French slang can be confusing.

After a brief repose from blog writing (otherwise known as- I completely neglected it), I am back! Ironically enough, I think the reason I didn't feel the need to update this thing was because I've settled into a comfortable little routine in Bordeaux, which upon reflection, is totally and utterly insane. I've been here almost exactly two months, which is also pretty wacky, and I can still say that I am having the time of my life! Classes have been settling in, which unfortunately also means I have real homework to do, but I am lucky because many of my teachers are sympathetic to the fact that I have to work twice as hard as the other students to arrive in the same place so I have been able to get a little bit of "california treatment" when it comes to my assignments; for example, instead of presenting a fifteen minute éxposé on the similarities between Dali's painting of Tristan and Isolde and the 20th century Bédier translation in front of the whole class, I get to do it just for my professor during her office hours. Little things like that definitely make the whole experience bearable, because sometimes it can get pretty exhausting keeping up with the French university system (which is WORLDS different from Berkeley). One of my favorite classes so far is my Contemporary Art History class which covers painting, sculpture, and architecture of the 19th and 20th century...I'm definitely getting a lot better at my french numbers with all the damn dates I have to memorize! 

Luckily I still have time to explore on the weekends, and have so much (too much?) fun with my french friends. Our favorite places to 'sortir' are the gay bar Trouduc ("asshole" in french, where there is always a good assortment of Gaga and Beyonce to dance to), House of Parliaments (the best place for a pint while cheering for Les Bleus during the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament), and the Frog & Rosbif (where Louis, the bartender, knows us by name). I am learning a lot of fun slang, which is only a problem when I confuse the 'argot' (slang) with my academic language...The other day I told my teacher that "there isn't a lot of bastards in American cuisine". Apparently the French word for duck (canard) is VERY similar to the word for bastard (connard). Rookie mistake! 

Delicious fromage at the Farmers Market by the river

Cathédral St André

Moi, Eva, and Jordan eating traditional Raclette