...like Americans in a foreign country.

Today was the first day Union had control over. All and all, it was a great day. It started off with a run along the canal. My legs screamed the whole time, and for the rest of the day thereafter. Host Mom and Dad, headed to the "salle de musculation" right after I returned from my run, so for the first time, it was quiet. It was great! I had my Special K (gross) with chocolate, milk which absolutley no indication of fat content, and tea. I haven't really looked yet, but I feel like Tropicana OJ-No Pulp-Calcium is something I'm not going to see for a few months. And morning cartoons...I don't think I'm getting them either. Instead I pulled up some CNN action on my computer and doubled it with the NY Times online. I much prefer Bugs and Daffy to Georgia protests and McCain taking the lead.
Anyhow, at about 10 I ventured into the bowels of Rennes public transportation for the first time. IT IS AWESOME! We have unlimited use swipe cards for the Metro and busses, so its easy. Bus line 15 is an articulating bus with comfy seats, and again those damn buttons you have to press to let you out. I took it right into la Republique station where the group met to get CELLLLLLL PHONES!!! We walked in the the boutique for Orange (the verizon of France), and the clerks immediately put on their *deer-in-headlights* faces. You might too, if 22 loud, bright American college kids rolled in all wanting 1 of 5 different cell phones. My number is 06.89.12.60.23. If you need to call ask my mom how, because there is a country code et al.
After the cell adventure we met the charter bus to take us to the CHATEAUs where we would spend the afternoon. The first was a Medieval Chateau called Chateau de Combourg built by the famous Compte de Chateaubriand. It was dark, musty, and we could only see half of it because the great great great great great great great great grandchildren are living there. Its haunted too. Stellar place to raise your kids.
Chateau de Bourbansais was Renaissance castle...and way cooler. It had lots of windows and was really colorful. We also got to watch a fox hunt (really cool), and a falcon show. We 're probably going out on the town for the first time tonight, so hopefully I will have some entertaining Union-style stories to report. A demain.