End of the "Propedeutique"

In an attempt to save this blog from becoming solely a memoir of my biking adventure in Paris, I will write a bit more about my primary focus: school.

On Friday I had my last intensive French grammar class in which we took a test that reviewed all that we had been reviewing for the past week. I assume it was to be used to better place us in a grammar class for the rest of the semester, but even before the tests were graded, our professor told us what class we were in. Perhaps after the tests are graded, those who didn't make the cut will be further instructed to take a different class. After the test our professor also handed out a grammar and reading packet for the class, which I am not sure how she was able to determine without knowing the results of the test, but I'll assume the best and hope I get to stay in my same class.

On Monday, I will have three classes to attend and my day at IES starts around 10:30 and ends around 5:30. I'm glad I have a break for a few hours in the afternoon so I will have time to eat some lunch and maybe do some homework. Mondays and Wednesdays will be nearly the same schedule but on Wednesday nights, my drawing class will have a model available to draw (so I am told- I haven't found out much additional information regarding my drawing class at the Atelier de la Croix Nivert). Thus far, I do not have any classes scheduled for Fridays which could make for a nice extended weekend and good for traveling, or it will make it more stressful to have 18 hours of class condensed into 4 days. I'm not sure at this point how difficult my coursework is going to be, but I heard from previous students that the coursework is not as difficult as at home universities because IES assumes that students taking certain classes are not necessarily majoring in it. For example, I am taking Contemporary France, a sociology course, but it is not assuming that I am a sociology major and I know how to write up an ethnography how someone with background in the field would. I have no idea what kind of expectations the Questions of Aesthetics class has for the students, but I think I am most curious about that class and look forward to it quite a bit.

The IES Center where classes are held is actually a series of three separate buildings. The main building is on the first floor of 4 or 5 story apartment building so we share an entry way with private residents. In the main building, there are the offices of IES workers, a computer lab open to students, a small library, and one classroom. Behind the main building is a small courtyard with a garden where it is often nice to pass time between classes, but I find there isn't enough seating. The building behind the courtyard, on what I believe is the south side, is also part of the IES complex where there is a lounge area and 3 or 4 more classrooms. Down the block a ways is another building where there are more classrooms and an art studio with easels where the IES drawing class is held- not the class I am registered for. I imagine that I will be able to use the studio to do my art homework unless I need to be in the presence of a model, and for that I will have to go to the Atelier de la Croix Nivert, which is about 25 minutes by Metro from the IES Center. In all of the IES buildings, there is wireless internet, but I haven't tested out the reliability of the connection yet.

Yesterday after class I went on a picnic by a canal in the northeast area of Paris. I went with several other IES students and we brought bread and cheese and fruit and sat by the canal for a few hours, people watching and lunching. It was a beautiful day and I was glad to be enjoying one of the potentially last days of summer. Later that evening we went to a soirée at a friend's apartment where we were the obvious group of 5 americans amongst a group of french people who all knew each other. It was difficult at first to start up conversations with people but after a while we started to more freely integrate with the french kids. I left around midnight because I had to take the Metro home and be in bed at a reasonable hour to be ready for my ride this morning. I don't know how long my friends stayed at the party, but I wouldn't be surprised if they stayed past 3am. A little too late for me.

I met Phillipe this morning in the Bois de Vincennes at 10 and we rode for about an hour and a half on various loops around the park. There was a series of three hills that we rode a loop on that was fatiguing after a while, but still good practice for myself, not a strong hill-climber. Tomorrow we're going on a longer ride out of the city that should be around 70 or 80 kilometers, and for that I have to be up and out the door at 7:45! Quite early, considering I'm still awake and it's almost midnight.

On that note, I'm off to bed. More to come later, I'm sure!