Saturday Oct 1 et Sunday Oct 2.

Saturday morning I did not want to wake up. I showered the night before so I could just throw on a beanie and a t-shirt. For breakfast it was the very first time I had ever seen them give out chocolate milk! I was so excited! For some reason the chocolate milk here tastes a lot different than it does back home... that is one thing to look forward to when I go home, Chocolate milk. I miss you.

First thing - We went into town and went to where Joan of Arch was burned. Then we went to the Notre Dame de Rouen. It was insanely beautiful, the architecture looks like it is covered in lace. Here are some photos:







Once we finished at the cathedral we searched for the town market! I love the markets in France, I find myself wanting so many things that I just cant bring home! I bought one scarf for two euro. I almost bought a little gold ring with three peals. I usually never wear rings, other than my CTR ring, so I decided against it. I am kind of regretting that though, it was cute. I walked around on my own for a while and hung out with other girls. I watched Brynn try to buy a painting, she was so mad that a little painting would cost 30 euro and she wanted to buy it for 15. She ended up buying it for 25.

I was so exhausted that day. I think all my lack of sleep and stress over the earlier days were starting to build up. Me, Michelle, Sam, Holly and Brynn left the market to get something to eat. We found a chill little cafe to eat some Greek food. Right when we got inside I sat down, laid my head on the table and then... I was out! I fell asleep just like that! They all ate without me, while I was probably drooling on the table. They woke me up and then we tried to find the art museum.

When we found it, I was obviously hungry from not eating, so instead of seeing the museum Sam and I met up with some other girls to go get a treat. I just got an almond croissant from Paul, and Sam bought some candy. We got back on the bus where I thought I would fall back asleep, but instead I listened to music and pondered some things I have had on my mind.

We were on our way to go to Giverny to see Monet's gardens! I was very excited, my mom and I tried to go back when I was 19... but we ended up getting lost on the trains and going back to Paris. I had a nice chat with Brynn walking into the gardens. Here are some pictures of the gardens... as you can see, they were really pretty...
























Monet in his home:


Pretty right?






Well... after Giverny, we went on our journey back to Paris. I REALLY did not want to go back to my host mom + home. I loved getting a night away. Brynn came up with a brilliant idea that Michelle and her should spend the night at her house! Where we would make treats and watch conference! I thought it sounded perfect. Nuit Blanche was that night, but I was so exhausted there was no way I would go out all night.



We got back to the Lee's apartment, then we had to get our new euro passes. Once that wall all taken care of, Brynn, Michelle and I went back to our apartment to grab different clothes and unpack a bit. Then we went to the casino to get some cookies and other treats. Brynn lives with Holly and Amber out of Le Pecq, so we took a nice half hour RER ride out there. She lives in the cutest little home! It was clean and it didn't smell weird or anything! I wish I could live there. Her host mom was out of town for the weekend, so we didn't get to met her.

Amber was going to meet up with the other girls for Nuit Blanche and so while she was out, I got to sit in her room and Skype Cass. We had such a great talk. It was a nice opportunity to be able to talk one on one and not have other girls listening to our conversation. Michelle and Holly kept coming in to get me, and i'd say I would get off Skype but it never happened. I missed drinking Brynn's chocolat chaud and watching the first session of conference. Cass and I talked for hours, it was amazing.

As for that night Michelle and I slept on the floor where Holly and Brynn made us a mattress of towels. Wasn't as comfortable as they thought, but it ended up being a good idea because that night I was FREEZING! I could tell Michelle was too because I kept hearing her wake up. I got the brilliant idea to take the towels from under me and use them as blankets... I'm sure Michelle and I looked hilarious and I wish someone could have gotten a photo.

SUNDAY OCT 2

We woke up the next morning and made french toast with baguette! We ate it with creme fraiche and brown sugar on top. It was pretty good! We had syrup but I only used a little. We started the first session of conference since we had missed it during our travels. I had one big question on my mind for conference, and honestly the first session of conference.. and I mean, EVERY SINGLE TALK answered my question!! It was seriously the coolest thing, I hardly had time to eat my french toast I was writing everything down so fast.

After the first session, I fell back asleep on Brynn's bed. I woke up with just enough time for Michelle and I to get our stuff together and go home to watch the 3rd session of conference live. (This might be kind of confusing. So we missed the 1st session while we were at Monet's gardens. Then I missed the 2nd one talking to Cassidy. Then I watched the 1st one. Then Michelle and I went home to watch the 3rd one. Got it??) When we got home we were just about to start it when our host mom came home, so of course, we missed half of it because she goes on and on and on. She took us to a pile of clothes she had in the hall and started giving it all to us to try on. There were some real Gems in that pile. For photos you can visit Michelle's blog here:

http://meeshdujour.blogspot.com/2011/10/apparently-i-like-me-some-stripes.html

Finally we got to watch the 3rd session, I Skyped Cassidy, and I was content.



[Thank you Samantha Herbert for some of these photos!]