Warning: I'm getting political.

I am so proud and happy and I feel like I've had a weight lifted off of my chest. I'm all the way in France and I was unfortunately unable to vote. You have to get your absentee ballot WAY in advance and I couldn't afford to take a trip to the embassy in Paris at the moment. I'll admit I didn't plan ahead as well as I could have. But, I was so worried that Romney would win and that I wouldn't be able to say anything because I didn't vote. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
As a woman, I am glad that my right to control my own body wasn't taken away. In my opinion, if you don't have a uterus you can't tell a woman what to do with hers. Even if you have a uterus, you can't tell another woman what to do with hers. There is absolutely nothing okay about claiming different levels of rape. Nothing. Claiming a woman should accept this "gift from God" is a ridiculous statement and immeasurably offensive.
As a bisexual woman, I'm happy that 4 more states voted to end marriage discrimination. Openly gay politicians were elected. With these changes, we're moving in the right direction. If I fall in love with a woman, I want to be able to have the same exact rights as any other citizen. Not a civil partnership. A marriage, including the right to raise children without being discriminated against.
As a young person who still has plenty of schooling ahead of her, it's important that I have a president willing to work with America's youth and help them with education. Everyone should be able to go to school. No one should have to miss out on the opportunities education provides because they can't afford it.
As a non-religious American, I strongly believe that we need to keep any kind of faith outside of politics. Christian beliefs should not have any connection to the laws that are created in our country. Church and state are supposed to be separate and that's how it should stay. We are a country made up of so many different beliefs and heritages. Believe it or not, not everyone in America is christian. Assuming everyone should follow laws set to one sector of faith is so absurd that I can't even fathom it. I will never disrespect anyone's religious views, but no God should have a place in the laws we abide by.

This is all my opinion and the great thing is, you're welcome to your own! There will never be a time when 100% of Americans agree on any topic. But, instead of sitting there fighting over these differences, we need to work together to make a change. If you want change- go do it. Go volunteer at a local shelter. Make telephone calls in support of what you believe. Pick up the garbage someone dropped in front of you. Our actions make a difference. You cannot sit there and be angry about nothing changing without trying to make a change yourself. It's time to work together.

 It was so interesting being in another country while the election was going on. The French are VERY pro-Obama. But, then again, so is a very large majority of the world. I've spoken to so many people who live in various countries throughout Europe and they were all just as terrified as I was at the possibility of Romney being elected. It's funny to me that the entire world is sitting there going, "really, America? What's the difficult choice here?" It just shows how our priorities are different I suppose. I even got an e-mail from one of the teachers I work with that just said "Obama! We did it!" And I laughed because he's French, but I feel so relieved at the outcome, along with the rest of the world.

Okay, back to France.

On the first Sunday of each month, all of the museums in Toulouse are free. We went to 2 of them this past Sunday. We saw the artwork that decorates the inside of the capitol building, which was really cool.
You can get married in this room:


































We also went to the Natural History Museum, which was interesting. I'm used to going to huge, really scientific and historically accurate museums in New York. Well this was not like that.
Unless they somehow dug this fossil up:

Although maybe not entirely historically accurate, it was still interesting to see a different side of Toulouse. You know, one outside of a bar. After the museums we went to a creperie called Le Sherpa and had tea, salads, crepes, and a couple pitchers of cider to share. I had a caramel banana crepe with whipped cream and it was too delicious for words. This place makes their own chocolate, caramel, and whipped cream and it is so yummy. The tea and salad were really good tea. And obviously the cider.

Currently there's not a cloud in the sky here in Toulouse. So I'm going to shower and venture to some of the beautiful gardens that this city has to offer. It also helps that gardens are free because, unfortunately, Tori needs to learn the art of budgeting. Oops.