In the immortal words of Socrates, "...I drank what?"

Yay! Was on vacation in Paris, in and around Tours, and for two days in Metz (where I checked my email once, but that was about it) with Mom. It was fantastic! We saw so much! I feel like I have great stories, but I'm actually sick at the moment, so you only get two, and neither of them actually have anything to do with the vacation.

Number 1:
I got into UBC! Yay! Woohoooo! I am excited. And relieved. And I feel oh so validated. But now I am also facing a dilemma - UCSD, or UBC? What shall I do?? I've been back and forth over and over, making one decision then the other, then reversing them again. I don't know. Both schools have amazing programs, faculty, resources, etc., I think I could be truly happy at either place. I've always wanted to live in the Northwest, and, who knows, may never get a chance to again. But, being in San Diego has definite perks as well - I've got lots of friends and family in California, my grandmother lives in San Diego, and I'll never have an opportunity to live so close to her again, most likely. We're very close, cause I lived with her and my mother and my great-grandmother for nearly five years when I was little. And she would be so ecstatic if I came to live there. But I can't make my decision that way, or, I could, but I don't want to. Either way, I will be closer to that part of my family than I've been in a long time, so I could look at it as a win-win situation.

I think it will probably come down to financial assistance. I have a guesstimate from UCSD, and no info from UBC, but in either case nothing is concrete yet, they are still waiting for financial information themselves, seeing if they were awarded the money they expected, etc. So, that may give me a hand in deciding.

I'm so lucky, and so happy to have a choice. The hard part is that it needs to be made. I shall keep you updated on my inner turmoil regarding this situation. If anybody has any suggestions, tell me? Thanks!

Number 2:

This is perhaps the most ironically funny picture I have ever taken, and I am in love with it:




This is a photo taken in Strasbourg, walking around Petite France. We (we meaning me, roommate C, and C's friend from the US who is living in France for a semester) went on a walkway over the water behind some stores, and I noticed an old, sad, discarded Christmas tree wrapped in netting in the canal, underneath a store. What makes this so funny is that the store is a Christmas store. I will now translate the writing on the door for you.

From top to bottom, in French:
Un Noël en Alsace
Venez retrouver l'Authenticité des Traditionnels "Marché de Noel" d'Alsace
Une visite s'impose!
Entrée Libre au 10, rue des Dentelles
Par La Place Benjamin Six <-- à 50 m
Par Le Pont St Martin <-- à 70 m

And, in English, for the most part:
(A) Christmas in Alsace
Come rediscover the authenticity of the traditional 'Christmas Market' of Alsace
You must visit! (Literally, A visit imposes itself!)
Free/Open entry at 10 Lace(s) Road (Road of Laces, Lace, like, the material)
50 meters by Benjamin 6 Place (probably a square)
70 meters by the St Martin Bridge

I think it's hilarious. It made my morning.

Well, that's all for now, folks, cause I'm sick and my head's a little swimmy at the moment. I'm going to watch something until I fall asleep. Goodnight!