June 1

Friday, June 1, 2007

I have been in this family for a week already…and I still have 2 nights here before I go! It’ll actually be sad when I do leave on Sunday (Mother’s Day here) because they have been so great to me.
So this morning I woke up a lot earlier than I needed to because Remi had a nice little fit when his mom tried to get him out of bed. He HATES mornings and he did a faire share of screaming about getting up this morning. So I was awake nice and early, but I read and hung out in bed for an hour or so until Lise got up so we could eat breakfast together.
When it was late enough we went to Blois in her little red Peugeot – the cutest car ever! Inside, the seats are in jean-type fabric and it is very mini-like. Very awesome! Anyway, we got downtown and did some crazy shopping. Lise definitely knows how to shop! The first store we went into she bought a pair of shoes, just like that! We all know that it takes me a good ½ hour to make any clothing decisions!!! I ended up buying a pair of black ballerina shoes and a white scarf. I was very proud of my decision-making abilities today, though. I guess it helps when I have someone else there to “help” me spend money…because I am actually not that good at it when I am by myself!
After our little shopping spree we went to the pool and had a nice little workout. There is absolutely no order to lane swim here so I spend a lot of my energy staying calm during the entire process. There were a couple times that I just about lost it on a couple of the guys – they don’t understand about not hanging off the wall – I was not happy…but the chlorine made me happy at the end, and I did about 3km by the end, so it was fine! And I only hit my head once on the end while doing back (they don’t have flags!), so that was a bonus too!! And, there are NO girls…it always shocks me…Lise tells me that she goes about twice a week to the pool, but other than us there were only guys doing “lane swim”…and I have yet to see a girl running when I go. It is weird. Beats me how they all stay so insanely skinny!
We had our lunch and Lise packed to go to Nantes to visit Nicolas for the weekend. Her friend came to take her to the train station (I was going to drive her, but out of 5 cars that the family has, they don’t have one that is an automatic…and I decided I couldn’t learn to drive a standard in one day, despite having already had one lesson before J).
I didn’t know when anyone was getting home today because it was kind of a special day. Marie-Paul is a principle and they have to move down south because of Christian’s job come September. Anyway, teachers are part of the public service, so can apply to be moved – they don’t have to apply for jobs in other cities. Today was the day that she would learn where she was placed and in what position. So everyone was excited because she ended up getting a position in a city that is 1.5 hours away from the city where Christian has his job. And she was happy because she got a higher position than the one she has now (instead of being a principle in a College, she now has a position in a Lysee professional).
In the evening, while I was waiting for everyone to get back I had a nap, went for a long run, and picked cherries! And then we all went out for dinner at Buffalo Grill – that red restaurant…and I had ribs and ice cream…and listened to country music! It was good for the “moral”. And now I am too full to go to sleep and it is already almost 11pm…way pas my bedtime!!

Later

-Allison