Exams and finishing up

Not much has happened in the past couple weeks; mostly I've been preparing for and taking exams though I'm only half way done right now. All exams here are essay format; I don't think multiple choice exists in France. For the Psychology exams (I had 3 for one class) I pretty much just used the essay question to write down everything I knew from the class so hopefully that's good enough to get a passing grade (10/20, getting an "A" - 18/20 - NEVER happens and a 13/20 is a good grade). I've got two more exams left but not until May 31st and June 7th so I have a lot of time to kill in Paris now.

I went to an oenology lesson where we learned how to taste wine and describe it - colors, scents, tastes, etc. She passed around viles that contained scents that we were supposed to identify (most of them fruits) and I didn't do a very good job of it. She also hid the labels of the bottles and had us try to guess what type of wine it was and what area it was from after we had tasted it. Needless to say, we weren't too accurate, but I did get rather tipsy and was able to make dinner out of the bread and cheese she provided for us. I actually managed to do the same thing (both getting tipsy and having bread and cheese for dinner) at the party the EDUCO president sponsored to celebrate the end of the Theater class she taught.

A few friends and I did a Cinco de Mayo celebration and found a pretty good Mexican restaurant in Paris in which to eat and have some margaritas. After we went to a bar and I had Grog for the first time. To me the name suggests a heavy beer like what you would expect Vikings to have drunk from their horn-mugs, but instead I got a cup of rum with lemon, honey and sugar and a teapot of hot water to add to it. It was good, and I think it would clear up just about any cold. It also made me very sleepy; I wouldn't be surprised if this drink is the origin for the word "groggy".

We had an Amelie day where we watched the movie (which I missed since I was taking my Psyc exams) and then went to the cafe where she worked - Les Deux Moulins - for happy hour, though we were an hour early and had to find a way to kill time. I got the cafe's signature drink - Les deux moulins - and it was pretty good though small. It wasn't the greatest experience however because our waiter had a terrible attitude and refused to bring us water, but it was nice to see the place anyway.

I went to the Da Vinci Code premiere last night and what did I find? If you guessed protestors you win! Seriously, there were a large group of very conservative Catholics protesting the movie and it was big enough so that cops with riot gear were surrounding both them and the people waiting in line to get in to the movie. I can't believe that they take the movie so seriously, but I think part of it is that Parisians will find any excuse to protest and/or go on strike. Even after the CPE was repealed students protested the proposed measures to prevent the school year from being annulled - make up classes at night/on Saturdays, delaying exams, etc. I'm just ready for the school year to be over so I can do some more travelling and come home!