Let it snow let it snow let it snow

AND Paris is covered in white stuff. You know that fluffy, flakey stuff that Bowling Greeners are pretty used to? Well, Parisians...NOT so much. I mean, they don't even have plows really. Let alone salt trucks. When they get snow they're like, "AHHHHHHH what do we do?!"

It is unbelievabley beautiful to see Paris covered in snow, and to have all the streets covered in white.

At the moment I find myself trying to be a serious student in the French National Library. This library, known to the French as the BnF (Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris) has two parts to it. The "above garden" and the "Garden level" or "Rez-Jardin" the top level is open to the public but you have to buy a ticket, or buy an annual card. (As a student that would cost about 20euro) OR it's free after 5pm. (And of course packed-due to the "crise" of libraries in the city, students are always waiting to get in).

The "garden level" is for "serious" research. Meaning, only professionals can have access to it on an annual level. You can also get one day access, or 15 days access. How do they determine who gets what kind of access? Well, through interviews. Yep, I had to have a letter from thesis advisor, Middlebury College, and then my bibliography with books that can only be found in the "Rez-Jardin". My first interview, the lady I got decided my research, "the history and anthropology of death in France" was not serious enough and she told me that a card for the "above garden" would be sufficient. I said no thank you and came back another day. My second attempt, the gentleman was very impressed by the EXACT same subjet, and the EXACT same books, and therefore gave me a card for a year. However, he then added that they have stopped giving access to the "rez-jardin" to Masters students, but that he would make an exception. PHEW! I was stunned! I mean, masters students are still supposed to be doing serious research, am I wrong?! 60-80 pages isn't NOTHING. It would be different if the university libraries were well organized but they are kind of all over the place.

Anyway, the point is am always waiting for someone to walk up to me and say, "excuse-me mademoiselle, are you sure you're in the right place?" --Hopefully this is will never happen.

In other news: I must admit I haven't done much site-seeing, not much time really. I mean, learning in a foreign system is in and of-itself a cultural experience. And thus far I am surviving, or at least I think I am.

Well, better get back to work before someone sees me writing a blog instead of using the library for research!

Miss you all,
-Rebekah