Paris Walks

It has been an amazing experience so far in France. I really enjoy the delicious bread or baguette as they like to call them here. On Mondays we all meet at the church where our classes are and we have a little devotional, followed by our classes. Later that evening we go over to the director's house which just happens to be my uncle and we have dinner.

At our hostesses apartment we get breakfast every morning and dinner 3 times a week. The dinners are like a project, we attempt to figure out what she is talking about and try to respond properly in French. Most of the time we are unable to find the correct words to say. Thankfully our French class will be starting next week and will help me with my French. On Sunday she fed us smoked salmon, and for those for you who know me know that I hate sea food (the only exception to this is the occasional tuna from the can, other than it never happens). So of course I can not be mean and not eat it so I take a little and choke it down, it was the most disgusting thing ever (if you don't count the young women's activity FEAR FACTOR and I had to drink a blend of water, sherbet ice cream and oysters-but when I drank this I got a prize, with this dinner there was no reward just the bad taste left in my mouth).

One of the classes I am taking is Paris walks and basically we choose a preplanned walk from a book to help us become more acquainted with Paris and the sights it has to offer.

These are supposed to be oil rigs there is another bunch of them located at the other end of this walk, but it is actually a fountain. Also if you are wondering what is behind the oil rigs, there is a huge graveyard.

On the walk we see the Grand Arch not to be confused with the Arc de Triomphe

Here is another picture of the same arch, just at a different angle.

I thought that this sculpture was pretty interesting, because who really needs a large thumb? I guess the French do.

This is another sculpture that is right in front of a large mall.

There were a lot of signs for the Wall Street Institute which helps the French how to speak English.

This was supposed to be another fountain but I assume it isn't active in winter.

If you look back during the walk, far in the distance you can see the Arc de Triomphe

This is my cousin Kate, we were on our way to see the Eiffel Tower.

Here is my official first picture of the Eiffel Tower.

This is the fountain that was in front of the Grand Arch but now we are looking at it from the other side (behind the statue).

Just in case you were worried there is a lady fitness in France. It was a relief to me to find out they had it.

All the buildings in France are shaped differently, it is amazing how many designs they came up with.

This is Grant another student in the program. While we were on this walk it was raining pretty heavily, so he decided to try and escape the rain by hiding in a phone booth.

Once again these are supposed to represent the oil rigs but this time it is part of a fountain!

This poster of George Washington wearing an Obama '09 hat is everywhere in France, along with many articles about Obama.

I believe that this is the best picture I have taken of the Eiffel Tower. Maybe some other time I will try and take a better on if I can :]

I have some more pictures to put on here but I am trying to catch up, eventually I will take a picture of the place I am staying and the other things I have seen so far.

A bientot!