Testing, Exploring, a Cell Phone, and a bank account

Something I have noticed since my arrival in France is that the sun does not rise as early as it does in the states.  True, it is winter and the days are shorter (although after winter solstice they're supposed to be getting longer), but when I left the apartment this morning around 8:00, the sun wasn't even up yet!  This is not going to make waking up in the morning any easier.

My placement test was this morning across town at 8:30.  It was easy to get to via tram and I met up with the other Americans in my program there.  The test consisted of an oral comprehension exam and then a writing portion.  The oral comprehension part started out really easy and became progressively more difficult.  The last two parts were kind of difficult but I think I managed pretty well.  The written part was no problemo.  I'll find out the results on Friday after the group comes back from our first excursion to Nancy!

After the test and lunch, we walked around campus and explored buildings before hopping on the tram to go downtown to buy a cell phone.  Finally I have a cell phone that works!  My American cell phone will turn on and has French reception but I cannot call home, I cannot send or receive text messages nor can I check my voicemail.  My French cell phone is a little dinky thing that I will probably drop and break but at least it's something affordable.  I'm only here for 5 months so I don't really care.

Once we had our cell phones, Jillian and I went back to where the test was to set up our bank account.  Let me tell you, having a French bank account is going to be dangerous for me.  Apparently, in your checking account you are allowed to overdraw up to 500 Euro (About $660) and have it overdrawn for up to two weeks before I get into trouble with the bank.  Lucky for me (or unlucky, whichever you prefer), this is the sales month in France.  ALL of the stores are having huge sales on everything.  I'm talking about reductions from 30-70%.  The sales will be going on for another few weeks and then there won't be sales again until July (I will be long gone from France).

Here is a list so far of things I like and dislike about being in France:

I like:

• My host family (I love them!!)
• The food (everything I have tasted is SO good although I ate foie gras the other night and the taste was perhaps too rich for me)
• Speaking French all the time
• The ability to buy alcohol everywhere (my friend had a 1664 with her lunch today in McDonalds at 11 AM)
• The alcohol (I have missed French wine... I can't say it enough)
• Public transportation
• The beautiful architecture
• Fresh bread everyday
• Amazing coffee

I dislike:

• People who do not wear deodorant and then stand next to me on the tram
• Murses... they're everywhere!!!!  It's quite funny so I guess that is more humorous than a dislike
• The exchange rate
• Communication difficulties with everyone back home
• Creepy French men
• No free refills (BOO)
• Songs that are now popular in France were popular 4-5 months ago at home
• Cigarette butts lining the sidewalks outside the local university
• STILL not knowing what classes I'm taking

That is all for now; I will add more as I find out more of what I like and do not like :)