"And I know that I am like the rain." -Paul Simon

The woman we are staying with is the best! She is 99% Omi (my grandmother) and 1% a smoker. Her name is Caroline. She hums and sings all the time, she is so so sweet and always makes us laugh. She and her husband have 5 daughters, but only one still lives at home. Her name is Aude (pronounced like Ode), she is 25 and is so nice and beautiful. She is engaged, preparing for her wedding in June. Our host family is great, we love them. Their house is on the outskirts of Paris in the most charming little village called Boulonge. It's beautiful. For those of you who have seen Amelie, it is a neighborhood just like the one where Amelie lives. Caroline told me that I am "very tiny when [I] walk" and this morning as I was walking down the stairs she said "petite petite petite" with every step that I took. She really reminds me so much of Omi, which is perfect.

Rachel and I had a huge day today. Class started at nine and we have about a 30 minute metro journey to the institute building in Paris. Class is suuuuupère børing but it's only an hour and a half.

After class we visited the Notre Dame and I was wrecked upon discovering that the gargoyles are not a very lively bunch as I had been raised to understand. It was beautiful though. Jaw-dropping in fact.

After that, Rachel, our cute friend Olivia Mayer (no relation to John) and I went and got lunch at a classic little cafe in the Latin Quarter. On the way we stopped into just about every patisserie we could find. Our favorite was owned by a Tunisian named Saied ("sy-eed"). Delicious. Darling. Wish you were here.

I didn't like my hideous raincoat, plus it was not very warm so I bought this one new one and I like it a lot. Plus it makes me feel more french because all the girls here wear cool coats.

Rachel and I rule the metro. Okay, well we're just really good at it now and we love it. There are the cutest kids on the metro! Today I sat next to this little girl who said to her mom "En fait, j'ai fait une blague!" Which means "In fact, I was making a joke!" I want to take one home. All the little boys dress like Jordan Rands. Even with hats.

So far I have seen nothing but rain. But as Owen Wilson taught me, Paris is the most beautiful in the rain. I have nothing to compare it to, but I agree that a wet, shiny Paris is the most poetic thing I have ever beheld. A wet, shiny Paris full of tiny dogs is enough that I could lay down and die in the street the happiest woman alive.

Rachel and I plan to go out to dinner with some friends. Today I saw the French version of Aunt Angie and just about every 7 1/2 guys I see are the french version of Dave Fryer.

Shout outs: Debra! I wish you were here with me to see all these flower shops! I think of you every single time I pass one. Marina: today we saw high-heeled  hip hop shoes and thought of you. Mom, Dad, Family: miss you. Kobe: #############

Off to my rainy Paris. Forecast for the next ten days: rain, rain, rain, rain. Or as the French say: pluie, pluie, pluie, pluie.

An example of the dogs I keep obsessing about. 

Rachel, Olivia et moi at Notre Dame.

Yummy little things that we ate with Saied.

Rachel and I holding hands outside the Institute building.