are you a believer

What a weekend.




I went to Cannes on Friday to enjoy the beach.  I am sitting there on my little towel, and these 3 Arabic looking guys come sit next to me.  I notice they are all DECKED out in American flag pharaphenellia.  I asked them, "Oh are you guys from America!"  They weren't.  They LOVE Obama though!  They couldn't believe when I told them I did not vote for him!  They are from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.  They were very nice--I talked to them most of the day on the beach.  Come to find out they are practicing Muslim.  We talked a lot about their Religion as well as mine.  They even walked me back to my bus stop to make sure I was "safe. I will always remember them!


Last week, I went to this little cafe and sat outside and read a book..  It was the middle of the day, and there was no one there but me, so the store owner and I began to chat.  He told me that every Friday and Saturday they have live music and so I should come check it out.  He gave me the restaraunts little card.    So Friday--I went!

It was a very relaxed enviornment, reminded me of the "hipster" scene in America for any of you hipsters out there reading this.    The musicians were two 18 year old girls singing and playing guitar.  They were very good!  I began chatting with this couple who was there.  The man asks me, "So, are you a believer..."  in a very casual way.  I smiled and said yes!  Long story short, they go to an Evangelical Church here and it is in French with an English translator!  They told me that they would pick me up at the post office on Sunday if I wanted to go to church with them.


Sunday at 10 o clock I am sitting at the post office.   They came and I went to church with them!  It was a small church,  probably about 250 members.    It reminded me churches that I have attended in Cleveland.    There was praise and worship music, sang in French, and then sang in English.  Very cool.  I tried singing along in French with the familiar Chris Tomlin choruses.   I felt right at home!  After the music, we had the sermon.  The person who was preaching today was Bristish, I believe.   He spoke on Matthew 6 where it says,

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you..."



He actually used A LOT of scripture in his sermon--which I loved.  He spoke about the parable of the sowers, he talked about Nicodemous, he referenced Revelation.   There was no "powerpoint" to help me follow along...but I actually liked that because I really had to pay close attention.   The church was very simple.  There were no fancy sound systems or flashy lights, all I had to focus on was the message.  


After service,  this girl came up to me and introduced herself.  Come to find out, she is an au pair from Holland!   She said she attends the church by herself, but she has been here for three months already and has met lots of au pairs and that there is a little "community" of au pairs that hang out together.  She said there is no one that hangs out with them from America, so I am "double" welcome to come with them.    We exchanged contact information.   What better place to make friends than at church--HA!  




After church, the couple who gave me the ride there and everything invited me to their house for lunch!    Of course I accept.     We pull into their driveway, and all I can see is roses, roses, everywhere.   Their house was very charming.  They had a huge garden, and pool and we enjoyed lunch outside.    I had lunch outside yesterday with my host family here, too, and I enjoyed that very much!  I wish we did that more in America.  However, I suppose TN is extremely humid!


We had a delicious salad with ham, and the most amazing dressing.  Then I find out that everything in the salad was grown in their garden.    The wife is from the Dominican Republic and only speaks Spanish and French, the husband is from Switzerland and speaks French and English, and their daughter speaks French and English.  It was hard communicating with the wife because of the language barrier---but it was okay.      After the meal I was so STUFFED!  Salad, ham, cheese, bread, pickles, ice cream, coffee, and a little dish from the Dominican. Mmm mmm.




This couple's daughter was one of the girls singing on Friday night.  The man plays jazz trombone!  We discussed music together for a little while.  Then I find out what he does for a living....



He is an artist.  A very famous Swiss artist.  An artist who has galleries all over Europe.  His house was flourished with his paintings.  I couldn't believe it!     I told him I had never really known a "true" artist.  He asked, "You don't have artists in TN..."    And he meant it in a serious way.  He was surprised.  I said "Not where I live..."


Sure their may be some artists in Savannah Georgia or Charelston..  I do not know really know.  But certainly none near me that pay their bills with their artwork.  Wow!  He said that he was very honored that he was the "first artist I met."  


I began to tell him a little bit about where I am from.  TN.  I told him about my school there.  The school where I will begin teaching in August.    I told him about how many schools give brown bags with food in it for the weekend, because otherwise they will not eat.  I told them how only seventeen percent of Bradley County holds a college degree.    He asked,  "What do most people do as their job, then..."   I told him many people work in factories, or restaraunts, or minimum wage jobs.  I also told him that many people, just do not work.  They get food stamps, and governent money.     They were all so surprised by all this.    "For us, America is one of the richest nations.  It is hard to imagine that."
They said they just imagine LA or NYC when they think of America.  I was glad to open up their eyes a little bit about not just America, but Tennessee.  Bradley County.   My home.







On my walk back home,  I stumbled upon a little market. an ANTIQUE market!  They only have them the first sunday of every month.  I did not have much time to look around---I could have spent all day their.  I love antique things---add in everything being vintage french--and just WOW!   I bought an amazing vase\glass.   It is from the 1950's and their is not a single scratch.  It is a popular design from Monaco around the 50's.  It's so beautiful.  It was very expensive.  I love it.


I found a lot of other treasures at the market--but honestly the language barrier was very difficult today.  There was not really any one around that spoke English.  I do not think this market is for "tourists."  Anyway, it was incredible.






Here is the link to the artists website...
www.artmgautier.com

He gave me a print of one of his painting.  


What a weekend.

their yard

lunch 

his office!

Terrible picture of us, but there is the lovely couple!

The church