Ok, I know this is a corny title for this entry, but you gotta love referencing The Wizard of Oz!
Remember coming home from school for a weekend, where you’re exhausted from studying, over-partying and possible friend drama, just to plop yourself on the couch and know whole-heartedly that you have someone to take care of you and even better cook you warm meals. It’s that warm fuzzy feeling, that you just don’t have to do anything and you can rely on others for a short while and take a break from break from being totally independent.
Obviously this feeling isn’t too foreign to me, when I’ve got great ‘rents like mom and daddy Myers and having just finished school, but I have to say, I’m lucky enough to have a similar situation here too. This past Sunday I was in Besançon again for another weekend adventure. I left early Saturday night to meet up with another assistant, Natalie to catch up and paint the town red. As usual, I took over Natalie’s pull out sofa; as of lately, I’ve become quite a permanent fixture over there during the weekends. Nonetheless, I also came into Besançon, to spend Sunday with my old host family, the Perrots (the most gracious people on the planet).
Not only did this family host me two summers ago, they also immediately took me in when I came back, helped me find an apartment in Montbéliard and donated all the furniture that has turned this empty room into a home for me. Basically, I owe them my life! So after waking up from a long long night out with Natalie, I made my way to the Perrots, feeling like a college student coming home for the weekend.
I was greeted by the kids running downstairs to let me in with hugs and bisous (the typical french double kiss) of course, from the whole family. I think we ate one of the biggest lunches of my life and the food never tasted so good. We sat a chatted for awhile, about all the little things going on: teaching, getting settled, friends, bills, co-workers and family. Everything was just completely easy-going, no need to have a care in the world, total relaxation. After eating, I cuddled up with the kids, Émilie and Mathieu and we watched a goofy DVD of a French TV series. I love being able to sit on my bum for a couple hours on a Sunday and just vedge, whether you watch a Sex and the City marathon with your best gals, endless episodes of Scrubs or even a good old movie with Mom! I think its one of the best kinds of relaxation and bonding for that matter too.
After our couch potato escapade, the kids, myself and Béatrice sat down and played Jungle Speed (a crazy, popular game here), Cranium (all in French, a surprisingly great way to learn the language) and Rummicube. I decided to stay for dinner as well and after another great meal, we all sat and watched some more TV together. By 8 o’clock, I headed out loaded up with yummy leftovers and motherly advice from Béatrice to not sit alone in a train compartment. Maurice saw me off at the train station and I made my way back to my little studio here in Montbéliard.
Overall, one of the best Sunday’s ever and the exact TLC I needed. I can’t really say that I feel home sick at all. But I do know that I miss being around family and friends, just being a part of that familiar unit. Luckily, I’ve got the Perrots here to fill in the missing gaps and help me to feel completely at home. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to thank them enough for that, but I’m sure as hell gonna try.
Note: They Perrots and I talked a lot about when my parents come to visit and they can’t wait. The translating should prove to be a lot of fun and hopefully not to awkward. Nonetheless they’ve already started to conjure up all the possible things we can do together to show them some good old Franche-comté hospitality.
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