L'Assemblee Nationale!!

Alright, I'm back! It has been quite a week. Last weekend through a mutual friend here, I met a guy, Patrice, who worked for a Senator in the National Assembly for two years...which is like our Congress. We began talking and he found out I am also interested in politics and law so he offered to give two other friends and me a tour of the National Assembly sometime this week. I thought he would forget about it, BUT, to my surprise on Tuesday he texted one of my friends asking if if we still wanted a tour of the National Assembly. We said of course and after class we met up with him and we got the whole tour. It was amazing! Most French people haven't even been inside so it was exciting. We didn't have the right id to get in since we didn't realize we would actually be going but Patrice was able to pull some strings and get us in under his passport. Once we were inside the building it was amazing! Everywhere you turn there are Italian Renaissance pieces by Michelangelo and other famous Italian Renaissance artist. We saw the French Constitution, signed by President Charles de Gualle back in 1958, the National Assembly Room, the National Library, and a couple other sections of the building. Unfortunately though I didn't have my camera and they weren't even aloud, so no pictures :( Afterwords we went to a Cafe and argued about France's economics. Since Patrice is part of the Parti Socialiste it was not easy. Aughhh! Socialist!

Besides the National Assembly tour I mostly just went to class and did work. My Host family went on Holiday for the week so I had the house to myself which was a little frightening at times. I came home one night and all the lights and windows were open. Then I came inside and smelled cleaning supplies. The maid had decided to come late since the family was on vacation, but still I think I had a mini stroke or something like that walking up to the house before I realized what was going on. On Friday I sat in on a Societal Law class at the Sorbonne with a friend a met here which was neat. The Vocabulary was rough but it was interesting.

Alright it is starting to get late and I have work, but hope all is well in the States and we'll talk again soon! Jess