thank you all your help and advice for my trip. Aix-en-Provence is
beautiful and I'm very, very happy to be here. I pick up my motorcycle
from the dealer on Tuesday afternoon, so Cassis may have to wait for
next weekend.
I'll send you an update a little later, but in the meantime I wanted to
tell you that my french teacher was so impressed by the French you've
taught me that she had me change to a third year conversational class.
So now I have a 201 grammar class, a 300 level conversation, and a 300
level class on french business practices and vocabulary (all in french,
of course). And, I don't want to misconstrue that this is an easy
french program. Many of my classmates in the 200 level course have had
french for several years; all the professors here are also tenured
faculty at the French universities here in Aix or in nearby cities.
Likewise, I've been very pleasantly surprised how well you've prepared
me to live here. I've given directions, the time, or other advise to
over ten french people in the first week. I negotiated the purchase of
my motorcycle and the insurance (and the DMV) all in French, without
outside help. I've been amazed how easy it is to understand the people
here (even with the southern accent), and I owe it all to you. Thank
you for a terriffic year and all your time and dedication.