So did I say earlier that I missed Paris? It's a special place, but I am loving Clermont-Ferrand! It is a typical French city in a beautiful setting. It is easy to get around - very walkable with a convenient tram system. (The train station, however, has neither elevators nor escalators nor ramps - stairs only. Two flights of them. This is important when carrying luggage with six weeks' worth of clothing and law books.)
Thursday and Friday, we were guided by our fantastic French summer program director, Martine Jarnevic. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and her husband, Jean-Pierre (who is the dean of the law school at the Universite d'Auvergne) when they traveled to Jacksonville, and it is wonderful to have her guiding us through the summer program. I've been a bit nervous about the cultural differences in our law school methods, but she is making the transition very easy. Yesterday, we were able to meet up with our Florida Coastal colleague David Pimentel for a wonderful lunch, then a tour of the law school facilities. Our other French director, Marie-Elisabeth Baudoin, guided us through the classroom technology and gave us more helpful advice. They have made us all feel very comfortable and welcome.
And yesterday I successfully ordered in French deux croissants et une baguette at a boulangerie down the street from the apartment - no English spoken! Baby steps ...
Now for pictures of Clermont-Ferrand (I will post some Paris pictures later):
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| Place de Jaude |
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| View of Place de Jaude and Opera House from cafe where we ate lunch today |
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| Statue of Vercingtorix in Place de Jaude |
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| View down street from Place de Jaude - Puy de Dome is partially visible at right in background |
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