Les autres choses

Here's a picture of the V-i-F Center common room, most of it anyway, with Elyse in the corner eating a croissant. I'm standing in the door of the classroom, which looks like this
Most of the classes take place in that room. There's also a kitchen, an office, a tiny, adorable alcove with two computers, and two bathrooms, and then the "dungeon," a basement with Wi-Fi, is around the corner.

We spent beaucoup de temps with our roommate/housemate (I am using the terms interchangeably, I guess), Renaud, yesterday. He is soo funny. I ran into him in the kitchen, and we ended up talking for an hour and a half or so, during which I discovered that he rides motocross professionally (that explains all the exercise paraphernalia), and when I told him I'm studying theatre, he got really excited and said I should be an actress no matter how impractical it may seem. Motocross is not very popular in France, so it was hard for him to break into it and start making money, but now he is living "la vie de ses reves" (life of his dreams). It was great. His English is very good (he claims he learned mostly from American movies), and he says he has to force himself to speak French to us because he loves speaking English. I told him we need the practice, but maybe we can take turns. He often says English phrases (This sucks! What the f---? It's creepy) in a very high-pitched voice. It's really funny.

Most people reading this probably know, but in French, there are two ways to say "you." "Tu" is more familiar--for babies, animals, family members, and friends. "Vous" is for strangers, professors, people of authority, etc. I kept vous-ing Renaud out of habit, and because I just met him, and he thinks it's hilarious and keeps insisting I use tu instead, so I'm working on that.

I can't believe we didn't notice it sooner, but after a few days of living here, Elyse pointed out this hanging on the wall of our living room.
Upon closer inspection, I realized it was one of the creatures from Ice Age. We asked Renaud about it, and he said it was his. He thinks its name is Scrat. (Caroline, I'm sure you know?) I told him one of my friends loves it, but I've never seen it, and he was very disappointed.
I have un rendez-vous au Centre in a little bit to meet with an advisor and pick my classes. I'm still hoping an internship is possible, but I don't really know. Classes start tomorrow. I'm also going to sign up for the wine-tasting class (not for credit), which meets four times, but I think I'm going to skip cooking. They're pretty expensive, and I think I'd get more out of the wine-tasting class. Plus, Mme Daniel is the cooking teacher, and I already get to eat with her twice a week...so that's what I'm thinking about all of that. I'll post about classes soon! and also put up a picture of our newly-decorated room. Elyse is designated decorator, and I'm designated blogger. It seems to be working out pretty well, I think. She said she's going to tell her mom to read my blog since she hardly ever writes on hers.