tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45815126390849442782024-03-14T12:15:20.383+01:00Qu'est-ce que c'est?Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-90087681135149339502012-09-13T19:27:00.002+02:002012-09-14T08:58:29.558+02:00My ABC School Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After searching for jobs all day long, I just need to take a few moments and rant. I had quite an experience with a "special" school down here on the Cote d'Azur. The school I am referring to is called ABC School, and it has quite the level of professionalism, to say the least.<br />
<br />
To start my story, I must provide some background information.<br />
<br />
On August 26th, Olivier came across an online posting of a bilingual school looking for elementary and secondary teachers. I had been previously warned about ABC School from a friend that had worked there for a few days and left because it was so horrible. I was hesitant, but decided that if the position was something I was interested in, I could handle it for a year, at least for the experience. I sent an e-mail, explaining that I was an American secondary education teacher with degrees in mathematics and history and that if they were interested, to please e-mail me back, as I was not in France and had my French cell phone turned off until I returned on the 29th.<br />
<br />
The next morning I received an e-mail asking if I could come in for an interview on the morning of the 30th. I responded in the affirmative, asking for the interview time and a contact number in case I had flight troubles and was unable to make it. I never received a response, but I did receive a call, despite telling them that I was not using my French phone. It happened to be on, as I was listening to my itunes, so I heard it ring. I called back in a few minutes via skype and set up the interview time, etc. At this time, I still didn't know the details, but I assumed my degrees had something to do with the type of job offered.<br />
<br />
On the morning of August 30th, I drove to my interview. Right away, I found out that the only position available was an elementary position. I decided to stick it out and listen to what the job entailed before making a decision. The school needed a teacher to teach two levels of students, ages 9-10 and 10-11, including the following subjects: English, history, geography, science, sport and aid in theatre, all of which to be conducted in solely English. This is not exactly what I had in mind. Anyway, it went pretty well, even though I knew this was not at all for me. I decided right after leaving that to accept this type of job would be irresponsible and a total disaster. A few hours later, I received a call from the school, offering me the job. I turned them down, knowing I would not be a good fit, explaining that I was a secondary teacher, and elementary was not for me.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Olivier sent me a link to a job posting at ABC School. This time they were searching for a secondary math/science teacher. This was definitely more suited to my credentials. I figured I'd send them an e-mail with my resume. In the e-mail, I explained my credentials and that I had been previously offered a job, but did not accept it because I am a secondary teacher and the position was not right for me. I also asked for more information about what the job entailed, in order for me to know if it suited me or not. The worst they could say was no. Boy, was I mistaken.<br />
<br />
I received quite an interesting response a few hours later. Apparently they don't like me and took my refusal of the original position very personally. I was just trying to do the right thing. I honestly find their e-mail to me quite humorous. It is something I would expect from immature teenagers rather than a "professional" school. Anyway, here is what they had to say, word for word.<br />
<br />
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mrs Brugger,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />This Science teacher position is for a native French speaker, all our Mathematics, Physics and Science are taught in French and require a lot of experience in the preparation of the Brevet des collèges and the French Science Baccalauréat. You do not have the diplomas for this position and the experience required.<br /><br />You also do not have the right diplomas to teach as an English teacher in a secondary school in an International school where the level is much higher then in a French school. You would have needed to teach Grammar, Oral and Written expression, English litterature, history and geography with different levels of english at a time in one classroom. We do not think you have the necessary skills to apply for this kind of position yet.<br /><br />Regarding your poor teaching experience you might have been able to teach the primary school children. Even teaching the primary school children Maths, Science, History, Geography and English as a foreign language may have been hard for you.<br />Since you didn't accept this position please stop sending us your resumé, we won't propose you any other position.<br /><br />Regards,"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
Yikes! I was shocked and humored, being that it was such a personal attack, and quite unprofessional. I've never been turned down in such an insulting manner. I didn't mean them any insult. I decided that I should just write a quick response, letting them know that they would never have to deal with me again.<br />
<br />
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I appreciate your thorough critique. As I'm obviously not at all qualified to teach at such a high-caliber school, I'm surprised I was offered a position in the first place. It makes me wonder why you are always searching for teachers...hmm. I originally sent in my CV for a secondary position and did not take the position because it ended up being only for elementary. I am not one to quit during the school year, although I know others that have after only a few days at your school. Good luck in your continuous teacher search. Don't worry, I'll never send you my CV again. I do not wish to be a part of your school. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sincerely, </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Elizabeth Brugger"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
</span>
So there you have it, my ABC School experience. Nice.<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-25838779393548377902012-09-04T20:04:00.003+02:002012-09-04T20:04:44.799+02:00On the job hunt after a great summer of fun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
About a year ago, I pretty much abandoned my poor excuse for a blog, but due to some encouragement and inspiration from great bloggers (such as <a href="http://uneautremere.blogspot.fr/">Katie</a>), I've decided to get back into it, at least for one entry (I know myself too well to make blog promises).<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm back in France, and for the first time, I have the right to work. In the past, I was allowed to be an au pair and English assistant, but that's about it. Now, the sky's the limit...sort of. Since I got back to Nice, I've been interviewing, searching for jobs on the internet, and sending resumes and cover letters to anything I find the least bit suitable to me. So far, I haven't had much luck, and am looking for something temporary until I find something that I love. After all, a girl's gotta eat. For an interview on Thursday, I have to take a mathematics exam. Math is undeniably my strong suit, but it's been awhile. I've spent hours doing practice calculus problems and looking up tons of rules online. It's coming back, but slowly. I need a cheat sheet for all of the complicated integrals (it's been too long!). I had an interview for an English teaching position at a small business-English company, but I'm not sure if I have enough experience teaching English compared to other candidates. I also interviewed at a private, bilingual elementary school last week and was offered the job. I didn't take it because it was way out of my comfort and interest zones, and I've been warned about this school before. I didn't want to set myself up for a miserable school year. Anyway, my life can presently be describes as "on the job hunt." Yippee.<br />
<br />
Now on to more pleasant things...<br />
I had a wonderful summer in Michigan with some of my favorite people. I spent countless days at Lake Michigan, one of the best places on Earth, in my opinion. Clear water, sugary sand, blue skies...yes please.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3E9-sZoyGcE5WAEqujwjlDvUR-ELtfknioHvV4zAPtRk2CxNWQvbSKVqRT__qdEKSp1sVHN8KYfrmJz39eaS43q65MO3U0u1GAem2ZI0Wu4uzoGj0vZmKvm2UesqBEn5YjvRH3DQ2DBl/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3E9-sZoyGcE5WAEqujwjlDvUR-ELtfknioHvV4zAPtRk2CxNWQvbSKVqRT__qdEKSp1sVHN8KYfrmJz39eaS43q65MO3U0u1GAem2ZI0Wu4uzoGj0vZmKvm2UesqBEn5YjvRH3DQ2DBl/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I spent almost every day with my mom and many nights were spent around a card table playing euchre (an awesome game loved by Michiganders and a few others). There is never a dull moment at the annual Brugger family reunion, which was in July this year. Lots of laughs, tubing, beaches, campfires, and even Kait's wedding occupied our week together. I had a great time getting to know Frannie, my family's new chocolate lab. She's hilarious and I love her. That's Frannie on the right, next to Ollie.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GaCDxeEyc20UYLsyJUdx0Qb-4mdVxOOpWOBE0oP24w9IV9uHbiFf9GICbzg9n_UY-eSe8JnssM6Z4wD_A3RjUa04XFHPAp-F2HIpAAT13-EAz0zaDh24rPTeSepWR5_oXSgZRYOBVTqJ/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GaCDxeEyc20UYLsyJUdx0Qb-4mdVxOOpWOBE0oP24w9IV9uHbiFf9GICbzg9n_UY-eSe8JnssM6Z4wD_A3RjUa04XFHPAp-F2HIpAAT13-EAz0zaDh24rPTeSepWR5_oXSgZRYOBVTqJ/s320/IMG_0465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then the summer came to an end with a wonderful visit from Olivier. We spent a week in Northern Michigan, spending time with family and friends and enjoying the beaches. Then we headed to Washington, D.C. We went with Julie and Dave, one of my favorite couples. We even got a White House tour! We had a wonderful time in D.C. and on the road with our travel companions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyZ0C6FF-6AosIs49-GW51sq91JAgWLQpORbThgMUEruv3dz_62CCvIHNB7rGR7ZLJBKUc6-qSZYdSvrbsU696-7gMbZBA2i3GY-DBekf5bLnfctOelq6kdFqgHWhcv4ahvXhqONuvTsb/s1600/IMG_2689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyZ0C6FF-6AosIs49-GW51sq91JAgWLQpORbThgMUEruv3dz_62CCvIHNB7rGR7ZLJBKUc6-qSZYdSvrbsU696-7gMbZBA2i3GY-DBekf5bLnfctOelq6kdFqgHWhcv4ahvXhqONuvTsb/s320/IMG_2689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAThAkF3aTMPln76aV40AawX9dPLJLcT3isTwO_XdxOGpJ4HwNqaDthRg3EcCqdIIBDRfNMi1XVT2OYCrQdpIT-K-DI67JpK8CaKRGuhLjdNZfd57qt_mCHLIlxgi4seIGlZRP9pTCj-Tj/s1600/IMG_2648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAThAkF3aTMPln76aV40AawX9dPLJLcT3isTwO_XdxOGpJ4HwNqaDthRg3EcCqdIIBDRfNMi1XVT2OYCrQdpIT-K-DI67JpK8CaKRGuhLjdNZfd57qt_mCHLIlxgi4seIGlZRP9pTCj-Tj/s320/IMG_2648.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'll leave you with a few of my favorite summer shots.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPLjG1pbecKM_Xs5C_Mh4OUVE1aEddU6g3MGoKUxUKzySvr4MdhRRjgFVNMZo7euJCo669KX_eAbz94QN9YLyvOIroUopiDaeh6mgzaXs4f1NhNl5zv-nXQpAGI3IDz6AoHThph-esYKm/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPLjG1pbecKM_Xs5C_Mh4OUVE1aEddU6g3MGoKUxUKzySvr4MdhRRjgFVNMZo7euJCo669KX_eAbz94QN9YLyvOIroUopiDaeh6mgzaXs4f1NhNl5zv-nXQpAGI3IDz6AoHThph-esYKm/s320/IMG_0484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj570JH3FcyvwhshVjMU_S4eodPCiW2m_OYemgXdBT-FmzHF5IRCQTskYLHOvxO26Xkoi6bvPVntes3fMMmGaZfvSrIZmFUKETt7dqX2xOAl4zwWLVwKbeoEYt5d_U-9_1BYtFMtVhd00B0/s1600/IMG_5114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj570JH3FcyvwhshVjMU_S4eodPCiW2m_OYemgXdBT-FmzHF5IRCQTskYLHOvxO26Xkoi6bvPVntes3fMMmGaZfvSrIZmFUKETt7dqX2xOAl4zwWLVwKbeoEYt5d_U-9_1BYtFMtVhd00B0/s320/IMG_5114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSUKPexi_rElhIsS_9-VGatfed4HkANBcYxNVnDUly5H_X50gOpePckUBt8DLGraH_7VxAxJ6_ljeIpTytxz9HRV1DPfGfS4NY17yNNcx0XRvZTFZxqixLIBMOGJ0VXHZybWslHuiyIMk/s1600/IMG_4947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSUKPexi_rElhIsS_9-VGatfed4HkANBcYxNVnDUly5H_X50gOpePckUBt8DLGraH_7VxAxJ6_ljeIpTytxz9HRV1DPfGfS4NY17yNNcx0XRvZTFZxqixLIBMOGJ0VXHZybWslHuiyIMk/s320/IMG_4947.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjBVi4QyBmWysXUvxwPtkZK-Syc5laZDKtBgJVHCo48q9p1lsPFObkpnIAqFzoTBHQ4W-rlzRSAIF_nmtKFTUuGmLgB23qSuYL-pfT_FY3Ptxf9gGjhVbOeD-v09p7cb8TqudBt2HZ3ad/s1600/IMG_4952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjBVi4QyBmWysXUvxwPtkZK-Syc5laZDKtBgJVHCo48q9p1lsPFObkpnIAqFzoTBHQ4W-rlzRSAIF_nmtKFTUuGmLgB23qSuYL-pfT_FY3Ptxf9gGjhVbOeD-v09p7cb8TqudBt2HZ3ad/s320/IMG_4952.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9u6sM8lwmg_Xp8NNsdKew4DBzY3S9C8RtePV-atO-u9o9vT1MtIOGnpmUS7yKhKqFXZSjEIkGjasiAC-O9GfU175lSOxuDiEFMGp58qI3GP9H5jRCyALzQpO8DPY5SkzV5BMt1ipVI3y/s1600/IMG_4892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9u6sM8lwmg_Xp8NNsdKew4DBzY3S9C8RtePV-atO-u9o9vT1MtIOGnpmUS7yKhKqFXZSjEIkGjasiAC-O9GfU175lSOxuDiEFMGp58qI3GP9H5jRCyALzQpO8DPY5SkzV5BMt1ipVI3y/s320/IMG_4892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGre3B_V4EJ-kzevwOHBJva5_32tgUhwTd0fOWJ6koFQ-VLgAtBgofZvWeVSP9KRhphcaIyfUX9YtqRORMizJjC8PYn4VlGGCLDQ8KsdOe7yPOLX6t872SG9bOxDZBM9u9WY_iFGh26Tz/s1600/IMG_4937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGre3B_V4EJ-kzevwOHBJva5_32tgUhwTd0fOWJ6koFQ-VLgAtBgofZvWeVSP9KRhphcaIyfUX9YtqRORMizJjC8PYn4VlGGCLDQ8KsdOe7yPOLX6t872SG9bOxDZBM9u9WY_iFGh26Tz/s320/IMG_4937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-52113617040568535692011-10-23T17:53:00.001+02:002011-10-23T17:53:26.912+02:00Back to School...and Vacation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's so nice to be back in a school, working with students. My assistant position is definitely just part-time and very different from a normal teaching job, but I am enjoying being back in the classroom. I started about a week and a half ago and already feel like a part of the school. My students are excellent. Most of my classes are made up of the best students, making my job easy when it comes to classroom management. They are respectful, behaved, engaged, and fun. On Friday I had one of my classes do a group discussion and then they put on a skit for me. It was so cute and they were laughing the entire time. The staff is great. Everyone is very helpful and interested. Every time I sit down in the teachers' lounge I end up having a conversation with a different teacher. On Friday one of the teachers put on a lunch for the staff. I was invited and as soon as I arrived, I was pulled right into a conversation and served lots of good food, including Champagne. I must admit that it was a bit surprising having wine and Champagne served with lunch and then heading to class to teach a few more lessons. I guess this is just life in France. I'm not complaining.<br />
<br />
I have a few tutoring sessions lined up so far, and receive continual e-mails from people interested in me as an English tutor or babysitter. Life is good. I like being busy. I like teaching. And I like vacation. Friday was the last day of school for a few weeks because of the All Saints holiday. One of my closest friends, Mackenzie, is coming for just under a week. I'm looking forward to showing her the Cote d'Azur and anything else around here. I hope the weather cooperates. So far it's been very nice, so I hope it stays that way.<br />
<br />
I met Olivier two years ago exactly. Time flies. We saw a film today, <i>The Artist</i>, and took a nice walk along the coast and through the old town. I really enjoyed the film. It was definitely different, but that's why I enjoyed it so much. I recommend checking it out. That's about all that I have for this update. Until next time...</div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-8918057757840067862011-10-23T17:35:00.001+02:002011-10-23T17:38:34.169+02:00Sweet Jesse Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today my sweet dog, Jesse, died. She was the kindest, most loving dog anyone could ask for (I know her name is spelled like a boy spells Jesse, but I insisted on it when we got her, 12.5 years ago). I'm really going to miss her, but it was her time to go. Whenever I left the states, I wondered if I'd see her again. I guess the last time I said goodbye to her really was the last time. I'm sad and I wish I could be home in Cadillac with my family, but I also realize that they're there together, I have Olivier here, and this is all a part of life. It's amazing how much love one can have for a dog. They truly do become our best friends.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnC3tqK-2Ghnel_hDfYLqeklj-sXVm0s6J9DUOwB836rJMYypQ6wdYBuYPphz0URFfE4pUtDdpfAfQEcce8_i-zqtK7xRib6LTrYoYPOtKQ8qDH4EjT-hlkPoMyCkwAMXLNuoNtMwxw36/s1600/IMG_0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnC3tqK-2Ghnel_hDfYLqeklj-sXVm0s6J9DUOwB836rJMYypQ6wdYBuYPphz0URFfE4pUtDdpfAfQEcce8_i-zqtK7xRib6LTrYoYPOtKQ8qDH4EjT-hlkPoMyCkwAMXLNuoNtMwxw36/s320/IMG_0847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
