Pas de douceur angevine et la musique americaine: no calm weather angers and American music

Let me paint you a picture of life in France:  As I emerged from the boulangerie (bakery) with my baguette this morning, I was greeted by a small French women leaning out her window to open the giant blue, wooden shutters that sealed her home for the evening--it was straight up Beauty and the Beast (see 0:38 here)
So I was going to begin this post with an explanation of how it is cold in France--not by my standards but the Angevins (people from Angers) are convinced that 30 degrees is absolutely absurd--but all my loved ones are currently burried under several feet of snow.  You all now have plenty of time to read my blog.

Since my post in the lovely JFK, I survived a seven hour plane ride, a four hour bus trip on the Angers soccer team's private bus (see below--Fern does this match up with the Gene Simmons van??), and a five minute drive in a mini car through the windy streets of Angers where I finally landed in my house! 

So upon arrival, we were escorted to our rooms.  Mine has a massive closet and Stephanie's has a couch so it's a decent trade.  Our bathroom is almost as large as my room..and it doesn't have a toilet because in France you have a salle de bains (bathroom--shower, sink, etc) and a toilette (toilet).  We have one of each of those for the two of us to share.  We cannot use the shower or flush the toilet after 10 which is the only relatively strange rule but it's pretty easy to follow so I have no complaints.



Our host mother, Chantal, is a wonderful cook and we've now eaten two unbelievable meals with her and Alain, our host father.  We've had soup, salad, an entree (quiche lorraine and a potato/onion casserole/loaf thing), wine, and dessert for each meal.  We also watched the French version of extreme makover home edition with them (D&Co).  They don't speak any English so all communications are done in French but they are pretty impressed by our comprehension so we must be doing pretty well.

Alas, there is life outside my wonderful house.  We had a rendez-vous with our class yesterday at noon so after two hours of wandering around the city with Stephanie, we joined them for lunch at a creperie.  There, we had des galettes (crepe-like things made with buckwheat flour and filled with things like cheese, vegetables, meats, etc.) and des crepes (filled with fruit, sugar, chocolate, etc).  Then we walked around the city, saw a beautiful cathedral (below, left), toured the old part of town, saw the chateau (below, right--yes we live near a castle--this is not real life) bought cell phones (in french), and bought adapters for our electronics (also in French).  Great success.  Today, I also bought koala yummies, instant coffee, a tea cup, and a bottle of wine--basically everything I need to survive in France.
 

We also took our exams today. wah wah.  We get our scores Monday and then we get a week to "try-out" classes.  Or at least I think that is what they told us.  Bottom line: I'm still not in class and probably won't be for at least another week.

So for the sake of space and the attention spans of my readers, here are some other experiences I should share:
1) They always play American music in stores/shops/tv shows.  I have no proof the French actually make their own music.  My most recent experience: my host mother was playing "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga while sewing.  Where am I?
2) Tap water is safe to drink--let's dispell that myth.  If I come down with some rare disease, then erase the previous sentence.
3) When dogs poop on the sidewalk here, their owners just leave it there.  So much poop on the way to school.
4) The French take a two-hour lunch break during the day which mean they work later than Americans.  This also translates into why they eat between 7:30-9:00 pm.  Also, full-time work is 35 hours/week.

Hopefully I have not bored you too much and will try to shorten the posts as the town becomes more familiar and I make less discoveries.  For now, a bientot.  Skype/email/comment when you can!  Les bisous!!