that I could make sure the other students didn't fall behind. LOL

I took these pictures while walking around the 5th near the Panthéon which has a lot of prestigious schools in close proximity. Hope you enjoy.