I AGAPE you!

Another week has passed. Time is really flying by here!

The strike at the University continues until tomorrow, so i didn't have class there again this week. However, IES classes are pushing through and going well. Midterms start right after i get back from vacation next week though! Gah! This week everyone has been a little under the weather, and today i can't say i'm feeling 100%. 8:15 am class this morning was a little rough. I'm hoping for a nap later this afternoon. Yay for naps! :)

This week has also been spent getting ready for Malta. I leave tomorrow! I can't even tell you how excited i am. The excitement could not even fit onto this blog it's so big. This morning i've been doing some last minute laundry and started laying out clothes and what not. Once again, i think i want to bring too much, so things will have to be vetoed later on...bummer. But i'm only going with my backpack and another small bag. So really, i'm doing well! Tomorrow night in Paris i am going to stay with the aunt of my host mom, so this afternoon i have to call her and figure out all the details. I'm a little nervous though. My host mom said she usually speaks really fast, and i'm just thinking that on the phone i'm going to fail horribly at trying to accomplish anything. But it's another adventure. So bring it on.

Last weekend, i cooked dinner for my family on Friday night! I made a Ziti pasta bake, salad, and chocolate chip cookies! Both the pasta bake and the cookies were a little tricky, as a lot of the ingredients aren't as common here, or have a bizarre name that's difficult to track down in the grocery store. But i succeeded! My family really liked it, or at least they said they did. But personally, i really liked it, so i don't think they were lying...haha. They told me the cookies were really American too. I was proud. We ate them with vanilla ice cream. It was delicious. I will have to make another batch soon.

Saturday night i had some friends over to help me finish the leftovers from the night before. It was nice to be able to invite people over. My host family is so generous. I love them. And then it got kind of late, and my host mom said the girls could stay over if they wanted! So my friend Lisa spent the night in the room next to mine because she lives a little ways from my house. I was beyond happy. For real. I like staying in a family that is so similar to my real family, whom i obviously think is great :)

On Thursday nights there is a youth gathering at the protestant church here called AGAPE! Unfortunately there is no real Agape there, but i've heard it's awesome. I haven't had the chance to go yet, but i'm hoping tonight i'll be able to make an appearance. It's run by Americans, and the worship service they carry out is both in English and French. Apparently they sing the same worship songs that I've grown up with, so i'm really excited to make that connection here. I'll let you know how it goes!

Tonight, there is also a karaoke bar outing...haha. I'm quite intrigued by this. So i'm thinking i will be checking this out as well. It really is pretty fun seeing French people sing American music, as if the Americans singing American music wasn't bad enough. No guarantees that i will be singing!

Ok i love you all! I'm not sure i will get a chance to write again before i leave for Malta, but i will update you on my voyage upon my return! Wish me luck!

Kelsey