Umm... there was some reason I wanted to come on here but now I forgot. This week has been more exciting then the last as I ran into some of my friends who stayed here, on the weekend. The two chinese guys (Bin & Ling) hosted a hotpot night at their appartment... really neat place... it looks like an old church and is 700 years old. Anyway, the food was delicious and we had some nice beer and wine to go with it... fun night.

Yesterday I learned a lesson on why it's important to not just jump on the train while it's departing. We were supposed to go to the beach (in Sête... 20 minute train ride) but ended up in Toulouse (2 hour plus train ride)... long story short, there were two trains too Toulouse and we accidently took the one that didn't stop at any of the small towns in between because it left late, exactly at the same time as our other train... but Toulouse was nice... just very very cold and everything was closed because it was sunday... I appreciate Montpellier now... it's freaking freezing all over Europe... I don't know what the deal is this year...apparently it's brutal up North... worse than Canada.

Anyway, my last week is winding down and it's sad to think I'll have to leave... yah I am anxious to backpack but at the same time I will miss the friends I have here. It's quite a different experience when you're the student (to any coworkers, that may read this)... special time. Can't believe it's already been 11 weeks here. Been worth it, that's for sure.

Oh and I just found out that I might be able to visit Romania... after Zurich, I think I'm heading to Eastern/Central Europe, then hopefully Greece. That's my rough plan, at least.

Ummm... leaving Montpellier in exactly one week. Kind of weird to realize that I'll need to work out some sort of logical route across Europe... there are just too many things to see. So far I've got Paris, and then Switzerland... yah. Dan's going to Barcelona from there but as I already visited there for a week and it's in the opposite direction, I'll probably head east or south... too where, I'm just not sure.

So it will be my 11th week at the school... in hindsight that is actually a significant amount of time. I think it's been a good experience on the whole, but I am quite bored these days. Even though I originally wanted to stay for 6 months (because that would be ample time to improve my french), I really doubt I could stay here much longer. It's really nice but it's too small and people leave too frequently... I don't want to be that guy who's been at the school too long. I do know though, that I will really miss my homestay family. They are so incredibly nice and have been really good to me. I kind of feel bad because I extended my stay here by only one week but it's going to be the busiest week of the year for them. They're cousins come for one night tonight, two more students arrive tomorrow, and now their son is returning home early this week... so me being here this week causes a bit of dilemma for rooms and beds. Despite this they even offered to let me stay here free if I wanted (I was explaining to the daughters why I couldn't stay longer, when they said this). Really incredible people... but I'm super looking forward to backpacking, so I turned down the offer. I hope to come back here to visit, however, before I return to Vancouver.

So yeah, going to Paris next Saturday night. Meeting Dan there, the Canadian guy I met by the crèpe stand last time I was there, and a former ELI student. Hope to spend a few days there because there was a lot I missed... it's a pretty cool city. Then I just got to figure out the rest... I'm still planning to go to Greece but my friend said it might be quicker to travel through Eastern Europe... through the former Yugoslavia that is (not included in the pass)... ya, we'll have to look into that. Then maybe we can take the boat back to Italy. Who knows? I like making it up as I go along.

And in another news, I need a haircut... I just wish I hadn't cut my hair 3 times when I arrived here.... I made a few too many accidents that has prevented me from cutting it again (ie. hair long in general with random short patches that will be painfully visible if my hair is short)

Writing two e-mails takes a surprisingly long time... don't really have any left to write this update...

Considerably bored right now... this town is quite dull and can be lonely when all your friends have left. Certainly ready to start the other part of my trip and meet my friends again in other parts of Europe. Helping out this new Japanese student who arrived Sunday. She doesn't speak a word of French and very little English... tough, as you can imagine. From what I managed to pick up, she came to France for the bread.

Boom, and there you have it. Meeting Dan in Paris on the 16th and just killing time till then... of course studying hard and learning a lot in the afternoon classes even though they're quite tricky.

Also, received my ICBC compensation... big relief... I really needed that... now I'll only have money problems when I go back to Canada.

Peace. Will write something better when I have more time... I hope, at least.

Does anyone know much about applying for student loans or whether I have to be in Vancouver to do so? I really need one, or else, I'm going to have to drop out of school. Anything you know would be much appreciated.

Got back to Montpellier two days ago... was harder to switch back to French after a week in Spain - for the first day at least. It really makes a difference when you only speak French because already after two days here, I have been speaking fine again (relatively that is). Tomorrow my friend will leave for Paris. Kind of sad but I may be able to meet up with her somewhere in Europe so it's not all that bad. Also, we only ever speak English, so maybe it's good for my progress that I take a break and focus on my studies...

Speaking of which, I just finished my first afternoon class (I exchanged the week I missed for some afternoon classes) and I am really tired. I probably will sign up for the afternoon classes for the next two weeks as well, just so I can learn as much as possible, but it's tough studying that much. We were doing some exercises from the DALF (French TOEFL)... they were alright, but after a full day of learning, I don't think my brain can work anymore. The morning classes are virtually entirely oral driven, whereas the afternoon classes focus on writing and comprehension. Really good practice but I'm pretty sick of studying... I'm going to stick with it and work really hard for the next 2 and a half weeks but after that, I am most definitely looking forward to travelling.

Other than that, I REALLY wish that I had bought a digital camera in Vancouver on boxing day. I could have bought one for 200 Canadian (a&b sound boxing day sale) but I was trying to limit my expenditures before I left and I decided against it (opted for a 15 dollar camera instead). I figured that was a lot of money, but really it's not, and I think it's totally worth it. I'm envious of all my friends who have one, and being able to take short videos is just so much cooler than my ghetto Olympia cam. Oh well... I can always buy one the next time I come here for 5 months.... yah.

In Barcelona right now, killing time with my friend and her kid sister at an internet cafe. It's a fun city, I'm sure but we haven't been able to enjoy much of the night life. Yesterday, a ton of students came from my school in France came here and we were supposed to meet up to go out but it looks like we were inexplicably ditched. Quite lame but we have enjoyed our time here nevertheless. I got to see many works of Gaudi, the museums of Picasso and contemporary art, and even bought some cheap sunglasses which were slightly less gringo than my previous pair (in the words of my slightly culturally elitist Mexican companion). Yah, Mexicans are like that, or at least about 95% of those I have met. Apparently Canada is the same thing as the USA. Could have fooled me.

Anyway, I'm updating right now because I have nothing else to do while I wait for my friends to finish checking their e-mail. Returning to Montpellier tomorrow afternoon, where I can resume the learning of French. Will be there for another 3 weeks I think... depending on if I ever get my money. Have to leave it to the last minute thanks to the unconditional love and trust of my parents. Next week is going to be quite lame as my close friends will leave. I want to keep studying but I'm really looking forward to meeting up with Dan next month and hopefully other friends after that. I just wish I had more time (oh, and money... that's important too)

On being a lazy tourist:

I was just casually juggling a socccer ball for the first time I have been here and am now retardidly fatigued. It's weird because I was in great shape before I came here, but I haven't done any exercise in the last two months. Thankfully I get to walk a lot (my last bus stops at 8:30 pm and I live outside the city) but it's not the same. So I'm not actually getting any fatter, just lazier! Hooray! I guess I can worry about that later though, when I'm huffing and puffing profusely on the soccer pitch this summer.

Oh and it looks like I might be staying in Barcelona for nearly a week. It's bad enough that I'm going during the week but I just found out that a bunch of other students are going for the long weekend, so I might stay a bit longer. Should be lots of fun.