french coke

French coke is more sugary than American coke. Not quite sure if I'm making that up or not...also I've never eaten so many croissants or baguettes with cheese in my life and I couldn't be happier. Today we lounged around the luxembourg gardens for lunch and watched three idiots drinking 2 6-packs of Desperados (beer flavored with tequila). Also met some kid who proceeded to inform me that the American portion size is 2 or 3 10" pizzas and the european portion size is 1/4 of a 10" pizza (plus cigarette)...I was like...um, no. When I mentioned studying economics, he proceeded to ask me who my favorite economist was and was I a Greenspan or a Bernanke. I kindly informed him I wasn't about to waste my breath on a meaningless economic/political debate with someone who doesn't actually listen but just spews whatever random facts he knows and expects to be considered knowledgeable. Then I read some Hemingway and pretended he wasn't there.

Also the dude who handed us the 4 mini-pizza boxes said to me that he wouldn't give me the boxes. "Here in France the women are not trusted with things, it is always the men. You will learn this in a few months". Instead of punching the idiot and being deported or whatever, I contented myself with a withering stare.

Also, my host dad is an incredible baker...and he's a jazz guitarist. One of the 7 best in the world. He was invited to the white house to play for the Clintons, but it was in 1995 and he said that Bill wasn't there because he was probably with Monica Lewinsky somewhere.

The guinea pig is squeaking. I didn't realize guinea pigs could squeak until I got here. How do you say ear-plugs in French? It's also really cold here. Probably should have left some of the summer dresses and brought a jacket instead...nbd