Nice in Nice

Okay, that was my last Franglaise pun.
I got into Nice from Italy at about 4:00 PM yesterday, and found my way to the host family. The house is absolutely beautiful; hardwood floors, spacious kitchen, and a windows overlooking the fountains below. The woman hosting me is a super-stylish fifty-something named Cybelle with a little dog named Leo. She doesn't actually live upstairs with me, but her son (who I haven't met yet) does. Anyway, she's pretty chatty and she repeats herself a lot, which is good because sometimes I don't understand what she's saying.
After I put away my stuff, I asked to take a shower. Cybelle showed me everything, and told me not to put the shower hose on the holder, because water will spray everywhere. Unfortunately, I took her to mean that it's normal for water to spray everywhere when you shower, don't worry about it. She's pretty much a huge neat freak, so after that happened she really freaked out. She said she might start crying, and kept repeating to herself "pas grave, pas grave....Ahh, mon dieu!" (Not a big deal, oh my God!) It was pretty awful. I was relieved to watch cartoons until I fell asleep that night at about 8:30.
Today I got up and had some toast with Cybelle. We made small talk, which went pretty well. She's kind of adorable. We had a miscommunication where I thought she was using a word to mean boyfriend, but she meant friend. On her end it probably sounded like: "So, are you going to make friends?"
"No, I already have a friend."
"But you can make another friend."
"Umm, but I like him, and that doesn't really work..."
But we figured things out. Cybelle introduced me to another girl studying at a different school next door to mine who speaks almost no French and some English. So much for total immersion; we're having dinner tonight. She's twenty-two and German, already married to a boxer. We walked to school together while she smoked a cigarette and talked about how much she misses everything.
The school is pretty small, I tested this morning and was placed in a class. I'm not sure what level it is, but I checked the list and I'm with a bunch of Japanese people (and we all know how smart they are!)
I had to buy a brush, so I went to the Monoprix. I splurged on the 7 Euro brush, which would probably be four dollars in the US but who's counting? I guess I should be, but it's so depressing. This brush better last for the rest of my natural life. Another price comparison: I know it's bad, but I went to McDonalds for lunch. I really love the Chicken Mythic, and it's really hard to stop eating them. Anyway, the so-called value menu was 6 Euro. Roughly $7.80 US. Is that the same? I also had to get some pajamas that aren't (as my sister pointed out) completely transparent. I hit the mall and tried to shop at the C&A (basically the Sears of France with only clothes) but to no avail. Most of their pajamas were Snoopy-themed, and the nightgowns would only be appropriate for romantic evenings or retirement. I took it as a message that I was supposed to go to Etam Lingerie instead. I got a nightgown with a little parrot on it. I know it sounds stupid, but I really like it. 28 Euros well-spent, in my opinion. I also found a dress at this place called the Supermod, but I'm thinking about it.
I noticed that the American import stores (like the Adidas store) have greeters, like in the US. I hope that doesn't catch on in France, I hated greeting when I worked at Victoria's Secret and the Gap and I don't like being greeted either. I wonder if they have to have pep talks here, and if they discuss conversion and shrinkage.
I think I'm going to go to the movie theatre tomorrow, and a Baroque Choir concert on Thursday.
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