(I meant to post this a week ago...)</div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-57508396407395183842011-09-29T16:17:00.000+02:002011-09-29T16:17:21.696+02:00Busy Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's Thursday and I have tomorrow and the weekend before I really get into this new teaching assistantship adventure. However, I guess I sort of already started it all this week...at least the paperwork/running-around-getting-paperwork-done part of it. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On Monday of this week, I took the train to Cannes (which reminds me...I need to buy a month pass tomorrow so I'm not stuck doing it last minute in a busy train station while running late next week) to meet my coordinating teacher and see the school for the first time. Normally this is reserved for next Tuesday, but the teacher does not work that day, so I went in a week early, hoping to be able to hand all of my paperwork in on that day. Nothing is ever that easy, especially in France (I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but the French seem to love paperwork). While waiting to meet the teacher in the staff lounge, I met several other teachers, a few of which are English teachers at the school. They were all very nice and accommodating, which was reassuring. Since the teacher I was supposed to meet with was late because of a meeting or something, another teacher showed me to the secretary's office to deal with all of my paperwork. Of course, there were additional forms that needed to be filled out, etc, which is why I've been shopping for a doctor for the past two days (that's a different story). Once that was all over, I met with the coordinating teacher and we attempted to go over the types of things I will be doing with my classes this year, like different cultural subjects and ways of teaching. I left feeling a little more comfortable with everything. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The only thing that I found a bit odd was that the teacher wanted me to set up my own observation schedule for next week by contacting the other English teachers. I would much prefer and I feel it would be more beneficial if I observe the classes I will be teaching to get a better idea of their specific levels and to get to know those teachers and students. They are the teachers/students I will be working with after all. In my opinion there is no schedule for me yet, which is why I am supposed to be "setting up my own observations" for next week. I am supposed to start teaching, or at least assisting, on October 10th, and I don't think it's a great idea to show up in a classroom never having seen the students or the teacher. Anyway, that's my only stressor at the moment. I wrote to my coordinating teacher and expressed that I felt it beneficial to observe the classes in which I will be placed, so hopefully this will be straightened out soon. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The only real paperwork issue I had left to do (I think) was to find a doctor for the next year. I need this form filled out by one specific doctor so I don't go to five different doctors throughout the course of the next several months and confuse the system. I can always do paperwork to get a different general doctor if there are any issues with this doctor. This paperwork is for my healthcare, which I am very excited to have soon. I found several doctors near where I live and even a few on my street (so convenient). One thing that is not lacking in Nice is doctors. They're everywhere. So I got into the doctor's office on my street and have a signed form. I'm good to go. I was expecting it to cost me the normal price of a visit, 23 euro, but luckily, they didn't charge me anything. Sweet! Now I think I'm good to go. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Other than that, I feel like I have been writing stuff in French non-stop...e-mails, ads for babysitting/tutoring, etc. Luckily I have had several parents interested in my tutoring/babysitting services. I just received a call from a lady on my street that wants me to help her son with English. She asked about doing a group session with a few of his friends. I really don't know what to charge. I think 20 euro an hour is about right for a private session around here (it's the going rate and people definitely pay it), but with the group session, I said maybe 25 euro??? I really have no idea. I guess I'll have to see how it goes. I told her I would meet her next week and we can see talk more about it then. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's about it right now...I'm just busy doing busy work. I'm looking forward to a calm weekend with Olivier. Then I have a week full of meetings, observations, and no Olivier (he'll be in the North of France all week for a work thing...bummer). Well, I hope you are all doing well. It's been beautiful here. Much love! xo</div>
</div>
Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-3015116079418331242011-09-22T01:09:00.001+02:002011-09-22T01:09:21.177+02:00How'd I end up here & The truth in the distance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I often find myself thinking about how in the world I ended up in France. I'm still young...maybe I don't actually end up in France, but for now, well...here I am. Ever since my first visit to France, I knew I wanted to spend a semester or something in France, to really get the not-just-a-tourist feel of it all. After a while, as my life went in other directions, like history and math, thoughts of life in France became dimmer and dimmer. Then one summer afternoon, while shaving my legs in the shower, the dream came boldly racing back. <i>Why not? </i>I thought.<i> You better go while you still can. </i>So I went. I figured a summer would be just fine, that it would satisfy my "French hunger," and then I could get back to life. Hah. Guess again. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That summer did nothing but expand my dreams. I needed more. I needed a year. So I became an au pair. When I left that summer, I thought it would be the only time that I would have to say goodbye for a whole year to everyone. It was truly difficult being so far away. I'd wander the streets listening to <i>The Sound of Music</i> to cheer me up. It actually works pretty well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am a pretty emotional person. It's in my genes...thanks Porter sisters. I was always scared that I wouldn't be able to last a year, or anything more than that. I remember getting terribly homesick living just two hours from home when I was at MSU. The truth is that living far away from loved ones is terribly hard. I keep their sad faces etched in my mind from each goodbye, remembering what it's like to drive away or watch as a train leaves them behind. I oftentimes want to just call my mom when I am missing her, but I know that calling when I am emotional will only unnecessarily worry her. Even though it is hard to be so far away, there is always another side. I cannot imagine my life any other way than it is right now. My visions of teaching in the US have long since been extinguished. I know that I am lucky because I will be able to come "home" at least every summer and spend a significant amount of time there, soaking up my family. And the only way that I could even begin to do this is with Olivier. He's the other side of the scale. I feel so guilty living so far away from my family, but then I have to remember that I have to follow my dreams. I have to be a little bit selfish. I don't even want to stay in Cadillac, MI, so me being this far just means less visits, but also longer visits (and more expensive visits...hey, at least the euro is worth more right now). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now back to the other topic: How I got here. I like to think of it as fate. Some people don't believe in it, but I like to. I think I would have left France by Christmas while I was an au pair if I wouldn't have met Olivier. He not only made it okay; being with him made me want to spend my life over here. Even though I have a few sad days here and there, something that helps me get through them is believing that I am not alone. When I can't see the moon, I picture it over the sea. One of the best gifts my grandmother gave me was the comfort in knowing that when I saw the moon, she was thinking of me. Now I believe she is still there, somewhere, keeping an eye on me. I reach down and swirl the ring on my finger; her mother's ring. Then I have this connection, not just to her, but to my mom too. I picture her embrace and I want to think that she knows me now, the person I have become, and not just the child I was then. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To my family and friends on the other side of the <i>pond</i>: I hope that you all know how much I miss you and love you. Even though I miss you and wish I could just drive by for a visit, I am happy here. I can't wait to see what my future holds. So far, it's been quite a ride. </div>
</div>
Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-14641404379250477112011-09-21T00:37:00.000+02:002011-09-21T00:37:15.168+02:00Post-Hiatus Post<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello all. I'm back from my unintentional blogging hiatus. Hopefully that doesn't happen again, at least while I'm in France. So yes, I'm back in France, and happy to be here. I arrived last Thursday and have been somewhat busy ever since. However the last two days have been a nice reprieve, as I've been able to be lazy, clean, organize and stock up on groceries. Believe it or not, Olivier is actually a pretty organized guy. He de-clutters every now and then, and does household chores like the laundry and the dishes. However, two months of living like a bachelor while I'm stateside leave the apartment in need of a general all-around cleaning. I like getting all of my stuff cleaned and organized, so having the last few days free to do just that left me surprisingly content. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I spent my first full day back in France in Beausoleil (just behind Monaco) taking care of Baby Charlotte. I've talked about her before. I took care of her for seven weeks back in February and March while her nanny recovered from an operation. I get to watch her on Thursday and Friday of this week too. She was so perfect, happy, and darn cute with her head-full of curls. I think she might even still remember me because she was smiling with me right away like she did. There was no crying when her parents left or anything. Anyway, we had fun going on walks, babbling to each other, and skyping with my mom. She really likes "the lady in the box," and kept looking for her after we finished the call. So adorable. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We left for Antibes on Friday to spend the weekend with Olivier's family. All of his siblings were there and we had a great time just hanging out. We ate a lot of great food, drank plenty of delicious drinks, laid by the pool and sat around talking. It was really nice. I enjoyed watching Olivier and his siblings play in the pool like I'm sure they did as kids. Okay, "play" may not be the right word...maybe "dunk each other under water and throw each other in" describes it better. Haha. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have a few more weeks of down-time before I start teaching. I have days of orientation, observation and meetings during the first week of October and then I start my teaching assistantship. It's not full-time, but it's a start. I am hoping to tutor students and maybe babysit a little as well to make some extra money. I'm really looking forward to starting my job. My coordinating teacher seems very nice and accommodating, and I am looking forward to meeting him. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As far as an excuse goes for why I haven't blogged all summer...well, take your pick: "A lot happened and I was too busy to blog" or "I could have blogged, but I didn't." The latter is more correct, but they both have some truth to them. Here's a very quick recap. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We went to Olivier's brother's wedding in Italy. It was FANTASTIC! Everything was beautiful, elegant, classy, fun and delicious. It was like no wedding I've ever attended. The Italians know how to have a good time. They even do funny skits!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In mid-July I came home to the US. After a few days of unpacking and getting back into the swing of things, we went camping in Elk Rapids, MI for the annual Brugger Family Reunion. As always, we had a blast. Hopefully I'll be able to make it next year. I might just be able to. I was planning on coming home in August, but now I'm thinking July. I won't know for quite a while still. After that I worked for a week at Hermann's in Cadillac as a server (they let me work my old job for a few weeks here and there while I was home!) and had fun with all of the staff. I miss 'em! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then Olivier came to the US for the second time. Luckily his trip last summer didn't scare him off. We enjoyed Lake Michigan, went to Mackinaw Island, went camping in Interlochen and tubed down the Platte River, took a road trip to Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Cedar Point, and spend a few nights with family members. It flew by, of course. He saw all of the Great Lakes except for Lake Superior. I'm thinking a road trip to the U.P. next time he comes... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After Olivier left I had another weekend of camping, this time with the Porter family in South Haven. It was wonderful. We celebrated my mom's aunt's 80th birthday and sung around the campfire. I worked a few more weeks at Hermann's and then ended my stay by spending a few days in New Buffalo, MI with Lauren, Karen and my mom in an awesome condo just a few blocks from Lake Michigan. It was a perfect end to a great Michigan stay, including sun, a pool, bloody marys, great food, wonderful people, cards, and laughs. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's all for now, folks! Until next time. A bientot!</div>
</div>
Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-29192499436947182842011-06-24T14:36:00.006+02:002011-06-24T15:48:40.859+02:00Toulouse<div style="text-align: left;">Last weekend we headed to Toulouse to spend some time with several of Olivier's friends...well, more like "our" friends that were Olivier's friends before I met them and got to know them all. We had a wonderful time!</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, living in France is wonderful, but sometimes it is hard to be the foreigner in the crowd. I don't talk a lot about it, not wanting people back home to worry. Life as a foreigner can get very lonely. Trying to keep up with conversations and understand jokes, etc., can be exhausting and often leads to my mind wandering into it's own little world. With every other foreigner that I have come into contact with over here, we have discussed similar feelings and it turns out that we all feel the same way. In group settings, we often feel lonely, not because people are intentionally leaving us out, but because we really just don't feel like ourselves, and that can be frustrating. When putting so much effort into simply comprehending what is going on, I am not my normal self, talking, being sarcastic, adding my tid-bits here and there...I'm just not my normal, fun (I think I'm fun, anyway) self. About a year ago I was frustrated after having been to a group gathering and I asked Olivier when I would stop feeling like such an outsider. How long does it take to just be myself and stop trying so hard just to understand everything? I felt as if I had a learning disability and was several steps behind everyone, and then simply getting lost because I couldn't catch up (education classes coming into play here, thanks Ferris State University). He lived in Denmark for a year so I thought he might know when this transition actually happens. Well, he didn't know, so I just kept waiting. Nowadays, things are much easier. I still have to put effort into paying attention and comprehending while in a group setting, but I am much more comfortable now than before. It was a lot more isolating a year ago, but since my knowledge of the French language has improved, so have my feelings when in a group setting. I'll just add that when it's just a few people, it is much easier to follow and be a part of conversations in French. </div><div><br /></div><div>To me, the weekend in Toulouse was a small victory in this struggle. For the first time, I found myself having real fun in the group, talking, laughing, <i>understanding</i>. It felt so great. I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that I was with truly wonderful, fun, caring people. There are so many hurdles in becoming part of another culture, and this is a big one, at least for me. I still find myself confused from time to time, but at least I'm not in my own little world, lost from the conversation as I was before. Anyway, on with the story of our weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived late Friday night. Toulouse is about 5.5 hours from Nice by car. Everyone else came from Paris, so we all arrived around the same time. We talked, ate, and drank for a few hours and then everyone headed to bed. The next morning, we all got up and left for Carcassonne, a fortified city about an hour east of Toulouse. On the way, however, we stopped for apparently the best Cassoulet. Cassoulet is a delicious French dish from the region. It is essentially beans, sausage, chicken, other meats all in a crock pot. It is very good. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4URTJsCetBmha03XgkVEtGx-5IhgOBwK448PJZWO0oT3tVT-Z-WHtaD9C6mE9VnV1UPBvcu4KQqAjroQk0An_76FWtVY2HM8rlfGp2mLxFZcaaK9JUVSaUgZ7MZ7_ZbHCEfR4sLxNf2Em/s320/IMG_3793.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621779374454394850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>After the filling Cassoulet, we went the rest of the way to Carcassonne, where we were traditional tourists, checking out the historic city and its ruins. We had fun climbing on the walls and taking pictures. Here are a few pictures of our time in Carcassonne. