My Life in the 16th

Hi everyone!  I just finished having a delicious dinner with my French family.  Steak, chicken, tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes, salad with cilantro, carrots, more tomatoes, tomme cheese, bread... and for dessert, whipped white cheese (foreign to us Americans-- it's like whipped cream but a little less sweet) with raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries.  Delicious.

As requested, here is a photo of my apartment building.  I'm in the red brick apartment immediately to the left of the lamp post.  If you think it's cute on the outside, you should see the building on the inside!  The whole neighborhood is great.

Today after church, my roommate and I found an enormous garden just a couple blocks from our place.  It is called "Le jardin des serres d'Auteuil."  The word serres means greenhouses, and Auteuil is the name of the neighborhood.  And there are tons of greenhouses everywhere!  The park is a mini Central Park, complete with red-sided brick buildings; separate gardens of the Japanese, Chinese, Mediterranean, and English influences; concert locations; sculptures; and tons of grass.  Below, I am enjoying one of the many flower gardens.  This park actually grows and cultures plants that are going to be planted in other parks all over Paris (hence the plethora of greenhouses).

Another lovely view of the park.  Do you see where I'm sitting, and the stairs way behind me?  That distance makes up half of the width of the park.  As to the length... It has to be at least four city blocks.

This brick building is one of the many structures in the park, and it's used as a 'shed' for gardening supplies.  My roommate and I were having fun taking silly pictures.  I should never aspire to modeling-- it does not work well for me.

And my roommate!  Ashley is great.  She is extremely easy-going and an absolute blast, and she is always willing to go along with my crazy ideas.  And she is equally eager to plan fun adventures.  Her laugh is infectious.  We have fun.

Tomorrow... photos of my classroom setting by the Centre Pompidou.  Ashley and I are also planning on buying groceries, as Carrefour was closed today (good for them).  Then, after a trip to the post office, we're thinking about paying the Champs Elysees a nighttime visit.  Maybe we'll eat at the street-side McDonalds, mom.  Who knows.  ;)