The Wolf Pack

The second week of my study abroad adventure is over.  It's crazy how quickly the days pass!!  Well, on one hand it feels like I've been here for months but on the other hand it's as if I blinked and two weeks went by.
This week I went to classes and chose which electives I wanted to take.  After the placement testing I was placed in level B2+, which is apparently very advanced.  I didn't realize how advanced my level was until I started classes and learned that three of my fellow classmates are former French teachers.  YEA.  There are THREE Madame Query's taking my class with me.  A few other students in my level have been living in France for several years;  My friend Sarah and I are the youngest students. Obviously, the language classes are terrifying.  I do not feel like I belong in such an advanced level, but that's where I was placed so I feel like I'm probably supposed to be there, right?  I can understand the majority of everything, I just can't respond quick enough with the right words.  We'll see how next week goes.
Other than classes, I've had another week of culture and bliss.  I don't have classes on Fridays, so this past Thursday night I went out with a group of friends.  There was a club reserved for the Fac de Lettres (my campus) so we got cheap tickets to get in.  Oh, before the club (which was exactly what you expect: bright lights, loud music, french DJ yelling into a microphone every ten minutes) we all went to this bar that sells shots that are lit on fire.  I don't even know what alcohol was in it but there was a lemon on top with honey and burnt sugar and you drink it through a straw. That was pretty cool...it was a fun night.  Friday night since we were so exhausted we just went to the movie theatre- Le Cezanne- and saw Qu'est ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu.  The film wasn't too great but it was a relaxed way to take in more culture so, it was a good time.
Saturday we climbed Saint Victoire! We see this mountain everyday from our dorm and now we can look at it and say, "I was on top of that mountain." We came, we saw, we conquered.  I actually enjoyed hiking a lot more than I expected.  I know, everyone back at home is shocked that I would ever do that.  Trust me, I'm shocked too.  Seeing my city and the surrounding area was such a beautiful experience though and it was worth all the sweat.
Today Matt and I went down to the produce market and I bought the best grapes I've ever tasted (grown in Provence, of course) and goat cheese with the herbs of Provence, along with other delicious foods.  I'm in food heaven.
As far as new foods/drinks for the week I've had a crêpe stuffed with spinach, mushroom and cheese, a chicken sandwich with peppers, onions and french fries, a salmon and spinach quiche, chocolate croissants and 3 different interesting beers: Picon, Grimbergen, and Grimm Rouge.
I've noticed here that the food portions are outrageous.  Everyone remarks on how much food you get in the states but I've never been able to completely finish a meal I buy here.  It's not a bad thing, but I feel so very wasteful!!
However, I feel comfortable here now.  I know where I'm going (most of time), I'm not terrified of ordering at a restaurant, and I can get handle the high temperatures.  Just wish me luck with my terrifying advanced level courses.  Here's to another week.