You thought I would title this one, "American in Paris" well can't do that since we're not quite there yet. However, for the last week I have been hosting another dodgy American here in Montbéliard and by dodgy American, I mean my charmingly silly PSU friend, Luke.
Once again I apologize for being lazy about my blog. After a night or two of recreating this blog on a new site, I haven't had a huge desire to deal with it that much. However, I'm now back in action! So what's been going on in lately. Well I guess I'll begin with the end of the Christmas holidays.
I was lucky enough to have my good friend Divya come and visit me on Christmas. Divya and I studied abroad here a year and half ago and having her back made it honestly feel like the two of us had never left. I would love to say we had crazy adventures full of traveling and fantastical characters, but to be honest we kept everything fairly mellow. We did travel over to Basel for a quick day trip, but we spent most of our time in Besançon with Divya's old host father, one of my most favorite people in Besançon. I like to describe him as the male equivalent to my Aunt Ingrid. I say that simply because he's extremely worldly, open-minded and a character. There could never be another Phillip, he's a one of kind and staying in his house feels like your vacationing between Morocco and Provence. I would have to say that dinner parties chez Phillip truly capture the essence of French life for me.
Since Divya's departure (a sad 5 am at the train station), I've started work again and have welcomed another American in my little French studio. My good friend Luke has been paling around with me since last Thursday and it's been a blast. With his help, I've now made 4 new French friends who after hearing us speak English in my favorite bar, invited us to join them at a table for further discussion and jolly good French fun. We were even invited to attend a soccer match with the group, which I can't wait for. I've been hoping to see a soccer game here since the stadium is a hop, skip and a jump away from me. Allez Sochaux!
I'd have to say this month has definitely been the month of making French friends. My rolodex is growing steadily with the aid of my partners in crime, Divya and Luke.
Other tidbits from this past month. I took Luke to my favorite school and we did a little presentation on life in the U.S. and more specifically life in NYC. We showed the kids a little picture slideshow of NYC and after lots of oohs, ahhs and ooh la las, the kids had a little Q and A with Luke. By the end of the day he was like a celebrity, which to be honest he isn't far from.
I would like to suggest to everyone also, that if you would like have a very French inspired decadent morning, wake up late and treat yourself to a brunch of crêpes and mimosas. If you really want to be decadent go ahead and park yourself on your favorite couch or chair and snuggle up for a good movie. Finally, follow all this relaxation with a good walk with some of your best friends or family. I started this tradition with some of the girls I studied abroad with on Sundays when we were desperately missing France and needed a break from school work. My latest decadent morning was shared with Luke and my Canadian friends Susie and Rene. Trust me, take the time, it's worth it.
Well folks, I've rambled on enough for one session. I will hopefully be back with some more news after a short trip to Paris for Luke's birthday. Then I shall hopefully give you an entertaining rendition of my own American in Paris!
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