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKY0UsIKYGATIdMKqKdpZUmaBe-dp-ZYzUY0oLQl_tiB5R4a6BKGNQBBzw3Pt9SkFkFFmBISKBj4J1bbeiQQPGJgt2TJlfuDIrsxPF3VdkgFF_wxa9tB-_MAf0ODZ0YbrgREJfAZtmCt1/s320/IMG_3797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621779384196764738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX5z0MYr93sryIaYvXCPuACoXF7oRX-wsHczk1bBWdY04QzscBFsFGpSp1ntAnZq3VUYgOrsZmRy8iUkGq_C7KomPrfQeeuYLPGtlUzmZhI5MD-44vyCFPa8XndGNtamF4aVnUall9dcw/s320/IMG_3798.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621779405284950578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9NRa3sxEcidAkd_qWfMaZ4EPGVBSiOY7XxI775suqId3fDPcg6z9CDnM9kGURc8M1rOMY5QkIzCbIkre_DXtSSH7cYjD6JBDYMMbTJvnFj6U7R4Fg-ZSxbj64JwbpjryT1mjDoIAcStJ/s320/IMG_3800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621779410165593474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnbfETMMCXc9oUczrFcx9TWvtUVC8E65Rd_Pe8LRO_ENhYCdckDeoPD5ACmhjZhK9gIO91gQRhisHSFuBnadPliZDrU_5XZVPv3wMRw2agQR-cuBzgHsfu_0L4jFyuhr2cXYe_t8BB_Ao/s320/IMG_3809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621779414222709346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOOcTkiFe7EdBXiIt3Hl5IgUKzRFmpuNiwYkb57gvxeTFP6zl219Ky51JUaQ720jRwg5JssAPlzpSxUJnEXqut340gunJ2TXYia4E6zXSRe-xnryfJx4Y69zFskoVvEBOhxExJMceEvp4/s320/IMG_3811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781013904378754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKe4CZ9YTi2EWKKR39HE1-sRhI-eZfguEc61kMUqHzdK27QVArbQLMqGsVhxPoVmQmBt8oBBrLcjW2gbjFkkJYoE_iuiPkMmJlgx5lKzmlrwl_bRWbeJJ2mloN2eY3fh9S5J0PZXLg045/s320/IMG_3812.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781015310062034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>When we returned from Carcassonne, we all played a game of petanque, which is similar to bocce ball, and very popular in France. We played for hours, laughing and having a great time. It ended in a few of the losers being thrown in the pool, and then a card game to end the night. That night was the most fun I have had in a while. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dVK6SaXGArV51H83Z3GCuKw9ydeQ1rdP13AQY54HXp8NIsxNBrGoZ1BEpuHnsRvoBVUN-wuGcOiCDTCFEFM7V1e1Xv6OdY6KMDg6pOeEFjkKlAIctSgKiPWXnI_SDi6NvYYIiYODxeuv/s320/IMG_3820.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781019784410146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Sunday was our last day in Toulouse, but it was awesome. That's the best way to describe it, really. Pierre and Laetitia are the couple from Toulouse, and Pierre's father is a pilot. He took us all up in a little four-seater plane to see Toulouse from above, making three separate trips to accommodate us all. It was thrilling and the city was beautiful. It is known as <i>la ville rose</i>, as it looks pink from above. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhpo56wBa2lOeMmcg_-vjF0sGjr-f0hrloOxU83M_SXGsutW4LFIYxCaJhauw8zu_GFrqT1Id0r90sxPQ_Nqn_RTwDNIGOH9W0Yj4FB-egR8ZTuj9EB8SIxYy_rsHmXgtrMvEUFB4WtKN/s320/IMG_3837.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781022734022818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIY-A73i5Jop83sx4ReFVRZXwDzURnKEfPnTvWXQSUIxWtkUCg_eoKcD2S5d-oqLq2dDkdD4Kc23tUeyFKcEUyWSk_OeAg3cyoQmDhbMYAm_a0f_OVmBlAkDkJrKXzLt9kXbR4LEaNjcV/s320/IMG_3841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781037711933650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhpZbfA6-iJdRmF8GhHU8fuXabBNBllpQJgch76b0W_XuVWsmjTd9MSQ4qDKHQ38LV7BrtvvdyXsUFTHSE0K1Qo4Njuct7oNaZWlNLhQMxGSISUeaEk1hXsZpLN2FSRuny3HdIBdZJy0I/s320/IMG_3849.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781860686811058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uhcGt19p0xGCzS5_Tx3wds8ZJPxj1kAli5UdqfNBIIA9g79G6nNGC74cAuvHhAuH2t_HBAT72IPXe_6nPxL3kghIr1bR68BGu07a3_7GpSAEQRMLwD0YbyO5hnRuRFM61k7G_aU24SI2/s320/IMG_3851.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781864742099314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshGC6Hh68rkv79b5hZPmQv2BRMsiP3KxzVdK5DszUWtkIscrQQMWnBQ17j6BPWHtd_MN3TqeOSl_6guLkTF7bjlFK_fkepdjZjQ78cNf_hn3YQPCYecdCiKiU_F2i9kJlKU2eoEqcaISz/s320/IMG_3858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781874605744930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_CfzQfp_zSnR2q8ABeo0AbIYXNeeHiYKNcJ7zPRC3yxztNPilasQOeE8qbFrGJWQPqA-xyE8MnGhN25p3D_BLLW2LLB92CUM414mAtIwtab0Sk4MEeQ2nL5JARkzdlKv3B_8ZAkfZJud/s320/IMG_3883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781878142690658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div>Luckily we didn't have to catch a train, so a few of us were able to walk around Toulouse for a few hours before departing. I found it quite charming. Our hosts could not have been more welcoming or accommodating to us. I am very thankful for having spent such a wonderful weekend with them and for gaining such great people as friends.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T3ucDGTk2UjF-ZWpSceyRye_-5e2MLtAifKiJH9o_VBS_Rhk31EwvTk7dWEZ8smThtXXTbbpRQo6OuP8TGRxUf9uLezFj43SHsmUrnYn1MUrlL-ygtsbPX98AdAFwaIBzfGOnP5Okq03/s320/IMG_3890.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621781889847361650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVdBX2IT5fqZtAVoE1TnafyVnyg4_kAgWj97YakVXn-hUCf1KJoA26pMyenAW_i199mOaIIahR72mZ8UWuxPaeMCzKtQ22QalsR-ZTx3f4eyDdX3k2-BdAzQTnUVh4QtVO3M8EEZqUPa9/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVdBX2IT5fqZtAVoE1TnafyVnyg4_kAgWj97YakVXn-hUCf1KJoA26pMyenAW_i199mOaIIahR72mZ8UWuxPaeMCzKtQ22QalsR-ZTx3f4eyDdX3k2-BdAzQTnUVh4QtVO3M8EEZqUPa9/s320/IMG_3894.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621782515333693778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ss4MjqdwsdTe2ApxQ7X2KSokghxzCDhas72kN9WVFI68WWnp5JAWMYioD7OyHVjPVcDnS2POBD0yro3aNm_GM6gKsJS5uvqzy8NOQrVeI-iRcWKiPtBxg3SrMSZNx9eAtYc1EEsntMi_/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ss4MjqdwsdTe2ApxQ7X2KSokghxzCDhas72kN9WVFI68WWnp5JAWMYioD7OyHVjPVcDnS2POBD0yro3aNm_GM6gKsJS5uvqzy8NOQrVeI-iRcWKiPtBxg3SrMSZNx9eAtYc1EEsntMi_/s320/IMG_3887.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621782510507689170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-31719695083774214652011-06-20T14:23:00.007+02:002011-06-20T15:38:26.031+02:00To London, To London...<div style="text-align: left;">Olivier and I visited London the weekend before last. He had a holiday from work on Monday, so we took advantage of the long weekend and ventured back to London where we always have fun, despite iffy weather. I almost wrote "unpredictable" to describe the weather, but that, in my opinion, would be inaccurate, as there always tends to be some rain when we are there, despite predictions from weather.com, my go-to source before all travels. And so the story-telling of our enjoyable weekend in London begins... (I must add that I am currently enjoying my coffee from my <i>I Love London</i> coffee mug, my souvenir from our previous visit)</div><div><br /></div><div>It all started Friday evening right before 7. I was all packed up and ready to go to the train station to take the bus to the airport when Olivier arrived home from work. He informed me that we might as well drive and pay for parking as opposed to paying for the bus, as the difference was quite minimal. I was definitely okay with this since I really don't like taking the bus home and walking after flying. However, instead of finding the cheap lot, we ended up in the minimum 44 euro lot for 96 hours, which was longer than we needed, and definitely more expensive. Oh well, we bit the bullet and stayed there, since we were worried we couldn't leave the lot without paying the full price (no parking attendants). After our cramped EasyJet flight to London Luton, we ran to catch our scheduled bus at 11 pm. We made it just in time, but they had already overfilled the bus and taken our seats, so we waited for the next bus, with the promise of being first to board. We found our way to Olivier's brother's apartment and went to bed immediately, as we were all exhausted.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6WBiSm6I9C5_JTac-_XIhHxgzJ_3453LZ8O_QWa5_T6RCHp-p9fTKtD7rwNhb5HNfsBQOicB3i6-dbL_sqs8st0ABtNBaku5jX8ZPT6V7L4MExO4xmXAkeXtPNnQkcUIs-OPU4KT1Ri4/s320/IMG_3695.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620290816003001234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>Luckily for us, Saturday was a nice day. We left to explore the city with Vincent, Olivier's brother, and his fiance, Laura. After a bit of walking near Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, we found ourselves unable to get over to Westminster/Parliament area because of barricades. After asking a police officer what was going on, he informed us that it was the Queen's birthday celebration. Many people were out, hoping for a glimpse of the queen. We got away from the crowds in search of an alternate route, but once again, found ourselves unable to cross. We decided to give in and wait, and just maybe we'd get to see the queen. As it turns out, we never saw the queen. This is probably because we were not in the right area to see her. There were not very many people waiting...mostly just barricades, police officers here and there, and random tourists. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPDw0EhHVgNYRphqS816XT0RyBsBq5lf0r5bFae2mrtJFtBNXv0JRnYL2aIJneSPtucBnOIAlwVKBIwDWpQklMsMncBw9R3CsPwZMcBWpSRcrF28LP5M4AW_Foh4YH_4Q06x_wD0xVTme/s320/IMG_3700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620290824796521250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>She never came down the street where we were waiting, but we did get a different surprise. All of a sudden we heard the sound of horses approaching...two carriages to be exact. And who was in that first carriage? None other than Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Camilla!!! I waved and snapped a picture.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PBZz1W1KXn3Iokq7hSJ1q1h3WVG3Yz-GPYTwjlKjPBTQeUyIq5i5NBUwFWYIBWUOaFZUNnSTsgA9f-6A2onzBIofh0CkxutpnT27ty0b3wj0PgGBmYCml1hUuOj830TG2uajzC5l0oXT/s320/IMG_3701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620290830227198530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>In case you're wondering, the second carriage also had some royalty, but I don't know who they were. Finally we made our way down the street where they were opening up the barricades. All of a sudden floods of well-dressed Brits exited a building, apparently having just attended the Queen's event. I got to see some pretty cool hats and men in tails. Once we approached Downing Street, we had to move aside as the gates opened and David Cameron, the PM, made his way out in his car. I don't have a picture of this because the car flew out rather quickly and he was hidden behind tinted windows. We knew it was him because the guards told us. Once we finally made it to Westminster (well across the street from it anyway), we saw Kate's mother, and I ran up and caught a quick snapshot from behind. I know, that was a stalker moment, but I had to go for it.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-2V6hY38MTaYdEx4yn3uJSxhUP6T9cAzEZp_lloVcLiFf8K8AXXv5zb12Q-_RxHPkGcQARVUHjcQcf71gCK1U3K6SQRxJ3oNNJR5WRPcAsNrfJki7fYS1ynaaGmG7w3iVA39SjZ1qeEw/s320/IMG_3711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620294080484324258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjlx4oxEO36Ba98oVrY3dkesu0gYLAP4P93XD2uZr0QNHxwdcTpN4FeYYAEdeSdZ9bk21uV0UesNuP7sepoRVR650w3TGu78iCg5Q0qHhgnJ2jvsPb1NlSzdvc98cWiUvRixpaD_6sUyT/s320/IMG_3715.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620290829086175554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>Finally crossing the River Thames, we got some great shots of Big Ben and Parliament, along with the London Eye, the huge Ferris Wheel. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLfmk-pV8oMjoCTD4QOpAZdNS4IVKaxIWQNTkaOlNVqFNUHHz7uHUAjGDasfVuil34afiGWnYhurgcfaw7_d_QrbQz91hMvEoCl_qx2Uj8y_1A_XhnZl373XBno7WIeg1hJAI0mtanccA/s320/IMG_3718.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620292002121407218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFPQPBVV1DaO7V3WVzAvzeUdFLu2ouhxtPLewOwPycC1fsEV70kT27Jp_NpX1M50MirWVHyLzO6Dw8SF-6Bk3_kghEBe-Pz7ltKTvvCC3rOTEycUbiyOMGuMj6M3hJZ4gUgxVxbujZ_M0/s320/IMG_3716.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620290839355998866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>After a quick lunch at <i>Eat.</i>, we made our way further down the bank and watched street performers doing things I previously thought impossible with their bodies...circus-type stuff, like extreme flexibility, gymnastic stunts, etc. There was even a little air-show for the Queen's birthday celebration. Blue, white and red streamed across the sky, which actually looked like the French flag. Vive la France! Funny. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uibz4cf7XZEJ_EyW2mMSlfHv53ulo5RSXi28qyiXewF08Nu1IEBz2sZK1g7IZ1VKotvOiJqkPHgqwMzvXomfQ9tS9O25lDxDUYZeSrbGLHLRPD31rBHfkPxkDHTyQNy-K3M-iCxw5ND6/s320/IMG_3728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620292010039079058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>We continued down the river, taking in the cites, and eventually met up with friends Philippe and Elodie who were also in London for the weekend. Here we are in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, and then again with Vincent and Laura. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHdNV5_Gs_xXuOUqGwFO1-BqDbNYM_ZamhKLZPNoYSEFIOaOEa2uzIksiRpOIwXlNVYLsFQzFZW-54E4h0d3kix_RPJo5XpSG9GXFseqwtlfxrXc8SXFI4xld5mn4E3SxQee372tw8lO9/s1600/IMG_3733.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHdNV5_Gs_xXuOUqGwFO1-BqDbNYM_ZamhKLZPNoYSEFIOaOEa2uzIksiRpOIwXlNVYLsFQzFZW-54E4h0d3kix_RPJo5XpSG9GXFseqwtlfxrXc8SXFI4xld5mn4E3SxQee372tw8lO9/s320/IMG_3733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620292025893945538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6wkGfE5mrCjRfeQtVGpOVlWa57k_YBOouOutOrB8P417JEizFoyisibHS-MpbNq0VjTxcB6vP-gUyM-J98onj-C44MHyzEiafon3FmiD2XKPrmeKVllG1nJXgEFlysl4ClQ19YtQqbeA/s320/IMG_3737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620292029644721586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHi6zKZsfJmFonVrEMjmZ_edssSGFo5A0R7D9SNlCdrSfwKQEP6I7-XEd1lmheSrg0pRGc1pyuOAeIqum2ixbO41zFRsJr4tCSZOM7NQE9BhNCd02RmJBa9bEqgxIS-8A6K6kldXywNq4/s1600/IMG_3732.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHi6zKZsfJmFonVrEMjmZ_edssSGFo5A0R7D9SNlCdrSfwKQEP6I7-XEd1lmheSrg0pRGc1pyuOAeIqum2ixbO41zFRsJr4tCSZOM7NQE9BhNCd02RmJBa9bEqgxIS-8A6K6kldXywNq4/s320/IMG_3732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620292020865461906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>With Philippe and Elodie, we continued our walk and enjoyed the English Summer Cocktail, PIMM'S in a few different bars, and ended the evening at a Lebanese restaurant, where we were surprised with a dancer after dessert. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheua_rKhXdh6AEgSRSMOUr7AQZU-1TlV8-xbomkWzan8E4AL5eSwt_UVmVExoEyY3-ZbSDMWhGhGW5KRc42vwysl7deUV2YkcOjUjEUfhBseXBxC360z-h9TvqY_LrmVCg53oLTHt5VChn/s320/IMG_3780.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620293507449721826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>PIMM'S</i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUolVDwOM_9rKM50_zNaddJ1QaC4BeNQBoImQWKRnjVV2ejnhCDLsfAmFUoXJntYrXr5E5pDOc6vHIBGrvg63TDK0xt6dizM1ToS0gCDMq5-2S2sN9l8IaxCTqnqFl1_gRz17kCa_Wfrs/s320/IMG_3742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620293492477271298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtmXxjTEasFY11wh8GX9djF5yhJiPLqLt3zdqYJgnEeqjhs3QvW9ap8O1P3z3uQ2zLBfWyzl2ElQgF_OPmwC11A1P_hccWvahNttt8d5zAV3_MxePUZpXIFkcj4WH8cFSdDuBumLTXW1T/s320/IMG_3769.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620293516417096962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Exhausted after the day of touristing, we made our way back to Paddington, the area where Oliv's brother lives. We were asleep within minutes of our return. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday...</div><div>Unfortunately Sunday was filled with rain. Of course, this did not stop us. Olivier and I made our way to Camden Town where there is a huge market...It reminded me of a huge craft show, actually, with people selling their diverse goods. We checked it out, but since it was raining and we didn't find anything that we wanted to buy, we found a pub and enjoyed the traditional <i>fish and chips.</i> We made our way back to central London for some more shopping and eventually went back to Paddington to relax and escape the rain at the apartment. We went to a pub for dinner with Elodie and Philippe and then wandered to another bar for PIMM'S before returning home. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SdF5RY01Zrduz1MKm01l6gkCLAwDCRrMvh1P5UwQYAoZlgROjUiDDqui44xNCKjeKP4kFe54CLmQrtWPu7bp2rJRPUm3gJx-eX2QB-auZfWE-eRoQcrlNifDqMa8klKVM7d6k76o6_sL/s1600/IMG_3779.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SdF5RY01Zrduz1MKm01l6gkCLAwDCRrMvh1P5UwQYAoZlgROjUiDDqui44xNCKjeKP4kFe54CLmQrtWPu7bp2rJRPUm3gJx-eX2QB-auZfWE-eRoQcrlNifDqMa8klKVM7d6k76o6_sL/s320/IMG_3779.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620293501044925026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_yNr66ZX2OBK1tU183ICEOQXYu_DqeSLMMJAskW7puNlCI-9nh2NNL-3R6_BbUDEYqOYNMNtuNiT5hRYfYILnbGiUjYd9dYRCtxnCCCCNLDVOf4jqWodiidi8CufgBlRaJMK0WUBV3k/s1600/IMG_3778.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_yNr66ZX2OBK1tU183ICEOQXYu_DqeSLMMJAskW7puNlCI-9nh2NNL-3R6_BbUDEYqOYNMNtuNiT5hRYfYILnbGiUjYd9dYRCtxnCCCCNLDVOf4jqWodiidi8CufgBlRaJMK0WUBV3k/s320/IMG_3778.