i have stolen someones internets :)

i found internets.
but for some reason it won't let me load my pictures. thus i will have to do that tomorrow and just post words for now.
boring I know, I'm sorry.

Reflections on the French:
After talking to many friends about my excitement about the bible study I’m involved with here, I was told that I probably shouldn’t advertise my religion because the French aren’t cool with that. But on Sundays, the Sabbath, nothing is open. Not even Monoprix. Nothing. Because everyone is apparently at church…. ?

Before coming here I read (past tense like j’ai lu), or at least attempted to read (present tense like je lis), a book called A Year in the Merde (it’s rare that I actually stick with a book these days unless it catches my attention quickly or I think it’s worth the time) ANYWAYS. The author talked about how when you’re walking down the streets there is poop everywhere. He wasn’t lying. It is everywhere. I realize I’ve talked about this before but seriously you need to understand the intensity of poo on the streets here. Imagine: you’re walking down the street when your eyes lock with those of a beautiful French man. You smile. He smiles. You avert your eyes bashfully only to lay them directly on a huge pile of merde that is about to be under your shoe. It’s a mood killer. True story.

The French have sales in stores only twice a year. And they aren’t even that good. A north face on sale still costs more than it would in the United States. Also, pretty much everything is more expensive than cheap, but good, wine.

I will now share with you a normal shopping experience in France. Upon entering a store (excluding larger stores like the Monoprix or E.D.) it is customary to greet the workers with a “bonjour Madame/Monsieur” When you pay for whatever it is that you might be buying there is a plate that you must put your money on because apparently they don’t like contact, like Amadine Poulain. It is also pretty important that you have “des monnaies” (change) because the French like exact change. If you don’t have the exact change it’s nice to say “desolee” because then they pity you or something and say “C’est pas grave” (It’s okay, no problem…) As you are leaving the store you should always say “Merci, Au Revoir, Bonne Journee/Bonne soiree/ bon soir, because that’s polite.

Here are some strange things that I realize I kind of miss:

• Singing really loudly in my car
• My bathroom
• Tumbleweed (seriously, I don’t even understand that one)
• Not always feeling like I have to be polite and courteous.
• Wireless that works well
  
• Knowing where to go to buy certain things
• Clean(ish) streets
• Not having to delegate which shoes to wear that day that will be both fashionable and comfortable
• Sales more that twice a year