a picture-esque update

Sorry for the lack of updates.
Here are some pictures from the past few weeks to make up for it.

not just yet...

"If you had the chance to go home tomorrow, would you do it?" -Claire, my roommate

My response to her went something like this: No. I miss home and my family and friends, but I am not ready to leave France yet. If I could, I would transport all of the people I love here with me so I won't have to leave. .. And that is the truth. I miss home terribly because of the people that have been such a huge part of my life, but I am loving France too much to leave. It literally makes my heart drop whenever I accidentally hear someone say their countdown. I don't like hearing the countdown because quite frankly, it makes me anxious and sad. But considering the short amount of time I have left here, the flurry of feelings that are going around seem to be the same. The friendships I have made here have made most of my experience. The city of Lyon is beautiful; there are many things to do and see, but it is nothing without friends to share it with. I know this is redundant from a previous post, but it is something that I am constantly reminded of.

On a brighter note, holiday cheer is all around. We had a holiday decorating party last weekend for our apartment (tinsel, peppermint bark, Christmas music, oohlala) and now it is all festive. My roommates and I also put up a small & cute Christmas tree and some lights in our kitchen. I love it. It gives me a warm and tingly feeling.

I don't mean for this to be a choppy post, but I will come back and edit with some pictures and updates from my weekend in Paris.