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620293497342946386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Olivier and I packed up our things on Monday morning and spent the early afternoon on Oxford Street, perusing the stores. We didn't purchase anything, but we did meet up with Elodie and Philippe one more time before heading back to Paddington to get our stuff and head to the bus stop to get to the airport. Overall, we had a very enjoyable weekend in London. It was filled with exciting and unexpected happenings, great friends, and fun.</div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-8840013598019667392011-06-15T11:58:00.005+02:002011-06-15T12:15:06.934+02:00Spicing Things Up<div style="text-align: left;">When asked what type of food I like, Mexican seems to come to mind before anything else. Unfortunately Mexican food in France can be hard to come by, especially when it comes to quality. They have a little here and there, but nothing like the restaurants that can be easily found across the US. I did once eat at a Mexican restaurant in Paris that was not too bad. Anyway, I have been wanting some fajitas. With nowhere to go to get this food, I took it into my own hands...I decided to spice things up. Olivier and I had a Mexican-themed dinner the other night. I just wish we would have thought to buy some Corona...next time. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">To start I threw together some guacamole and chips.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaEa1jqRDNn4vRAtgb09BX4gcCeGh8Mv0a0ad635enTH5NrOgxttRWFmtIDTZ1XXhNhqPNHwOYw4Van1elFgWP_hx4ryLn2SbbNOds7gjraaFON-16drI7T8QMglrXC52WZrr3b45CXd6/s320/IMG_3673.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618384585983113042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Then it was time to throw all my pre-cut veggies and chicken into the pan. Thank goodness we found an </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Old El Paso</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> fajita kit with some spice mix and tortillas. </span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ShWrJjprsY7UTe27YzxXosEigManr4VAdJ540BVM7tcvn6yWQniuWRGnLzF1lP5VlsWU-xheG4b9ATmhcSYKwCGzv3yIFwKd2OoGhO2tKcHUmiQcudT7EcV4mLpzm05pO9kll6sInUH-/s320/IMG_3681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618386328702761762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj67PFq-WdlHgINTrOTuOO8_tW1szhYoPSW6c7xzlEshYxIiaoKOlpvsOvLQmenjNj4lxILzOuzPtgj8untM_A-5sGoJPEz4S8Snaqhy2NQflA2xEOi_ZdP0iz-WmVME_bh-7HcuBoaYVS/s320/IMG_3675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618384592372461026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImckpCXpeAS39BX-jffYi59DOPiMjG7HRYRPsYh29f7wBxMnrXB3gArpF6yshWIsaYV62Dyk9kvWWfsBERu4n4xEcvHb85leffpzUSZgBLHSRMoX66bZgDex53NSSK8KMQA09GLBMC8Nz/s320/IMG_3676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618384600629108514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">And then it was time to indulge. So good! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhrt2hAfNkfv2HiRo7ktyOCMvOQqYpaUwqmELiaJSGnplJf9J-2u__HrH-XwOXbalGFKoH4TWq6FdYBeA7sd6Wy25rEIGwW6N9x80A4DVFNjtlX2VVRZ3hvl1eEDGea22r1vWdRAL4u9B/s320/IMG_3677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618384603008751970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrm_wHcG1Iwk7vYJYiCjW_QtHJ_bPy3WXAvt5CL_C8wYRTlbN3aUB7q16QPDh7rGH6KvkRJaQL3CI0KFutxRq9GC7MqpnJ5xbw_uep9O1pQmoRkBYDt51fz5N9kMn5qYObt4TqbLed1gP/s1600/IMG_3679.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrm_wHcG1Iwk7vYJYiCjW_QtHJ_bPy3WXAvt5CL_C8wYRTlbN3aUB7q16QPDh7rGH6KvkRJaQL3CI0KFutxRq9GC7MqpnJ5xbw_uep9O1pQmoRkBYDt51fz5N9kMn5qYObt4TqbLed1gP/s320/IMG_3679.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618384606419403586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div>Now that I have successfully made fajitas, I think we may have a fajita night get-together with friends. </div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-74619806922660336802011-06-07T17:03:00.005+02:002011-06-07T17:33:40.988+02:00Better Late Than Never! Sorry!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtyGHmN8r_E2nMJ6XDMAaD0T_odkvAFI6iGl6sb9Hes67jtI35H54I-bP7OU4j_pqmAuPTr0urmxv8pkmWeKaFqeLV6XG6S0A0Ycg648PGCexg0M0cj-0PPjvehZqyx-qxRmOg0jpXD5-/s1600/IMG_3670.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Hello! So sorry not to have posted anything sooner! My excuse? Hmmm....well I don't really have one, but beautiful weather and laziness account for most of my non-blogging. Anyway, I'm back, and will hopefully blog a few more times before I am once again on a non-intentional blogging hiatus. I often think of what I will write in my blogs, however, getting to my computer and actually typing seems to happen much less often.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, what's been happening on this side of the ocean? Well, the French are, of course, obsessed with this Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair, aka <i>l'affaire DSK</i>. It's all over the news, but I try not to get too into it. Being in France, it is, however, good to at least stay moderately informed so as to not look like a total knowledge-lacking individual. Other than that, I have been taking advantage of many gorgeous days. Even on days like today that start off rainy seem to end in sun. It was raining when I left at lunch. Before I got home, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. I put off blogging for about two more hours to sunbathe on my little terrace. It's not much, but it gets the job done, especially since I have recently purchased a new beach chair. I read for hours in that thing. I believe that the front and back of me are two different shades. As I am only here for a month and a half this time, finding a job is very unlikely. I keep searching here and there for a little something, but in all reality, I am not likely to find much. Therefore, I have taken to just enjoying my free time. I am enjoying cooking in the evenings, walking around, reading, spending my weekends on mini-adventures with Olivier, and meeting a few new faces. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few weeks ago I met a girl who went to high school in Cadillac named Sierra. She is a few years younger than me, but is very nice, smart, and also living in Nice (unfortunately only until the end of June). We were introduced by another Cadillacian (not a word, I know). Here we are getting a few drinks and getting to know each other. In fact, the band playing that night happened to be called <i>Cadillac</i>! So random!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDbRU9BAIvstJ06IRS-9r7Ln3jfo2x-t9uQiNIcIFJmgG5ptgxHRZ_9yv9GWQByGG6PLfBxNHrLzC0Gn3yjtC3L56A5C9qhNsJE_6kVYAqJuGiZcUBHP0vXIY7ON8_bsOXv_rAbka_8hi/s1600/IMG_3662.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDbRU9BAIvstJ06IRS-9r7Ln3jfo2x-t9uQiNIcIFJmgG5ptgxHRZ_9yv9GWQByGG6PLfBxNHrLzC0Gn3yjtC3L56A5C9qhNsJE_6kVYAqJuGiZcUBHP0vXIY7ON8_bsOXv_rAbka_8hi/s320/IMG_3662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615497563788471698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF_bDm2SULDxAhixmTYIYMbNpLEpqytpK6shKVrh4df4FEqwTT3qxdEjwsI4wnR42LeVJCD16017Ck5Sa2nggCSjzAKUvEgHD-1RdzWOF4TSg-i0XCKHiyxFnTQCzo3bh1fW0RyrZG4d0/s1600/IMG_3661.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF_bDm2SULDxAhixmTYIYMbNpLEpqytpK6shKVrh4df4FEqwTT3qxdEjwsI4wnR42LeVJCD16017Ck5Sa2nggCSjzAKUvEgHD-1RdzWOF4TSg-i0XCKHiyxFnTQCzo3bh1fW0RyrZG4d0/s320/IMG_3661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615497560587693746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week I ventured into Monaco to go see sweet baby Charlotte. She was the baby I watched for several weeks in February and March. She is getting so big! I was worried that she had forgotten me and would cry when I saw her. Nope :) She just smiled and wanted to be held by me. I just love her!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89Cu0AXER0qN8zrdGonGle2-ujNpHAWeLpPmnncWFcfzcJwgmffw6s2_qbYUPRZJqxwDGlnY1hBE9kbMSDgdAlRs0KHtvwhuBWbJ6Jhqz6gFFfx9D3y_7PPZRBOyLKRFOp1aJJ-m5O-NK/s320/IMG_3667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615497571691038706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend Olivier and I drove to another town on the coast called Menton. It comes right before Italy. It was charming. On the way there we drove up in the twisty hills along the coast and decided to stop for a photo-op. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElHxwG_yXn-pk7uaxmUC5xfo-y_TnEz6ljkQdB7paX29irEWULAcS6GFGqD_fnqoVIWgxbc7-EzY9vn7cPTdmUafWYulQ1EfVZU_0w-E98519lsuS1hW6g0SV9fjSA2d9ZHUS_KLm3Y2Y/s320/IMG_3669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615497581631439714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtyGHmN8r_E2nMJ6XDMAaD0T_odkvAFI6iGl6sb9Hes67jtI35H54I-bP7OU4j_pqmAuPTr0urmxv8pkmWeKaFqeLV6XG6S0A0Ycg648PGCexg0M0cj-0PPjvehZqyx-qxRmOg0jpXD5-/s1600/IMG_3670.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtyGHmN8r_E2nMJ6XDMAaD0T_odkvAFI6iGl6sb9Hes67jtI35H54I-bP7OU4j_pqmAuPTr0urmxv8pkmWeKaFqeLV6XG6S0A0Ycg648PGCexg0M0cj-0PPjvehZqyx-qxRmOg0jpXD5-/s320/IMG_3670.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615497592041262386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>I am really looking forward to this weekend. We are going to London! I'll definitely have some photos to share from this upcoming excursion. </div></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-52377968817999186362011-04-11T10:50:00.007+02:002011-04-11T11:43:55.486+02:00Recap of the last month from an airport in London<div style="text-align: left;">This blog is just a quick recap of what I've been doing since I last blogged. Sorry it's been so long! Olivier and I did get PACSed. We had our appointment on March 17 at 8:30 am, arrived at 8:20, and left by 8:35. Then we walked to the train station and headed into Monaco to go to work...very romantic. LOL. Here we are outside the public building right after our PACS.</div><div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBKzwDzH_GHLZ1g1ul9bLlEU4mpmRUefPtCKS34ZrLdDEvKLnHJBjF4EYd-AzTv8-pxUsoTaFYDMTdWJmGkLh6lrFj1-tzGCe8fyjhJWNJgNupgZqm8Jm0owFkdpqGTPG32m4pncw_DLM/s320/IMG_3393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594247696430727954" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I finished my babysitting job and spent a week and a half just hanging out while Olivier was at work. Then he went to Avignon for a week for work, so I decided to join him on a Wednesday night and spend the days exploring by myself. Avignon is a medieval walled city with its wall still intact. Here is Palais des Papes in Avignon. The papal seat was moved to Avignon, France for about 100 years in the 1300s, and this is the palace. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbC1CBgPjff1A9B-MBNH7ibMfSZP5e0qmTbuqByhbCyDwTYYL9MBXJ5iUI2hQemMNIFtnmPh3iDKbfHDsr-jxANNMF1iMkTyr5AZI0bd7glZHT9AmR6CdwZLdmaeZoP_HAguEvKFJfkyU/s320/IMG_3421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594247698243628642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiI2oPqVphlpCXWZ1DwIJ-JQI3Ag630EDlT3LppGeAwywBcb268lpyM3xAOxnVBbWWuph0spd72gChbq88lggV1Fyc3uq3xtOsQGZI-KbOuVduUMMaRGXApD-L2BdkmGbZhcfzDwSlNtH/s1600/IMG_3450.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>In France, Avignon is also known for it's bridge, which was long-ago destroyed and finally left as a ruin. However, tourists can still venture upon it. There is a children's song called "Sur le Pont d'Avignon," which means "On the Avignon Bridge." It actually called the Saint Benezet Bridge. The song is about people dancing on the bridge. However, it was originally called "Sous le Pont d'Avignon," meaning "Under the Avignon Bridge," as it was more likely that people actually danced under or beside the bridge. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiI2oPqVphlpCXWZ1DwIJ-JQI3Ag630EDlT3LppGeAwywBcb268lpyM3xAOxnVBbWWuph0spd72gChbq88lggV1Fyc3uq3xtOsQGZI-KbOuVduUMMaRGXApD-L2BdkmGbZhcfzDwSlNtH/s1600/IMG_3450.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiI2oPqVphlpCXWZ1DwIJ-JQI3Ag630EDlT3LppGeAwywBcb268lpyM3xAOxnVBbWWuph0spd72gChbq88lggV1Fyc3uq3xtOsQGZI-KbOuVduUMMaRGXApD-L2BdkmGbZhcfzDwSlNtH/s320/IMG_3450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594247701366787106" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div>One day in Avignon was plenty, so I decided to take the train to Arles the next day. Arles was a Roman town and has many ruins still maintained in the city center, surrounded by walls. Here is the Roman Arena. It is under construction, as they are trying to preserve it. It was actually a bit eery as I walked the shadowy halls, imagining what took place hundreds of years ago. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73FfTdnH29ZeyKU5zAJHHt92E2-TCzD9CDf5Hdy4yr91BWtG7apQ-iuMWLVFdh5eZavqIC5bO-4_OT2fXk5yYEjMxhz7G1aZUTI6S_EFC1oDRGJ4DMs9H7-WUZHMrR762soFWv6uGecsu/s1600/IMG_3512.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73FfTdnH29ZeyKU5zAJHHt92E2-TCzD9CDf5Hdy4yr91BWtG7apQ-iuMWLVFdh5eZavqIC5bO-4_OT2fXk5yYEjMxhz7G1aZUTI6S_EFC1oDRGJ4DMs9H7-WUZHMrR762soFWv6uGecsu/s320/IMG_3512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594247707991969826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Wq6B-eSE5sIcRY5q55SdwaHb4zd9WoC7Tfc2R2Z84kQMI5R2_IGVgZ6SWQy8laOrG1AhKreON8Fo_btLdcpX14ioUUPKyOPnjscMdTky8RcelpRkl4_Uco0lPh1Py99c1u9UCQof7ZW4/s1600/IMG_3486.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Wq6B-eSE5sIcRY5q55SdwaHb4zd9WoC7Tfc2R2Z84kQMI5R2_IGVgZ6SWQy8laOrG1AhKreON8Fo_btLdcpX14ioUUPKyOPnjscMdTky8RcelpRkl4_Uco0lPh1Py99c1u9UCQof7ZW4/s320/IMG_3486.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594247701462154402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUdd9-CJgxi_eMqEW1ZUAw5-n0oAldguGSi9yQcV3Hy1s1szGTaU0IqH_smpo8PX6h2r182kS2z095-NM0zR7eY15VujsQhf2-dWIe_J5LOCE_tE3T8I6QCuz68lJvZ40Nheds5MyS7E9/s320/IMG_3495.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594251633039511154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdsqg9kESX-7h89KcL9B72d8FYUO4iw0pAY-16VJIYmDz-3FOhghfiTHPRBhTrdSS3u6-Zg3y41zyiNV-Fgf3CO4WGVtmS5q05Ke-aid8OeW-_6aubW-LkI6NffqfbBFHRi5PZ_o0CX2S/s320/IMG_3520.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594251638941926818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I really enjoyed Arles. Along the Rhone River, Van Gogh painted his famous "Starry Night Over the Rhone."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu9u5GtHeMrzUwi0DEmmwTmxmZXpHwtPxk-lN8G6LVsImWB9WnsZ8wy3zkExchN1uFnfyujxQq4qzSVovWTCcP7f4LoQvPsB3ej0cWbqgfDXwsAzeLFahjkyIlFgWfTPcZWVF1oeIUSjE/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu9u5GtHeMrzUwi0DEmmwTmxmZXpHwtPxk-lN8G6LVsImWB9WnsZ8wy3zkExchN1uFnfyujxQq4qzSVovWTCcP7f4LoQvPsB3ej0cWbqgfDXwsAzeLFahjkyIlFgWfTPcZWVF1oeIUSjE/s320/IMG_3556.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594251645362096946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY44NQ_MF2JDtQ8QRqdeQRDKHEWpBtuBPkHM7DDtErQ5vlWOkkdLLwPP3AVXo9XFd9f-svyt9tC1Eipm8qCwPKPJtbZ2bxe6Mj1QdHN8HzabNPM-pJ_-w2psxbCUT-51qEp2yvTRX30Z-/s320/IMG_3557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594257563645194114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxOkxrHNwbeBxHjaKKjMOvgo0HSl2aCOxhjBymZ3-TtfqJaSP_33zh_GjIPKOgwoPQbaPUac1gsp4wI0wnltdfg3_rOJvSnf5einXppD515PvoZ56sjXcysar1HnOEYgVkt50aOHw9r7E/s1600/IMG_3547.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxOkxrHNwbeBxHjaKKjMOvgo0HSl2aCOxhjBymZ3-TtfqJaSP_33zh_GjIPKOgwoPQbaPUac1gsp4wI0wnltdfg3_rOJvSnf5einXppD515PvoZ56sjXcysar1HnOEYgVkt50aOHw9r7E/s320/IMG_3547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594251641010020866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">We drove home to Nice on Friday night, and headed to Paris on Saturday morning for the week. Olivier had to work there, so I decided to come along and enjoy the city. It was very nice to see friends and visit our favorite areas again. I had a pizza dinner with the family I lived with as an au pair last year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlXwExyOx_SneF478AVOj4PmYCZNV_IxxInYeKEl3emR5U-4KoQmznlyY5jgO-XJpsRfyIjBsT6Acdj2Jg5pBtgwS0MnWiuoU0evpbwPOgP2nugd_4q8iAnbB9drMQtygz5Ne0ODTF5z9/s320/IMG_3589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594251645925428146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also did a few cultural things that I had been meaning to do for years, including visiting the Musee de l'Orangerie, which contains Monet's enormous and breathtaking water lily paintings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy8n0yk8GJJA_5u32431tKTM1Qi0vwpIR-y77DUVYHaZCXvR40pFNummKpVFJkIc5IZed5NgFv5_zFp3sjeD_RBb3xKNDnE9n885qUsI-3SSKevYegoE2Ytco_4S-iuWX6xrzSGgXLRTy/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy8n0yk8GJJA_5u32431tKTM1Qi0vwpIR-y77DUVYHaZCXvR40pFNummKpVFJkIc5IZed5NgFv5_zFp3sjeD_RBb3xKNDnE9n885qUsI-3SSKevYegoE2Ytco_4S-iuWX6xrzSGgXLRTy/s320/IMG_3598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594256554661191282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeYrjOVYHcK2npGkR6DkWEmKbkStt1W0VoOlKYeb5qZjP-Vvo9R67yUTHtkN8LQCib-wlnVOBcKi1Cf0FEfMU-NgH-3FW1EFGL34fXYmzL_ISgnzHdKauY2qVPIz4JXzmTEbkMSJmNCJd/s1600/IMG_3597.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeYrjOVYHcK2npGkR6DkWEmKbkStt1W0VoOlKYeb5qZjP-Vvo9R67yUTHtkN8LQCib-wlnVOBcKi1Cf0FEfMU-NgH-3FW1EFGL34fXYmzL_ISgnzHdKauY2qVPIz4JXzmTEbkMSJmNCJd/s320/IMG_3597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594256552910465490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGLl8yrPsGeaYjX2RvJsAFGDWe64fVAl4ulm0Vnm6IiPrgXmNPYIl54-wV1cduvE38C5JRtEoxxx7kNZJEjSzxXWUtsec6Ij_G0PFSD2cmIbWDIlT_EONFfTS8fYhLM1GC5knbvPePpif/s1600/IMG_3594.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGLl8yrPsGeaYjX2RvJsAFGDWe64fVAl4ulm0Vnm6IiPrgXmNPYIl54-wV1cduvE38C5JRtEoxxx7kNZJEjSzxXWUtsec6Ij_G0PFSD2cmIbWDIlT_EONFfTS8fYhLM1GC5knbvPePpif/s320/IMG_3594.