OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA

I can't believe I just celebrated my first election in which I could participate IN FRANCE. It was so extraordinary. I'm watching Obama's victory speech again, and I'm nearly ready to cry.

I can't believe we're finally changing in the right direction. I kept thinking to myself that no matter what happened, our country would drastically change and set a precedent that would continue on for decades. I'm so glad that we elected the right man. I have a restored faith in the American people. 338 electoral votes.


To celebrate, a group of Smithies got together to go to the official Democrats in Paris Obama Victory Party, which was supposed to have Barack O-bagels and continuing coverage of the election. However, after waiting on line for an hour, the organizers tried to get all couple hundred of us to line up in alphabetical order by last name. People started pushing and crowding, we heard glass bottles breaking, and people were uproarious about not being able to get in.

In making the best decision we could have made, the mamas of our group got us together to take the night bus at 1:00 to get to a better area to watch the election. We met up with two girls on the BU program, and we all ventured to Chatelet, walking to St. Michel to find The Frog and the Princess. Before we got there, we found a Canadian pub, broadcasting the election on TV's around the bar. We decided to stop in there, which was awesome. I even ran into a girl from Amherst on the frisbee team! Around 3:30, we finally got a table for all of us. Every so often, the club would start playing loud music to get us all awake. Being 6 hours ahead of all of the action was a hard thing. We were enthusiastic until the end though, with all of us screaming and yelling when our own states were called. There were a bunch of French people there, though we were by far an American majority.

The reports from CNN that showed that there was no possible way that McCain could win, and I regained confidence in the American public. I can't believe that we're all united (well, most of us), behind a man that has ideas that will benefit all.

When they flashed his name across the screen, the room ignited with uproarious sound. Just so much sound, and so much joy. We all ran around kissing and hugging and screaming. We went outside to leave, and it was raining. We let it fall. It felt like the dawning of a new era, and I couldn't help but think that it was an incredible omen for the washing away and renewal of spirit.

In between all of the celebration, we ran around outside the pub. Some screaming, in English and French, about the incredible event that had just come to pass. One man came up to me and said that it was incroyable. In French, he said to me that less than a century ago, Obama himself wouldn't have been able to vote, and now here he is, President of the United States.

However, he then ruined the moment by asking for my number and saying we should go out to dinner sometime. I was too emotionally content and ecstatic at the same time to do anything but laugh. Luckily, we saw from outside that McCain was about to make his speech, so we all huddled back into the pub. Listening to his speech and listening to the people who supported McCain so strongly that they couldn't even stop themselves from booing at the mention of Obama's name, I wanted to cry. I heard the underlyingly racist comments that McCain made about the nature of the election, and I was appalled at the way in which he brought up Obama's grandmother's recent death. I sincerely pray that even the McCain supporters can get behind Obama and his ideals for uniting our country. He has a big job ahead of him.

The pub owners kicked us out of the pub at 5:30 a.m., so we all ran around frantically, trying to find somewhere that was open for us to watch Obama's victory speech. We asked one cafe owner on the Boulevard St. Michel if they had a TV. When we mentioned Obama's name, he said that he was sure Obama was going to win. We didn't waste any moment to tell him that Obama had already won.

Not finding any luck, we all rushed into the nearby metro station to get home. All through the metro, we informed everyone we could about Obama's victory. Even on the street on our short walk from the metro stop to my apartment, we crossed the street in front of a truck driver, who rolled down his window and shouted "OBAMA!!!!!!!!!"

We got home to my room and watched the rest of Obama's speech online. He is such a powerful speaker. His way of moving a crowd is impressive, to say the least, and I can't wait to see how he'll rally the American people to work together for the common good.


I fell asleep around 6:30 a.m. and woke up at 11:00 to get ready for class. I saw Elise, who had already heard the news and seemed just as excited as I was. I rushed off to class, where I was greeted by none of my other classmates, who were assumedly all still asleep.

I can't wait to go back to my homeland now.

Chère la Sorbonne,

I do not like doing homework. You give me too much. I have class from 10:00 until 3:30. No stops. Plus, I have to run from one class to another (RUN) to make it to class on time. This is not a good thing.

Also, I just got back from a party that YOU hosted for your international students. WTF, Sorbonne? I have two of your classes tomorrow AND I have to find the time to register for another one that I don't have on my schedule yet.

PLUS I have to find time to sleep and have so much fun in the city of lights! This is too hard! Something's gotta give. And I think it's you.

We had an okay first week. I think I'm done, though. No more classes for me. I'm ready to throw in the towel and just live as a street performer. Just me and my guitare.

I hope you understand. It's not you; it's me.

Love,
Jamie

Minou!

I'm watching Monsters and Co. in French on a Friday night.

I passed on salsa night in favor of staying in and watching Disney movies with Alix. It was a good choice, since my body was BEAT. I still hate having classes on Friday, but I'm sure I'll get by. Also, I've planned on not taking any Spanish classes next semester and just chilling out. I can take my last Spanish class my senior year at Smith.

I'm not sure what's on the menu for this weekend. I think tomorrow is going to be Thanksgiving (a store with American specialties!), maybe some makeover time for me (we'll see.. I think the main thing that I've got planned is to dye my hair, since my personal shopping assistant doesn't seem up for the shopping portion tomorrow), and my Spanish homework.

Sunday involves a Sorbonne party and Elise's Ratatouille "Anyone Can Cook" cookbook for hamburgers. Monday is Catherine's party for her birthday.

I'm glad that things have been a bit more laid-back. I'm not always ready for Paris: Guerilla Style. I was just thinking about how I really haven't had a day for myself in awhile. I liked just having one day where I stayed home all day and wrote postcards. I need that sometimes.

It's 3 a.m. in Paris, so I should probably hit the hay. Bonne nuit!

Aw! I just heard my host parents kiss outside my door.

Right so last night's adventures were sort of a bust again. I kind of don't like that we always wind up getting lost and not knowing where to go. And/or people don't like our options for bars because they're not Paris chic enough. Whatever, you guys.

Tonight, we're going to Chez George. Really. It's going to be hilarious.

Last night, we went to an Indian restaurant. It was at Place Brady, which was this super-tiny block FILLED with Indian restaurants. Outside of each one, there was a guy waiting outside, waiting to run his spiel on innocent tourists. Each one was "the best deal" with everything that you could possibly want, and if you didn't like something, you would get it for free. We stopped at the second restaurant and had a whole lot of food for a reasonable amount of euros. There were seven of us altogether, and we talked about anything and everything. It was really nice.

But then, we wound up getting super-lost while trying to find the Marais, and so we all kind of revealed our life stories as we were walking around. Which was nice, but not what I was looking for. Still nice, though.

However that means that I'm still looking forward to mad partying tonight. I am quite excited.


Dinner now with the parents and dad's sister (Elise is at her friend's house for the weekend). And then GETTING MY PARTY ON! WHOO!

Bonne soirée, mes amis!