Today was our first day of school. I slept much better last night and even though I could have slept longer, I was thankful I rested peacefully. However, just something I have learned about Europe, they drive crazy here. Every night we try to go to sleep to the sound of screeching tires and cars racing down the street outside our windows. I don't understand the joy in reckless driving at midnight but whatevs. ANYWAY. We all woke up around 8ish and ate breakfast. None of us really got ready today but rather stayed in comfy clothes. Our first day of school outfits are on point. We started French class at 8:30. We watched a video of our french teacher going over the syllabus and then listened to her narrate powerpoint slides. We mainly just repeated French words and phrases after her and then did some partner work. I really do want to learn phrases that I can use in town because it is so nerve racking trying to communicate with people who don't speak the same language. I hate being those people who always ask them if they speak English because I don't want them to think we expect it. We are just totally helpless unless they can speak or understand English. So, I am excited to learn some useful phrases at least. At about 10 we started Our Western Heritage class. Again, we listened to a video of the teacher going over the syllabus and then listened to her narrate a powerpoint presentation. This was exhausting because it lasted like an hour and a half and we hadn't moved since 8:30. I was totally done after not moving and just listening for 3 hours. That may seem pitiful, but I'm used to only listening for half that time and with breaks in between. Also, I became dead tired at about 10:30 and wanted nothing more than to just go back to sleep. I felt exhausted. After that class, we had chapel and then lunch. Lunch was pork chops, corn, cauliflower and broccoli, applesauce, and of course bread. Always bread. It was delish. So thankful for our wonderful group leaders who are willing to cook for us all and thankful for no gano this semester. After lunch, we went to get gelato. The man did not speak English so we slightly struggled communicating with him. I got fraise (strawberry.) Loved it! We came back and I was ready for a nap but for some reason I was inclined to do some homework. I know that if I didn't spend some time on it, I'd procrastinate too much and be left in a stressful situation. Then at 3, we had a Skype session with our French teacher. She introduced herself and just mentioned a few things we learned that day and then she asked each of us our name and how we were in French and we had to respond in French. It was a little (okay a lot) awkward for everyone since it was difficult to hear and hard to remember all that we had to say. It was a hot mess but we got through it. After that I had to take a nap or die. Those were the only options. I was not functioning at all. A lot of people were going to a thrift store which sounded really interesting but if I had to sleep. I slept a little and then a little homework before dinner. For dinner we had salad and cheese pasta. No, not mac and cheese. Cheese pasta. After dinner we went out exploring Verviers tonight. We just walked down streets and looked at the buildings and people. There was this huge concert here tonight and there were a lot of people on the streets. It was a free concert but there was security to enter it so we decided to not check it out but it was hopping and from we could hear it sounded pretty cool. We walked to the McDonalds and a shopping area. Everything closes early here like 6 or 7 so we didn't get to go in anything. The McDonalds was open though and it was really nice. They had a lot of options and it was two floors with an outside balcony and its view was gorgeous. Then we came back and I had to work on homework because school does still happen here even though I like to pretend it doesn't. I also got to briefly talk to my Benjamin so that ended my day on the highest note possible:)

Tomorrow: The market and Maastricht