My One Month Anniversary

Hello to everyone!

Sorry it took me so long to update my post. Coming back from a week of vacation was busier than I anticipated. November 5th marked my one month anniversary of arriving in France - and what a trip it's been so far! Here are my latest updates:

Celebrating Hitomi's 21st birthday proved to be very enjoyable. Catherine invited some people over that I hadn't seen since my first trip to Angers. Among those visitors were Bob and Josette, a married couple who I met my first time in Angers. Bob is from Marseille, a large port city on the Mediterranean Sea in the south of France, and it is always so entertaining to listen to him speak. He has a very different accent from the people here. The French have a saying about the southern accent - you can see the sun in their speech. I love it! I wonder if Americans would agree with that phrase in regards to the American southern accent...

The past week was much like any other week. I taught my English classes and continued taking my French Business class. One interesting thing that happened this past week was that my third year students (the equivalent to undergrad seniors in the American school systems) invited me out with them on Thursday night. In France, Thursday night is the big night to go out as most students leave to go home for the weekend; Thursday night is the last night of the week to hang out with their college friends. So, my students were planning on going out at 8:30, and they invited me to come.

I, being absentminded as I am, had already eaten dinner (some pizza) before we went out. I thought that 8:30 was too late to go get dinner and that we were merely going out for drinks. Turns out they intended to eat dinner at a pizzeria, called La Strada, that is pretty well known in Angers. So, I had pizza twice that night! It was really fun to get to know my students outside of the classroom; I'm hoping also that it will translate to an easier flow of conversation in class.

Afterward, I went with some of them to a local bar called Kalypso. It was such a different experience going to a bar here versus going to a bar in the U.S. In France, people really use a bar to socialize. I met some very nice people that just wanted to talk and meet other people their age. It's not the same in the U.S. in my opinion. I feel like people in the U.S. who are looking to talk to other people in bars do not always have the best of intentions. I tend to put my "guard" on, but I didn't have to do that on Thursday. It was really fun!

Going out that night did affect me the next day though. I woke up with a sore throat and went to a pharmacy on Blvd. Foche (a main street here in Angers). Luckily, I know the owner through Catherine, and she was able to help me get exactly what I needed. She gave me a cough suppressant that I think is a lot like Nyquil in the U.S. because it knocks me out at night. It also makes me have some REALLY strange dreams. However, it does serve its purpose since I'm not waking up coughing in the middle of the night.

Saturday I went to the market and bought some honey, some sausages (I can't remember the specific name right now - I'll get back to you on that), and some broccoli. I also tasted a delectable wine from the region. The name is also fleeting me, but I intend to go back next weekend and buy a couple of bottles; I'll try to remember to give you an update on that as well. I did some window shopping in the afternoon. I love being downtown when the glow from the store windows start to light the streets. It feels so much like the Christmas season - which is probably exactly what the stores want you to feel so you'll start buying stuff! They've already begun putting up Christmas decorations at certain stores. I ended the evening with going to Mass at St. Joseph's Church. One gentleman asked me to be a lector and read one of the readings. I kind of wish that I had stepped up to the challenge, but I responded quickly with "I'm a foreigner! I may not know some of the words." Oh well, maybe next time. :)

I didn't do anything special on Sunday. I went to Catherine's apartment again; she hosted another lunch party for people that were visiting her from out of town. I helped her set the table and prepare and serve some of the dishes. Helping her host parties makes me so eager to have a place of my own and be able to host parties like she does. They really pay so much attention to the presentation of the table and the food; it's really an art. I'll put some pictures up on my picture website soon.

Now the week has begun; my crazy Monday is almost over. I have one class left for the day. Wednesday is Armistice Day and a national holiday in France, so I have another short week! I won't be taking any of my French business courses this week, but I will have one class on Thursday. After that, I'm done with my work week! I really need to enjoy this time while I have it - I know the majority of my adult life will be spent working long days.

I hope things are well in the U.S. and that everyone is gearing up for Thanksgiving! Love and miss you all! Bisous!