How 'bout them Red Sox?

Bonjour! Again, sorry for the delay, but I think I've talked to a good many people individually since the last update, and it's getting easier now that most of the background info has been covered. So, today started off fairly well when I checked the score this morning and saw that the Red Sox killed in game 1! It's awful because the games start at 2 am in France, so I have to agonize over it all night, and then read about all the plays the next morning. And it's not descriptive enough... if someone flies out, it could have been a routine catch or an amazing dive into a wall, you know? (I've been watching the Rugby World Cup as a substitute, but it ended with South Africa winning last weekend. France was in the top four, but lost to England so everyone here was depressed.) Anyways, ESPN now lets you download individual games afterwards for $2, so let me know which ones were incredible to watch. 13-1? They are out of control... hell yeah!

I also woke up today to a sore throat, so that was less exciting! I have not been able to shake a stuffy nose for a week and a half either, because I'm not really resting enough. I'm working on it! But they have this amazing numbing throat spray here, I have three boxes of tea, and no classes today. I have a full day tomorrow, but then we have a vacation! I finally bought all my train tickets and coordinated everything. I will be leaving Saturday night for Paris on the TGV, and staying in the 13th arrondissement near the Latin Quarter, Place d'Italie, and Chinatown for a few days. Then Tuesday morning I get to ride the very expensive Eurostar to London to visit my friend Mike! He is living and working in Brighton for the next few years, so I will be staying with him until the following Tuesday. Then I start working again on Thursday Nov. 8. I've only worked 4 weeks, and I get a 12 day vacation! France is awesome...

Yet I am missing quite a bit from home, too. It goes without saying that I miss my family and all my friends; it's hard to go from talking almost daily to very rarely. But I did thankfully get in touch with a lot of people these last two weeks! Thank you to everyone who emailed and sent pictures. It's great to hear about little things from home, and to see cute babies, the dog, or Kyle with a gun (oh my god!). It's too bad you can't send food through email— it's delicious here, but I miss Kowloon and pizza without goat cheese, ha ha. I am also really missing your yoga class, Mary! I did find a class at a YMCA type-place, so I will be trying it out after vacation. I haven't seen any yoga mats yet, and you can't really do it on a linoleum floor... though I did try! I also would kill for a dryer right now, no one really uses them here. It's not so bad (it is very good for the environment!) except that my jeans are now all stretched out, and my clothes don't have that dryer-sheet smell. Sigh...

I may also be moving into an apartment downtown, but like everything else, it's up in the air. I've requested to see it today, but have been waiting for the agency to contact the proprietor and get back to me. I would be living with Pamela and Brady (see my last post), and a French guy named Pierre who is studying in Nancy. The apartment is for November 1st, though, when we're on break, so I'm not sure how it will go down.

Ian, the teacher from Scotland, invited the whole English department for dinner last night. There were 10 of us altogether, and sooo much food. We had olives, bread with tapenade (and cheese?), and some kind of flaky pastry tart for appetizers while we chatted and played with his two adorable little sons. Dinner was Indian inspired, with some super-spicy pork dish I avoided, rice, korma, a cashew dish, a tomato chutney, stuffed eggplant, lentils, bread.... and I was sadly mistaken for thinking that was it. Then we had salad and a selection of cheeses, and then dessert with a chocolate mousse, an apple tart, and coffee. Everyone also insisted I try the champagne, white wine, AND red wine, then accused me of coming to France for their alcohol, and threatened to tell my parents! They are all really sweet, I am so glad that I am working with such great people. And then, with stomachs full of wine and great food, everyone started singing traditional English and Scottish songs, and asked me what we sang at dinner at home. Ha! So to throw in something American for me, they sang Yankee Doodle. Hmmm... we are actually starting up a choir at the school, so hopefully I can redeem myself with some better American songs for Christmas!

Well, it's noon so I should probably shower. I slept so late because the teachers kept me out until 1 am! This afternoon I have to run more errands downtown, and get organized for my trip. Tonight I am going to see a circus with some of the other assistants! I've never been to one, I'm a bit skeptical, but it should be fun. I will be sure to post pictures of it, and my trip to Paris and London! I will now be putting all my photos on sizzicupo.shutterfly.com, so it's a lot easier and more organized. I will be taking my laptop on vacation, too, so feel free to send me your thoughts whenever! Stay well, everyone!