Il sent comme l'hiver

It smells like winter.

Or at least winter is quickly approaching. Its starting to get dark earlier and tonight, I suppose because tonight's satrday night, the streets were bustling with people, lights, and cars- just like the christmas shopping season. I'm ready for it though. The air is crisp and when I jog its cold in my lungs, but it feels good. The other day I just stopped and breathed in that fresh, woodsy, smoky smell that reminds me so much of winter.

The mornings are lovely. I had to wake up early one day [7:30am] and was humbled to see a beautiful purple sunrise spread across the sky:

Really, the cold came in one day- the day with all of the winds last week. It got really cold that day, and just stuck!

So what has happened this week? On monday I had my organ lesson and my teacher gave me the key to the organ in the huge cathderal where I was supposed to meet her last week [see previous blog for photo of the organ]. She gave me the key!! So I can practice there whenever I want pretty much, but I always awkwardly have an audience of hordes of whispering tourists, all snapping photos or video of the organ, and therefore- me. haha.

I feel like I have a different adventure every day that I'm here. On the first day that I went to this organ on my own, I had to try to figure out a) how to get up to the organ b) how to turn on the organ c) how to escape from the organ.

My teacher warned me that once you were at the organ console [keyboards] often it was difficult for students to find the door to leave, as it is hidden in the decoration of the wall. Indeed, I did find myself in what felt like a nancy-drew mystery trying to press all parts of the wall to find the door when it was time to leave.

Here's my path:

1. find the door around behind the organ

2. Climb a stair case that's in the ancient wall. Of course, at the top of the stair case there is a painting of JS Bach- something that must be included in every organ entrance everywhere.

3. Here's from the top of the stairs looking down.

4. and then, when its time to leave the organ balcony, I have to try to find a door in the decorated wall. Can you tell that this is the exit here?

So that was my organ adventure for monday. Oh, on thursday I was in the balcony practicing when all of the sudden one of the tall lamps up in the balcony with me started sparking and caught on fire!! I had to escape through the wall and run and get someone. I was afraid that the whole beautiful organ was going to burst in flames!! haha. The fire disappeared though, and I just took it as a sign from God that I should stop practicing for the day. :D

So, moving on. I'm going to give the abridged version of this story: I love my parents. :) They both sent me unbelievable packages this week and they're so kind. On wednesday I had the most phenomenal lunch- grapes, salad, and PBJ. Thats right-- those things you take for granted, ho-ho! not here! In my salad were one of my most missed items- craisins... mmmm... and the PPJ... peanut butter is pretty much nonexistant here... weird right? I was so excited about my lunch this day, I had to document it. Thanks to mom and dad for making it happen. :D

Tuesday we had a wine-tasting dinner that was a lot of fun. I like rose and white.. not red... and not more than 2 glasses at any meal. :) I also now know how to swirl wine and look like I know what I'm doing.

Wednesday and thursday were blurs of school work and the usual. Lots of work here. I'm staying on top of it, though I really want to spend some time composing. I've been focusing more on french than music here, but I suppose thats understandable.

Friday [last night] was an epic adventure: Every one in the group decided a couple weeks ago that we would through a huge Around the World party- each apartment was a different country with different foods, games, decoration, and of course drinks! My apartment was the great U.S. of A!! We had frenchfries, a bunch of american candy that we were able to find here (M&Ms, Twix, etc), LOTS of Beer, and of course a bit of Whiskey. My roomate, Lindsay had this phenomenal idea for transporting all of these items that we had to buy. You see, we of course have no car here and the grocery can be up to a mile away. 2 small girls transporting tons of heavy bottles and food? She proposed that we actually bring a suitcase to the grocery and put all of the beer in it and then wheel it back home. It was the best idea ever. and what's even funnier- not a single person in the grocery gave us a second look as we loaded up our suitcase at the end of the checkout isle. :D Here we are trying to heave the suitcase up our 4 flights of stairs:

It was hilarious, that night the entire group [20 students] plus all of our french roommates [perhaps 12 frenchies], plus 4 parents that were visiting(!)-- were all walking, running, laughing through the streets of aix! We had a great time in the cool evening air!

Needless to say, every one's apartments were wrecks saturday. haha. We all slept in today, got up, and cleaned a lot. It was lots of fun :D

Classes are going well- I feel like I have much more time here to be much more prepared for my classes. Its a good feeling. In other news, I lost my boyfriend and then successfully made a delicious quiche for dinner tonight!!

Midterms are NEXT WEEK. ahh! Then we get a vacation- I'll be in Vienna! :D Can't wait.

With love,

Dani

Here I am, thrilled to have heinz ketchup at a restaurant. the simple things we miss. :)