the 4 step program and other follies

French phonetics class sounds unnervingly similar to a barn. Which made the first hour of three very entertaining. Then it was just annoying.

More lessons learned- it is not okay to text and walk while on the streets of Paris. There are too many opportunities for a car/bike/rollerblader/small child/motorcycle/pigeon to run into you in half a second, making the danger of this action even graver than texting and driving in the states [a sure death request on the streets of paris]. I learned this somewhat-obvious lesson today when i went up Rue D'Alesia the wrong way, went back the right way, passed my destination, and walked back, nearly running into several [some immobile] obstacles during both excursions.

And what is it with the bold pigeons here? And how come they never fly into the faces of the Parisians? Do even the pigeons know I'm foreign, therefore choosing to take advantage of my exaggerated reactions of surprise by taking flight into my face?

Yesterday tops at least 2/3 of my days here so far, which is saying a lot, because it has definitely been more fun than not since my arrival on September 15. The highlight of yesterday was opening a bank account. But before losing all faith in my sense of what is fun, hear me out. There were three of us who went in on this adventure together. We learned, with many laughs, how to open a bank account in France. There are four steps:

1. Open first door

2. Fit into space between first and second door

3. Open second door

4. Make appointment with the banker

The first three steps were by far the most difficult, but also the most hilarious. They started with figuring out which button to press to alert the teller that the Americans have arrived, then progressed to trying to fit three of us [and our purses] into a space meant for one skinny French adult, and finally, wondering how hard someone is currently laughing at our confusion. [The teller was laughing pretty hard, as he told us once we actually made it inside.]

The actual opening of an account was fabulous with a super-friendly French woman who just delighted us right and left with diagrams and second-explanations when 'nous n'avons pas compris.' No big deal.

The second most exciting event was obtaining a library card, the third most exciting, buying a pack of gum for under 2Euro. Isn't Paris thrilling?! I swear I actually like to have fun. But if only others could know how hard we were laughing the whole day...

Tonight is quite memorable because not only did I NOT have a baguette's-worth of bread with dinner, but I had french fries -des frites- with ketchup. Who would have thunk.

Mont St. Michel and St. Malo tomorrow/Sunday!