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594256547809628626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I also went to the Catacombs. I dragged Olivier along because I was scared to go alone. The Catacombs is an underground cemetery created in the late 18th century to house the remains of about 6 million people. Paris had to find somewhere to put the remains from several cemeteries because of sanitary conditions and other reasons (I don't know the whole history), and decided to form this mass grave. It is really cool how they have arranged the bones. Most of what I saw were skulls and femurs, as the other smaller bones were piled behind. I'm glad I dragged Olivier along because I get freaked out in these kind of things when I'm by myself. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdoG_QeReiM6lLf1DnYbgNN0QOK719FpwhjV6Kt4EYarzYp0TWslxq94jeBElGYCNNNKVdDvtUUUGAoktwWFFA172WT2y_FHQmTfrJIVn6jESvp8_pNAJdr-4FNPadKSPU8YNjFJvuqbi/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdoG_QeReiM6lLf1DnYbgNN0QOK719FpwhjV6Kt4EYarzYp0TWslxq94jeBElGYCNNNKVdDvtUUUGAoktwWFFA172WT2y_FHQmTfrJIVn6jESvp8_pNAJdr-4FNPadKSPU8YNjFJvuqbi/s320/IMG_3632.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594256562554615362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74fQU_Ke2Ez_OwFtQVs2NLj-eiQ0hzoKd3LqJ35OWcWReNDK1c2oAts7tjV8QyT_2ddGCZl0I5Pcg_iw7TT0JT4NzfFHkstmiqs1-E5YI15-kdbu60NGNR1eLlTj0yrHVmLv_s0eX1c77/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74fQU_Ke2Ez_OwFtQVs2NLj-eiQ0hzoKd3LqJ35OWcWReNDK1c2oAts7tjV8QyT_2ddGCZl0I5Pcg_iw7TT0JT4NzfFHkstmiqs1-E5YI15-kdbu60NGNR1eLlTj0yrHVmLv_s0eX1c77/s320/IMG_3623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594256557390562290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Stop! Here is the Empire of Death" is written above the door that leads to the area where the bones start. Yikes!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We flew back to Nice on Saturday evening and spent a relaxing Sunday in Antibes with Olivier's family. Now I'm sitting in the airport in London waiting for my flight back to the states. See you soon!</div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-17433946694906752682011-03-15T09:22:00.006+01:002011-03-15T09:52:06.388+01:00Carnaval, Florence, and PACS, Oh my!<div style="text-align: left;">Things have been going well. Carnaval in Nice ended with some fantastic fireworks, I met a new friend, we spent last weekend in Florence, Italy, and we will be pacsed this Thursday.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I've mentioned before, Carnaval is like Mardi Gras, but more family oriented. Nice has parades, activities, etc. for several weeks and then it ends with the burning of the king (not a real person, but a big man-made float thing) and fireworks over the water. Here are a few floats during a Carnaval parade. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx5AFw-RtTcXqtlKlIlUP6zxdEM_PNrrztNaURDqic8cXMpOhdZQgGNphyEjlRfpayx_4aXXVIotG2HDWMZuyOIQt3uW_lqoKTxSrFUoMPUqfLFPgXfAQ6EbE7t-p7QSdfiSBqJ4qJkyc/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx5AFw-RtTcXqtlKlIlUP6zxdEM_PNrrztNaURDqic8cXMpOhdZQgGNphyEjlRfpayx_4aXXVIotG2HDWMZuyOIQt3uW_lqoKTxSrFUoMPUqfLFPgXfAQ6EbE7t-p7QSdfiSBqJ4qJkyc/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584221047310319602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xEUGAA7KYo_66tfAUs5mygeIwR_bLJgPyPqNtTM11H6is3H3rL4XEoRRmk6x0q2JnR1RB8NQ2ngf6dQfPjEdSrhD1enNd6NsUP7tlqKi7ZA56WJcc-N2f-mgNjpNpVsgRP8klgOjcrFt/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xEUGAA7KYo_66tfAUs5mygeIwR_bLJgPyPqNtTM11H6is3H3rL4XEoRRmk6x0q2JnR1RB8NQ2ngf6dQfPjEdSrhD1enNd6NsUP7tlqKi7ZA56WJcc-N2f-mgNjpNpVsgRP8klgOjcrFt/s320/IMG_3233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584221043374525698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the king and queen at the end of Carnaval. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8eGToDlWMeTN01NWfMutRzO_ENwM1YWDKT0S9fqNFUZhKq9tC9wUtk6pcy46HAEKxKjzKo6uHhT7jUvR2h_SfAIwyQEGDfYAeON12qXPm0kD_GlHPIWHX5UfrbToEerebnr8_0GRn85/s320/IMG_3263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584221052471588082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7XUayPZHC0CoLgcqqdPTuVBSqQX6tO9cbVjcgA-c26Asj66eyJ1bz5luBH5t5Y2vAe9WCa0IAApOu1X4VmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>These fireworks were hands-down, the BEST fireworks I have ever seen. They must have cost Nice taxpayers a fortune! I watched the fireworks with my new friend, Asha. She is from Poland and has lived here for the last five years. She is the girlfriend of one of Olivier's close friends, and we met a few weekends ago. We are the same age and get along well. We can relate to each other, as we are both expats and share many similar experiences. I'm guessing we'll be spending quite a bit of time hanging out together. I have to give Olivier a Betsy-break every once in a while, after all. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>We will be pacsing this Thursday. Pacs is the French civil union. We decided to go away together for a weekend to celebrate our pacs. I called it a pacs-moon. I was thinking just a weekend in a small provincial French town. However, I randomly suggested Florence as it is only about a 4.5 hour drive from Nice. The next thing I knew, Olivier was checking out Florence hotels. That was Wednesday night. We left Friday night for Florence. It was a perfect weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOF4_AE_VmplOSzWF71BOBt6gLuCuGLI51nudo1NEHeJfOs4dlFPdZxS2uQJlX4MHbJmPqvweezHXfqtZAojXkqArcfzeyJeaHnLpv7vcISyFy7stsTg1UxyB5-tfpDBEYej9SdA5hnL1/s1600/IMG_3294.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOF4_AE_VmplOSzWF71BOBt6gLuCuGLI51nudo1NEHeJfOs4dlFPdZxS2uQJlX4MHbJmPqvweezHXfqtZAojXkqArcfzeyJeaHnLpv7vcISyFy7stsTg1UxyB5-tfpDBEYej9SdA5hnL1/s320/IMG_3294.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584221061545478818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When we went to our hotel room, we were surprised to see that it had not been cleaned. We told the concierge, assuring him that it was no big deal...mistakes happen. He was very embarrassed and assured us that this does not happen in his hotel, and then upgraded us to a very nice, big room...with a jacuzzi tub! Not so bad. Here's Florence...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SSfkJXEXuBsKoK-dao0VtAMmT4jbfM8Bud5Jb1P-LHVWrpeEDrL9XcWBx8fn3aW2H7__-4GPxENHArs3akNEFZtJ7JafR6vlaKyyghiV8oW4_zuy4GCDbJD-T1_pPs2GbNhVCKjuayeD/s320/IMG_3300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584224283942973634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsrfvYbICct-PZvrqu2WCaZefmGvUm5v3J5QlZ-BR1uRIvDTw8kM-BU8E1xeT1V1EYZHrhw6QUTmLK2MKEzD5Rk4bNcmBpnbPgCXCvgOOMuxenV4ejmG6UakgfriiE_VKk8TkPDAHYtBR/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsrfvYbICct-PZvrqu2WCaZefmGvUm5v3J5QlZ-BR1uRIvDTw8kM-BU8E1xeT1V1EYZHrhw6QUTmLK2MKEzD5Rk4bNcmBpnbPgCXCvgOOMuxenV4ejmG6UakgfriiE_VKk8TkPDAHYtBR/s320/IMG_3335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584224289584581474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">We spent all day Saturday being tourists. Luckily the weather cooperated, because it definitely did not on Sunday. We didn't have time for the museums, so we decided to save those for our next trip. Here is Olivier acting the part of a tourist. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUwCl3hY1Iy7IDgnBa5mFHTySVC-lNCOq2pGDz_VM6zalmNcHjPQQt3C8VgEKkJRAfx-PeNWpLVeZz6_dvg07BtJPhb1YArcOLLxqOtoPf097EmsBRqneFAd360rX08LenNy-sQHc7TiW/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUwCl3hY1Iy7IDgnBa5mFHTySVC-lNCOq2pGDz_VM6zalmNcHjPQQt3C8VgEKkJRAfx-PeNWpLVeZz6_dvg07BtJPhb1YArcOLLxqOtoPf097EmsBRqneFAd360rX08LenNy-sQHc7TiW/s320/IMG_3353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584224293934626770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsrfvYbICct-PZvrqu2WCaZefmGvUm5v3J5QlZ-BR1uRIvDTw8kM-BU8E1xeT1V1EYZHrhw6QUTmLK2MKEzD5Rk4bNcmBpnbPgCXCvgOOMuxenV4ejmG6UakgfriiE_VKk8TkPDAHYtBR/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">If you ever go to Italy, you must eat gelato. It is delicious! It is basically delicious ice cream. I don't know the technical differences or anything like that.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3u19NwvKi-AwiYwl5qH-RIFrh5cwLZE_b32tIv2U6vJ3Ffr00RIyFhsXr96-wPU9H5vstept611tv8DdyA9ng4qe1dpX2zbTNlpAugGWIUcAZat5NS60sh-csCiuVQaY69eLk6WbLQeya/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3u19NwvKi-AwiYwl5qH-RIFrh5cwLZE_b32tIv2U6vJ3Ffr00RIyFhsXr96-wPU9H5vstept611tv8DdyA9ng4qe1dpX2zbTNlpAugGWIUcAZat5NS60sh-csCiuVQaY69eLk6WbLQeya/s320/IMG_3361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584224292569184162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUwCl3hY1Iy7IDgnBa5mFHTySVC-lNCOq2pGDz_VM6zalmNcHjPQQt3C8VgEKkJRAfx-PeNWpLVeZz6_dvg07BtJPhb1YArcOLLxqOtoPf097EmsBRqneFAd360rX08LenNy-sQHc7TiW/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5RrMz2Yd0ozb_Kx8ogORQwgC8Uy8ErwtdAGhK0EP2oH4QT6w_9zSyaIqf9ZikxeKPRE88t6f4jCykGVzDiUvQ0J7B5HTFy4mn3vXHzaHSzYJcEcdlWEwig0nn4OROlnhQddfFy5vBrFo/s320/IMG_3385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584224299447348242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-13580318097331440232011-02-25T14:50:00.004+01:002011-02-25T15:06:04.666+01:00It's Friday :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGzzOZsBwH5sPjdjiJYOabIJkXWK1FWYinVd0QX3hXnIhNV_qsfxMZO4UPdPqv-kpZgPMULoj4pvY3BvuKHwc2pgyl3bSDFKRypFrtUew_NmnbLXZ_XGHyLifu4JzKDnvs68HgQwbC5yy/s1600/IMG_3215.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: left;">I am so glad it's Friday! I did not have a stressful week or anything...I just really love these weekends where we hang out with no real plans. Last weekend led to a beautiful walk on Nice's promenade and a climb resulting in a gorgeous view of Nice. The weather was perfect...warm (60's) and sunny, and everyone was enjoying the day, especially since Carnaval is currently going on in Nice. Carnaval is basically Nice's version of Mardi Gras. It lasts for a few weeks with lots of events, parades, and fun. Kids are continuously walking by with painted faces. Anyway, I do not have a lot of news, but I did want to share my pictures from last Saturday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here we have the king and queen of festivities (I don't know this for sure...we just assumed). </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAReOqp68nf7ehIDMLX5sLQYXZSH6jX9i51dC0DHTo3eADwnOUEM0Fw1h0fK1LFSymFk7aq-rWbv6V7ztsdokV-PNbRWIa_oz16Awnm0eiPpn0ALAigg8Z6QeHGhpc0eTi1Xbu1EGqzDGM/s1600/IMG_3192.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAReOqp68nf7ehIDMLX5sLQYXZSH6jX9i51dC0DHTo3eADwnOUEM0Fw1h0fK1LFSymFk7aq-rWbv6V7ztsdokV-PNbRWIa_oz16Awnm0eiPpn0ALAigg8Z6QeHGhpc0eTi1Xbu1EGqzDGM/s320/IMG_3192.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577626199526331810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC48Qp0uDEdHV6YZBy6NoClPjB02zGtkJdwQNvg31tF0BNw56a_KrLsPtohrA4b8roHwbqRyB7371HkJdJeGGep-fmdpDGpNzUidCW4gf6JRAtA3y8FZ_dEpNEND5dx2KTE4vxCpKXv6G/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC48Qp0uDEdHV6YZBy6NoClPjB02zGtkJdwQNvg31tF0BNw56a_KrLsPtohrA4b8roHwbqRyB7371HkJdJeGGep-fmdpDGpNzUidCW4gf6JRAtA3y8FZ_dEpNEND5dx2KTE4vxCpKXv6G/s320/IMG_3191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577626190610899970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>And these are the view from above (plus a few of us).</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIGH_LSE5MmqpZxVX8JWnW_3wuT6IPZL4ZsoSFQUjB7jVmQTV0H2_PX3HEz149-o36RGsFUGW2qDbZDuUVMabuLkyELhHzFHQcNZG7aUGVkVOxN1OQX9yir2bsCzLI03vxQzNQnOCZk_6/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIGH_LSE5MmqpZxVX8JWnW_3wuT6IPZL4ZsoSFQUjB7jVmQTV0H2_PX3HEz149-o36RGsFUGW2qDbZDuUVMabuLkyELhHzFHQcNZG7aUGVkVOxN1OQX9yir2bsCzLI03vxQzNQnOCZk_6/s320/IMG_3203.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577626216307247026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtBdJX0QwZMWunu7k3z7ELTfaTsHcMkHIZfgNym6p9dJ5Yk6Z7wlGSglwOBneOzG3YdyFAfkQia3D8JOwX4EypJELsbtUvbwiXM42JkK5Z-ZxNsoqIdN3EgqwvgrQPycQjNFLaexwRq-S/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtBdJX0QwZMWunu7k3z7ELTfaTsHcMkHIZfgNym6p9dJ5Yk6Z7wlGSglwOBneOzG3YdyFAfkQia3D8JOwX4EypJELsbtUvbwiXM42JkK5Z-ZxNsoqIdN3EgqwvgrQPycQjNFLaexwRq-S/s320/IMG_3201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577626209139289378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI37dEOEpHyvcy3MmeIG_QokszHt45lmXJIZVdrLhHGv0IY3WDqVUXznk13boa4AbhQEaVctQ64n9RH6UGffHc4ZUQ8bySbehGoKWpoUVcR14vJs8zecuE0BwVuXjSXqqAXpYz_7s1J3e1/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI37dEOEpHyvcy3MmeIG_QokszHt45lmXJIZVdrLhHGv0IY3WDqVUXznk13boa4AbhQEaVctQ64n9RH6UGffHc4ZUQ8bySbehGoKWpoUVcR14vJs8zecuE0BwVuXjSXqqAXpYz_7s1J3e1/s320/IMG_3207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577626223341142594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqmZFV47RFeT-KxNwJY6-0s0xI98z27xxbdRQUChyphenhyphenzd0D7DGrHYIql0I2BFhUZdFynX7EAach8RkobZdsI1mWgsCi3QnbAN_teBwcD3I45YPOh_EVVe4L_9CGQKJVXd0tWFKb5RzRRn9R/s320/IMG_3214.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577627585216246226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGzzOZsBwH5sPjdjiJYOabIJkXWK1FWYinVd0QX3hXnIhNV_qsfxMZO4UPdPqv-kpZgPMULoj4pvY3BvuKHwc2pgyl3bSDFKRypFrtUew_NmnbLXZ_XGHyLifu4JzKDnvs68HgQwbC5yy/s1600/IMG_3215.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGzzOZsBwH5sPjdjiJYOabIJkXWK1FWYinVd0QX3hXnIhNV_qsfxMZO4UPdPqv-kpZgPMULoj4pvY3BvuKHwc2pgyl3bSDFKRypFrtUew_NmnbLXZ_XGHyLifu4JzKDnvs68HgQwbC5yy/s320/IMG_3215.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577627610348043026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUCnHyQ5TbWkrcJShTA4zBY576OoUV6x_S8mXvbToAdoQbjhD0mvDV0hvUYPUZ6soINR2CgDMItdo9nQLUKp0kkfcqRUQE1SXeM4Ox7h4kLhoFu2a-MPt4O5Arrn3krAE98XcfxXjrelY/s320/IMG_3212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577627574295177698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfGfTyiABqW3Feji_vXSJA0Mq-bWCZUZRS6ehaKocvZTv4fpV-bAFhUN9AdaA3zoFZlNwy8oGNxicSHmujWdhFoTEf0u0fC7_b7d375sbgqzpjpt_wNOGGrZybEovodG0gbXRr3DZNQtj/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfGfTyiABqW3Feji_vXSJA0Mq-bWCZUZRS6ehaKocvZTv4fpV-bAFhUN9AdaA3zoFZlNwy8oGNxicSHmujWdhFoTEf0u0fC7_b7d375sbgqzpjpt_wNOGGrZybEovodG0gbXRr3DZNQtj/s320/IMG_3220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577627600382018802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfY7k-jpGI2_hyphenhyphenFdaoMh_4XpFwFEsHDxBPFq_mqEgSxcLZVgachFlLIUdxuystWrEnyzEfziJ776EZUZ_KcDfuAsGbrc6NH8x-zOhaHw-_bzQFcUk28GQJJum7OAyJLViUpwE0pBg_vtO/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfY7k-jpGI2_hyphenhyphenFdaoMh_4XpFwFEsHDxBPFq_mqEgSxcLZVgachFlLIUdxuystWrEnyzEfziJ776EZUZ_KcDfuAsGbrc6NH8x-zOhaHw-_bzQFcUk28GQJJum7OAyJLViUpwE0pBg_vtO/s320/IMG_3217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577627593892506658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-80812730611858290372011-02-24T09:46:00.004+01:002011-02-24T10:17:59.073+01:00Skiing in the Alps<div style="text-align: left;">A few weekends ago we went skiing in Auron, a small ski resort town in the lower Alps, just 1.5 hours from Nice by car. I was very excited to be doing some real mountain skiing, especially Alps skiing. Here we are, ready to go.</div><div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pTDGpwIp_fRzv7NvWBKpSiTNhDbc5z3CzV4mWx6Lj9f2UwIX0ybl8waMkYgdZu1kWDnvzmkEIv5YNbYfyD6ET8XwMr1GrJzrJuEScymcBJk1mv0QCJ3IZO-ns4UX7vQ1W8R3s-ItWLYm/s320/IMG_3159.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577175488442436994" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The mountains were gorgeous, of course. Unfortunately the snow was not so great. I actually could have used some powdery Michigan snow. It had not snowed in a long time, so the snow was very hard and pretty icy in many spots. I was enjoying it anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oHVIHB3D8VV-o-GQI2FnJ_IhfTGryGjhnmf5V0Q339CyGnIKESCNYosF5KtcjqyOchSyBaSgS6a-M-HpoBqT531AGn6A8vIRJBBoUey0OZKL-Xa0PW5NblPJuaoV2kTv1_rNiPEcof0M/s320/IMG_3167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577175509331305074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX_ejwXf0bTM_N7uutxN02dieh3aCriW7gjY5J3Ca8TMBY3VSm5_omp7sFGUbXe9MDh1CjqFTAqDOpPjKt3aE0s1_7WmE2BKHnA3exiBikyV7uKG-w8AsdCEpB8m1FbxgfiMYIhIcjSJ6/s320/IMG_3163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577175496557609858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>The slopes were so long compared to what I am used to, which made it pretty fun. However, I had a slight problem. I love skiing and have been skiing a few times a year on average since 5th grade. I'm not great, but I enjoy it and am not afraid of the more challenging runs. I should have rented skis, but used those of a friend instead. They were way too long for me (the same length of Olivier's), they were the old style, and I just could not cut the snow well with them. Anyway, this inability to use my edges well was not helpful on a rather steep and icy slope. Unable to slow down and slipping every time I tried resulted in the biggest fall I've ever taken in my life while skiing. Somehow I ended up sliding face first on my stomach, skis above my head (no they didn't even fall off!) for a very long time. I could not stop because it was too icy. Finally it flattened out enough for me to slow myself down and finally stop. Luckily Olivier stopped when he heard me yelling as I slid down the hill and was able to help me. It took a few minutes to get back on my feet, but finally, I was up. Other skiiers stopped and found my hat for me, which I lost a few yards back. Needless to say, I was all of a sudden quite afraid to continue. Beind halfway through the run, however, I had to finish it off. I skied back and forth, falling often from trying to slow myself down. I was so angry with myself for all of a sudden being so afraid and I couldn't understand why I seemed to have no control over myself. After my fall I was slipping all over the place. After another run or two I suggested we stop for lunch. I really just wanted to get the heck off of my skis for a while. We stopped and ate as I clumsily cut my pizza (it was not the kind that was easily eaten with hands) because of an injured thumb. As we were gearing up to get back to the slopes I thought I should tighten my boots because they felt pretty loose. Somehow (during the fall I'm guessing), they had both come undone. No wonder I had no control! They were the kind that close from the back with one clicky thing. I have no idea how it happened, but they somehow detached. The difference after that was remarkable. Duh! Finally I could control myself. I was still a little shaky from my fall and very sore, but I tried to enjoy the rest of the day, while avoiding the steepest slopes, of course. