& tomorrow I go to PARIS

I have had a very busy week.  As you can probably tell, since I have not posted a blog in a while.   I have hung out with a few people my age, which has been nice.  It has meant, however, that I have had less free time to blog!   I have begun to realize that I am leaving France in just a few short weeks.   I need to continue to make the most of the time I have left here.



Make the most of my time left......I think going to PARIS tomorrow will do the trick!  France is a big country, and Paris is actually about 5-6 hours by train from where I am living.    I did not know whether or not I would see Paris while I was here, but it has worked out!  I have never been before!

My good friend from Lee, is doing her study abroad trip in Europe this month!  (Lee is the university I just graduated from.  Everyone that attends Lee, must have a cross cultural experience.  We have to take a class on how cultures all over the world are different, how to cope with "culture shock" ect., keep a journal during our time abroad, and write many papers on what we learned and experienced)   For my cross cultural trip during college I went to Germany and Austria and learned a little about Music History.   It was fun, but I definitely LOVE France more than either of those two countries!
Anyway,  Jaclyn and her 2 friends are going to be seeing Paris the 10-13th of June and Jaclyn knew I was here in France, so I am going to see Paris with them!     Tomorrow morning I am getting on the train, and they are going to meet me at the train station in Paris.     It was a very expensive train ticket.    The de Dinechine's have lived in Paris, so they gave me lots of inside information, things to see, and where to go.  It has been very helpful.      Tomorrow I will be in Paris.  Crazy.



Tonight Marie told her mom that she wanted to go to Paris with me and that she wanted to keep me forever! How precious is that...  I will miss her while I am gone!

Marie's birthday party was supposed to be today, but we postponed it because of bad weather.  Bad weather here does not mean what the term "bad weather" means in Tennessee.  Apparently France has never and can never have a tornado.   It is nice!   Her party will be the last weekend that I am in France.






THOMAS

pronounced in French as "Tom-Ah"
  (background story)
A year ago, Marie and Thomas were in a little day care together just the two of them.  They spent three days a week together for an entire year.  They became the best of friends and they played so welll together!

It has been a year since Marie had seen Thomas.  That did not stop her from thinking about him.  Sometimes she has randomly started crying saying, "Thomas, Thomas"  because she misses him.    I spend a lot of craft time with her making little pictures, hearts, ect. as gifts for Thomas.  She talks about how they will be married.   She says Thomas is her love.   Thomas was invited to her birthday party!    Since it  had to be postponed, Christine decided it would be nice if Thomas could still come over and play with her.  After all they had not seen each other for a year!  Marie was so excited!! We made more gifts for him today.

Finally when Thomas came....I felt like I was meeting a celebrity.  I had heard so much about him!  He indeed is an absolute doll, and they really do play so well together.  It was so endearing this afternoon watching them play!     He brought her a little fairy barbie for her birthday!   Then when she handed him the craft she made him, as a typical boy, he replies "Oh, Thanks.  Can I eat it?"

Are they not so adorable!  They were even accidentally matching!   I really hope twenty years from now I find out that these two got married.  







OOOOOOPS!



That is what I thought to myself a few times this week. I came across some cultural differences.
In March my sister Sarah and close friend Kelsey had a fun week in Miami, Florida!   Ever since growing up anytime I went to, or heard of "the beach"  I just associated it with Florida.  It is pretty much common knowledge, that when you are on the beach in FL, in a beach town, you can pretty much walk around and go into any store in a bikini.  At least the stores that are on the beach!

It is not like this in France.  In Cannes, France.  A very ritzy town.  I learned the hard way.....oops.



I have also seen enough  topless women, old women, and speedos, to last me a lifetime!   (I actually do not pay any attention or think any thing of it by now.  It's just another person laying out on the beach!)


Oops part two.  I visited basically the "Guitar Center" of France.  You know, the nice musical instrument store with all the electric keyboards, guitars, ect.  They have them hanging on the walls and all around the store for you to try out.   I noticed this beautiful Taylor guitar for 1,000! I thought to myself, "Wow, when else am I going to touch one of these!"

Well not for long.  Because that section of guitars you were not allowed to play.

I learned the hard way..........oooooooops!

Christophe snapped this photo of Marie and I as we were taking a little siesta on the couch the other day.  I will miss these precious moments with her in a few short weeks. 

Sorry this blog post is so short! I need to get rested up for PARIS!

je  t'aime 

:)

Leah