Italy!!

Wow! I just found out about our school vacations here in Lyon...want to know? :) The first vacation is from the 24th of October to the 5th of November. The second is from the December 19th to January 4th. The third is from February 13 to March 1st. The fourth is from April 10th to the 26th, and then we get out of school on the 2nd of July! We get two weeks off about every six weeks, but I counted and we are still in school for about 180 days. It just sounds better, like we are in school for less time, this way. For the first vacation, on October 24th, my host family has decided to travel (by car) to Italy. We are going to stop in Pisa for one night, another small town for another night, and then spend five nights in Rome! I am really excited!!
Yesterday, I went with Ingrid, Olivia, Anne Sophie, Chloé, and Justine to Lauries house for lunch. We had noodles with a red sauce. Then, because I had told Laurie I like to bake, we made a cake:) It was yummy. Then we went back to the lycée and I had my first test (one that I understood!) in History and Geography class. Laurie had told me the day before that we were going to have a test on all the European countries and their capitals! AH! So, I went home and studdied for a long, long time. And I think I did pretty well on the test! I have had other tests, two in Physics and Chemistry class; which I did not understand at all, all I could do was write the question on my paper, and I also had one test in English class! Which I got a 14 on (out of 20). Now, I know that sounds bad, especially because my first language IS English, but its not really. Most kids are happy with 11 and 12s out of 20 here, it is NOT considered a 50 percent. If you get a 20, you are thought of as an Albert Einstein Genius-type person. Also, the test was a little difficult for me because the first part was in french and we had to translate it into English. I thought it was funny because that part was difficult for me and the others, but for a different reason. I have an essay due in French class on October 2nd, but I dont even know what it is about, so we will see how that goes...
Today, I went with Laura, Julie (my host cousin), and one of her friends, Sarah, to Place Bellecour to shop. I bought a cardigan, a tank top and a teeshirt. The first store wouldnt take my debit card, I am not sure why, so I had to get money out of an ATM. We bought sandwiches from a small stand on the Rue De La République, and they were really good! Except, a homeless man told me I should give my sandwich to him, because if I ate it I would get fat! haha! I didnt understand at first, but Julie explained it to me.
As of tomorrow, I will have been with my host family for two weeks! Thats strange, because it doesnt feel like I have been gone that long!