January 14, 2006
So everything has been going pretty well. I received my bags on Wednesday, right after I went on a shopping spree. The government regulated sales started on Wednesday and I went and bought something for Megan, Danielle, Cait, Mary, Phil, Karen and myself. I'm not gonna say what I got everyone else because they are gifts and all of those people will have to wait until it gets delivered in the mail next week. My students have been really good since I told them that I was having problems readjusting (time difference and missing luggage). Not much is really new. France seems like I never left it. I have a countdown of 15 weeks before I come home. If I did days, it would be a depressing number. Things I have to look forward to this time around: visits from family and Phil, skiing in the Alps and getting the internet in my apartment. The Bolivian guy is really getting on my nerves. He has been sulking around like a lost puppy ever since everyone got back. All of the girls were so happy and we were telling stories about our family and boyfriends and how wonderful our break was and he just sat there sulking. Some days I just want to smack him and say “stop acting like a little girl” but I know it was cause a problem. We both already don't like each other, but we try to keep it civil between us since we are neighbors. All of the girls have had it with him, but unfortunately, I'm the only one that would blow up and say something to him.
In better news, Krista loves the peanut butter that I brought back for her and the girl I tutored was extremely happy with the book of monologues that came with a CD of dialects that I gave to her. I'm in the middle of cleaning my room. I've swept the floor and I want to mop too, but I wanted to get my entry down first. It's my weekend to clean the kitchen, so I'll be doing that in a little bit.
I've decided that I'm going to take the LSAT(Law School Admission Test) when I get back to the states. I have a book to study while I'm here. I have a ton of things to keep me busy this time around also. :) I also have a spanish book, an algebra book, and recipes to translate for Danielle. I'm looking forward to traveling with Phil and going to Italy and Switzerland. I will be skiing in the Alps once or twice a month too. I'll put pictures up when I have them. Tomorrow is the first time that I'll go skiing in France. I'll be at Les 7 Laux.
Krista keeps telling me that she doesn't understand why I'm not a complete wreck when I came back with everything that seems to happen to me. I didn't understand what she meant. She later explained everything with my green card, the people bothering me last year, my previous living arrangements, my problems with the CAF (housing subsidy office) (I finally received it :)), my bags not arriving with me, being 4,000 miles from home, having no family in Europe.... she went on and on. I really don't think any of those things are a great problem. Yes, I miss my family and Phil, but they are no further than a phone call away. Plus, with the added comfort of the internet, the world gets a lot smaller. It just seems like I'm at school or something. The distance doesn't seem as far as it is. I definitely think I'm lucky this time around to have friends to come back to. The teachers, the other assistants, Brigitte, Bruno and Valentine have all become my pseudo-family.