I got a sesame seed in my eye. Don't ask.

Some things I've noticed:

1. I find it funny how even very dressed-up people ride around town on their motorcycles. Have I mentioned this before? It gets me every time--men in business suits and women in their high heels. I think there is a law that says people have to wear helmets when on motorcycles, because I've seen everyone wearing them. Bicycles are another story, and I think the helmet is optional.

2. I love that everyone here is polite and says "hello" to one another. When you enter stores and cafes and anywhere, really, you're pretty much obliged to say hello to the person working/hosting there. But even just the other students in the foyer, too. Depending on the time of say you say either "bonjour" or "bonne soiree." And when leaving places, always say thank you and goodbye. I know it's common sense and manners but it sounds so nice here and I love how polite it is! Whatever the stereotypes are about the French, I've had nothing but wonderful interactions with them. As long as you put in an effort to speak French, they understand and are willing to help. The French students here love to speak English! It's great.

3. All over the city there are stations with lines of bikes where anyone can swipe their card and "sign out" a bike for X amount of time to ride wherever they want. When they're done, they can return it to any station. And they really are everywhere. Isn't that a great idea? It's called Velibs (bike = "velo") and it works a lot better here than it did at Goucher! Grr. What an awesome service. It cuts down on fuel from cars and motorcycles and even opens up the metro a bit. I'm not sure how much it costs, but i think it's free for the first half hour. We can use our Navigo metro passes to pay for it, so I think I would like to try one day! I haven't ridden a bike in a long time and I don't know the bike routes/lanes/directions/rules of the road well enough yet, but I hope to try at least once.

4. I had to read an article and do a short presentation on it for my IFE class the other day, so I chose one about the possible rise in price of cigarettes. It sparked a general conversation on smoking in Paris because it seems like everyone here smokes. I asked if there were any strong anti-smoking campaigns here like there are in the US (you know those Truth ads against tobacco companies?). Mathieu (professor) said that you will not find any ads FOR smoking in France. It's illegal. The same goes for alcohol. And come to think of it, I've never once seen a poster or ad for a beer company or drink, and certainly not for cigarettes. It's quite interesting.

Also, as a small side note, I think lots of people, both French and "etranger" think that the French healthcare system is the best in the world. I think it's definitely one of the best, but it's not perfect. While it is certainly admirable, Mathieu asked if we, as Americans, who often make comments about wanting a similar system, would be willing to pay so much for it. Of course there is a price to pay and it is not free healthcare. I think he said that 50% of taxes go to healthcare. So out of a check of $5,000, $2,500 goes to healthcare. It's a lot of money. And I don't think most Americans would be willing to pay that much for healthcare. I guess the bottom line is, if I need to get sick or injured, better to do it here where I know I will be well taken care of! (knock on wood.)