Bonjour, mamma.

You know you're in France when duck is cheaper than turkey and the canned cranberry sauce costs you a good 5 euros. Luckily, I have super great friends who are cooking me a wonderful French raclette in lieu of my normally glutenous, American tradition. What am I thankful for? The list is long and my time left in France is short. Happy Raclette day everyone. Bisous.

Oh where to begin. Usually I am decent with expressing myself. I have no words for France. I have no words for the way this place makes me feel. As I peddle through the breathtakingly beautiful parks on my way to class I ask God "how did I get to be in the place I am? Why did you bless me with such an opportunity?" I guess I will begin by saying that I am happy. Although my happiness may not be so evident on the exterior (I maintain a stoic face to blend in better), I assure you my loving friends that I am flourishing. FLOURISHING. The family I live with is a carbon copy of my real family. Comprised of 5 people. mom, dad, a boy and two girls. Mother is the chorus, the father the conductor. Each one of them special (although I haven't yet met the oldest as she lives in Peru with her Peruvian husband) and each one of them willing to help me with my pursuit of the French language. School is great, very intense. I am in my third week and each day I realize a new perspective ...

And I am having WAY too much fun to type a decent post. Things I have done thus far: Talked about sex change operations with local Frenchmen. Got in a fight with a cat. Biked and hour and a half in the rain with a scarf on. I think I'll fit in just fine here. Je suis contente. p.s. I will be posting more descriptive blogs posts later- when everything settles down. amour.

It's been over a week since i've blogged. i've been drowning in work. assignments. visa applications. birthdays. ceremonies. etc. it's a very HAPPY busy. one that i treasure. today i have to type a French paper and finish some paperwork for France. another exciting thing is that i've met some incredible people in the past couple of weeks. they are FUNNY. BEAUTIFUL. INTERESTING. CHALLENGING. the only sad thing is that i lost a good friendship. no, he's still very much alive and breathing, just has decided that i'm not a good fit for his life. it hurt at first. but then suddenly it didn't as i realized that i know my abilities to love are endless and my friendship to someone is also a gift (as a cherish both things greatly). although i didn't do anything wrong, i think he's going through things in his life that will be expedited without me in the picture. i'm totally okay with that.. but that sad thing is.. i'm not sure i'll be there wh...