Coucou!

how's everyone?  I am currently living in a little village called Chalons du Maine, about 15min from a 500,000 ppl town called Laval.  I love it!  It is such a change, from big Miami's 3million ppl.  The town consists of houses, the mayors house, a bar, and a small church. Im not kidding when i say is little, my host brother-Eduard- took me rollerblading to see the town, and it could not have lasted more than 15-20min.  But hey, the church bells rings every hour and it fills everything with music te birds go crazy about it and fly everwhere... and i can see all this from the window in the living room!

The plane ride here was sweet, i left miami -slept 2hrs in my way to DC, and was in DC for 6hrs.  On my plane to France i met the dude in front of me and my side and we talked the whole way, so it didnt feel as long as it should have.  But again, there was no sleeping.  When i and the other 46 students arrived in France and it was raining and cold!!!! ( i had on a turtle neck, blazer and beanie and i was still cold!) We were all like this is it, theres no turning back... The first french sign-all taking pics- we really look like foreigners.  Phillipe Habault, the person in charge of the RYEs from my club (RC of Laval hoot hoot!), and his family-all very nice- picked me up at the airport.  From there i went to his house, and waited until it was time for a RC meeting.  -still no sleeping- At the meeting i met my first smiling Host parents and my thirds!  We had a 5 hr dinner!!!! When ppl say the french eat little, IT'S A LIE!!!!!!!! they eat a lot and they love it!!! The whole dinner was meat and wine, after that cheeeeeeeessssssseeeeeee!! lol after dinner (12am) we went to the house and they showed me around and my room (my own room!), i unpacked and got everything in its place, and then i crashed on my bed - 48 hrs w/out sleep! lol but hey im young, right? 

From then on it has been crazy but AWESOME. Ive been learning the language and concentrating in school. SCHOOL IS VERY DIFFERENT!!! I'll post more about that later.  In a summary, i have 10 classes, 11 books, block schedule, and a 3hr exam -sort of like FCAT- every Friday.  OH! lol and the concept of using the black board doesnt exist, my class is entirely dictated!! Then again im going to one of the top 10 schools in France!! Whoo hooo Immacule Conception!!! :D I like it though, its strict and all but you learn sooooooo much!

à bientot!

Yireh Rivera

P.S. I would like to Thank again the RC of miami airport, for giving me this opportunity, and my mom for supporting me in following it. :) i love u'all!!!!

I also have a mini website, its www.myspace.com/yrm  There you can read my blog and maybe see some pics-as soon as i get them on-  I cant send or post pics yet because the computers are not accepting my USB thumb drive so im working on it!