This last week we took it easy after our German vacation and we didn’t do much that’s interesting to blog about.  There was of course the Charlie Hebdo incident in Paris.  It’s been front page news every day, and there was a peace demonstration a few blocks from our house Wednesday, which the paper said 500 people attended.  Today (Sunday) we were hanging out in our apartment and heard a big commotion out the window.  We looked out to see another peace march for Charlie Hebdo going by right on our street (see picture below).  It seemed interesting so I went out and followed them to the big square below the cathedral.  There was some talking in French, some clapping, and a little area where people were lighting candles and laying flowers.  Otherwise business as usual here. In a few months we will probably see what, if any, effect it has had on France and Europe.

We are still waiting on our residence permits, which we applied for on December 10th.  One website said they generally arrive within two weeks, but when we emailed the office we were informed our permits have not been processed yet and they are experiencing computer problems, so we should expect them one to two months from when we applied.  It’s a little frustrating as we need the permits to open a bank account, buy health insurance, sign up for cheaper cell phones, and get a new apartment (our current apartment is short term housing with the lease up on February 28th).  So hopefully they come soon.

This week we also went to a bar to celebrate one of Melissa’s group mate’s 31st Birthday.  It was fun and hopefully we are making some friends.  I tried to sign up for French lessons through the university but got put on a waiting list and was told the class was already full.  I’m not too disappointed about that, I’ve been having fun learning French on my own and am curious if I can become fluent without lessons.

My last bit of news, for my Minnesota friends, is the weather.  It’s been so hot here, 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, I’ve had to stop wearing my winter coat out grocery shopping.  The temperature is supposed to dip this next week though, so hopefully I can then get some use out of my winter clothes.