Author: sara

This evening we went out to eat at a wonderful restaurant, La Cabane d’Auvergne. We had a wonderful meal and the restaurant all to ourselves. We lucked out and showed up at 5:30 – way too early for French people to eat dinner- and had the place to ourselves the whole time. Auverge is a region in the center of France known for its food (like every other region in France:) Kyle and I having been dying to go to this place all year- every time we walked by it was packed and smelled incredible! The people that worked there were very nice- very helpful in selecting the food. They helped us pick out an incredible meal. We started out with apératif- we drank kir which is wine wine with a syrup made in Auverge with its apples and nuts. For the appetizers we got an “assiete de charcuterie” (which was a plate full of French saucisson, ham and pate- all incredibly good). Then Kyle picked out a yummy vegetable bread – made with spinach and prunes- sounds weird but was incredibly good. For our entrees Linda and I got sausage dishes, David got a ham and vegetable dish, and Kyle ordered salmon in an incredible sauce. Each entree could have fed 4! So needless today we were stuffed when we left. You’re not allowed to take doggie bags here- it’s against the law. (The waiter is responsible if you should eat the food later and it has gone bad.) We definitely recommend this restaurant. The people were incredibly nice and welcoming. And the food was INCREDIBLY GOOD!

Kyle’s parents come in 10 days!! I can’t believe we’re almost done- this has been such a whirlwind. I called our agency today that rents us the apt for the millioneth time. M Bonduel (“l’agent”) was laughing because I must call him atleast once a week. I called to ask that the mailbox for boxes be fixed and as usual he came up with the classic French excuse- People here always claim it’s not their responsibility/job when you ask them for something. After you go through this a billion times, you start to almost laugh at how predictable it is. I’m starting to get anxiety about next year. Kyle’s got his year all planned and I’m all up in the air. I’m applying to a million teaching jobs and I have to find some way to get my teaching license. I’m also trying to apply to summer jobs. We have so much going on right now- we’ve got 10 days to get packed up, sell all our furniture, etc. But vacation is coming soon so I can’t complain :ban

Well I’m loving my new job now. It just took a little getting used to. It’s wonderful teaching in an anglophone environment. It makes me so happy- speaking English all day to everyone. I can really talk with the other teachers. What a gift to be able to understand one another perfectly!!! How I missed that. And how I love speaking to Americans- there are only a few of them (students and staff). Because yeah it’s great speaking to a British person but half the time I don’t understand what they’re saying due to the accent. I have to really concentrate to be able to tell what they say. I supervise computer club Wednesday afternoons after school and I have some great kids. We have fun. I sat down during our club after teaching them a lesson and said “I’m tired and hungry.” And this cute little American girl was like “you can have some of my snack.” It’s just the little things like that that I missed- being comfortable with people and being able to express myself perfectly without any thought beforehand. Oh how we will appreciate being home! I told Kyle we’re not allowed to complain about anything for a whole month after we get back to the US! Because we just need to be grateful, relax and let it sink in that we’re home FOR GOOD.

The photos of our trip last week to the Musée d’Orsay are now up. You can see them by going to the Photo Albums.

First day of new job today. It feels good to be busy again. Being home 2 days a week was making me start feeling like a bored housewife. It’s fun teaching in English again. Although I’m teaching a groups of students where some speak Spanish, some French, some I don’t know. My question is how do you manage 20 first graders at a time in a computer lab? Especially when only about half can understand English!

Well Saturday we went to Saint-Germain-en-Laye which is west of Paris. We saw the chateau there and walked through the big park next to it. Then we went and got Kyle a haircut. He needed one bad! He was having to wear a hat constantly to keep his hair out his face. Then we went and found the Hertz rental car office so we would know where to pick up the rental car we’re getting in April. Today (Sunday) we went to the Musée d’Orsay finally! We’ve tried to go there several other times but the line was always blocks long. Every first Sunday of the month is free museum day- so that’s the only reason we went. We’ll post our pictures up soon. There are so many Americans in town right now! It’s nuts, we hear more English than French. I start my new job tomorrow! Ahh! I’m kinda nervous. I’m sure it will be fine though. I’m substituting as an Information Technology teacher for 1st-5th grade at an international school in Paris.

Today was a rainy gloomy day here in Paris. Thursdays I teach my terror class. I get a stomach ache just thinking about this group of kids. I feel like I’m in a zoo when teaching them. Only 12 more classes with them. Thank God. Well our sink has been broken for 2 weeks it won’t drain. I finally called the plumber today from work (since our phone is turned off). After he replaced the plastic pipe for the sink this afternoon, he told me “c’est toi que me pai.” I said that would have been nice to know that before my landlord told me to make an appt with him. He said he would give me a discount 130 euros instead of 140 (for a plastic pipe)! Then he said our shower was broken- he needs to replace the whole sink and drain. Can’t wait for that bill. Just got home from dragging two bags of heavy laundry to the “laverie” where one load costs 6 euros. Another perk about the laverie is that it takes 90 minutes for the washer. Just want to give you an idea of the joys of everyday life in Paris.

Happy Birthday Kyle!! And Happy Birthday Grandpapa! It’s Mardi Gras today down in New Orleans- I wish we were there. That would be a fun way for Kyle to celebrate his birthday. We”re going to have a little birthday party tonight to celebrate Kyle’s 23rd. I hope everyone is doing well.

Hi, we had a great time in Sweden even though it was very cold. Back in Paris, we are both at work and can’t wait until our jobs are pretty much over with at the end of March. Then we”ll just have a month of traveling before heading back to the U.S.

Hi, we are in Sweden for the weekend. It’s cold!!!! Only 90 days left on the countdown now, and only 2 months until we are done with work!