Well, the internet is back and so is my nightly blogging!
Today I had my placement exam for the language institute, so I got up at 8:30 to get ready and eat a breakfast of leftover baguette and an apple. Mme Coates then came to pick me up to go to the institute since I had never been there before. We drove only because it was raining (yet again). For a place that isn't supposed to get much rain, they sure have gotten a lot of it since I got here. We arrived at the institute where I was ushered into a classroom with about 40 other students from all over the world. There were some from Norway, Columbia, Australia, Ireland, and of course the United States. We had our written test first which consisted of listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and finally grammar. I think I did pretty well, though I guessed on some. But they said to do as much as you could and that's what I did.
Then I went back to the cafe that I went to yesterday in search of internet for a brief lunch of a quiche. The cafe was packed today though!! So many people!! Then I headed back to the institute to do the speaking portion of my test. I had to wait a while so I just sat and observed those around me. There were girls speaking Spanish and it was extremely tempting to go talk to them, but that would have been a really poor decision right before my speaking test. There were also two girls from the US who were friends with each other from back home. I really liked them and I hope that they are in the same level I am. There was also a girl from Switzerland who asked me if I was looking for an apartment and if not where was I staying. I told her I was staying here at the seminary, but that was the end of the conversation.
When it was finally my turn. I went in for my speaking test with a professor who just asked me basic questions. One question that I keep getting asked is about my heritage since my last name (and first name) totally throw people for loops here. In fact, I was supposed to clean the kitchen last night but I didn't know because the name on the list was Kelly. Since I don't know everyone at the seminary yet, I just assumed there was a Kelly, but no, Kelly is me. Another interesting thing of note is that people keep asking what I am going to do after college and "I don't know" is not a sufficient answer here. But in reality that is the honest truth. I don't know.
After I was done with the speaking test he told me that I would most likely be on level 3/5. Which is where I expected to be placed, but I think my written test might help bring it to the next level. I then headed back to the seminary on my own. All the while hoping and praying that the internet would be working. I know it sounds rather pathetic to be so dependent upon it but when you have nothing else to do and no one else to talk to it is REALLY lonely. The internet wasn't working, but I figured I would go sit in the common room and see what was up. I asked Daniel if the internet was working or not and it turns out they changed the router. So it's a good thing I was there to get the new password! Except, they still couldn't get it to work on everyone's computers. I was so close but yet so far. Thankfully, a girl was kind enough to let me use her laptop which was working with the internet. I think she saw how desperate I was.
Finally the internet did get up and running so I had a nice chat with my mom who gave me some encouragement. Then Grace and I made dinner together. We made pasta salad with tuna. Remember that girl from Switzerland? Well apparently her cousin lives here at the seminary. What are the odds? Dinner was actually really nice tonight. People talked to me and I felt much more accepted. So I am feeling much better now! It's amazing what a little human interaction can do for you!
A few interesting tidbits to leave you with tonight.
1. French snacks may be the death of me (so much for losing weight)
2. The sun doesn't rise here until 8:30 am
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