I finally received my financial aid money two days ago. Not all of it, but we're getting that worked out soon, hopefully..
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But this meant that I was able to tentatively, at least, go out and buy what I needed the most. A few days earlier I'd gotten a catalog for a store nearby in the mail, and because it was also a nice day, I decided to get two birds with one stone; the other bird was riding a Velib bike. I think I mentioned in an earlier post, but there are Velib stations all over the city, including one around the corner from my building. You see then everywhere and being ridden by everyone. Men and women in suits--with heels--riding to work. Parents. Grandparents. Really hip and stylish-looking people. And tourists of course. 
The little computer at the station wouldn't read my card, so I bought a one-day pass online for less than 2 euros, got a code, and was then able to get a bike. It took a couple tries of properly getting it out it's lock, but I finally did and was off to the Giga Store.
Only, upon my arrival at the store about 5 minutes later, I realized that I couldn't figure out how to use the curly wire chain thing attached to the bike. Was I supposed to have brought my own lock?? I wasn't sure, and I certainly wasn't leaving the bike anywhere unlocked (when you rent one, they automatically reserve 150 euros from your account in the event that the bike is not returned. Yikes). So I ended up just returning it to the nearest station.
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But while I was there, a young couple arrived, getting their bikes, and looked like they knew what they were doing. So I asked the girl, trying to remember the word for 'lock'. Thankfully, I didn't have to, as she was American (from what I could tell from her lack of accent) and so she showed me the little hidden lock incorporated into the bike, along with the key that pops out when you put in the end of the curly chain. Ah-ha! Though I feel like it should've said this somewhere on the bike or at the station...
I was able to go inside, buy my things, and go back and take another bike. I'd actually gotten a toaster oven, the biggest of that day's purchases, and it only barely fit the basket on the bike. But it did, even if it was a comical and somewhat dangerous experience. (Winding in and out between cars in traffic? Quite nerve-wracking, believe it or not. Oh, and sans helmet too.) But it made it easier to get the box back to my place. Yet unfortunately, once I opened it up AFTER I lugged it up the 5 flights of stairs, I saw just how tiny it really was and decided it wouldn't work for me. So I went back and exchanged it for a nice large carpet they had on sale.
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That model was the only toaster ovens they had, so I'm going tomorrow to the local Darty (electronics store) to get one, if for a bit more. But first! Gotta head back to La Defense to pick up my card and checkbook at the bank there and hopefully finally get a phone. Then I can be welcomed back into the world of texting and always knowing where I'm at :D
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Also, over the last few days, I've met with three different families about babysitting jobs. I don't want to get too into detail because I just sent Mom a book about it through e-mail, but it looks like I may be sitting (well, picking up from school and tutoring English) to a very blonde 8-year-old boy. It'll only 8 hours a week, but managable. And it'll be a regular basis, which means a steady income, exactly what I need in such an expensive city!
Well, more later, because I'm pooped.
Love you all,
Rachael
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