SO I got a hair cut that was a very interesting trip to the salon and I am so excited about it I love the cut here are some pics! They did a great job! I am loving france and hope you like my new cut tell me what you think!

A VERY French day ;)

So yesterday morning I woke up late, hurried to school and some how was early to school - this was surprising not only because of the sleeping late but also because yesterday was a transportation strike, those of you who keep up with international news know that the city of pairs was immobile yesterday- and Grenoble being one of the largest cities in france followed in suite- the only things running thankfully were the trams- what i use everyday to get to school. SO I arrived to school early and was excited to get the change to look over my homework one more time in the common area before heading to class. I walked to the building I go to the CUEF in and realized the door was shut- no wait there were 3 desks stacked on top of one another with a rock on the bottom one so you could not move them to get to the door. Thinking this was odd but I must just have missed something I walked to where another door was- this door had a bike rack nailed to it yes nailed to it, caulk in the lock and the area that separates the double doors and a garden planter thing with rocks piled in it put in front of it. This was when I realized something was not normal and as I listened to the many groups of students speaking in both English and French I realized every door in the entire university had been blocked in some way so that you could not enter. Students had apperantly gotten up very early (not very French like) and blocked all the doors -Why? - we have no idea no one does but least to say the whole situation was very French students do it all here! And if you know me you will know how cool I think that is -not a big fan of defacing public property, but I have to admit it was nice to be in a place striking where I did not have to worry about violence at all people were all very chill with the whole situation.
In France you get paid while on strike , so they happen quite often- the sad thing is that the people who often strike are the ones with the best benefits and the highest paid but I guess that is how they go that way currently the issue is that the transportation companies wanted to make the week a get this "mandatory 38 hour week" lol yes in the US you are all going umm I wish I could only work 38 hours a week and have it be full time, with my 5 weeks of mandatory vacation and 10 paid sick/personal days, but hey this is France roll with it. Oh did I mention University is free here as long as you continue to pass your classes and pay your $300 social security tax a year- along with a few school fee's. Medical care is free too as long as you work or are under the age of 18 years old saying all that might I remind you they pay a heafty 10% sales tax on EVERYTHING, higher on gas and a few other things as well as a 20% income tax. Now that I have given you all a little lesson on French politics I can tell you that I did not have class yesterday- there was no way to get into the building so we spent it in a very French was we went to the patisserie got Gaelen's hair cut very European and awesome and then went to a party for all the host families and API students. Basically an awesome day in France!

SHOES

So today Kat and I went to this place called Grande Place after school- bad Idea every Friday we end up in a clothing store shopping and it needs to stop! But I got these really cute shoes! No worries we are going straight home everyday after school next week and not going to shop before school either- we understand we have a problem lol. Though the only thing left I need to buy is a coat . . . and that will be found in the next month I can feel it . . .

PICTURES!

So because I cannot load over 500 pictures on this blog I have put them all in albums on face book and you can now look at them they are in sets of 60 pictuers each! Hope you enjoy them!

Paris/Normandy
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2096507&l=adf9b&id=19705557

Paris/London
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2096499&l=60ce8&id=19705557

London/Bath
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2096495&l=355a5&id=19705557

London/Bath
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2096491&l=a0c92&id=19705557

Europe
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2096372&l=bbbf0&id=19705557

Grenoble, France
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094788&l=cf4cd&id=19705557

Paris/London
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094791&l=555ba&id=19705557

oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094793&l=91c8b&id=19705557

Rome and Dublin
oregonstate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2096511&l=962ab&id=19705557

So you are probably all wondering where I have been! Well I am glad to say pretty busy! This last week I was in class everyday and unlike many of my friends I tested into the correct level and did not have to be moved out of it. Its tough but I think I can do it with a little work. I also went last Thursday with the API group (thats who I am here with) to play LAZER TAG! It was a ton of fun, we all had a blast though Kat did run into a wall and now has a black eye . . . but she is ok! After the game we went out with some of the other API students and had Pizza- Pizza here is different, good probably better for you but not at all like what we have in the states. Saturday morning my family left to go see there grandchildren- Arthur who is almost one was getting baptized - if you don't remember my family is VERY catholic their oldest son is a Monk. So Gaelen and Kat spent the weekend over here- We went to a movie on Saturday night- Ratatouille! I understood a lot more than I though I would- its good and at this point probably already on video at home at the rate movies come out here. Sunday we took the Telepherique up to the Bastille and hiked out way down it was beautiful and a ton of fun! we all really had a great time- took a ton of pictures! I also figured out SKYPE this weekend and if any of you have it let me know it is the most amazing invention ever! Talking to my parents with real conversation for the first time in literally a month was amazing! I hope everyone had fun at my dads surprise birthday party! Last night! I can say it now because its over :) ALSO I got your letter Aunty Deb thanks for the pictures of the wedding it made for great conversation with my host family! Well this week is pretty run of the mill so far as France is concerned - going to classes home to watch the French game shows and then getting ready for a trip to Annecy this weekend its a pretty town in France API is taking us should be a lot of fun! :) Questions, comments, concerns? lol Love you all!

Life in Grenoble

For some reason I do not have internet this morning so I will pre write this on my computer. Anne and her husband forgive me but I cannot remember his name right now (Haha) are so nice- I have a little cold and they are making a big deal out of it is so cute she makes me wear warm cloths all the time and has me drink tea with lemon and honey – we are talking lemon FRESH too I juiced it myself. Everything is so fresh here I really like it all the food is so good I eat everything. We have had some interesting stuff, I will need to look up later to see what I ate but it tasted good and –well- when in France . . . right? Today we are going to the bastille or “fort” on the mountain near us it is really old and pretty and high in the air it’s the tourist thing to do in Grenoble and my family is taking me! I have one of the best families!! We watch game shows at night and they help explain things to me we watch ones that have the questions written out on the screen so I can read them if I read them I know the answer usually. We have a lot of fun. There are very few commercials on TV here- it’s awesome. The family only has one TV in the whole house very different from my house at home and the TV only gets 3 channels, even if a family here has cable its only a total of 26 channels. They would be really surprised to come to my house that has over 200+ crazy huh? We also eat every meal together its really fun and a good way for me to learn and listen to French. We have bread at every meal and I am getting addicted. Nutella everywhere and lots of jams and hazelnut sauce and then lots of other amazing things that I really like to try and eat  I am already afraid of missing the food! I might be cooking a lot more when I get home! Maybe . . . Today was the first day of class and it was great I tested into the intermediate level B1.2 which is really good second highest in API program and the third highest of all the people in the group who tested on Monday. My teacher is really funny and nice I think I am going to learn a lot from her. Well I have to finish my homework! more later!