Une Longue Pause

The title that I have used for this post is a French translation for, "A Long Break," which is exactly what I have right now until my next class, French History. Grammar was canceled today on account that my professor has a prior obligation to the incoming Japanese foreign exchange students for the month. In the meantime, I'm going to recount what I've learned today and possibilities for the future. Maybe, someone out there, if anyone just happens to come across this blog by a mere twist of fate, can help me with some future travel plans!
My morning started off well, I suppose. I woke up, got dressed, popped the iPod in my ears, and made it to Geography around 9:00am. Today, our discussion revolved around the agricultural aspect of French countryside.
Whenever you look from a plane down to the earth below, do you ever see those patches of land that seem to resemble a quilt made of various tones of green and brown? Well, it just so happens that you, my friend, are looking at a systematic structure of farm fields and pastures. In France, when such agricultural land is surrounded by roads (les chemins) it is called "un quartier." It's geometrically shaped like a rectangle or square. Within "un quartier" there remains other various divided squares.
Afterward, I took an exam for the following Oral Comprehension class. I can certainly see my French improving just by my capability to comprehend larger bits of information from the super-sonic rate of conversation being thrown our way from the recorded audio tapes. I hope that I did well. We shall see.
Lunch time had finally come at this point, and we wandered over to our normal "sandwicherie," where they sell...surprise, surprise: Sandwiches galore! In France, the sandwich is the ultimate on-the-go meal, and can be found practically on every corner of every street. Bread is the ultimate sustenance of life here; more so than water, I imagine! However, on average, the ratio of French body size is incredibly thin compared to the inclining obesity rate in America. One would think that with all of these carbohydrates ingested at a constant rate due to large consumption of baguettes, croissants, and various, delicate pastries, everyone would be somewhat hefty, however, it is quite the contrary. I am still investigating this phenomenon...
Regarding "future plans," as stated earlier, my friends and I are planning a trip to Italy for our next school vacation in April. As you can see in the accompanying photo to the side, I've had the fantastic opportunity to visit Pisa last semester. I'll be sure to tell you all about it, as well as my London, "New Moon," get-a-away *(Be nice; don't judge) in an upcoming post!
This time, however, we would very much like to visit Venice, as well as Rome. Does anyone out there have any possible suggestions as to what prominent sites to see, restaurants to eat, places to stay, etc.? I would absolutely love your input, as much as I'd love to provide cultural output based on my own experiences and findings! Because I was in the Italian mood, I actually bought a large slice of delectable French-ified pizza, which was comprised of brie (a delightfully smooth, subtle cheese), thyme, and pieces of smoked "jambon" (ham). C'était tellement délicieux! *(In translation: It was soooooo good!)
Well, that's all for now folks! I'm going to try and keep you posted on my French everyday occurrences and habits. I realize, while it feels almost habitual by now, it is, in fact, a cultural experience and very much different to my own culture back home!
Hopefully, I will gain more readers in the future, but, in the meantime, I shall post a poll on what cities in Italy you prefer or believe to be the most essential and rewarding to visit.
Merci beaucoup, tout le monde, et à la prochaine!
*(Thanks a lot, everyone, and until the next time!)