in which french computers are beyond difficult.

If the spelling (though I do my obsessive best to maintain it) and the punctuation (definitely more of a problem) in this post are less than ideal, its because the French, naturally, have an entirely different keyboard than the Americans. Also, I cant find the apostrophe, and its driving me nuts. Typing is very slow, so this will be short.

I am in Bordeaux at my host familys house. The family is a woman with a grown daughter, who lives elsewhere, and her mother, whose voice I just cannot understand no matter how hard I try. But they are both very sweet. And they own a dog, a dachshund named Arcennes. He is completely ridiculous and I am in love with him. The house is in the centre historique of Bordeaux, so old and chilly, but lovely. Though I have to duck going through half the doors.

We started classes today at the Alliance Francaise, and continue tomorrow. We have class from 9 to 12 every day except Sunday, and from 2 to 5 next week too. Excursions: tour of Bordeaux tomorrow, wine chateau Sunday, the theater and symphony next week. I bought a cell phone today for emergencies (cheapest ugliest one in the shop), but calls I receive are free. Ill post the number here later, in case anyone, like, desperately needs to call me. Obtained: cell phone. Not obtained: Euros. This is in exactly the wrong order.

All French, all the time. Exhausting; but all the rest of the students are trying to do it too, so theres not much temptation to speak English. Lesley, how did you DO this for an entire year? But my accent is already getting better; namely, I finally mastered saying Bordeaux with just the right amount of gag.

People were talking in class about the things they are most nervous about for Paris: their family, getting around, classes in French with French people. The thing I am most nervous about is Parisians. Is no one else?

I would like to be able to write easily on this keyboard and long emails to people who have written me and long posts and show you all pictures, and I will, but it will have to wait until I figure out a time I can take my computer to the Alliance Francaise and use their wireless. Before I leave Bordeaux, I promise, but not sure when. Plus I need to take more pictures so I have something to show.