It seems unbelievable that my university life here has practically come to end with my final exams this week (barring the retake that I'm going to do for one missed exam). It was the usual bordel in each and every one of them; talking, copying, texting. If I was actually a student here doing a degree I'd have a hard time motivating myself. As it is though I'm content to moan and mess around like everyone else. One of the best exams though was a poetry one, where I got very involved in comparing 'the love of a man to the love one can feel for God'; probably not relavent but I thought it sounded intelligent and thoughtful.

May 1st has got to be one of the worst bank holidays here if you're a student. Literally everything closes (something to do with the fact that workers always used to strike on May 1st), no transport, NOTHING. Luckily it was a beautiful day so I just sat outside in one of the many perv central's that is Vert Bois. For some reason we have another 3 bank holidays in May to contend with, though I think they're just more general. An interesting fact (though I'm not sure this applies to all workers) but if you're a foreigner doing a stage then you have to work on French bank holidays but when your country has one you don't have to work. Just the same old French being awkward for no reason really.

Saturday GL , LA and I went to the Aquarium. I had a lot of fun pretending to be in a sinking ship (see picture) and of course learning about the many varieties of creatures in the sea. We also went into a room where we stood watching a video where a calm sea gradually turns into a tornado with appropriate speeds of wind being blown at us (hence why we had to wear goggles).

Sunday, on a normal post night out catch-up dinner, LA and I were in town when we realised the presidential election results were due at 20h. After dinner we went over to a café that had erected several tvs and had a large crowd outside. Everyone was very excited and when a preliminary win for Hollande was announced the cheers started. When they actually announced that he'd won a few minutes later everyone started cheering, crying, waving flags around, even opening champagne. In other words, mental French behaviour. We went to have a waffle at a café and watched the coverage; in Paris it seemed like everyone was out and celebrating. It's definitely a world away from the English elections.

Stupid French name of the week: Renault/Renaud. Not sure of the spelling as he seemed very proud of the fact it was the same as the car. Very awkward.