ENTRY: good news and bad news

THE GOOD NEWS

I already found an apartment through my lovely new friend. We became extremely close only yesterday as we attempted to prepare for a 40-minute oral presentation on Casanova's Histoire de Ma Vie. Let me tell you, speaking about the writer's exploits with with our professor was a bit absurd. But hey, we impressed the guy, partially because of our "interest in France and the language, and courage to come here despite any current friction with America," so I therefore recieved an A for the class. Vive la Sorbonne.

Ecstatic that I already have my third Parisian apartment search overwith, no longer feeling obliged to live in filth for the next half a year, I am moving out as soon as possible. My new apartment as of Sunday proves how despicably I've been taken advantage of: it costs just as much as I'm paying for the bat cave! Yet it is roach-free, mold free, crazy-neighbor free, and a five minute walk to the Sorbonne (therefore in the 5th arrondissement, the very center of Paris)! The place is small but two stories--the top floor is a cute living room/kitchen, and the wall facing outside is entirely glass. It is on the first floor, so I plan to invite everyone over after class in the springtime for regular outdoor feasts. My bedroom is in the basement--I have a comfy king-size bed surrounded by four walls of mirrors (leave it to the French). I'm excited that it is directly across from one of my favorite Mosques in the world, its outdoor garden/tea-room considered one of Paris' top ten places.

THE BAD NEWS

Noos internet does not yet recognize the building as a wireless zone, so I will not have internet access until mid-July. Regardless, the internet has proven to be a waste of time, so I won't miss it too much. I'll just keep updating in the net cafés by my new apartment. The run-down: classes here end in the beginning of June, and I'll then head over for a month to Valencia, Spain in an attempt to refresh my Spanish and take advantage of that Mediterranean sun! I'll try to get an Ibiza weekend in while I'm at it. And then, of course, summer by the pool with Ashley!

I've been doing laundry and downloading every song I can think of for the past five hours. Cat Stevens, Pascal Obispo, drying socks on the heater, Sezen Aksu, next load, Bride and Prejudice soundtrack, checking socks, Duran Duran, you get the idea. I'll try and update before I move, but let me tell you, I have merely forty-eight hours to carry my entire life down seven flights of stairs and across five arondissements, so I'm not so sure I'll have much time!