Pursued and Pursuing after many things

1. Student life (learning what it means to be a student, a student wanting to go to medical school)
This week was the first week where I actually felt like I was in Paris to study, like I was a student in Paris... and not on some long vacation. My two midterms last week on public health went okay--although for the first one, I didn't completely finish. Then the third midterm today, on France and the European union, was tough because of all the readings that we had to do for it. It was all very interesting, learning all the different political party systems and the changes they have gone through and how with globalization, the extreme left and extreme right share a more similar view than with other groups within their side. And out of that, a center has evolved, which are the mainstream parties. If you'd like to know, I'd love to explain it all to you... history is fascinating.

2. L'invite (learning again that i love learning language)
After the midterm on Thurs, I went to see a French movie with Monica and Greg. L'invite. It wasn't great... I wanted to see a French movie to practice my French. L'invite is about a husband, who invited a CEO of a company over for dinner, hoping to be hired. The whole movie, the neighbor keeps giving the husband and the wife advice on how to prepare this dinner and he also criticizes their simple old-fashioned taste in art (Picasso) and music (some French oldie). So they try to remodel their house and blah blah... Finally the CEO comes for dinner, and apparently likes simple old-fashioned people... and in the end they get the job. and that was the end of the movie. I think I would've enjoyed the film much more if I understood more of French humor and if I understood more French. So until then.... I'll stick with dubbed in French American movies.

3. Pursued by God, Pursuing God (learning that He is my creator and I was created in His image)
Friday night, I had my group's first bible study. It went very well--I'm with an awesome group of girls. It just so happens that we are two Americans (i am one), two Canadians, two Russian, and two Brazilian girls. There, we answered four basic questions:

1. What are your goals for the year/your time in France?
2. What are your fears?
3. What is one area in life that you are struggling with?
4. How can this group best support you?

I think those are really simple questions that every person should take the time to sit down and ask themselves. Well questions 1,2 and 3. And they are questions that you don't ask yourselves once... but every quarter or every new school year so that at the end of that quarter or the end of that year, you can assess yourself.

This summer, I learned to ask myself three questions that were very simple but profound as well.

1. What did I learn about myself this past week?
2. What did I learn about people this past week?
3. What did I learn about God this past week?

If I can ask myself these questions, it presumes that I am learning. At least, they allow me to evaluate IF I'm learning and what learning those things MEAN in my life. How should it affect me, the way I relate to other people and the way I relate to God? Otherwise, I guess can go on living my life without ever stopping to think about it. I think it's possible to live a pretty good life that way.

I'd say this past week, I'm learning that God pursues after me, even while I'm in Paris, He runs after my heart and tugs at it. When I think of God pursuing after me, I think of Jonah being thrown overboard and eaten by a great fish. Because even though Jonah ran away from God (well he thought he could run away from God), God provided the great fish to swallow him up and give him a second chance.

I feel as if I'm in a big fish right now, because I'm so disconnected with the life I had at home, I'm just in a big space where I have lots of time to myself. Jonah spent three days in the fish praying to God. I have three months in this fish, and I feel like I should be using my time so much more wisely!

I had set out to figure out who I am (choosing my favorite type of eggs, so to speak ^__^) and I know that (well after a month of meandering) my identity comes from my relationship with God. So I will pursue after God, in these next two months.

4. Loss (being a part of the culture, finding that i like the rugby but not the movies)
Saturday went to Chinatown for dinner with Monica and Rachael. Watched the big game, France vs. England... France was up 9 to 8 until 73 minutes into the game (a game lasts 80 min). Then England's number 10 (he's cute but I cannot forgive him for what he did) scores 3 points by a kick. And the French was losing 9 to 11! I almost could not watch... and sadly, with four minutes left, England scores again.... winning 14 to 9. Five points... in the first five minutes of the game, England scores a touch down---5 points. I bet the French wish they didn't let them go that easy that early in the game. I was so sad on Saturday night.

Well, in the other semi-final game, South Africa won against Argentina. So this Friday, France will play Argentina for third place.

5. La Bagagerie (still hanging on to materialistic things)
Then Sunday, I went shopping at Gallery Lafayette... an amazing store to walk through and shop at if you have tons of money at your disposal. But since I'm a poor college student, I just drooled over many things with Monica. Well... they were also having a sale, so I ended up buying a bag (from La Bagagerie)... but I was going to buy a bag anyways...


en fait, that's all folks!

bon soiree!