Keep on Truckin.

I have a cell now. It was the cheapest one they had, I would describe the sound that the buttons make "a noisy racket", but its a quadri-band, and its mine. Its our first outing today, I'm expected matching yellow hats and a guide carrying a tiny yellow flag, but I'm a bit pessimistic when it comes to these types of things. I mean, I guess 28 loud young Americans can't generate TOO much attention on their own, now can they? I had dinner last night with some family friends, and since I am currently living alone, speaking only french in the classes, and reading french newspapers ( I made myself promise), I am kinda knee deep over here. English is limited to these blogs, some social networking contact, reading and music, the french is coming along rapidly. I find that french words come to me more naturally than before, and the english is lagging. I had a hell of a time writing an email to an old friend from high school who is living in Paris, and the letter was in english. In hindsight, I'm pretty sure I was supposed to capitalize "french" and "english", but they don't in french, so the hell with it. Agnes and Nicolas and their girls spend some time at Nico's parents farm in Normany every year, and I have been invited. They threatened me with too much wine, too much food, and too much outdoors. Sounds horrible. My task for the day is to sign up for a Monoprix (supermarket) card, just to make me feel slightly more french. All of these obscure outings have forced me into situations which require me to describe things, offer elaborate hand gestures, and, my personal favorite, draw pictures. I keep forgetting to look up pertinent vocabulary before I wander into buy a cell phone, start a library card and the like, but no one seems to mind. They smile and bear with me, entertaining my "adorable" accent and my "cute euphemisms. Thank God I've got experience acting as the dumb tourist.