Ramblings about chairs and condoms.

Today was the final day of my intensive course and I feel a little lighter. Now I will be able to choose my schedule and not have to be in class five days a week for four hours in the rock-hard midget chairs!I never want to sit again, I type as I sit at the kitchen table, which you would have never known if I hadn't confessed. The irony was inevitable because it is impossible these days to protest sitting in chairs. I can see it now, you go to the bank to request a loan and the banker politely gestures you to a chair, but you decline. I don't think the conversation would go much further because the elephant in the room would grow so large that you would have to leave without your loan. It wouldn't be any better at a job interview and you would certainly couldn't go to the movies! What would you do in a car, stand up?! Perhaps you could lie down, but that wouldn't fly in Europe because everyone drives clown cars. I could think of numerous other situations where chair-sitting is necessary, and yet I believe that you get my point so I will move forward.

Oh, by the way, half of the fun of learning a language is realizing your social blunders! I learned in French class today that you never use the word "Madame" in French unless you are addressing a woman. Apparently, a "Madame" implies certain characteristics that I didn't have in mind when I was speaking about my homestay mother. Instead, I should speak about her in the third person as "la dame," because calling her a "Madame" is a much less respectful term directed towards less modest ladies. Another fun translation issue occurred when I was speaking to la Dame about the differences between French and American bread. I used the word "preservative" in French because it sounds like the English word for "preservative," but in fact, it is not the same word at all. I was looking for the word "conservative" and apparently the world that I used means "condom" in French. Oppsy doodles! I believe that I made her blush, nevertheless she eventually figured out my mistake and politely corrected me. Ha ha. Good times.I guess it could have been worse and I will not make that mistake again.

Well its Friday, and I can tell because my brain has leaked out onto the floor and there is nothing left to entertain you with today, folks. Sorry for the let down because there really is so much to say! I went to a theater piece tonight called, "Padam, Padam" and it was wonderful. Before the show I ate at my new favorite Chinese restaurant in Paris, "Happy Nouilles." It is so FREAKING cold here right now and that bowl of soup and warm noodles warmed my soul. In French, "dumplings" are "ravioles," which I find amusing because that makes me think of Cher Boyardee! These dumplings however, couldn't be further from the food-like substance from the familiar can of my childhood.

I apologize for the babbling tonight but the hamster is turning without results! I will get it checked out tomorrow, then again, maybe not because I can't even imagine going to a French doctor!

Au revoir! =)