Scratch backpacking-new idea

So, this weekend was pretty relaxed as compared to, well, the entire time I've been in France. I actually got full nights of sleep, and enjoyed only spending about 5 euro. Friday started a bit rough, considering ALL of my plans for this week had to be completely shifted. While my school is on winter break this week (first week of March), my program has decided that it is not. So, the one course I am taking through MICEFA is not canceled, and the teacher has in fact given everyone a presentation to do! I mean come on. So while me and my two friends had planned on spending the whole week traveling to different cities in Northern France, we unfortunately will not be making it to Tours this weekend to spend time with a family in the countryside. However, we have made plans to definitely do it during March. So tomorrow night, I will leave Paris by train, after 6 hours in the office of course, for Rennes in Northern France. I cannot wait! This will be my first time leaving Paris since I arrived, and it's going to be a blast. After a few days there, I'll meet Emily, my roommate, in Nantes. We're staying with a couple friends we have met through other friends, and it's just going to be a blast. We plan on making it back to Paris Thursday night, that we're alive by Friday morning for our 3 hour class=American-Franco relations with the Arab World. Joy. However, it did work out that we'll be back for the weekend, because my friend is having a "Dress as a cocktail" party in her flat! There will be some White Russians, some "Earth, Wind, and Fire", "Sex on the Beach", and a ton of others. I'm debating between "Assassin", "Miami vice", "Silver Bullet" or "Greek Martini". Haha, all in all it will be a blast, first costume party in Paris as well:P. This week, my two girlfriends and I have also been planning a ski trip:). The third week in March, we're going to fly to Marseille, and ski the Alps on the border of France and Italy. Ahh, I cannot wait! I didn't actually think I would be doing any skiing or snowboarding while I was here, I'm not sure why. So mom is sending me a care package complete with wool socks and underarmor. I've also signed up for another ski trip with couch surfers. An entire week in April, I'll be in Switzerland. It's going to be fantastic, and I'm pretty sure my friend from Albany, Scott (who is studying in London), will be joining. An entire week spent in a "Chalet" which is comparable to a mansion. Not too shabby.

So now for the ultimate news. I've been reviewing my finances lately, and determined the truth, I'm broke. Big surprise. So while I plan on finding a job in a pub in Paris, or even a babysitting job, I don't see that I'll be able to finance the entire backpacking trip of my dreams, at least not for now. Especially seeing as once I return home, I've got to find in apartment in Albany, graduate, apply to internships, etc. So, Scott, as brilliant as I now think he is, proposed working in Europe together for the summer. Neither of us want to leave, but we also cannot afford to stay. So, while I was bumming it this weekend, I started doing a bit of research. Let me tell you, I've hit a gold mine. I don't want to jinx anything, but Scott and I sent in two applications today, and we're going to continue researching. With luck, we'll find a resort that will hire us together for serving and what not. Ah, if only. We both decided if we ever did get these jobs, we'd just break down crying. But, I will speak more on that if it does develop.

So all in all, I just hung out this weekend around the apartment. Yesterday I did go to my favorite place in Paris, Sacre Coeur with some friends. We just walked around and took pictures, it was fantastic. Today I went on a two hour walk as well, I couldn't just sit in my apartment alll day. So now, I'm off. I've been putting off quite a bit of reading, and I know that it will be better if I try to get some notes taken before break, because there is no doubt in my mind this week is going to fly.

Hope everyone is doing well, I hear there some snow in the states...:P

A bientot