Ces soirées-là (Oh What a Night)

Yesterday, PA went to Vitré for his basketball practice/game this weekend, and I stayed in Rennes to organize a soirée of assistants! Using facebook and texts on the phone I had just purchased, I invited everyone to meet at Place Sainte-Anne at 7. Five of us dined at Creperie Ste-Anne, and a sixth met us afterwards. We roamed the streets in search of a bar, and we even sampled some light French beer at the one we chose. Three people left by 11, so us three leftover night owls found a hookah bar to chat some more. I was home by 12:30 so that I wouldn’t miss the metro closing for the night at 12:45. The newbies I met were Katherine of Chicago, Caely of California, and Seth of DC/Montreal. Of course, we had to exchange basic info on our first meeting, but hopefully our conversations will warm up soon :)

I think I’m still rather stressed out here in general… Just having to deal in French. Like this morning I had to go to a laundromat where I had to decipher the machines and systems just to get my laundry done. I ended up jamming the payment machine with a 5 euro bill (which was recovered by a woman half an hour later who gave it back to me) and had to go to the Subway next door to beg for coins to use. I eventually asked some guys for help on how everything worked and that solved my problems.

I really do need to get better about using my French confidently and asking for help from strangers. One of the other assistants stopped to ask a woman for directions on the street yesterday and ended up with an apartment at a good price! Lucky break!

Today, I looked at more apartment announcements, but since it is the weekend, I cannot really contact anyone. I found a PERFECT place that the individual was selling herself (as opposed to an agency), so I did try to call and email her. I hope I can get it because it is gorgeous, furnished, and in a perfect location! *fingers crossed*

I was just invited to crepes for dinner made by Alexandre, but I am headed downtown again tonight after organizing another assistants’ night out via a massive facebook and text recruiting campaign. I have one confirmed for dinner, and three interested in drinks afterwards. I hope to convince everyone to go to O’Connells for Irish beer—oh, Smithicks/Kilkenny, how I miss you!

Until tomorrow my faithful followers!