Happy Australia Day!

Hello there!

Happy Australia Day…Wish I had the day off! Instead… Plenty of study. In fact I hid away the whole weekend at Michel et Maryline’s to get away from it all and try to concentrate! Not complaining though, it’s really lovely and calm there. And I get a double bed, a bath and home cooked goodies, so I’m very happy! It’s a nice change of scenery.

Had my first exam this afternoon. Was OK. Another one on Friday and 4 next week, plus a project so there’s plenty to keep me busy.

Otherwise, on Thursday I will be visiting a nuke power plant with JAL! Go nuclear power! I’m really looking forward to it, should be interesting. I wonder if it’s anything like the Simpsons? Also, it’s Alice’s 21^st this week (always a big event).

But tonight I’m gonna relax a bit and celebrate Australia Day. Alice, James and I have organised cheese and vegemite sandwiches (yes we found vegemite in the world culinary aisle in Carrefour!), fairy bread, Milo, JJJ hottest 100 and beer. Here’s the invite we wrote. It was fun to write so I thought I’d share it.

Love from Alex xoxo

G'day shielas and blokes,

Holy Dooley! Fair dinkum, it's that time of year you've been waiting for – Australia Day! And we're ready to have a bonza of a night.

We know exams haven't been a piece of piss, and that we're all as busy as a cat burying shit, but you'd have to be a drongo to not take a break from being flat out like a lizard drinking. Some of you ankle biters have exams, but feel free to swing by, even for a few minutes (just enough time for a coldie or a milo).

So let's give it a burl, cobbers, no worries, she'll be sweet… Make sure you invite all your mates!

Milo, cheese and vegemite sandwiches, fairy bread, Triple J Hottest 100. BYOG. It'll be grouse.

Rock up to mine (Alice's, J021) about 9:30pm, Monday, 26 Jan, we'll have a ripper of a time. It'll be so ozzie ocker, if we had a barbie we'd be throwing shrimps on it! Remember to wear your thongs! It is the lucky country after all.

No bailing! We'll be mad as cut snakes if any of you are bludgers and don't show up!

Hooroo!

From James, Alex and Alice

One month later...

Hi all!

So I'm in my room with Jase & Sian and they pointed out that it's been a while since I last updated. Lots has happened, been very busy but will try to be quick coz it is bed time after all.

Christmas was lovely. I was in London with my uncle Claude & Mamie, staying with Geraldine, my cousin, and her partner. I really loved London. Didn't get to visit much as we were there just a few days over Christmas but we still managed to drag Mamie on the tube to visit Towerbridge, Westminster and Buckingham Palace. Lots of Christmas lights and decorations too and plenty of eating (foie gras, champagne yum yum!). Also managed to get down to Westend to see Chicago. It was fantastic (sorry to those who aren't into musicals...but it was).

So the rest of the holidays I spent in Paris, studying, eating, sleeping AND....visiting with Sian and Jase!!! It's been really nice to have them around, especially as they came packed with Milo and TimTams! It was pretty crazy with tourists, lots of REALLY long queues so we didn't actually visit much but we SAW plenty and they have the photos to prove it. Sacre Coeur, Notre-Dame, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse, Versailles...we did it all in below zero, snowing weather. Quite memorable, especially the three way snuggle on New Years Day, where afterwards I left them for dinner only to find out the next day that they never left the bed (that's a 14 hour nap!). After a wholesome lunch with Mamie with foie gras and guinea fowl (apparently the most stupid birds in South Africa) they were off to the Alps in Italy and would later come to visit me in Lyon.

Came back to INSA. Lots of study at the moment as exams are coming up soon. Went snowboarding last weekend. Was a bit of a disaster as I had a bit of a flu and the snow was really icy. Quite a few hard falls on my bottom. I honestly couldn't sit down for the next couple of days and I still have bruises all over my legs. Also had my first assessment last week!!! I don't know many people who would be happy to have an exam but it was Spanish so no pressure. I do hope I did OK though, with a surname like RODRIGUEZ and all.

Big news, I've decided to cut my exchange shorter than originally planned. It's been a great experience but I just miss those summer days too much ;) So I'll be coming home soon, after exams, incase anybody wants to throw a party...you can't get rid of me that easily.

Sian & Jase arrived just this afternoon from Geneva. Staying for a couple of nights. Went up to Fourviere tonight. It was really pretty, as always. Now we're going for another three way snuggle, that's after I do Jason's hair and have a pillow fight with Siany.

OK, good night my dears. Will try to be more disciplined with the updates in future!

Love from Alex xoxo