So tired

I'm finding that I'm always tired. I wake up in the morning, and I'm tired. I go through the day, and I'm tired. I get home at night, and I'm tired. It can't be that I'm still jet-lagged... I've been in Europe for almost two weeks now. I think all the walking we've been doing is what's getting to me. Seriously, we walk so much everyday, just exploring different parts of the city. Also, spending the day speaking and listening to French is tiring. It takes a lot more concentration that I had thought... I realized it the most last week when I was pretty much falling asleep standing up, and I pretty much had no idea what was going on. I just have to remember that I do actually have class at 9:00, so I need to get my sleep.

On a nicer note: I joined a chorus! I saw a poster up at the IES center advertising for the chorale at the Cité Universitaire, so I went and asked about it. I had an audition that night (Tuesday), and by audition, I mean I sang some scales. Then I stayed for their rehearsal. We have practice every Tuesday night from 8:00 to 10:30, and the first concert is on March 14. The concert has a waltz theme, and we're singing some pretty well-known tunes from things like La Traviata and The Merry Widow. It's pretty cool because the Cité Universitaire is where all the international students studying in Paris live and hang out and stuff, so the chorale is full of people from all over the world. The girl who brought us four IES students actually is an American girl who works at IES. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought she was French. She speaks impeccably and is so comfortable and familiar with the culture. I hope one day I'll be like that.

I wish that I spoke in French more often with my friends when it's just us. We tend to resort to English, and it has now become the default for us when we're off on our own. I think originally we would do it just because it was easier, but now I think we kind of consider it our only option, even though that's clearly not the case. I think I might suggest that we speak in French more often.

Oh! I also have my class schedule:

Translation
French Cinema and Society
Introduction to French Literature
Paris Museums
Theatre and Representation

I'm really excited about all of them!

Yesterday, a couple of us went to the Louvre for just a little bit. I was saying that I wish I had more of an appreciation for art. Sure, things can be pretty and well depicted and things like that, but I don't really know what else to think about them or how they can be interpreted. That's one reason I'm looking forward to the museum class; I have a feeling it's going to give me a little bit more insight on art appreciation.

I'm going to try to go to the Musée D'Orsay tonight because it's free for anyone under the age of 25! I've wanted to go all the other times I was here but never had the chance.

So, I'm going to Amsterdam on March 6 for the weekend! We're taking a bus (...because it's cheap) overnight and just going to explore. All the people I've talked to who have been there before say it's a really fun city, so I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Mimi is in the mountains until Tuesday... I wish I could have gone with her!

Oh, and I'm still not over the fact that the Euro is worth about $1.50. Really annoying...

I have to head out to a meeting with someone at the IES center. Hope whoever is reading this is enjoying it. :-)

A bientôt!