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO2Ef25v4tA0HGvXJ_R1rCfLw-GpVv4z2cgcid33Wb166Mo0HRf6Tmu82pOzcdR2PjFP2t4C1vXBFzQVOPRiVDpdCLT5076RrwLLTSoQ1LJourCX9KMZkzLD9DmiRBuibIT0G2ZRUNaAr/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO2Ef25v4tA0HGvXJ_R1rCfLw-GpVv4z2cgcid33Wb166Mo0HRf6Tmu82pOzcdR2PjFP2t4C1vXBFzQVOPRiVDpdCLT5076RrwLLTSoQ1LJourCX9KMZkzLD9DmiRBuibIT0G2ZRUNaAr/s320/IMG_3166.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577175502339601986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was glad to leave by the end of the day, but I am anxious to get back out there (with rented skis) and actually enjoy skiing a little more. I was just so sore and anxious after my fall that I wasn't really having fun. If the weather cooperates, we'll be going again this weekend. I'm hoping for better luck! I guess I can be glad that I was not badly injured, just lots of bruises and a sprained thumb.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eVd_XNZCGW4bkiOs6vevZDvqpslTej40A5iOJ3di-rxNAWt0gJs8PiYXn5cSM3RJ4IbM7r_DyIzNCIuXoafON1gfSGiKmmY1-D0TteO5jytle2MTDrtUImjjiT-sWqDxi_TGfN47D8mF/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eVd_XNZCGW4bkiOs6vevZDvqpslTej40A5iOJ3di-rxNAWt0gJs8PiYXn5cSM3RJ4IbM7r_DyIzNCIuXoafON1gfSGiKmmY1-D0TteO5jytle2MTDrtUImjjiT-sWqDxi_TGfN47D8mF/s320/IMG_3161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577175489805232290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-56167463141513606422011-02-16T10:35:00.005+01:002011-02-16T10:52:23.512+01:00Walks in Beausoleil<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PyTm3rmK73gU6ZG_g7AZ7Va97gAw6Tgn51zvAMONQX7weeS7pPAFmiNCNXmiE_nczHcXvazEBJrpf2Inm8CuKfxozfh-CRw6inWz5SmqPymXtMXZ3Lom7cBF-UzBk1qFwkOqsxEVTkoi/s1600/IMG_3182.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: left;">I just thought I would post a few pictures that I have taken during my many walks with Baby Charlotte. Walks keep her happy, which means that we take a lot of them! We tend to stay in Beausoleil, France, but sometimes when we are feeling adventurous, we take LOTS of steps down to Monaco.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first is picture taken from the balcony of the family's home in Beausoleil. In the background, you can see part of Italy sticking out into the Mediterranean. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAaMfUH-58TZ2c8cIUs5i7A4IMX4ILXuc9BbpmPhC9t2F898-1s5RJKomW8Y8Z7FEoIgG4oWNpBkTlael1g9G9QZ8yZIN5d7zKAjR8vkyE8XGQjTOhJTK19Yb1xzwWgGhAgOcG7xyXJDk/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAaMfUH-58TZ2c8cIUs5i7A4IMX4ILXuc9BbpmPhC9t2F898-1s5RJKomW8Y8Z7FEoIgG4oWNpBkTlael1g9G9QZ8yZIN5d7zKAjR8vkyE8XGQjTOhJTK19Yb1xzwWgGhAgOcG7xyXJDk/s320/IMG_3146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574219989307933490" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAaMfUH-58TZ2c8cIUs5i7A4IMX4ILXuc9BbpmPhC9t2F898-1s5RJKomW8Y8Z7FEoIgG4oWNpBkTlael1g9G9QZ8yZIN5d7zKAjR8vkyE8XGQjTOhJTK19Yb1xzwWgGhAgOcG7xyXJDk/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFnWTDaDerowZwSvWI24-7B30RqnY902SW2_T4_YtE0kkhtYPIwoCs9SAaL-Lu0boMLZAWLiU8w-Omb4x_NKd3x2XoOmzz8t-_IbF4hHhyphenhyphenRlAIhETDroX6acwrl4MGUxumw1P360T167C/s1600/IMG_3145.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFnWTDaDerowZwSvWI24-7B30RqnY902SW2_T4_YtE0kkhtYPIwoCs9SAaL-Lu0boMLZAWLiU8w-Omb4x_NKd3x2XoOmzz8t-_IbF4hHhyphenhyphenRlAIhETDroX6acwrl4MGUxumw1P360T167C/s320/IMG_3145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574219981645313938" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Hn7yLSG5G-oYgVvvRqkOVP0OoR5UXMiTSAyT_2uXczofwImV2JE6djL9PIDOrgNaDjXMZ2dZxkJrcF-eZVn1ffmTAxrjfuwyGtHK_I6O68f-lQ44OpRDwkMN12-t_YCqcxnejkTFXrvK/s1600/IMG_3153.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Hn7yLSG5G-oYgVvvRqkOVP0OoR5UXMiTSAyT_2uXczofwImV2JE6djL9PIDOrgNaDjXMZ2dZxkJrcF-eZVn1ffmTAxrjfuwyGtHK_I6O68f-lQ44OpRDwkMN12-t_YCqcxnejkTFXrvK/s320/IMG_3153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574219993760014290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5YPlw7AA7zho8nH0cIJNqau6hZYxI5-ELWez1VsaXceX4EgPWqb8TtsI-bueRSA5ffuMQHmCk5bZr_naddknbMwc5V9mvM0vMn1RxMY2pRMF3QzARY5V-ulWtebqZIF31U_60P7osw1g/s1600/IMG_3147.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5YPlw7AA7zho8nH0cIJNqau6hZYxI5-ELWez1VsaXceX4EgPWqb8TtsI-bueRSA5ffuMQHmCk5bZr_naddknbMwc5V9mvM0vMn1RxMY2pRMF3QzARY5V-ulWtebqZIF31U_60P7osw1g/s1600/IMG_3147.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5YPlw7AA7zho8nH0cIJNqau6hZYxI5-ELWez1VsaXceX4EgPWqb8TtsI-bueRSA5ffuMQHmCk5bZr_naddknbMwc5V9mvM0vMn1RxMY2pRMF3QzARY5V-ulWtebqZIF31U_60P7osw1g/s320/IMG_3147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574219991029859106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>We see lots of olive trees...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVBhR4RjzG-2WOYTryrLh6aYPgtcc-hKFSCz_RP6L3hBMmLiA8P_m5x-NPCdkmGXDFjWKBcde2I5jCfcWs_HxmWzKQzEkC96rhugpbcDOUvUUpobRIhBCu_8-_e9-t2zaWs-RNI22NKNT/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVBhR4RjzG-2WOYTryrLh6aYPgtcc-hKFSCz_RP6L3hBMmLiA8P_m5x-NPCdkmGXDFjWKBcde2I5jCfcWs_HxmWzKQzEkC96rhugpbcDOUvUUpobRIhBCu_8-_e9-t2zaWs-RNI22NKNT/s320/IMG_3156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574220001106798546" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These reminded me of little trumpets emerging from the stone wall.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfTQaVtrWyy6a9gyqaF0rWzXhDxDHAUtOFp_0gciHI3j1m9vSSDoC_1wS-CVo49dAm_aqTMDpCC-XBXaxae5dJ-XkA_SNzFb_Qu891szTryzgngBBs4-TErIEng17VxHSJq5mRU3_HTZq/s1600/IMG_3178.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfTQaVtrWyy6a9gyqaF0rWzXhDxDHAUtOFp_0gciHI3j1m9vSSDoC_1wS-CVo49dAm_aqTMDpCC-XBXaxae5dJ-XkA_SNzFb_Qu891szTryzgngBBs4-TErIEng17VxHSJq5mRU3_HTZq/s320/IMG_3178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574222105715546482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOQr64TGw74faHUENj8_R-bcte7-Wdo_ePuORmd-WgChc3VoW2hyXOwwlGIEtErrS1f-Nwl6Rhtx6RVqDihaeOiCqdKpmpojuMafCjuX1Q-zm17_2s1NKaKzgbF4scEwwT3avpT7p7GSy/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOQr64TGw74faHUENj8_R-bcte7-Wdo_ePuORmd-WgChc3VoW2hyXOwwlGIEtErrS1f-Nwl6Rhtx6RVqDihaeOiCqdKpmpojuMafCjuX1Q-zm17_2s1NKaKzgbF4scEwwT3avpT7p7GSy/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574222099381920546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAXayu_H56kvJQbmwaJ3qPZesSCDOMI0VU38bHjnyk568IDwUOPbaI041VTMggX9FCw1gwH6fUCF-6WKS3kQ6iaGb5SOTBXl1tEefyEqz4PNo0PHJSLh5xgFdZydpJXpbHvQOlhhOXNSc/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAXayu_H56kvJQbmwaJ3qPZesSCDOMI0VU38bHjnyk568IDwUOPbaI041VTMggX9FCw1gwH6fUCF-6WKS3kQ6iaGb5SOTBXl1tEefyEqz4PNo0PHJSLh5xgFdZydpJXpbHvQOlhhOXNSc/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574222094876492610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fESohEKXVCkkd1iKLCey6_8d6KpflHveeJXpcjkWVQvli5cqFG7rQp7mmgsOh6Q_Iw5CQ3jKenEXbPZKqoCMzn4DTfAtS-iVvietfcOOvrOl4ZI54M0xIvgmd0ENcdKtJewAU30j4ZcF/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fESohEKXVCkkd1iKLCey6_8d6KpflHveeJXpcjkWVQvli5cqFG7rQp7mmgsOh6Q_Iw5CQ3jKenEXbPZKqoCMzn4DTfAtS-iVvietfcOOvrOl4ZI54M0xIvgmd0ENcdKtJewAU30j4ZcF/s320/IMG_3158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574222090174851042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PyTm3rmK73gU6ZG_g7AZ7Va97gAw6Tgn51zvAMONQX7weeS7pPAFmiNCNXmiE_nczHcXvazEBJrpf2Inm8CuKfxozfh-CRw6inWz5SmqPymXtMXZ3Lom7cBF-UzBk1qFwkOqsxEVTkoi/s1600/IMG_3182.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PyTm3rmK73gU6ZG_g7AZ7Va97gAw6Tgn51zvAMONQX7weeS7pPAFmiNCNXmiE_nczHcXvazEBJrpf2Inm8CuKfxozfh-CRw6inWz5SmqPymXtMXZ3Lom7cBF-UzBk1qFwkOqsxEVTkoi/s320/IMG_3182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574222659897090514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>Unfortunately we've been stuck inside most of this week because of the rain. I guess it had to happen sometime. Before this week, it only rained once since I arrived. </div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-70312936921078110022011-02-11T10:22:00.003+01:002011-02-11T10:54:34.748+01:00Settling into the RoutineGeez, time flies. I have been here for a month now and it seems so much shorter...in fact, I feel like I'll be back in the states preparing my next trip before I know it. There were days before I was working and was home alone all day when I was missing home, but now that I have a routine consisting of working all day and hanging out with Olivier for a few hours when we get home, I am feeling much more comfortable and at-home here. I talk to my parents so often on skype that it makes being far away so much easier. I even get to see my dogs via skype. <div><br /><div>I'll be honest, I am not missing the cold at all. I do like Michigan winters for about a month because they can be beautiful, like after a fresh snowfall. After a few weeks, I'm ready for spring, so I guess it's good that I am here now and will be returning in April for a while. Sometimes I like being outside in the winter, but really, I prefer the weather here. I just hate being cold all the time. The weather here isn't warm right now, but it's comfortable...low 50's and sunny pretty much every day. I just wear a light jacket and I am good to go. Plus mountains are accessible for skiing purposes. In fact, we are going skiing this weekend, providing that our plans work out. Olivier was sick the last time we planned to go skiing. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Some good news for me is that I have my babysitting job for two extra weeks in March. That is two weeks where I would possible be job hunting without much luck. The babysitting job is really better than anything I had hoped for. It is temporary (necessary, since I'm leaving in April and July), 40 hours a week, and good pay. Plus the baby is so sweet. I get to catch up on my American tv shows (or blog) during nap time :) </div><div><br /></div><div>I finally have all of the paperwork Olivier and I need in order to be pacsed. A PACS is basically a French civil union. This will help me get a visa, get on the national health care system, and eventually obtain residency, which will allow me to get a real job. There are several other rights that this will give us. I have to go to the local court house, show them the paperwork, and make an appointment to be pacsed. It only takes about a week to get an appointment, so hopefully we'll be pasced in just a few weeks. That will be a huge weight lifted. Gathering all of the paperwork and translations needed has been a job in itself. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is about all that is new here. Really, I have just been settling into a normal routine. Olivier has been practicing his English a lot with me and at work. Actually, we have been watching "Friends" almost every night to help with his English...plus I love it! It makes us both laugh all the time. Olivier says it is funnier in English (sometimes a lot is lost in translation). That is all for now. Hopefully I'll be blogging again soon. </div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-61087813949077631242011-02-03T10:12:00.002+01:002011-02-03T10:31:00.532+01:00A Job for FebruaryFor the month of February, I actually have something to do other than sleep in, wander, and sit at my computer. Thank goodness. It can be nice sometimes, but I need to have things to do, places to be...to at least feel like I did something with my day. As I've said before, part of my "job" before was to find some sort of small job in order to make a little money and have something to do. I was searching without much success every day, and finally, last Friday, I ran across a posting for a childcare job for February. It was 39.5 hours a week during regular working hours, but it was in Beausoleil, France, so not within walking distance. However, there is a train and I was not in the position to be picky. So I replied with all of my information, contacts and resume, with hopes that I might get a reply. <div><br /></div><div>Luckily, the mother called me that night and wanted to know all about me and wondered if I could meet the family the next day. So on Saturday, I made my way to Monaco by train and walked to their home in Beausoleil (just a 25 minute walk from the train station). I talked with the parents and met the baby girl, discussed the job, and left hoping for the best (they were meeting someone else after me). I was called back that night and asked if I could start Monday. </div><div><br /></div><div>So here I am, sitting in a living room in Beausoleil with a view of the Mediterranean. I can even see Italy in the distance. Every morning, Olivier and I take the same train to Monaco, and then we head our separate ways after a short walk together. The train is about 25 minutes along, and it runs along the water, making for a beautiful start to the day. I spend my day with the sweetest baby girl. Her name is Charlotte, she is 3.5 months old, and she is so calm and happy. She doesn't even cry when I put her down for a nap or when she wakes up. She just rests in her crib happily. She takes two naps while I am here, so I have a lot of quiet time. She's actually sleeping right now. The parents are both wonderful, kind people. This couldn't be a better arrangement. It is only for February because their nanny is having an operation, but that works for me since I am leaving for 1.5 months in April anyway. So for now, that is my life during the week. Olivier and I both work all day and then spend our evenings together. I am looking forward to another weekend together. We don't have any plans, but it's just nice to have down time together. </div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-89701077109169382852011-01-25T13:25:00.012+01:002011-02-06T20:49:23.195+01:00When Life Gives You Oranges...<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; ">I just wanted to mention my Uncle Bob. He died this week after a battle with cancer. He was definitely a great guy and a joy to be around, always making everyone around him laugh. I loved tubing down the river with him and the rest of the Brugger family. He will be missed, but is a great example of someone who made the best out of everything. I guess you could say he made lemonade when life gave him lemons, or orange juice when he was handed a basket of oranges. We'll miss you, Uncle Bob.</div><div><br /></div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We just happen to have a lot of citrus fruits in the apartment, especially oranges. This is all in great thanks to Olivier's parents and all of their wonderful citrus trees. Without all of the preservatives, etc. contained in the oranges from the store, these oranges become bad quickly. So, what better way to use 'em up than to make a lot of orange juice. Hence, I have been getting my fair share of completely natural, hand-squeezed, full of Vitamin-C, delicious orange juice. Here is this morning's squeeze (The plastic table cover just happens to fit today's theme).</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuArEd3GFBbToL4t_plfjnQxuDF0h742dKUzKvX21cy5f5c4JZF_K5mfwL8_RBIn4uq1xKOR9QV_H3lNNcPn2rThEKXXLJU5CX4KwPRLexNdHtHOR7kaBiAA0T_-Crt5VMAXnCJZmtIFQV/s320/IMG_3142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566100763273556610" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">So here I am in Nice, still jobless, making orange juice. But hey, at least I have plenty of oranges. I've been small-job-hunting online, looking for any random job around here...babysitting being probably my best bet. It seems there are a lot of babysitters and tutors out there, so I just have to be patient and keep up the search. It will be much easier once I actually have the right to have a real job over here, like teaching. Until then, babysitting must suffice. If I have to be jobless, I guess it is a good time. I am getting lots of paperwork together for our civil union (I have an appointment tomorrow with someone at a US consulate office), I am sleeping in, talking over coffee with my mom via skype, discovering the neighborhood, like where to buy the best baguette, and enjoying the sun. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nice is setting up for Carnaval, which is like France's Mardi Gras celebration. I guess it is pretty nuts, but I will definitely have to check it out at least once. I guess there are lots of families, kids all dressed up, and I'll fill you in on the rest once I know. It doesn't start for a few weeks, but it is so close to where we live, so I'm sure I'll have plenty of photo opportunities. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On a completely different note, I have been remembering my dreams a lot. Usually, I just sleep so hard and can't remember a thing. Lately, I seem to be remembering a lot of them, mostly bizarre, as dreams tend to be. I wonder what that's about. Perhaps it's a sign that our bed is hard and short and we need a new one. I think that's Thursday's task since Olivier doesn't have to work (Monaco has a holiday I guess). Anyway, that is about all that is new here. Just job-hunting, paperwork, and making orange juice. