Nocturnes de Louvre!!!

Last night was the Nocturnes de Louvre. I was pretty nervous because I really didn't practice my speech and my partner Katie and I have never practiced it together. That was probably a bad decision on our part but we figured everything would be fine. I got to the Louvre around 5:30 and around 6 we took a group picture. I hope I a can get a hold of it some how. Everyone then left to go to their rooms where their paintings were located. Me, Katie and a few other people made the long trek up to the 2nd floor, which is really the 4th floor. I don't know how they consider that the 2nd floor...it's like 5 flights of stairs up. Anyways, so me and Katie got to our painting and there were a few people sitting at this little bench that is in front of it. We really weren't sure what to do so we just stood there looking at these people. They left thank god, because I really wasn't ready to start at that moment. Our painting is in this big room but it's a part of the room that is divided so a lot of people just walked by to get to the other side of the room. The first people we gave our presentation to was an older French couple. They were so nice. I think they could tell that we were nervous but they just listened and answered our questions when they asked them, which was nice. Katie and I decided that we would basically tag team our presentation. If someone needed help the other would help. It actually worked out really well. Katie had a better introduction than I did, so she usually started and I followed and she usually ended. It seemed like she talked a lot more than me a first but I think that's because I was super nervous and incredibly self conscious about my French.

There was a while where we didn't have anyone come by us so that got a little bit boring. Our art professor came over when we were giving a presentation and started taking pictures of us. It was pretty weird. When she came back they were gone and we wanted to take a picture with her and our painting. I moved closer to Katie and our professor and in the process hit the frame of the painting. I was like OH MY GOD!!!!! I'm going to get kicked out of the Louvre!!! Luckily, the guard guy wasn't there so he didn't see it. Katie's phonetics professor came to listen to us and our history professor came to. It was really nice to see the other professors at the Catho come out and show their support. We did the presentation a few times in English. I had never practiced it in English and I probably should of because I had no idea what to say. Everything that I said in English sounded so much better in French. There was this group of 3 people and after our presentation in French one of the guys says to me, "I know you from somewhere, I just don't know where. Your face looks so familiar." I was like ummm, thanks but I've never seen you before. I was like are you trying to hit on me in the Louvre?!?!?! It was bizarre.

Over all it was a lot of fun and I was really sad when it was over, even though it was a really long night. The security guards herded us out of the rooms like cattle. They had their arms stretched out and everything. That was strange. Katie wanted one more picture of the painting and they were just staring at her like, come on girl it's time to leave! I wish we would have been able to present last week because it really was a lot of fun. I'm really glad that I did it.

Today I went to the mall with Amber. We went to McDonalds for lunch and seriously it was so packed. I regret going there because now I have a stomach ache from the food. I honestly can't remember the last time I had McDonalds. We went into some stores and looked around. I was starting to get really annoyed because the French don't know how to walk in a mall. It was so annoying. They would just stop in the middle of the walk way. Like, HELLO....what are you doing? It also could have been because it's pretty close to Christmas and people are probably trying to get their last minute shopping done. I wanted to get Renee something for Christmas so I went to this store called l'Occitane. It reminded me of a Bath and Body Works but more expensive and with nicer products. She has a bunch of soaps from there so I figured she'd like something from there. I got this little gift box that has soap, lotion, and something else that has Shea butter in it. It's cute. It was 14.50, which I guess is an okay price, but it was a little more than I wanted to spend. But, oh well. She is letting me live with her for the year so it's the least I could do.

It's supposed to be really cold this week. I read yesterday that there's supposed to be a chance of snow tomorrow but now it looks like it isn't going to snow at all. :( I just want it to snow once so I can at least see some snow this year. Maybe there will be snow in London. I have a lot of homework to do so that's probably what I'll be doing tomorrow....fun stuff.

A bientot