AIA Beach Front Avenue!

I really did mean to update more quickly than 3 weeks later. It seems like weeks are the new days. But adventure has been calling and I must answer before school immobilizes me! I didn't grab my passport and escape to Paris (although I have seriously considered this often). I didn't get in a car and drive from Savannah to Maine (thought about this too). I didn't even borrow a bike and hike through a forest outside Seattle (but doesn't it sound great). Instead, Aimee and I hopped aboard a plane bound for Holly and Ft. Lauderdale! And as the East Coast appeared on the map in front of our airplane seats, we got more and more excited. Having friends move away is sad. But the joy of visiting them makes me more alright with the situation!

It was so wonderful. Holly is the best hostess I can imagine and she showed Aimee and I around all the coastal communities! We went to the beach where we were serenaded by a 70 year old sun seeker listening to mp3s from his former golden years. He must have sang (quite audibly) the best of the Beatles for a good 2.5 hours. During this time, we laid in the sand, skimming books and eating grapes

That night we applied several inches of aloe vera and headed south for Miami! Let me extol the beauty of Cuban cuisine. Let me rhapsodize on its flavor. Let me harmonize on its awesome ingredients (taro, plantain, yucca). How can such simple, humble flavors be so brilliant? And please someone send me sour oranges so I can make mojo sauce.

We walked around South Beach at night. Because that's what a person does when they are young and in Miami. Or slightly aging and in Miami. Or in possession of an albino boa constrictor and in Miami [apparently]. Everyone was very nice and encouraged us to drink many cocktails. The only sad thing was not being able to get in a salsa joint without paying a cover charge. And seeing a homeless man asleep on the street.

The next day we returned to Miami for a boat cruise around the houses of the rich and famous. The lead singer of Vanilla Ice has a vanilla house: white roof, white walls. Shaq has 2 basketball courts. Whoever owns Pfizer actually owns a jungle garden. Even Al Capone's house is still there. We saw the ol' guard house.

That night we cooked and ate Larry and Moe. They were the 2 lb lobsters we bought at a Mom & Pop fish shop. Moe particularly enjoyed thrashing around. It was a bit intimidating even though his pinchers were bound by rubber band. Since when do those never snap? I have a video to upload soon of this endeavor. Holly and Aimee were quite courageous. And here is your culinary tip for the day-- boil lobsters head first so they die first!

It was a real bummer to go back to work.......... mais enfin c'est la vie.

home for a year?

Although it's been a year since I returned to being a resident in the Lone Star State, not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of adventures in France. It was so difficult to come back 'home' and have home be so different. And me be so different. I'd forgotten about ice water and boots and what it's like to have appliances. Imagine missing an entire year of American culture... movies, hit songs, technology, commercials. While I was away, GPS devices became mainstays. Everyone switched to texting. 30 Rock became the new must see. I had to catch up quick and pretend to be constantly glad to be home.

Anyway, through the long process of adjusting to a new/old life. I didn't feel as if I had anything write that people would like to read. Everything seemed mundane and old hat. I missed feeling challenged and curious and compelled to grow.

But today, I had coffee with two beautiful friends. They reminded me life here is worth chronicling.

So I'm resolved to resume blogging. So, if anyone still reads this, they will be very happy to know that I went to the midnight premiere of the Harry Potter movie... dressed as the fightin' French wizard Fleur Delacour. And it was so worth staying up until 3 am to see friends from College Bible Study in elaborate costumes.

Off to London

I CAN'T WAIT!!! To see London, to see Megan, to see Drew (he's been there all week), to hear English, to wear feathers in my hair, and to once again have a complete understanding of sandwich choices.

Today I said goodbye a class... the rest I will see next week. It's really sad. Note to self: buy more kleenex.

Yesterday a class (my favorite one) began singing Happy Birthday as soon as I walked in the room... they made the cutest cards!! It's even better that they are a few weeks late. Why do the little monsters become sweet now when it's the most difficult?

Language Woes

A quote from 'My Fair Lady' I find to be true:

The French don't care what they do actually
As long as they pronounce it properly

As Ascot looms this weekend, I thought it was time to revisit an old favorite (who remembers the scene where Eliza goes to the races?). Somehow, according to every English person I can find to ask, this movie is practically unknown in England, despite the fact that the musical has run in the West End for decades. Perhaps English people don't need a film to see their culture. Regardless, the movie just gets better the more I see it and recognize bits of culture and glimpses of the city.

This Saturday is Ladies Day at Ascot--the most important one--the one of monumental hats. The Queen will be there! And so will I! Although I couldn't afford a hat, just a brown hair clip with feathers, I should pass muster. Caroline, Drew, Megan and I are going with some other people. I'm really excited about seeing Megan (Australian roommate Megan) after two months!

Anyway back to the quote. Lately, I've been reflecting on my french language skills. At some point, a few months ago, I hit a plateau and in crept laziness. Comprehension and speaking on a basic level are alright, but I haven't mastered an elevated form of address. When I arrived in September, I spoke like a 5 year old. Maybe now I'm an 11 year old. But that's still far from expressing myself like a refined adult. This frustrates me, because now I'm leaving too soon to work on it much more. Pronunciation still gets me every time. I avoid using certain words because they sound too similar to gross mots (bad words).

A new challenge

Word of the month:
résiliation
Principal Translations/Principales traductions
résiliation(d'un bail, d'un contrat, d'un marché - en cours) nf cancellation

This is the tricky part where we write passive-aggressive letters to companies to try to get our deposits back. Everything needs to be done in a particular order so the electricity and gas stay until we leave, yet the bills arrive before we cancel our bank accounts(and leave exactly enough money in the account to pay!).

A whirled traveler

Still haven't forgotten about you beautiful readers. Please forgive these short and sporadic posts. Our internet quit working the day after it started again (as a result I've read 3 books in the last week). And life has been rolling!

Since the last post I:
-found the bravery to receive a french haircut
-fell in love with the basement of the Marmottan Museum and that area of the 16th arrondissement in Paris
-turned 24 with a picnic in the park, a surprise brownie cake with a serenade from Celia and Jeanne, and a great skype conversation
-went to Charleroi to see where my grandpa's brother was stationed in World War 2 and Liege of international waffle fame in Belgium
-rode a bicycle 50 kilometers across Luxembourg with Jen and Drew
-danced the Cha-Cha Slide about 20 times in English class
-learned the introdcution to 'Heal the World' by Michael Jackson

The Sound of Silence

Hello dear readers, contrary to what you might be thinking, I have certainly not forgotten about you... things have just been hectic. Because not much happened for the last four months, many things happen now in order to even the stakes.

This list of things includes
- losing internet for 5 days (and a battle with France Telecom)
- roadtripping to the Champagne region
- being a translator for a group of British people descended from WW1 soldiers who died in a battle near my town, who came to dedicate a road in their honor and tour memorial sites
- finding out about and attending an amazing concert in Paris with my friend Megan
- riding the Pompidou Center's great glass escalators
- oversleeping the next day

And now it's back to Paris for Birthday Weekend Part II. (Last weekend was Caroline's, this Monday the birthday kids are me and Drew.) We have Winnie the Pooh party hats.

I promise pictures next week (my camera's been dead since Saturday).