Down with the sickness...

So here in the life of Dana, what indicates that it's winter? Is it snow? Seeing as my 20 years of skiiless days continue due to intense fear of breaking major bones, no. Is it the sounds of Christmas filling the air? I live in northern Ohio where we make Halloween outfits to go over snowsuits, no. Is it dropping temperatures and a chill in your bones? Getting much closer, though Ohio is freezing one day and the next you're wondering when you moved to Bermuda, no. Winter officially sets in for Dana when she gets sick. Sooooo.... I am pleased to announce that it is winter. (And all you back home thought the freezing temps, snow and carols meant something; HA!) I am here with a lovely chest cold, but having this has made me realize a few things.
Premièrement: As an ode to my fun pharmacy friends out at ONU, pharmacists here can actually perscribe things!! Aren't you all jealous? But take heart, I'm sure you can count pills better than all of them combined. After discussion options with my program director I went down to la pharmacie and spoke to the cute little old man who worked there. After 5 minutes of questions about my symptoms I coughed and then he pretty much said the French equivalent of "Oooooo.... so that's what you've got. Ouch." He pulled somthing off the shelf behind him, told me when and how much to take (side note: how cute is this? you're supposed to take a 'grande cuillere de soupe' a big soup spoon full according to both him and the box. i love France!!!) and sent me on my merry hacking way with a cheerful yet hestiant "Bonne chance!"
Secondo: Wehn I'm sick I try and avoid dairy and sugar because both make my immune system say "What did we ever do to make you hate us so darn much?" In France it is possible to avoid sugar for the most part. No dessert (which is a LOT harder than it sounds since desserts around here are as close to heaven as one gets in this lifetime... and it's friggin' Christmastide dude!!!!) no sugary cereals, that kinda thing. However, not eating dairy is not only impossible, it's considered a mortal sin I think. Par example, a discussion with my host mom at dinner tonight:
(Loosely translated since the last round of French didn't go over too well here.)
Elle : You want some cheese on your pasta?
Moi : No thanks.
Elle : Why not? (with a look like I'm out of my mind)
Moi : Well, I'm sick and cheese makes my cough worse...
Elle : (looking at me like this is the most pathetic excuse of her life)
Moi : Ok, but just a little.
Elle : Chuckles and loads it on.
Also, if you're on the Atkins diet I think they deport you around here. Bread and cheese is a course of the meal for les français, c'est impossible de coire qu'il y a les personnes qui ne mangent pas le fromage et le pain. There, I'm done with the french. Y'all are gonna have to learn some when I get back though...
Righty o... I'm off. Tommorow is the LAST DAY OF CLASSES!!!! And then I'm off to Lyon pour le Fetes des Lumières. Ha ha I snuck more french in! What does it mean? Stay tuned and find out... Tcaio!