hello
2 more weeks have gone by, very quickly it seems like. I can't really remember anything super special happening at school, except being really surprised when the history teacher said that WW1 is the most studied war in France, yet we only spent 4 class hours on it. 14% of France's male population was killed in it and our class mates couldn't even name a battle! Crazy! Then we spent time on the Russian revolution. But the big thing that happened on school was on Thursday when Liza and I decided that we should really be separated so we make good french friends, so after this 2 week vacation I will be in one Terminale ES class, and she'll be in the other one. This'll be so scary, like the frist day of school! I hope they're nice! It's just since all 3 of us are in our class, we are kind of like think block of kids that the others don't try to be friends with. So I'll have philosophy, economy-sociale, english, german/spanish, math, and hist-geo. And being 19 (my birthday is tomorrow xD ) is a little weird. I went to soccer once last week and 3 times this week, it's kind of a hassle since my host family won't pick me up now. I ran home the 5.2 miles last week, then this week I walked most of the way, then thursday and I friday I rode a bike to and from. But with now being moved up to 12th grade I have a lot more school so I get done a lot later every day so my whole riding-the-bike thing to soccer will have to be modified. But I don't want to quit! I actually have a game tomorrow now! On my birthday! Hopefully the weather is nice bc I'll be on the bench most likely. The weather has been so nice lately, all sunshine and in the 50's everyday. Last weekend was the 2nd exchange student weekend of the year. There were 17 french outbound kids and 11 of us inbounds. Saturday we had a meeting then lunch, then visited the chateau in Foix...9th century! Then drove to a village called Gouliers in the pyrenées, so cute and picturesque, and stayed at a gite. The rest of the night we just hung out, played hide and seek, ate dinner, listened to music, played cards, etc. it was pretty fun. Then Sunday we went on a hike the whole day. Such beautiful scenery and weather. I love mountains! It was fun talking to people and stuff. The group was big enough that you could separate into smaller groups without feeling like you left people out. We found some snow and it was fun throwing snowballs, especially for the australiens who never have snow. The third one came, Josh, total surfer guy from north of Melbourne, he's so nice and funny! The weekend was fun and went by super fast, and it was nice getting some sun. Last week I saw the movie Juno, so good! and this wednesday we did some shopping. This weekend should be fun, a friend is coming over soon and we are making a chocolate cake for my birthday. Next week I'm going to my first host family's house for a birthday dinner and then off to Germany on Wednesday! Yay! I'm so excited! The sad shooting this week made my hometown known for a horrible reason, and my deepest condolensces go out to all those who were involved.
I want to thank my family for their thoughful birthday presents they sent me. Dad(dy), your present was the best thing I've ever gotten. I love you.


ok so photos might not be a possiblity this time, it's taking forever. more later! bisous!