3 janvier

Preliminary photos posted, including some of the apartment!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14797147@N00/sets/1745547/

Ooooooooooooooooh what a long day!!!!

Scottie and I, nous nous sommes passees la nuit blanche- that is, we had a lot of trouble sleeping last night. For the first time, we got up in the moring when we meant to.... at 8a.m... (elle etait a qui, cette idee merveilleuse??) we had to dash out to meet Barbara Michelot, who had arranged a meeting with our landlord at the apartment for 9:30... we decided to take half of our luggage with us, thinking that this would mean we'd only have one suitcase each on the way back. Barbara didn't think it was *quite* such a good idea, but luckily we had just enough time for her to run and get her cute little VW Passat from their garage, pick us up with our luggage, and get to the apartment only slightly after 9h30. There, we met M et Mme Halpern, our landlords, as well as Alvaro, the petit ami of their daughter, Charlotte Halpern, who lived in our apartment before us. They explained all of the appliances to us, and all of the things to look out for, then we signed our lease! They are really delightful people! M Halpern had a very low sort of stereotypically french voice, though he spoke to us in very good, very English, english, and was alternatively a little gruff and very warm. He wore a long sort of trenchcoat and a tweed hat... Mme Halpern is quite possibly one of the most beautiful and elegant people I"ve met! She had on a beautifully put-together ensemble, complete with a well-knotted silk scarf, and had a lovely smile and seems very kind. She came back later on to bring a blanket for Scottie's little bed and stayed and talked with us. We think she likes us! Or at the very least, tolerates us ^_^
After we dashed back to the hotel, got some lunch at un traiteur ( a deli) across the street (quiche lorraine for 2,30!), checked out, and took our last bags all the way to the apartment, we had to dash right back to Mme Michelot's apartment on quai Bernard for a meeting with everyone. I was so tired that the meeting seemed to go on for ages, but I was very glad to review all the things we need to do and places we need to be, as well as to see the other people in the program. Most of them just got in yesterday or the day before and I don't think they've explored as much as the three of us did. I am soooo glad that we came early, because I'm starting to feel pretty comfortable in LYon. AFter the meeting, we showed Julia, Laura, and Louise to the apt. on cours de la liberte, where Julia will stay, then came back to the apt., where I was verrry glad to have a chance to unpack and make myself at home!
Not much after that.... I was so tired I was in no mood to go out. Plus I have to say I'm kind of ready for some alone time. It feels like we're still on vacation and we have to stick together. Scottie and Christina are WONDERFUL travelling companions, certainly two of the most pleasant people I could think of travelling with, but all the same I think I'm ready for a little more independence. Tommorrow we start our classes at the CIEF.... I'll be glad to have something constructive to do - otherwise I'm just going to walk around and spend money.... eek! Also, we have a great projected adventures for tomorrow..... But I think that most likely, we will go to a marche and perhaps to Carrefour, which we have been told is the French equivalent of Walmart, to buy some cheap stuff to fill out the apartment. On verra!