September 27th

Well it was an early start to a better day, not a fantastic day but a better day. I woke up a bit earlier than usual in order to make it to my mandatory doctor's appointment on time and to also swing by the study abroad office for an explanation about the rent notice. Almost too fortunately the rent problem was solved; it actually ticked me off. The main secretary apologized and told me that there was nothing to worry about, the problem had been that they were late on paying it is all. That was it. I was so furious that it had been something that needed no anger, no worry, no reaction even. I said thank you, spoke with Martine for about my classes, and briskly walked to the doctor's office. Of course I became lost on the way. Good thing that my alternant route yielded the same result, I made it there without too much trouble. In fact, I was thirty minutes early for my x-ray. Here's where it went downhill. I walked into the receptionist area, showed them my appointment card, and proceeded to sit down. No, I had to go out to the street to the truck. Huh? Since when do hospitals not have an x-ray area within the building? France, you really need to pull things together. Also telling a girl to go outside and essentially, "get in the truck" is a tad sketchy. Just saying. Well I went out, waited in line, stood in the rain, and then finally entered the small waiting area of the truck only to be greeted with the body odor of French males. Sigh, how is this possible? These boys all dress like flamers from Boystown and yet they don't know what a stick of deodorant is. After waiting for twenty minutes in that lovely aroma I was finally let into one of the small booths. To my surprise I had to take my shirt off, great. I was told later by my family that this is normal for an x-ray procedure. Uh huh sure, let's think about this. I was in a cramped room in a truck that is parked by the side of the road behind a hospital and was told by a sign and a man whom I don't know that I have to disrobe for a perfectly professional procedure. How could I contain my excitement and consent? Now that of course was not the end of it, oh no. I was pressed against a metal wall with no clothes, nadda, on my upper body for about minute while two guys in white coats occasionally glanced over. I was too happy to leave for lunch. After lunch was the typical run down at the library; internet usage. Then I had FLE class, goody gumdrops. Just to set things straight, FLE classes are required courses that study abroad students must take in order to improve their French. My Monday class, with M. Martel, is fine, just fine. But Thursday is a little different. The teacher loves to tease Anglo-Saxons and guess who loves to embarrass themselves when they are nervous? I swear I create more stress on myself than the world does. This week it was not only my pronunciation but my homework assignment as well. I had slightly misunderstood what we were supposed to do. I thought that we were to write a small portfolio about ourselves for the teacher. In reality we were supposed to write a portfolio that described ourselves while our classmates guess who it was. Oh disaster. I even started my little paper with, "je m'appelle". I also wrote about how strange I was, again I do stupid things. Needless to say, class could not have ended faster. Fingers crossed that I keep cool next Thursday.