"Il n'y a qu'un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé."

For those of you who aren't fluent in French, the quote above means "There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved".

It's a Wednesday night, and it's about 8:30 and we're all watching a movie in a theatre type room called "The Flying Buttress". It's a Wednesday tradition where the Abbey plays movies that may be mandatory for certain students in certain classes, but for the most part, we all like to watch them. Today is a movie called the Enemy of the State... Not exactly my cup of tea, but last week we watched a movie called "La Vie en Rose", which is a movie about the life and death of Edith Piaf. It was probably one of the best movies I've ever seen. My friends and I are now obsessed with the movie and Piaf.

Speaking of traditions, there's a tradition that my friend Alexis and I sort of started/continued. Tuesday nights here in Pontlevoy is now a themed party night at the bar across the street. Last week was called "A Black and White Affair" and last night we hosted one called "Tacky Tuesday". They both have been very successful and last night was by far one of the most fun nights here in France so far. Alexis and I came up with a playlist and gave it to the bar owner, Julien and everyone loved it! Julien decorates the bar too, and all of our local friends come out too. Next week is probably going to be pajamas or dress all in one color.. We don't have a lot of options. Not many of us packed costumes lol.

This weekend Alexis, Katie, Lindsey and I are going to Brussels and Bruges. We're leaving tomorrow night to arrive in Paris and we're staying in a little hostel by the train station so we can catch a 7 am train to Belgium. It's pricey, but I gotta start traveling outside of the Loire Valley! We're planning on staying in a little hostel and we're visiting trenches from WW1. It's going to be a BLAST.

I am especially excited for our Paris Week!! We found out today that we're staying in a hotel downtown. I'm most excited for Normandy Beach though. Being a history buff, it's going to be amazing visiting Omaha and the American Cemetery. Lindsey and I will leave from Paris the following day to Dublin. After two nights, we're off to London and I get to meet Alexis's parents and see Katie as well. Lindsey and I then arrive in Rome on Easter Sunday and staying in this little all women's hostel near the Vatican. It's going to be amazing.

The part I'm most excited about is after Rome, Lindsey, Alexis, Katie, Shelby, Tori and I are all meeting in the Italian Rivera called Cinque Terre for two nights. We rented out a 2 bedroom apartment and we will be 100 yards from the beach!!! Tell me how cool that is going to be!!!!!!

When we get back, it'll be my 21st birthday and we'll definitely stay in town during that weekend. I'm not totally sure where I will be traveling after that, but I want to see either Poland or see Venice. It's all just so expensive!!!
I adore my friends here and I'm so thankful to be waking up in a castle every morning in the heart of France. Send me letters and packages :)