Various Additions

Today nothing much happened, as I had class at 9:00 am and then came back and slept/laid in bed until about 6 or 6:30. However, I realize there have been a few things I've forgotten to mention that have happened earlier.

There's a French girl name Iris here. We've had several really great conversations, during one of which she told me how much she loves American accents. Crazy, huh! I guess I was always led to believe that Europeans in general do not like American accents, but she said she just loves them! I thought that was cool.

Last night there was a pancake party at a local church where many of the international students went. We were told that we would be making and eating our own pancakes. I think quite a few of us were expecting for this to be our dinner, but many only had one tiny pancake each. I wasn't too hungry, though, so it was alright. :)

Toward the end, Julia, Maeva, and I were discussing how we wanted to do something. Yes, I did have an early morning class the next day, but I knew it was my only one, and I really didn't want to just go home and go to bed, yet. We asked Laurent - one of the Belgian guys - if he had any plans or had heard of any, and he invited us along with him and most of the other guys and gals. The plan was to go out to a pub, I believe, but we ended up just hanging out at one of the student houses on Mt. Charles (one of the roads with student accomodation). That was fun! I got to know a few people a little better. I was getting really tired, though, after a few hours, and since Iris lives in Elm's Village, too, she said she'd go home when I was ready. It turns out several people were waiting for the first people to go home because it turned into a bit of a group.

On the walk home, I was chatting with a French guy named, and I think this is the right spelling, Romain. (Remember the guy I said whose name sounded like "Roman" except with a French accent? That's him). We were talking about the differences between cultures. He was saying how in most of Europe, between friends you kiss on each cheek to say hello/goodbye. When I told him we usually shake hands, unless you're pretty close with the person, in which case it's usually a hug, he just couldn't believe it. He found it kind of cold. It was funny how flabbergasted he was. Simone was part of the conversation for a bit, and he said that they would help me get used to these new customs. So, when half of our group stopped at Grant House - another student accomodation that is before Elm's Village - they both gave me a traditional European goodbye. It was not as weird or awkward as I thought it would be at all. It was actually kind of cool! Christelle, one of the Belgian girls, had greeted me in this manner once before. It's much more friendly, I feel. I like it! :)

Oh, one story I forgot about was during the Superbowl. This German guy, Benny, was sitting on the couch between two girls with another few on the outskirts of the couch, me being one of them. It was funny. He said he's got a cold beer in his hand, he's surrounded by 5 women, and he's watching football. I told him it was the American dream. Haha! Later on, his drink was between his feet on the ground, and he was playing with his phone. (I'm sure you can see where this is going). All of the sudden I hear, "Oh, no!" and a bit of a splash. He holds up his glass of beer and there his cell phone is glowing through the liquid. Hahaha! He quickly pulled the phone out and was trying to dry it off, but then he was like, "Aw, man! My good beer!" lol! After he'd tried it, making sure it was still good, then he was free to worry a little about his sopping cell phone. Bwa ha ha! It was so funny!

Oh, I did find some creamy peanut butter at the conveniant store at the gas station. It's alright, and it'll do, but it's still not as good as Kroger's creamy. Sigh. ;)

This weekend a huge group is planning a trip to Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. I think people are wanting to tour the Guinness brewery and then go to a pub to watch a highly-anticipated game of rugby between some Irish team and France. As a great deal of our group will be French, in an Irish pub, it should be fun! And next weekend there's a trip to Carrickfergus castle. It costs 8 pounds, but I'm not passing it up. It should be fun! I'm excited to see it, and I'll try to take photos to post up here.