Sorry everyone, but this month has continued to be super busy!  Things did settle down a bit after first settling in, and that is when I started my blog, and I got some partying and fun in.  But as I’ve been trying to manage to balance school, going out, and just all the regular things that pile up (I’m sure you all know what I mean), I just haven’t had much time to keep my blog up to date, but I am now!

So I will just summarize what’s been going on with my Paree life since I started my blog.  I’ve been going out a bit more, as I’ve been finally getting to know some people better.  As you can see from my Facebook albums, I’ve done some shopping at Galeries Lafayette, which I’ve wanted to do since arriving in January!  It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.

The pictures from the vegetarian restaurant / tea shop are quite nostalgic now, since I just found out yesterday from a fellow volunteer that it has now just shut down last weekend due to bankruptcy!  It’s too bad, that place was really lovely, I’d love to have a place like that in Toronto to go to! 

And yes, you read right, I AM volunteering!  I’ve already told some of you, but for those whom I haven’t told, I’ve been volunteering for an animal rights group for over a month now.  Every week I help out with their tabling, and we have a T.V. showing footage from factory farms, pamphlets on animal rights, veganism, and anti-hunting, and we also sell books, pins, and other animal rights paraphernalia.  I’ve been finding it really rewarding helping out there, even though sometimes I feel rather useless because my French isn’t good enough, especially when it comes to talking about complex issues like animal rights.  But I’ve convinced one person so far to turn vegan, and we often do our tabling in Champs-Elysees, and many tourists speak English there.  So when the local volunteers can’t handle the English-speakers’ inquiries, I can help, and that’s nice.

Other than that, school has been a real downer, just a lot of work.  And of course it takes at least double if not more of the time it would usually take if it were in English.  But I’m glad, generally speaking, I can handle all my courses, even without the use of a dictionary.  It just takes a bit more time than if it were my first langauge.  I can already see my French improving and I get to practice French with a lot of my local friends from school, so it’s pretty nice.

So, just to remind all of you, I have added on Facebook pictures from my shopping trip to Galeries Lafayette, an album of pictures from a local artists show I went to that a friend of mine participated in, a night out with some of my friends at a Brazilian bar called Favela Chic, and various photos of vegan meals I’ve made at home (yes, I’ve been cooking a lot since I’m trying to save money, I’m a poor student after all!).  And for those who still haven’t looked yet, pictures of my apartment have been up on Facebook for awhile now!  I hope you’ll enjoy them and leave me comments and let me know you’ve seen them!

Again, I miss you all very much!

Keep warm and I can’t wait to hang out with all of you again!

Cheers,

Meagan