La Belle Epoque, Parte Deux

I'm back in Provence for a second week of intensive French training. I take 6 hours a day of classes, 1 hour of that is one-on-one with a teacher. and they give us homework AND an mp3 player with oral/aural exercises on it, in case we're bored, or not exhausted, or somehow feel we aren't getting our money's worth.


Generally loving my french training though...... seriously, loving it. although my brain is awfully tired.... Stupid irregular verbs, they'll be the death of me...or at least the cause of the holes in my liver. it is because of them that I drink so much DELICIOUS wine FROM THE GRAPES GROWN IN THE VINEYARD OUTSIDE MY WINDOW, AND MADE IN THE CHATEAU WHERE I SLEEP. (no, not actually in my bedroom, although the entire place does smell a little of wine yeast)





Oddly enough, I am not yet fluent in French. Guess I need more wine.





Strangely, I have not seen any movie stars, although perhaps it's because I have not stepped outside the school.





Here are photos:
the main chateau
the main chat (oooohhhhhh baby)




And here is the link, in case you are curious about the joint:


http://www.millefeuille-provence.com/





Yes, this is what I'm doing while I wait for that dang job to start in Africa. We will work in French, so I really, really need to get better at French. I talk about the job all the time, as if it really will one day come to fruition. (Doing overtime with all those techniques from The Secret.) But seriously, my main contact in Cali has quit his day job, so he obviously thinks this is going to fly high and far very soon. One of the Congolese guys from Cali has been sent over to check out what is going on over there, and what is taking so long???? His initial reports are that all is ok, and he'll get things rolling. Obviously, I do not hold my breath, as I would have expired months ago, but....... I'm keeping the faith.


Incidentally, that guy had not been home to Congo in 7 years. Point of fact, it was 7 years to the EXACT day. Can you imagine not seeing your spouse or kids for 7 years? Yikes, wonder if there are more kids there than when he left.....these things happen... je suis mechante <-- that means naughty, FYI

Reflections

My auntie finally passed away last week, the day after I left for France. I'm really glad I had so much time with her. Actually I've had an incredible education staying here with the Seniors. When auntie was hospitalised the first time, and she was really sick, I was freaking out. But staying among people who have lost friends and spouses and, frankly, know that they don't have another 50, or even 15, years left, is very interesting. They get that life comes to a close. They are accepting of that. It is what it is, right?One of my auntie's good friends is also very ill, and has been given just a bit more time to live. She is really ok with that, been labelling things in her apartment to give to others, and all that. Her daughter was really upset about her mom's imminent death, so I told her to come and stay here for a couple weeks. It is amazing how you learn to accept that death will come when you are around people who feel that way. It's not morbid or anything, rather just a graceful acceptance.For the last few weeks I've just felt that as long as she was comfortable, I didn't mind if she stayed on, or just fell asleep and didn't wake up. I absolutely could not tolerate her struggling for breath or anything horrible like that (which she didn't do very much, thank God), but just hanging out in hospital was fine by me. She was 85, she was happy with the life she lived, her body was tired, she's been lonely since her husband died. There was nothing else she wanted to do. I'm really ok with this because she was really ok with this. Still, the funeral and stuff will be an ordeal though.

A Week in Provence

Just spent a week en Provence, relearning French. Heaven! Oh, except for when I had a tantrum because too many tenses were swirling around in my head and I couldn't remember which verb form I should use...a total perfectionist moment. Luckily, we had planned a field trip to Arles, which was absolutely FANTASTIC. Oh, and when I wanted to sit down late in the day and have a glass of wine, who should sit truly RIGHT BESIDE me, but Keanu Reeves!!!! It was so weird, I caught a glance and thought, "Man, he looks just like Keanu Reeves, he must hear that all the time." And then folks started asking him for photos. So weird, he has the exact same mannerisms and voice as in all his movies - apparently he just plays Keanu on a fast bus, and Keanu in a weird future scene, and Keanu in some ridiculous love story. He's quite skinny now, ate ice cream, and has a hideous beard. (Ever heard of a stylist, Keanu??) The highlight was that he brushed against me on his way to the bathroom. Yup, that's right, first he sat beside me, then he touched me. I would imagine he was disappointed that he didn't get a chance to propose a torrid affair with me in Southern France, but I am too dedicated a student of the language, so didn't have time for all that swanning about with movie stars.