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll leave you with a few pictures. The first is the only one of us I've taken since being back...unfortunately, Olivier thought it would be funny to stick his tongue out, so here ya go...</div><div style="text-align: left;">The other is of the Russian church just up the road from us. One of theses days we'll check out the inside. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6T7pSdIaH3-Qrne2JzFlZoA54mn4nxq9GT2Y-Pu7qOzMHDJ-Od3S2d4_PFv-tJskPUjl7g7umSD3RrsEfjaCOVgCwWsYaN2sLWRCOEfAfPVPx3d5XV6IpJ_sBUQBPfw84UBvxLYUWkN_k/s320/IMG_3139.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566105549649738322" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wdtXaigy0pMszT0FodMNGoNrEyqRFifc1Hlt8ZxTY2hyphenhyphenQw0c3SJrsyCehR-pFZdaSJ8_WzXOV86FNF1bk6nAShUJX7fhAYAtrqKLv5CT0enYMWGukPbE7Zjr17-KGazxR1R2uT_5nxwm/s320/IMG_3141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566105551822180434" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-50672636441913083512011-01-20T15:10:00.006+01:002011-01-20T16:08:40.126+01:00Adjusting to the Nice life<div style="text-align: left;">I guess you could say that this begins Part II of my life in France. I arrived in Nice, France exactly one week ago and am so glad to be here, finally able to get back to life with Olivier. I felt like life was on hold for those five months apart...like I was just waiting to really get our life together started. So far, I cannot complain. I guess I'll just start from the beginning (sorry I didn't post sooner...I just got internet access today...finally!).</div><div><br /></div><div>The flight/getting here:</div><div><br /></div><div>I must say that the journey over was not perfect, but I tried to make the best of it. I flew Detroit to Montreal to Paris to Nice. Not exactly direct, but it got me here. The long flight was rather uncomfortable as I was pretty much crammed in my seat the entire time. I sat next to a very kind French lady, but I felt bad asking to use the bathroom, etc. because she was rather large and it was a process (this is my counterexample to disprove the myth that "French women don't get fat." Not true.). Thank goodness for in-flight movies. AirFrance had some good selections. When I was in Paris, I saw previews for a French film that looked so good. I was bummed that I wouldn't be able to watch it because it wasn't in theaters until after I left for the states. It is called "L'age de Raison", which means "The Age of Reason." I was thrilled that it was one of my choices! I also watched something else I wanted to see, "Life as We Know It." Needless to say I did not sleep at all and was uncomfortable, but I did get to catch up on my movie-watching. </div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived in Paris right on time, at 6 am. This meant over 9 hours of waiting for my flight to Nice. However, things were not so bad as a very nice Delta Airlines lady was able to get my bags to go all the way to Nice without me having to stay with them all day in Paris (this was supposed to be the case because my ticket to Nice was bought separately). Free of luggage, I made my way into Paris to do what I really needed (no, not see Paris)...take a nap. Thank goodness for great friends. I went to Crystal's, caught up with her and her mother briefly, took a shower, and spent the rest of the morning/early-afternoon catching up on some much-needed sleep. I got my booty back to the airport and finished up the journey, arriving in Nice just as the sun was setting. Not too shabby. Unfortunately Olivier had to be in Marseille until the next day for work, but his mother met me right as I left baggage claim. We drove to his parents' house, as we had yet to get our own apartment, ate dinner with his parents and sister, and basically fell into a deep sleep until around noon the next day. I was a little nervous to be staying at Olivier's parents' house without him, but they were very welcoming and it went well. I was finally able to see Oliv on Friday night...the wait was over. </div><div><br /></div><div>Move-in:</div><div>On Saturday, Oliv and I made our way into Nice to sign on an apartment. His mother had thankfully been apartment hunting for us. We moved all of our stuff in on Sunday and decided to get to know the area a little before he left for another two days in Marseille. I had no idea how close we were to everything! </div><div><br /></div><div>Our apartment, 14 rue Rossini:</div><div><br /></div><div>We live on the 2nd floor (3rd floor by American counting...they have "0" floor in France as opposed to the first floor being ground level). There is a little park right across the street, called Place Mozart. We are in the Musicians Quarter and are about a 4 minute walk from the main shopping street in Nice, and just a few minutes from the promenade along the Mediterranean. It couldn't be a better location. And Olivier is happy that there tends to be several parking spaces available each night. One side of the apartment is basically windows/doors, which faces West and allows for a lot of sunlight. We have a great little terrace with a table. The apartment is smaller than what we were looking for, but it will work well for us for now. We are only planning on being in this apartment for a year. Our bedroom isn't even separate, but is actually an alcove with curtains. Haha. There are a lot of old folks living in this area, so we figure that we can work our way up as time goes on, since we really like this building. The consulate of the Netherlands is on the ground floor, as well as a few other offices. We also have a storage room in the basement, which is handy since we need a new bed and a place to store the antique we are currently using. Our apartment is already furnished, which is nice, but not really our style...it's all Louis XV, as I've been told. This means that the bed is particularly short and in my opinion, hard (If you know anything about Olivier, you know that he is very tall. He sleeps diagonally and curled up...poor boy). Anyway, the apartment is great. Here are a few photos of the apartment and the view from the terrace.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KV5phaocNUNmfv1uj179VL15EpPF94roaEzUMpTaCSk-239QHwg3Vw0L1mp6cxmbXQ0d-_eoWUbAVQPNrylrcRn0W7yUhEk48O54Lu0E7g2rJYRQHyLViUNz3cLcNUplr48i_w8Rj-Vt/s320/IMG_3135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281705375708658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdswu6rzJUk8mjq0EWWy5xXXDjUSCC2V_zXTnlq5hFz70L4JLSDvQLghxrafHoKtooKLH6rvznyZS7VFScDsJvaJzb-4eYMYDh7POHpD6Y3HIxNYgIvZH6rzVyIjOwwIaf6UdzgPKty4K/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9p7WSut8t8VRqKWKWY_PeYtARAFmJ0TCWu-97uz3izDWK9JPFtkdqwIu5mca6NER4DINe55_fCgSv71mZt3YRDRMiJl3KugE33G8B9Hf_5u1ebHnO8iDjgFPKfSJibFgFTzPsL-flOW_/s320/IMG_3136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281709420789938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdswu6rzJUk8mjq0EWWy5xXXDjUSCC2V_zXTnlq5hFz70L4JLSDvQLghxrafHoKtooKLH6rvznyZS7VFScDsJvaJzb-4eYMYDh7POHpD6Y3HIxNYgIvZH6rzVyIjOwwIaf6UdzgPKty4K/s320/IMG_3138.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281715355684834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZuihjHRUk9sVs5VuOCNJHLpeIqaZoR-WjZZOHYz0NeFnDc7zjaeOYQs2T3qGfybiSCu7OvL_792K8BWFwpOnAGJFyxRmJp-oWZCTF7fpxJDIT3BSM6bIKrT_IMtPuspqncwUlXfWQ7l2/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZuihjHRUk9sVs5VuOCNJHLpeIqaZoR-WjZZOHYz0NeFnDc7zjaeOYQs2T3qGfybiSCu7OvL_792K8BWFwpOnAGJFyxRmJp-oWZCTF7fpxJDIT3BSM6bIKrT_IMtPuspqncwUlXfWQ7l2/s320/IMG_3137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281714276628242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div>And here are some photos I took this afternoon during my walk...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj_ckf040WXFzfeXN_XbgvWSRVYcU4GggP2GjiNCr944Hd8Ai_X88cR29RujAqFaQKo01NLXdDVBF_EGTMXMKN3bEoWfjCVH8QIoabU5M4BIVpUPHVAZC9cwkotWKsrbXejSLbriENC6z/s320/IMG_3130.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564282590303570050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBj5YdUnDNYYGnSskl2LK98xcajOEiSrHwsG9K6EM88MB36kVBltWMw8XQj3gi_mS6RXvVRCxkbbiRe-j7ljZsfpe3wOoLAul0_iA3LosRlcMeO28OOY2AK40dGVrsEyek8oWE-YBSMFX/s1600/IMG_3133.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBj5YdUnDNYYGnSskl2LK98xcajOEiSrHwsG9K6EM88MB36kVBltWMw8XQj3gi_mS6RXvVRCxkbbiRe-j7ljZsfpe3wOoLAul0_iA3LosRlcMeO28OOY2AK40dGVrsEyek8oWE-YBSMFX/s320/IMG_3133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564282599699655090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lKSALNmZNebx1e-x2UBuFqrehPa3zFXDT7ZIkfO1cIZC9pp9qrtG_2JhHsI8xsMwuaN6x3SJUXrZq4KutwzdgOsLAvWNNgrXEHKPuygU4Y-Dcx4LWP-EnU0m18_GjPXh16JWmPq9Dqp9/s1600/IMG_3132.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lKSALNmZNebx1e-x2UBuFqrehPa3zFXDT7ZIkfO1cIZC9pp9qrtG_2JhHsI8xsMwuaN6x3SJUXrZq4KutwzdgOsLAvWNNgrXEHKPuygU4Y-Dcx4LWP-EnU0m18_GjPXh16JWmPq9Dqp9/s320/IMG_3132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564282596691655586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyxe73LsGsXX4I7smE4LhWFwJXki3Er8DaSJhbupwmev2solm195FUR5045W-CS1mGZ72CWDJFReZPKQdmWwu8wfFKMIHtdDJBf59PsXEQmjX6HdB9Z6tZ26N38BHOVmIYh8y34fXsZTI/s1600/IMG_3131.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyxe73LsGsXX4I7smE4LhWFwJXki3Er8DaSJhbupwmev2solm195FUR5045W-CS1mGZ72CWDJFReZPKQdmWwu8wfFKMIHtdDJBf59PsXEQmjX6HdB9Z6tZ26N38BHOVmIYh8y34fXsZTI/s320/IMG_3131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564282591959796690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Hanging out:</div><div><br /></div><div>For now, I've been doing a lot of random things such as cleaning and organizing the apartment, buying things for the apartment, walking around, etc. Since I just got the internet up and running, I can now look for babysitting and tutoring jobs and look for activities for anglophones such as myself, in order to meet some new people. Now that I am here, I intend on keeping this updated, but if you followed last year, you know that sometimes I'm not so good at that. Bye for now. </div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-89145399899900930522010-10-18T18:55:00.003+02:002010-10-18T19:05:02.716+02:00We're moving to Nice, where it is oh so nice!Life sure can be one crazy ride. A year ago, I had just embarked on my journey abroad...my year in Paris. Now I see that that adventure was just the beginning of an exciting, unexpected ride. Once I met Olivier and we became serious, I knew that Nice was a possibility in my future. Then as we grew closer and I planned to move to France for good, I knew that Nice was likely. However, it all is suddenly seeming so very real and I am so excited. On Friday morning, Olivier called me right after an interview for a job in Monaco. "Pack your swimsuit." Huh? I was a little confused, as I was still in a rather sleepy state. "Pack your swimsuit. I got the job. We're moving to Nice!" I was immediately so excited. And I was not in the least bit sad about not spending another cold winter in Paris. After all, it felt really nice to know that we were really going to be starting the next chapter of our life together in the place we eventually wanted to be living. Most of all, I knew that this was what he had been hoping for for so long. Later we talked about when he would be moving and starting the new job. He will probably move in mid-December, and then I arrive in mid-January. Perfect. I told him that I was excited to help him decorate his new apartment. Then he corrected me, "our apartment." I like the sound of that.Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-25872896211318700632010-08-30T22:47:00.008+02:002010-08-31T00:19:22.384+02:00The End of One Adventure and the Beginning of Another<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Oae8RgFHG0JHtJtgfBDqCdnl3jBFyDzW98GtTGCtqKddgRwlEtDmjjSIFGUFqSqFKNltmYP5PP93G2ba0kLqRaNBx71ADFkyjPEso87LJJ16SZsdKg7vc_koC9BD8q75wqgejTt3Ir30/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG"></a>I am writing this blog mostly as a way to wrap up my whirl-wind year in France, and as an introduction to what lies ahead. As made evident by earlier blogs, I was very sad to leave my life in France. I could not quit picturing myself leaving with so much sadness. Well, it was sad. It was hard, but I learned that I am a lot stronger than I originally thought. I pictured my miserable self sobbing on the plane. That is not at all how it went. Thank goodness for individual tv screens and many movie/tv show choices. I made it home and was so happy to see my parents waiting in the airport. <div><br /></div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Oae8RgFHG0JHtJtgfBDqCdnl3jBFyDzW98GtTGCtqKddgRwlEtDmjjSIFGUFqSqFKNltmYP5PP93G2ba0kLqRaNBx71ADFkyjPEso87LJJ16SZsdKg7vc_koC9BD8q75wqgejTt3Ir30/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511316018167815762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><br /></div><div>Then I saw a surprise and I was so excited that I cried. One of my dearest friends was waiting with a camera...Miss Julie Weston (soon to be Julie Wilsey :) on October 9!).<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc5y8DqQs20Hux2O7g6STExn_dZhEaU-R8gEqbUkR4xO-U2lgeZdAae50k6mTZl0DyXE2zjoQwJnDyobX2cOcWl4Wno9n5LU3s0n0_j7GMj5g5xqdVmOx1iW029MKLTCWhyKYdKNeER_Q/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc5y8DqQs20Hux2O7g6STExn_dZhEaU-R8gEqbUkR4xO-U2lgeZdAae50k6mTZl0DyXE2zjoQwJnDyobX2cOcWl4Wno9n5LU3s0n0_j7GMj5g5xqdVmOx1iW029MKLTCWhyKYdKNeER_Q/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511316003364551106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a> <div>My first few weeks home were eventful to say the least...in fact, I was hardly home at all. I was busy squeezing in visits, getting a long overdue haircut, setting up a new mobile phone account, getting everything done so that I could drive my car again, and trying to catch Olivier on Skype whenever our schedules would allow. Then after less than a week back in Cadillac, I went to Elk Rapids for a week for the Brugger family camping reunion. Thank goodness I stayed so busy...I needed it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then Olivier came to Michigan (and Chicago and NYC). I freaked out when he called me at 4:45 in the morning the day he was supposed to arrive in Chicago. He couldn't get on the flight because an Aer Lingus employee said he needed to "print" his ESTA number. This is a recently-required US borders thing that is required of all people from specific countries not needing visas for tourism. Anyway, he had the number "recorded" as instructed by Homeland Security. After much research, I have repeatedly verified that he was in the right. Anyway, I was freaking out because we didn't know if he would be able to come, especially with ticket prices being so expensive. By some miracle, his brother found a reasonably-priced (still expensive!) ticket and he was on a flight the next day. I am still waiting to hear back from Aer Lingus. He heard back, and they are only willing to refund his airport tax of 108 euro. Needless to say, this is NOT over yet. With one less day in Chicago, we spent one day exploring and then drove back to Michigan that evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once in Michigan, we spent almost every day at a Lake Michigan beach. He loved it. I loved that he loved it. Honestly, how could one not love Lake Michigan beaches?! </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOl6XKFojPL4gFUBmTTEwcflN_jA3Q3lC99my6wjnaeaUg0Ws82mqHzvgCnm2E-nTDHYcxRGTfR3AhMMmswEjWBuqLuKKMKSgmQbvEsK0k90_DOBwnXFXPKomimR6FuT2GZcAWLgcyW8W/s320/IMG_2448.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511316027206118050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55eE5kPUMNaBNdrbfvYTrrRq474Ch8kNcYuS5Z5rxtlE9GFAI7FhK16NtGEdKHt4hTslJ51bV4EbQaRp_GJTWvAVedk_QVJrFNI4fiwxIsio6EkQjT3aF6o-5FcpjWsykQ4HIgXHAntvF/s320/IMG_2453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511316039490040978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7oV5Y4x0NFLlibC2wr9FqyIjhTmd3t-IhioIrYdrSCpkUXA2fbORJDN4Dh9wytQexpbUvQNkEuZ98JE9MJNFxN4lsu061N5rtrOz0h03nmZInXnNvWAABti6i6PhPgTgXoUZz9Q1WOTK/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7oV5Y4x0NFLlibC2wr9FqyIjhTmd3t-IhioIrYdrSCpkUXA2fbORJDN4Dh9wytQexpbUvQNkEuZ98JE9MJNFxN4lsu061N5rtrOz0h03nmZInXnNvWAABti6i6PhPgTgXoUZz9Q1WOTK/s320/IMG_2465.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511316044474783602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div>While enjoying the beaches, we also enjoyed the Platte River...a few times. Olivier quickly got the hang of lounging in tubes and drinking beverages while floating down the peaceful river into Lake Michigan. I think we floated it three times that weekend. Along with my family, we had the company of long-time family friends, the Vance/Marvin family. He was able to meet one of my best friends, Brittany Marvin, and Robbie, her sweet and fun husband. We had a blast. Here we are, done with one tour of the river, and ready to start round two. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpSRE9afjKOFBgdTKKT9dgGghQ-owj55En_o77cAoMSBVBuROB6hUmuKOxpCXMZKbONKPJVOzLa685nYvBvtqjWIDkCD_QuJy5G5IUI17FfyqCMmu_qxKUwaF86xlzMzZj8iGs6C5G7vQ/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511321773344861074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0mYVKxO24VWdtMmBzSzXPQJ2bybCDPDpoO23xeZDEcyOBFFYnSqSvudofamXCka3az5l3zDimCEYeSpalkoZBU_BGREWEjfmpcmFcZ8TPVbWzgOP1UCwO_KAyIqqj7gqhIRTqnCUWHLQ/s320/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511321784008892962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6VKU5uLwdhFqrGvF6-wOcZogTyBFjYB7n2ikz3DVQeoX1dM0BfmVCQDKgzQJLE8YJcjw7YPQ_3KTDF-uIzkH-hsyj6UAVy-ErsS4gunsOjdJ1KNtY4Lp0reSysTsf-4mcunV9PmCuvyH/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511321795281827202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipdSCdIcaj3oVh6A6RlsNwUOsmCZ6M68MJKm4ohrY-Nj9fVMLuGowpNO-p4XRrMTvy9NYCooP3lVnnYzcZuU-cAMFVad8Q4UiMZK74pgWdyhAqSnoZ3LuNfrZ0YAHJR6i6wcfY_9glAQ5/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipdSCdIcaj3oVh6A6RlsNwUOsmCZ6M68MJKm4ohrY-Nj9fVMLuGowpNO-p4XRrMTvy9NYCooP3lVnnYzcZuU-cAMFVad8Q4UiMZK74pgWdyhAqSnoZ3LuNfrZ0YAHJR6i6wcfY_9glAQ5/s320/IMG_2489.