What do you call a zucchini in french?

So lunch yesterday was with all of the people in my study abroad program and all the professors that are in charge of us. There is one prof for each student. So I got to sit next to my favorite professor, Dave. Sarcasm should be noted. The first part of lunch was conducted like a classroom of beginning french. "What is your name? What do you study?" One word answers, two maybe at most. So no conversation was happening at my end of the table, then we started being served lunch. We had some basic table wine, rice, chicken and a ratatouille. Which then we had to name all the vegetables that go into ratatouille. Lets just say not a relaxing lunch. Then chocolate mousse for dessert! After lunch we had a tour with French students of the city. Half way through I broke off with some others, eventually meeting all the other Americans in a park in the middle of the city. All the girls went to a cafe to talk and to have a beer or coke. I bought my first beer in France! Hyper Super! Then returning to my house in time for dinner. I should explain how my family eats dinner. We eat in the kitchen around the kitchen table, but we eat in courses, usually the main course is finishing cooking when we start dinner. We started last night with a squash puree soup, which I thought needed something else, just not sure what. Then main course was Pâte brisée, which is butter, butter and more butter cooked with flour over the stove top until it begins to coagulate. Then it is dolloped into a tart pan and topped with cheese. Cooked in the over until the outside is a crust and served with creme fraiche mixed with tomato paste. Wonderful thing that they can get creme fraiche in the grocery store! For dessert we had cheese and grapes. Lunch today was amazingly cheap too. A sandwich store near the university. It was prosciutto with cheese and sun dried tomatoes, yummy for 4 euros! Otherwise I've had a lot of free time to walk around the city with the other American students. And I have been trying to follow the French news, but one day I will understand what is going on in the world! Unfortunately I have some homework to attend to.
Peace, love, and here's to hoping for more croissants!