Next update: tomorrow is my aunt's funeral. Then much family shite for the rest of the week.

Then I'm not sure what I'm doing, but will probably go back to France for more French training, and maybe more movie stars?? Not totally sure. Apparently George Clooney is buying a house/villa/chateau in the village where I stayed, so might enjoy a brioche with Georges?? And Angelina/Brad have a villa not too far away. Guess I better bring gifts for their new twins....would hate to be caught out. Totally embarrassing. :)

Flirting

I was walking down the street the other day when a cute young guy in a car totally checked me out* . I went by, then he drove up to me and said, "Wow, you've got a cracking figure!"
[ don't know if I've ever been described as 'cracking', so that's cool.]
He gave me his card, so I'd text him to have a drink.


ME: "Hiya. i'm madly making plans to go to france. b back in a week. rain cheque on that drink?"
HIM: "Hi tara ..u seem like a cool kind of lady ..so ur off to france !..nice!! Thanks for ur number ..! Ur very attractive and ye i luv busty babes !!"

His card said he does joinery, which I think is carpentry of some sort. But I think he probably moonlights writing copy for those ads at the back of magazines or very late night infomercials.

* actually, he checked me out the same way the skateboarding midget did. Now I wish I'd gotten the Little Person's card. Wonder what he does for a living?

Shopping in Amsterdam

Real, Wooden and Future Flowers at the Bloemmarket

Last week, I went to Amsterdam for a conference on partnerships in Ethical Business. This could include things such as a coffee producer teaming up with a Fair Trade certification NGO, and the result is a fair trade coffee in the shops. I really dig this stuff, and am optimistic that doing business "the right way" continues to catch on. It's quite a big market share here in Europe, so maybe????

I LOVED Amsterdam. What a fantastic city - beautiful, safe, everyone rides bikes or walks, canals, flowers, etc. etc. I would happily live there. It's that great! And the shopping - I have no idea how the Dutch (or maybe I mean Amsterdammers) create a business plan. "Hmmmm, think I'll sell Christmas ornaments year round, ummmm, and patterned tissue products. Oh, and drug paraphernalia." Then the shop down the street says, "I'm just sticking with my strengths - I'll sell nothing but toothbrushes."

The first shop I went into, in Schipol airport, was a department store. (I pronounce that 'ski pole'.....not sure my Dutch is 100% accurate.). It sold, among other things, funky stationery, mens and womens underwear, cooking utensils, tools, clothes. I guess what wouldn't you want to buy, in an airport? Perhaps you had your fave screwdriver taken away when you tried to take it through security in Germany or Switzerland? How handy to be able to buy another as you get off the plane in Amsterdam! I did not see any travel-related stuff for sale though. No suitcases or luggage tags, or even electrical adaptors. They didn't sell ski poles or other sports goods either. They did stock fashion shoes, and cheese graters. (If I had a dollar for every time security has removed a cheese grater from my carry on...) Anyway, I bought a gorgeous bright pink patterned apron for my friend for her birthday, because I thought it was probably the strangest thing I've ever bought in an airport. It's not a souvenir apron or anything. Just pretty. Could have come from Ikea, that kind of pattern. Ikea Airport?

I read a pretty funny story in the papers the other day, about Amsterdam. The city is famous for its "coffee shops", where marijuana and hash are legal to buy and smoke. Like most places, Amsterdam just brought in no smoking regulations for tobacco. The newspaper quoted a few kids who are travelling through Europe saying, "Oh, the skunk is totally pure marijuana, and it's so harsh and made me cough. I barfed all night long." Awwww, poor little kids on their gap year, spending daddy's money. I just hope this terrible experience doesn't cause permanent harm, like make them become card carrying republicans.

a cheese shop

uncomfortable and loud shoes

comfortable and quiet shoes

Red Light District (no, I did NOT check out the demonstration video!)

The Real Amsterdam, and replicas for sale