I'm done with class?

One of the things I love most about Paris is that there are so many parks!  There are big ones such as the Luxembourg Gardens and the Champ de Mars, and smaller ones like Parc Belleville and   This week I've checked out two new ones: Parc Monceau and the Jardin des Plantes.  Also, I spent some time studying in the Jardin des Tuileries, right next to the Louvre.  This week's lovely weather made it a great time for some park exploring.  

Here is part of the fountain in the Tuileries, the building is one of the wings of the Louvre:

Here's the Jardin des Plantes, where I did some reading and studying yesterday morning.  It's huge, has a zoo and a botanical school, as well as a few smaller animal related museums, like paleontology and evolution.

Here is the entrance to Parc Monceau, where I had a great picnic today.  Interesting fact: in 1797, it was the site of landing for the first silk parachute jump.  Also, a fifth-generation park watchmen lives in the top part of this rotunda because it is a semi-private park: six EXTREMELY wealthy families have houses adjacent to the park, and they have 24 hour access to it.  Also, this is one of the few parks in Paris where you can sit on the grass, so that was perfect for a picnic on a warm day!

Here is the classroom where I have spent two hours every weekday for the past (nearly) 4 months:

Today was my last day of grammar class, last Friday was my last day of phonetics class, and I have one measly review session left of my civilization class.  WOW!  Unfortunately this means that I have finals coming up- my huge 4 hour long grammar final this Saturday, an oral exam next Wednesday, and my exam for my civilization class next Thursday.

What I've been up to...

I saw the "Great World of Andy Warhol" exhibit at the Grand Palais.

It was fabulous and fun!  I forgot that I was in Paris for a while since it's so quintessentially American.  My favorites were works featuring Jackie O, Truman Capote, and Carolina Herrera. 

I went to a huge outdoor market and had a picnic at Parc Buttes-Chaumont on Sunday. Morbid, but the park used to be Montfaucon, a big hill where public hangings took place.

I studied in the Luxembourg gardens yesterday.

Today I am preparing for my lovely visitors, as well as for my own spring break travels which are rapidly approaching (T minus 3 days!).  Also I had a meeting with my academic advisor here just so she could make sure everything was going well with my classes-- all is well, in case you were wondering!  

Tomorrow morning at 6am I register for my classes for next semester!  If all goes well, I'll be taking Public Communication Research, Media Relations, Visual Strategies in Public Relations, Politics in the T.V. Age, Volleyball, and Yoga.  I'll have Tuesdays and Fridays totally free so I'm sure that this summer I can track down an internship that'll keep me busy on those days!

Il y a une greve?

The subject line ("There is a strike?") pretty much sums up today for me!  First of all, because if the strike had not been so completely hyped up to me, I would have had no idea about it, and also because I had a wonderful, relaxing day.  

Photos from yesterday:

Fauchon, one of several tres chic grocery stores here.  This one was actually a bit too chic-- prepared meals started at like 20 euro!  I prefer the Grand Epicerie because it has normal groceries, not just ridiculously expensive ones.  Plus, it's bigger.

Eglise de la Madeleine (Madeleine church).  I kept rechecking my map to see if this was actually a church-- definitely doesn't look like one to me!  Apparently the most fashionable weddings in Paris occur here.  This isn't surprising because when I took this picture I was standing right next to Dior, Chanel, Gucci, etc.  

This is the part of the Seine which is about two blocks from my apartment.  I haven't done nearly enough exploring around my area yet-- because I am so far out, I don't normally get back here 'til about 6 or 7 ish and by then I am too tired to explore!  Hopefully the nice weather will change things.  I just realized I should really do a post with pictures from my area and of my apartment.  I'll keep it in mind for next week!   

Today after bracing myself for the strike for seemingly no reason at all, a few of us decided to check out Bois de Boulogne.  We brought a picnic, enjoyed the beautiful weather, read, and people watched.  Once it gets nicer out we want to rent rowboats and get out on the water!  

I'm off to study for tomorrow's test.  Also for some non-Paris news... AU made it to the sweet sixteen for the second year in a row after 40-ish years of not making it.  If you remember, last year we gave Tennessee quite a run for their money (in the first half, at least!).  This year, we start off against Villanova tonight at 7:20 on CBS!  GO AU!