Don't swim in the Atlantic/ go rafting in the same week.

I've been battling with a sore throat and very sore ears since Friday, unsuccessfully. Ignoring method hasn't done much yet. Thursday the USAC kids went rafting, and the water was freezing! I also swam in the Atlantic on Saturday. Probably wasn't my best choice, but when am I going to swim in the Atlantic off of the coast of FRANCE again? Last night my ears were ringing so bad I could hardly hear Veronique at dinner. For dinner she made these mini baked egg and onion along with her speciality (basically home made ramen, no joke, she boils water with chicken bouillon cubes and adds cellophane noodles = homemade ramen = one step above ramen, and to think I came to France for home made ramen 2 days a week), salad, and yogurt for dessert.

Instead of seeing a doctor today, I went to the pharmacy because during orientation, the advisers told us that french pharmacies have a lot of good medications over the counter. I spent 16 euros on 3 medicines. One is a lozenge that numbs my throat, the other is a spray for the throat, and the last one are ear drops, which immediately made my ears feel a lot better. I might go to the doctor tomorrow if I'm not feeling any better. I need to be well for Florence ce week-end! The best part about going to the pharmacy was speaking french with the pharmacist because it was evident she didn't know any english. She would have switched to english if she knew it. Anyway, the woman was super nice and patient with me, and we communicated well.

And when I went home I decided not to pay the 1.10 euros for the bus and got a little lost. It wasn't as bad as my first week here. This time I actually understood the maps (no way!), and checked them every time I could when I crossed a bus stop. When I finally reached my house after an hour of walking, I set off the alarm AGAIN. Those people at the surveillance company must hate me : "Oh there's that stupid American setting off the freaking alarm again. Should we even bother calling this time?" I tried to set it for the main level and the upstairs, but I just don't have enough time to run up!! Especially with all the maladies I have currently. Asthmatic running up the stairs with lungs in relatively poor condition. Watch out.

It just started raining, and it sounds nice. Did I mention I was awoken today bright and early at 6:30 by the obnoxiously loud birds that make "hoo-hoo" noises? The one outside my window is a slightly slow one because its voice is really low and slow as compared with the other ones I've heard. More annoying too. Je n'ai pas de la chance..