Well hello there...

Whoa! What?! Cortney is posting again??

I know. Crazy right?

Sorry about ditching on this for so long. I started writing so many times but then I thought I should just wait, or I didn't have time to finish. So... I finally and done with homework so I have a few minutes before bed to write you all!!

So lets see, since school started life has been INCREDIBLY stressful. I really wanted to drop down into the level below me, but like mom always quotes "I can do hard things." So I decided to stick it out and see the progress I could make. In a lot of my classes everything is going well, I understand the teacher, I get the subject, and I'm doing well on the assignments. Yet, there are a few others that I just feel... like I'm a third grader and they handed me a Jr. in high school's work load and expect me to be good at it. Its really really rough. And the girls I'm with are OK about helping me but they get annoyed by me asking so much and not understanding a lot. Its really hard. I've taken the least amount of classes out of everyone and I'm in the highest class. There is SO much I was never even taught, but am expected to know. I'm very bad at speaking the language, and most of the time I have just been completely depressed and/or discouraged over the past few weeks.

But then ya know, I had to realize, I'm in France! So many people would kill for my spot. And I came here for fun. This is supposed to be enjoyable to me. This isn't for my major, and to tell the truth, if I flunk one of these classes it will do nothing to my transcripts. Yet there I was cryin pretty much every night wanting my headaches to stop and for everything to just go away. But what do you do when you get completely discouraged? Turn to someone who can help, and the person who can always help up stairs! So I started reading the BOM like I've never read it before. I started on October 9th from the beginning and I've already finished with the book of Mosiah! I got my inspiration from my lovely cousin Kelsey and my buddies out in the mission field to try that. Anyways, its AMAZING how much of a difference it makes!! I've been so much more positive. And more of a peacemaker with the people around me. Also, yesturday I've finally gotten in touch with the members around this area. You wouldn't believe how excited they were to have me. This city is huge, as in bigger than Phoenix but they only have 3 wards and 50 young single adults. So they bent over backwards to help me out, drove me to an institute class, and are getting me a French copy of the Book of Mormon (Livre de Mormon hehe) so I can practice reading my French. And I've been so much happier the past two days with other people I know in the city. I definitely don't feel so alone and helpless anymore. The sister missionaries even offered to give me French lessons so I don't feel so left behind in my college courses. Its pretty awesome!

Other than that, its turning fall here! All the trees are changing colors and its getting colder and very rainy. So far I like it but I miss the sunshine too. I bought a little flower for my dorm to brighten my winter up. Its very pretty. I hope she doesn't die. I need to name her.

So, the grand total of people getting engaged and/or married since I've been in France has come to 9 as of yesterday. I can't even BELIEVE that is possible. Speaking of, family you will get a kick out of this, one of those individuals is Jenny Sturman if you haven't heard already. Ohhh goodness! How crazy is that?

I'm trying really hard to think of the cool things I've seen since I've last updated, but I don't think there has been anything. Honestly. I have spent the last forever cooped up in my room studying my face off to no avail. I've gone shopping multiple times and haven't bought anything. :/ Everything here is expensive! I need to find something totally worth it. Mehhhh....

So I'm off to Italy next week! But first I'm going to Paris for a few days. I can't wait to see the Eiffel tower!! Or anything else there! We want to go to Versailles too witch will be SO amazing. Then from Paris, we fly to Rome, visit the Vatican and Colosseum and whatever else we can. Then a train to Florence so I can visit my favorite works of art in person! I will probly cry my eyes out. Then to Venice! To ride in a gondola and get fat. Then back to Lyon after that. I'm so excited for this trip. It will be so nice to get out and relax. Even though I have a ton of homework to do over break. If you all want pictures of something specific, or a little trinket from Italia let me know now!! I will have very limited computer access while traveling. :D

Well sorry for being so lame. I'll try to be much better about this. Love you all SOOOOOOO much! I couldn't ask for a better family! MWAH!