Today has been a good day. I headed off to class and got my coffee to-go and the guy is going to start recognizing me each day at the same hour. But hey- 90 cents for a kick that need after the trainride... Yeah, well tomorrow I'll need two: I'm excited to say tomorrow is my day of art. I'm headed off for a breakfast meeting in the 20th to talk about art in the city and as a Christian. I'll have a two hour break to work on homework before class, two hours for coffee, food and homework, and then the regular 3 hours of class. Then for the evening I'm going to hunt down a photographer's exposition. I met Clara back in August and I've been waiting for her expo. So tomorrow night is the debut as well as a concert in the 11th. Fortunately I have a willing chauffeur for the return- thanks Nico.

As for tonight, we went to celebrate Isabelle's birthday and it was worth it. Homework can wait...till tomorrow- there are plenty of cracks in the schedule to fit it in. Au lit!

I've been thinking: I still want to learn how to play the guitar. Over a year ago Dan Baber helped me learn a bit and I really was making progress. Now the toughened pads on my fingers are gone and I still want to learn. The only problem is that I don't have a guitar. Audrey said she would like to learn too. So I think that is a good sign that the OIKOS house needs a guitar.

Well, I've gotten my fall cold. I hope I can drown it in tea but today its not showing signs of backing down. Monday, monday... I'm going to have to pull myself together and head off for school in a few hours. 10 weeks to go and then 1 week of tests! It can be done!

I received a care "ziplock" from my mom via hand delivery yesterday in Paris. What a sweet incident! The Williamson girls brought a little love, socks, facewash, and some candies that I prefer and even treated me to dinner. There is included a little envelope that I will wait to open as my birthday approaches: you know, delayed gratification. : )

Thank you Mom! I love you!

Took a walk with my camera today cuz I needed an 'out'. I didn't go too far, just around Lognes. I was hunting for texture in brick, stone, mortar with overtones of construction on my mind. I found a whole roll of 36 worth. Our neighborly Catholic church provided a few shots and several different walls and sidewalks, barriers. Then as I headed into unknown territory- I heard the screams of a girl and the bass blaring from a car and several guys. I didn't want to know anymore so I turned on a dime and encountered two men laying a brick wall. I stood there in shock for a minute (because it was just the genre I was looking for) and then bravely asked them in french if I could take a few pictures of their work. I felt like I had stood up to one of my fears (how to approach people to get the photo I want). They said they didn't mind and kept working and let me shoot around their hands, mortar and hammers. I think I got the shot I wanted! I thanked them generously and said I might be back with the photos and started down the sidewalk only to pass two children. A colorful girl, blond curls and purple glasses asked me if I would take her picture. I stopped and said sure, asking if this was where she lived. "No, but it's where he lives," pointing to the boy. So I offered to bring the picture back at some point in time. She took a smiless shot that I think rather creative. It was a relief to have finally made a turn in the town where I live and to have encountered people doing what I love.

And oh, I stopped to hear jazz yesterday and really enjoyed myself. I invited a classmate to join me. Melissa and I talked about all kinds of things and enjoyed the "happy hour" after our long week of school! Totally worth it! She even bought be a drink. Next time's on me, Melissa!

Excited that I found a ticket for Christmas. I'll be soaring the AirFrance skys on December 12th. Can't wait to see everyone! Praise God! Now I just have to keep working away at my studies.

No jazz... they play fridays during happy hour. Now at least I know.

I think I'm just a little overwhelmed by the things going on in my life right now. Fortunately I wasn't tormented by horrifying nightmares last night. It really can't be as complicated as it feels, so let me break it down: I have school which means, grammar, reading and research, conferences, and phonetics (which can be fun); Then I have church activities- Sunday's (sometimes I play piano) and a youth group twice a month; Various meetings and one-time events; Normal things like sleeping and eating, grocery shopping and commuting; Then all the things I want to do but don't necessarily have the time or finances, like meet with a few friends, do photography, go out for jazz, swing dance classes, work on my research for long-term work, talk to people far away.

I hope my new schedule will begin to look a lot less formidable in a week. By the way, if you ever want to talk to people far away there are really amazing deals offered by Bigzoo.com. Ok off I go to work on my homework.

Today was the first church service in Chelles. It was good to be reassembled there in the little Hotel Kyriad conference room. Pascale and her sister and two friends led the gospel worship.

Its been an overwhelming weekend and tomorrow I am launched headlong into my french studies. I did my best with the homework and will feel it out tomorrow as to what we were supposed to have done with that 'Comprehension de l'ecrit' page that he handed us.