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511321806929693586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>This tubing trip coincided with our annual camping trip with the Vance's/Marvin's. Olivier successfully enjoyed (so he said) a few nights of camping in a tent, and survived an intense thunderstorm.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrGSzIZYDu_uWXGqMVwq9rOsE4-aCtEENhVR7p6OQJmLgSkt6qp8reKypIQMlBaoYqJEDqQYKjtuAjSlkfEg0faAVcMNIk-hnZMJqbRNjcDDb41LgxKBLlqO6Zga1huq5dHaUHYLEe0ha/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrGSzIZYDu_uWXGqMVwq9rOsE4-aCtEENhVR7p6OQJmLgSkt6qp8reKypIQMlBaoYqJEDqQYKjtuAjSlkfEg0faAVcMNIk-hnZMJqbRNjcDDb41LgxKBLlqO6Zga1huq5dHaUHYLEe0ha/s320/IMG_0062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511324795492233666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInuFdCuIbsFF5Rsd0yI-Cq0V6Dm6Gz7Ggz1s9DUTaOMiwxN0Iac2ftBSvqnr5Id-giz13PL1E_JLIYxgGYXwo5qkgneOTn6d1b5rKJsssczQPRYhwBboyL_Ga_advbpd9of3sDjtDXeKQ/s1600/IMG_2498.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInuFdCuIbsFF5Rsd0yI-Cq0V6Dm6Gz7Ggz1s9DUTaOMiwxN0Iac2ftBSvqnr5Id-giz13PL1E_JLIYxgGYXwo5qkgneOTn6d1b5rKJsssczQPRYhwBboyL_Ga_advbpd9of3sDjtDXeKQ/s320/IMG_2498.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511324777539683378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KcipOqHSQS_07Xl7NsG98lPpk1H0bDWBw-I-QUbTnH_glhXX91St2ugjOSq4fJ5Vq9UQ5QrL8fbwZRg9-MVNpBzlnxaEDPN5y5L8v6kcKgu4j-RcX6dgJFKYoqNDkuJevB6G1nQxdB-h/s320/IMG_2504.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511324805045523906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div>Our time together in Michigan was wonderful. The weather was perfect everyday, we saw nature's way of bragging everywhere we went, and we thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. We were not ready to leave when it was time to go. He was actually planning his next trip over before we left for New York.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg034ocqd5-48EAiJojVv_odhvT6wqT6o8nq8juJF2UcLTi-p-xrI_UalZFUqXcJN1W_x7tJ8Ohrjv3MzhJRqi73ObXpbJW4qc-aoI8i71bJC-paJWdl6H-gV-nGqm17lHp7Uv5Ks_ZvCp6/s1600/IMG_2508.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg034ocqd5-48EAiJojVv_odhvT6wqT6o8nq8juJF2UcLTi-p-xrI_UalZFUqXcJN1W_x7tJ8Ohrjv3MzhJRqi73ObXpbJW4qc-aoI8i71bJC-paJWdl6H-gV-nGqm17lHp7Uv5Ks_ZvCp6/s320/IMG_2508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511324816316966642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vP6fSIwxhWz72PGT12Ca4EuyBrXkVE9aNf656vNylQDtMk2UHVPYvC6DwT37O474dmaB9zzl_4AIovVggviKHkw0mKTfjQqCst9HBpQYFXhzXo9As5j4YIYs2zMC7MD5mJyxEZocYznt/s1600/IMG_2512.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vP6fSIwxhWz72PGT12Ca4EuyBrXkVE9aNf656vNylQDtMk2UHVPYvC6DwT37O474dmaB9zzl_4AIovVggviKHkw0mKTfjQqCst9HBpQYFXhzXo9As5j4YIYs2zMC7MD5mJyxEZocYznt/s320/IMG_2512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511324829784851858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnSq8OHM5GVbs-zWHvxExTjAklphjhbEonMFagcUpTb_xzR0ZNs_HvfhsRpr2FFFDdVt5V-OLbYK1BLH-oNvQSiOjg44MF0PDesEzy2OAuUww32VYNE6WBhrPJzYYfETgH59sj1k9udeA/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnSq8OHM5GVbs-zWHvxExTjAklphjhbEonMFagcUpTb_xzR0ZNs_HvfhsRpr2FFFDdVt5V-OLbYK1BLH-oNvQSiOjg44MF0PDesEzy2OAuUww32VYNE6WBhrPJzYYfETgH59sj1k9udeA/s320/IMG_2521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511329085580666690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vP6fSIwxhWz72PGT12Ca4EuyBrXkVE9aNf656vNylQDtMk2UHVPYvC6DwT37O474dmaB9zzl_4AIovVggviKHkw0mKTfjQqCst9HBpQYFXhzXo9As5j4YIYs2zMC7MD5mJyxEZocYznt/s1600/IMG_2512.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Last stop: NYC. We spent three nights in New York, enjoying our last days together for now. We started off our first evening enjoying Italian at an outside cafe in Greenwich Village. Then we walked to Times Square to take in the intensity and excitement that only Times Square can provide. We were exhausted, so we headed back to the hotel so that we would be ready for the next day. We packed in as much touristy stuff as possible that day, taking full advantage of our hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Although we did encounter some rain, most of the day was great (Yes, that IS Rupert from Hello Deli!). </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH-hxBjSs7KGrjPNzila9IIkye25npowcvQrw1jWTuZT3Ywnv9MgxjCu4C_bSdQag4ZYrMVpyDI_2x-kIHmp9sIBM7aeC-t7beGF2YCkECK5wWfKnHnXV4KX7KjZN5EDyDoEzsDArSIsD/s320/IMG_2632.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511329093945672882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lexP5hUGgJ5aCyXLaDDEbUnqAGLxNUNtQ_3OxRFBHvxKDRXsRpGxiVgPe1kHNVTLWfQz6EUXRrUqFvpaGD9ovdOSNOc2M98QKbJHJw_Xcb33D_IFNSb-57ZL8NRH4Hnw4qHW3C1koYFI/s320/IMG_2640.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511329102343350034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>We spent our last day taking it easy with a boat ride and long walk through Central Park. I desperately wanted our time to slow down, but like all things, our last evening came to an end. We spent the next morning and early afternoon relaxing. We ate at a local cafe and walked to Prospect Park, not far from our hotel. Then it was time to head to the airport. As I saw signs for La Guardia Airport, I knew it was goodbye. It was so difficult to see him pull away, but I was okay (he had to leave from JFK). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC35GwnLBj7FGzB2uhMSna-CSQbHyDN2jMwkeeu6Kk5gC21gFksLlcqecitDC-z7jBG7S1TXw1ZvTq47NZ_731P8Aaoc_h5R6P0MXsQdlOX1tfI8HEQSfFPnzTTL-C9FJ0hGi3DshDNjco/s320/IMG_2732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511329117506245570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I think part of what makes this all easier is that I know that we are going to work this all out. It is not as hard as I imagined it would be. I am staying busy working and catching up with people, and I talk to him via Skype almost every day. I know that I need to be here right now. I have so much to take care of, including the mountains of paperwork required to get me back to him. I have to make money and go through all of my stuff. So for now, I am okay being here. I know that I will be back with him before long.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As of right now, I am planning on going back to France in mid-January. I decided to work as a waitress and substitute teacher until then, saving as much money as possible. I am spending the holidays here with my family, and then getting ready to head back and start my life with him. For the first year I will not be legally able to get a real job, but I will be babysitting and tutoring in order to make enough to get by (luckily my student loans are my only big expense right now). Then after that year, I can do other paperwork that will allow me the right to work. Once I have that, I will probably work as an English teacher or maybe a math teacher in a bilingual or international school. We'll see. For now, I am just doing what I can to make it work, as is he. Nobody ever said life was easy, but it sure is great. I don't know where my road will lead, but I am currently headed WAY East, with signs in francais.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXINHvbqkCtmrmxau3JeaQEM0Z1Z8e0QgaYBfTm6QnAgR2EtgDp11v_0_q4H0S3jA6S2XA_TEwmoc4yu_dadv0r2hEbGpmYBr0MQlS9l7Dn0DANhHjCdnTi0ApetH_IA6VgUOsqzUSeO_h/s320/IMG_2734.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511329128233941554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-77103177252061617962010-07-14T14:13:00.002+02:002010-08-30T22:47:31.053+02:00The Good Stuff (Thanks Greta)First of all, I need to mention one of my dearest friends. We've only spent a few days together here and there, but I love her and she is truly one of the most amazing people I know. I just caught up on her blog and she lifted my spirits right up. She is so strong, loving, adventurous, and incredible. Greta Weisman, thank you! Jubilee!!!!<br /><br />I just posted my last blog a little over an hour ago, and I can't stop thinking about how depressing I sound. Well, I wrote it to feel better. Sometimes I feel better when I write what I'm feeling...just another form of venting I guess.<br /><br />Here's what happened. I was on my way home and I was listening to my Ipod. Of course, some song came on that triggered everything, and I started crying. I cried by myself and then to get over it, I wrote a blog. Hence, it was pretty miserable. However I will not delete it. It is true, it is how I am feeling, and I can't deny how sad I am about leaving. But I am also happy. I am so comfortable here, I am with the guy I love, and he loves me too. Aside from the fact that going home means I have to leave him, at least for now, I am so excited to get home. Finally. I have missed friends, family, even Cadillac. What do I want to do when I get home?! Well, here's my list. It's not finished and I'm sure I left out a lot, but here are just a few things.<br /><br />1) Hug my parents<br />2) Hug my dogs and throw tennis balls for them<br />3) See Lina, Sanna, and Lucas (Maria, Gus, and Buxton too!)<br />4) Go to the movie theater with my dad<br />5) Hang out with Lauren<br />6) Play Cranium and Euchre with the Lempe family and friends (Lo, you're on my team, chica)<br />7) Eat peanut butter chocolate ice cream<br />8) Eat Mexican Food at Herraduras<br />9) Swing with Grandpa Porter on his porch swing and learn from Pat<br />10) Drive up to Traverse City to have lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Brugger<br />11) Call Julie and Brittany and (insert a bunch of names here of my best buds) and REALLY catch up<br />12) Drink coffee on my porch with my mom<br />13) Skype Olivier<br />14) Go through my closet and rediscover my clothes<br />15) Go camping (luckily I have 2 trips planned right away!)<br />16) Lay on the boat<br />17) The list goes on and on.....<br /><br />I am thankful that when I get back, my time will be completely filled with friends, family, and fun (some of my very favorite "F" words). I already have some lunches planned, I have a week-long camping trip with the Brugger family, and Olivier is coming for two weeks, arriving in Chicago on August 1st. Then it will be my birthday and Lauren has already assured me that we WILL have fun. Basically, I will be so busy having fun, that my time will fly and before I know it, fall will be here, I'll be working, and planning a trip back to France. Life is good. No, life is great.Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-46627559588100787692010-07-13T16:47:00.002+02:002010-07-13T17:39:20.278+02:00I'm an Emotional Basketcase<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:170.0pt">Hi. I’m sorry that I haven’t blogged in ages. I can’t even explain why. I have not been exceptionally busy or anything. I guess I just have not had the desire. I had plans to run through all of the little details of summer trips, etc. However, for now, I just feel like writing about how I’m feeling. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:170.0pt">My countdown has been in effect for several months, but I am officially leaving in a week. It is down to the wire and I am going through hundreds of emotions: happy, devastated, hopeful, love, fear, heartbreak, longing… I still haven’t figured out exactly how I am going to eventually come back to France, but I know that I will…I know that it is in my future, and that I just have to somehow work out the logistics. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:170.0pt">Several weeks ago I wrote a poem about being in the calm before the storm. I wrote that I could see a storm approaching, I knew that it would be bad, and that eventually it would pass. The storm I am referring to is, of course, my life far from my love. It hardly seems fair, but I guess life never is. Don’t misinterpret this please. I am so excited to finally be with my family and friends, but my heart is already aching knowing how hard it is going to be for me to be away from Olivier. In my poem, the storm broke as I said goodbye on my way to the airport. It was the strongest at first, and over time, I got used to the thunder and rain. I adapted and even though it was hard, I survived. And I will. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be fine. However, instead of starting when I leave, I feel like the storm is already here. I love every moment I spend with him, but every time I think about how happy I am, I am reminded that my time with him is almost over, at least for now. I just thank God that my upcoming goodbye is just temporary and that I am not saying goodbye forever. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:170.0pt">My emotions are completely crazy. I am so happy one moment, then crying the next. I am trying to be strong. I am doing ok. It is just hard. I don’t know how I will find the strength to leave, but I will. I can’t wait to hug my parents. I can’t wait to chat with girl friends, visit family, go camping, walk on the beaches, play ball with my dogs, and see my kids (aka Maria’s kids). This will all immensely help me. I am so lucky to have so much love in my life. Thank you all for loving me, supporting me, and just being there. I love you all. What would I do without you? </p> <!--EndFragment-->Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581512639084944278.post-18129325397859115562010-06-06T22:23:00.003+02:002010-06-06T22:53:46.804+02:00My Current PredicamentHi everyone. All is going pretty well here. The weather is beautiful and warm. I found a babysitting job to keep me occupied and help me out monetarily until I come home. The family is a nice Australian family. They live in the suburbs of Paris in a nice house on the river. The kids are sweet and the parents are very kind. <div><br /></div><div>Things are also going well with Olivier. I am just dreading leaving him behind when I come home. Thinking about saying goodbye is already hard enough. I am just hoping that I will be able to eventually come back to be with him. For now, I am doing my best to really enjoy the time I have left here. I am down to the under two month mark. Time sure does fly. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I think about everything I have gone through this year, I realize just how emotional this year has been. It started with homesickness, then troubles with the French family, then missing my family, especially at Christmas, then the realization that I had fallen in love and would have to leave, and of course, the decision to leave the French family. As I look at all of this, the most troubling for me is still unresolved. I want to be with Olivier, but it is nearly impossible. How do you follow your heart when it means living an ocean away from your family? I have really done ok this year being far away. It was hard in the beginning, and from time to time throughout the year, but I am ok. I can manage it. I have realized that being with Olivier makes me so happy, and I feel that I need to follow my heart and see where our relationship goes. Logic has flown right out the window. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now my struggle is figuring out how to stay here. The reality is that I need to work. I need a real job. I cannot continue babysitting for the rest of my life. It is just not enough, both financially and intellectually. I have those darn student loans hanging over me, and trust me, they will be there for a long, <i>long</i> time. I knew this when I started school. For me, I did not personally have a choice. I had to have an education and student loans were my way of achieving this. Enough about those darn loans. Those are just part of life. In order to live in France, I need a visa. Since I need a job, I need a work visa. I have been researching this for months now and a work visa is almost impossible for an American teacher like me to obtain. Basically, I need to find a job that will do the visa paperwork for me. They must prove that they need my skills for the job, etc... Now why would any school do this when they can easily just hire a Brit or another European? Exactly...they wouldn't. I have sent out numerous e-mails and resumes. Of the responses I received, the jobs required that I already have working papers. It is one big Catch-22. I'm stuck. So basically I am still hoping that any good karma in my life will catch up with me and throw me a miracle of a bone. Until then, I just have to wait and see. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't help but continually play one song in my head. It was sort of a theme song last time I left Paris, but it has become even more fitting for my current situation. John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane" pretty much sums it all up. I just hope that when I go, I will be coming back. It might not be for awhile, but I can't imagine my life any other way. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am going to spend Wednesday through Sunday with Olivier at his parents' home in Antibes. He has some vacation time and I thought it best to spend what little time I have left here enjoying our time together. I really cannot wait to be there. He left yesterday morning for Dublin for a week-end with his best friend, and I will not see him until I fly into Nice. Needless to say, I am giddy with excitement. I hope you are all doing well. I'll see you soon. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Qu'est-ce que c'est?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14731052812127606979noreply@blogger.com0