It's beginning to feel a lot like... Noël?

No, but seriously. It is beginning to feel like the holidays. Every time I step out of the front door, I breathe out a cloud of air and inhale the cold fumes of cars. While the fumes are not so pleasant, I thoroughly enjoy the transition from fall to winter. Normally I become a little depressed when the trees start to shed their colors and stand bare in the cold, but France must have different trees. For some reason, they don't look quite as sad or forlorn. There are some trees that still have their leaves. Just the other day, I was sitting at a café with some friends and I realized that the trees across from us had the greenest leaves... as if it were summer or spring! This brings me to the conclusion that France air is different.
Today, I walked into a paper store and discovered a gold mine. Not only were there stacks upon rows of paper and cardstock, but there was a cornucopia of art supplies (I just really wanted to use that word because it reminds me of Thanksgiving). I felt like I had walked into a sophisticated Hobby Lobby... I didn't want to leave. After wandering around for a little while, I decided to mosey on over to the cassier (cashier) and as I was waiting in line, I heard Bing Crosby on the radio... I can't help but think of Christmas when I hear that man's silky voice.
Yesterday, I was studying in my room and I had my iTunes on shuffle. It went to a Joy Williams song "Here With Us" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs... so I broke down and listened to it ten times in a row. Yes. I know, I should be ashamed, but I figured that since I'll be in France where there is no Thanksgiving and the Christmas themes are coming out in stores that I was allowed to start listening to sleigh bells and holiday cheer. The only thing missing is a pumpkin spice latte.
I made it through my first day of exams... these are only midterms, but they're still a good taste as to what I'll be facing for my final exams. After lunching with mes amis, I went home and discovered a box on my desk, kindly addressed to me from my dear Alyce and company. They sent me peanut butter, dried mango, and other assorted things and hand-written notes. All of it made me so happy! I want to just read them over and over and laugh... Although my host family might wonder why I laugh so much in my room, so I'll try to spread it out over the rest of my time here (37 days or so).