Volcanoes France style

La meilleure chose dans la vie est...?

Salut!

Sorry about my last post. I did not realize just how negative I sounded. It had been a rough day. But guess what the sun is shining today! It is actually sunny here today and things have begun to look up. (Don't ask about my classes though because that is still a touchy subject). However the other day I met some Christians. It was with an organization called FEU. Which stands for Foyer Evanéglique Universitaire. And I don't know if you know this or not but feu means fire in French so ya I think that is all pretty cool. Oh and they gave my a Bible in French which is even cooler because then I can practice my French and read the Bible at the same time.

A little bit of encouragement from me to you.
J'ai combattu le bon combat, j'ai terminé la course, j'ai gardé la foi. 2 Timothée 4.7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

It has been a real blessing to see God answer that prayer. I know He will continue to work here in Clermont-Ferrand even if I never see the results but I am so glad that I could at least see that God does work even when I have given up.

Have a good day!
Oh and here is some more pictures of another beautiful church.

Eating a slice of humble pie and it does not taste good

Today! oh what a day!! I hate Mondays I really do. I especially hate Mondays when you have to eat a slice of humble pie. I have some wonderful friends here already, I really do. Most of them are foreign like me. I found out what level they put me in (the level of my classes after taking an oral and written exam in French) and that level is... wait for it! Level one...(that is not good since level 6 is the highest) Well do you know what my friends here thought about that? They said that it was crap!! I speak way better than that (that is what they said not me.) They were more upset than me. I have good friends :). Well today was the first day of class. I hate class. I thought it was easy...too easy. So you may ask yourself how is that eating humble pie? Well to tell the truth I don't really know but I think it is because my attitude towards my French language ability needs to be humility and to be honest that does not taste too good right now.

Starring out my window looking at the grey sky...oh how I wish the sun were shinning right now. It was ten minutes ago but now there is only grey.

On a more cheery note I had a great weekend. I went to a couple parties where I met many people (also side note... I feel the need to inform you that my name is difficult for the entire world!)

I could really use a croissant and some sunshine right now.

I hope your day is better than mine.

C'est la vie.

Thalia

A taste of France

A lot has been going on here that I cannot go into detail but here are some pictures :) and a short description of each. First the church, ya most churches here are that elaborate. It is a cathedral and it is in the centre commercial. The second photo is of Luiza putting a pie in a student's face because it is his initiation (yes the ways of the French are a little odd). Next is a BMW just to show that even though I am in another country some things are the same :). Next of course is a picture of cheese. The cheese and Vine choices are unlimited here!!!! This cheese is called Le Pavé Doux. Lastly a picture of the view I have in my room. I can see more than that but I thought you would find this building interesting.

Bon journee
Thalia

The Still (an irish pub in Clermont-Ferrand)

I know two Americans now. Ashley and Jason. Jason is from New Jersey and he is very outgoing. Jason met some Brazilians yesterday and they invited him to dinner that evening. He invited Ashley and I and we decided to go. We all met at the centre commercial (the place with lots of shopping and restaurants; kinda like a mall but outside). The Brazilians only spoke French with us so there was lots of practicing French. We walked to The Still and sat down and got drinks and talked for a long time. We discussed differences in Portuguese and English and French and cultures. I have a funny story to share from this night. When learning another language sometimes you remember things wrong well I remembered the word for sixteen wrong. I thought it was dix-seize when it is really just seize so there was a big confusion about what day our classes started because I was saying dix-seize when it is just seize. You could say I got lost in translation! Later when we were saying goodbye (I was really tired) I forgot the word for slow so I said "Je suis meme un escargot" which translates as I am like a snail. haha that got a laugh. I will try and post pictures of the Brazilians. I have a good feeling that we will be hanging out again. Also as far as contacting me you can always email me :).
Have a good day
Bientôt

Room

This is my room. Above is the tiny shower and sink and there is a toilet on the other side.  It's very small ( that is an understatement) it's very tiny but that is ok because I have not spent a lot of time in it. Only to sleep. 

Made it

Bonjour from France!!! I made it to my city. This is my American friend Ashley. Her and I have been trying to figure this out together. She is real good at French. I am improving. I had a wonderful conversation with a French man on my bus down to my city (all in French of course or as the French would say tout en français!! :) Bon journée 

Departure

The day of departure has arrived! Thanks to all who came out to see me off! I love you all and will miss you all. Don't worry 4 months will fly by ;)