french sales

For those of you who are unaware, the French government regulates the times that stores can have sales. There are 2 sales per year and most things are reduced in price by 10-50%. The sales have treated me very well, and so far, everything I have bought has been reduced in price by about 50%. This is all well and good, except, I have been shopping more frequently here than ever before in my life. It is not helped by the fact that to get from the bus to the tram (or vice versa) I walk down one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe (so I have been told). It's famous! And all the alluring sale signs "SOLDES! SOLDES! SOLDES! -50%! 40%! -30%!!!!" is not helping. It's just so easy to pop in a store (ooh! gloves! shoes! hats! I have always wanted one of those!) Because this is the beginning, and everything is shiny and new, I have been allowing myself just a little time to splurge. Until today, I had only bought things that were necessary. A warm, lined overcoat, lotion for my chapped and dry hands, boots lined with warmth, school supplies, but today, while shopping with some friends, I made my first unnecessary, but would-totally-regret-if-I-didn't-buy purchase. It was 50% off, and it's the most beautiful leather, soft and a nice neutral color. I know, no more shopping, at least not until it is absolutely necessary. It is the photo that is to the left....

Whew! There's another part of French culture, the sales! Also, I truly appreciate the UCLA class registration process. It's about 2 weeks before class starts, and there are still no hours for any of the classes in Bordeaux 3! This makes planning a schedule very difficult, to say the least. So tomorrow, instead of looking at classes, which we were scheduled time for, I have a free day! (It's not really a complaint, more just strange. How are we to make a schedule without times?!) Also, dates of finals exams are seldom posted until a few weeks before the test!

And I am able to think about planning my schedule because I have finished ILP! I will be taking a "methodology class" in the interim to learn how to write papers in France. Apparently, it is different than the US. I have been told that instead of concluding with a definitive point, French papers often end with educated and thought-provoking questions. As I see it, it a more jeopardy-style of academia. The prompt: France 1789. The Answer: What is the French Revolution? Hmmmm....this could get interesting quickly!

Ah, well, all for now! Also, Dad, I promise, no more shopping unless necessary!