if i couldn't laugh, i just would go insane

Keeping up with the going-ons in the US is hard to do when the internet is spotty and the TV doesn't cover US news, particularly economic. WaMu collapsing is no surprise, but geez. Is this crisis thing going to end anytime soon, or is it one of those chain reactions that has to burn itself out? Apparently also our government attempted a bailout deal that Republicans backed out on despite Bush preaching bipartisanship and fixing the problem ASAP. And while Obama asked tons of questions at the meeting, McCain sat there quietly, rather stupidly, and did nothing. Good job. Two thumbs up to Palin, too, who's stupidity is showing. Way to go, Republicans.

I'm distracting myself from thinking about meeting my host family tomorrow. I've managed to get all packed for the next four days and get my main suitcase to the AIFS folks who are having it delivered to Paris by freight. By the time most of you are up and about tomorrow, I'll be arriving in Paris at about 3:20 in the afternoon.

What if my host family doesn't have internet? Or what if they don't have heat? What if I have to share a room with someone I really can't stand for more than a few hours at a time? What if I'm way far away from La Sorbonne and have an hour commute every morning at rush hour on the Metro? What ifs. Although, tomorrow night, apparently the host family makes a special dinner for their new foreign student, and I'm excited. Real, homecooked food.

I'm also watching, one episode at a time, season 8 of Smallville. Hooray for iTunes. Here's the thing: the show basically sucks. It's unintentionally humourous. Clark Kent can't act, although he's hot. He's got this perpetual puppy dog expression, and spent a good 7 years pining after the most obnoxious girl to have ever lived on a TV show. There's a new character to the Superman mythos who serves as another journalistic influence in Clark's life––his best friend Chloe. At first, for about 3 seasons, I liked her character. She had spunk, and was more intelligent than the other girl. Now, she's just gotten obnoxious too. And pathetic. She can't do anything without Clark's help, and visa-versa.

So why do I watch, you wonder? Good question. While babysitting this summer, the kids watched all 7 previous seasons and got me caught up. And I fell in love with their version of Lois Lane. She is my favourite Lois of all time. The daughter of a three-star general, she kicks butt literally, she's snarky, and she isn't in awe of Clark. She's probably the only woman on the show who isn't. So I watch because I hold out hope that she will whip Clark's butt into shape and the Superman we all know and (some of us, anyway) love will emerge from this whimpy, whiny guy. The banter between Lois and Clark is cute, too.

Like I said, distractions. Five hour train ride in a cramped compartment with these kids, here I come.

And a note on bizarre things here:

1. Un americain: it's a sandwich, served on a baguette, with hamburger meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese, mustard, ketchup, and french fries. That's right, the fries go on the sandwich, not on the side.

2. The cafe on campus serves beer. It also hands out wine-bottle openers if someone has a bottle out in the courtyard, and will provide cups. That would never fly on a US college campus.