Happy 2009! I got to take part in the French custom of a New Year's Eve réveillon last night at Luca's Parisian friend4s apartment. Samira (the friend) warned me that it wasnt exactly a traditional réveillon because of what we ate. She explained that it's usually appetizer-like foods and you just graze. However, we had cheese puff-pastries, salad, lasagna that Luca made ( so it was authentic), crepes, and chocolate fondants (which are like gooey cupcakes). We were at the table for about 4 hours, which is how le réveillon usually works. Then, at midnight, we opened all of the windows and joined in the screaming coming from the streets and other appartments. (Samira lives in a heavily-populated area, and can see the Eiffel Tower & >Notre Dame from her appt...especially Notre Dame, it's like right across the street...CRAZY!!! I didnt quite get how people knew it was midnight without Dick Clark & Ryan Seacrest, but all of a sudden, it just got loud 1 everyone was yelling Bonne Année! After we cleaned up from le réveillon, we joined the throngs of people in the streets. Apparently, Parisians just party in the streets all night long. There was craziness...guys jumping on cars, people yelling...so we walked around for a while and decided to go to q café for a bit, and then we headed home around 230. The trains all run for free on New Years Eve, and what a circus that was!!

So anyway, that was New Year's Eve. I didnt do much of anything today bc i was sooooo tired, and i've managed to catch a French upper respiratory infection. I cough differently here than I would at home. ;-)

ok, enough of this French keyboard...if my computer were working, id write more...that just means more stories to tell in person when i get home i guess!

Bye for now!!!