This week has been interesting: The STM change team set up camp here for a week as they pounded out a more final proposal to CBInternational. The highlight for me was Thurs evening when we normally do our OIKOS dinner. The team was invited to a french dinner prepared by my roomies, Michelle and Audrey, and Karen. I helped with the serving. It was a great evening and we were given the opportunity to share our experiences with them.

Alliance Jeune met today and I listened to them hammer out details for a youth leadership training weekend. I was so lost. Not until nearly the end did I understand what we were planning. I think I finally got it down although I still don't know where the event will take place. From what I understand though we have a pretty cool plan for the theme of 'networks'. We're going to provoke thought on our personal networks within the area youthgroups, then nationally and internationally. I pray for motivation to become a resounding theme amongst the youth leadership and youth. I think the workshops we are working up might possibly light a few fires in students to live bigger for God, letting their 'life' flow out into their networks. Pray for a revival! Stoked that we'll be having Matt Glock with us and praying that he'll bust out his Alternative Worship- I think a change could do some good!

So tomorrow I wonder if there will be a live jazz group in that little cafe on the corner as I make my way home after class...? You know, a change could do some good.

wanna read an old blog from august that never got published? This was during the heat wave that killed some 13,000 french people.

The evening, as the sun boiled down on us Parisiens, I noticed a Kraft style piece of cheese being melted to the sidewalk. I passed by an Indien family and the little baby girl with wide eyes and frizzy black hair stared at me from her stroller. She must have only been about 1. A little gem was planted squarely on her forehead.

Our grammaire prof thought it would more convenient to take our test today rather than tomorrow as planned...so we did. Fortunately there was no passé simple in subjonctif. I don't know what I would have done if there had been. We spent 2 hours in the un-airconditioned phonetics lab while the rest of the world cooked outdoors in the sun.

Today I learned about the goods and bads of Franco. I'm slowly catching up on my spanish and french and german history thanks to my new classmates.

Gros(se)- /gr oh(s)/ adj; big or fat
Mot- /mo/ (m) noun; word
Gros mot- /gr oh mo/ exp; bad word

Riding along on the RER Friday last, I was being entertained by a young guy challenging the gal across from him in her morals- He asked her if she knew Jesus and then proceeded to either hit on her or preach to her. I couldn't tell which. She was obviously disturbed by this and asked him, "How can a person like you, who doesn't know me, challenge my morality?"

I listened, unable to put all the conversation together... The train approached Bry-sur-Marne. Suddenly the conductor hit the brakes, trying to stop, but instead we cruised through the stop and then we heard his voice: "Sorry, I was supposed to stop there, but I missed it..." A groan when up from all the intending exitors as well as a few "gros mots" directed at the conductor. A smirk formed on my lips as I tried to keep my straight train face; it was just too funny- A train that missed its stop.

The young man continued his haggling of the young woman who began to insist out of nowhere that she loved her son...

Well, my hunt for a good ticket price around Christmas from Paris to Seattle is going to continue. Anyone know somebody who could hook me up?

So today was the grand day that I registered for my language classes. I got up and didn't hurry too much, arrived at the Sorbonne, found the line and stood in it. I didn't realize it, but it worked out nicely that I arrived just before 10h when the doors opened so I was one of the first 50 or so people in line. The rest of the time would have gone just as nicely but didn't. I was instructed to try out the new system which included a hike to one of the other buildings and when I got there, I was waiting patiently to pay with the very simple check method since they don't like "plastic" and the finance lady disappears with a "plastic" machine that has gone "en panne". Station 1 was a gal who checked over our info and prepared our student cards and station 2 was the finance lady. I sat with number 21 in my hand and watched station 1 call to 18 and 19, then 20. Suddenly there was a cufufel and both ladies began to pack up! It wasn't even lunch time! Follow us back down to the old system- this new one doesn't work.

I'm beginning to understand why it takes so long for things to change here in France, especially at the Sorbonne.

Back in the original building, I lost my "next in line" place and became one of many frustrated foreign students. I prayed that they wouldn't "claque" the door in my face as soon as I got to it. My watch arrived at noon and then 12h30. I made it through the process and have a student ID to show for it.

It looks like my schedule will be more afternoon evening classes. I can't figure it out here. So anyway, the adventure has re-begun and I'm feeling pretty good about it.

A guy stopped me at the corner of Blvd. St Michel and Rue des Ecoles. He wanted to know where the metro Cluny La Sorbonne was. I told him that it was right ahead of us and off he went. He was going to meet a friend.