A Quick Something

It's afternoon in Seattle, which means it's about bedtime here. Just wanted to give you a couple quick tidbits in case you've been eager for another post.

Tidbit #1
Living in a multi-lingual household is quite funny. We've got a new name for "elbows" thanks to my Spanish roomie, Dani. They are now called "arm-knees." It makes sense, really, if you think about it.

Tidbit #2
Turns out the laverie (aka laundrymat) is a much better way to wash clothes than in the sink. Go figure, right? For several reasons, actually...and some of which you might not automatically guess:
Reason One: Sometimes (well, one time) you might be there and run into an old Italian lady who then proceeds to tell you her life story while teaching you how to use the washing machines.
Reason Two: Then this nice Italian lady will dump 1/3 of your bottle of laundry detergent into the machine (even though it says "40 washes" on the bottle), so that your clothes get EXTRA clean.
Reason Three: But, oh wait. Upon closer inspection of the now 2/3rds empty bottle, which you (meaning "I") have been using for THE PAST THREE MONTHS, your new Italian friend notices that the label says "Assoupplissant." Ok...and my point being...
Reason Four: And after a mixed Italian-French lesson, you come to find that in fact what you had previously thought was laundry detergent is in fact...fabric softener.

And so, for the past 3 months, I have been washing my clothes with fabric softener.

Vive la France.

And if that doesn't make a person feel stupid....

Tidbit #3
Just try having a conversation with ANYONE, really, and they'll automatically know you're a native English speaker.

Funny, I've already started thinking a lot about life back in Seattle. (Just bear with me here...I know, I'm living in the south of France...time to focus on the present and live it up...) But really, being in a place where you don't speak the language (ok, or well "do", but only sort of) gives you a whole new appreciation for simple things like being able to make friends (or at least pseudo-friends for the moment) in a coffee shop, or bar, or the grocery store. You know, the ability to go up to anyone and say "Hey! How's your day going?" and actually be able to understand their response, and catch the idiosyncracies of the language. It just seems so easy! And I miss that.

But the catch22 is I know how much I'm going to miss this uncomfortable, makes-me-feel-like-an-idiot challenge I experience every time I open my mouth. (Or heck, even walk outside, cuz I know they can take one look at me and see that I'm not from here. Yeah, even if I HAD the right clothes and hairstyle, I've got more thigh and upper arm meat than 3 Frenchies combined...those bitches...) Sorry, but it's true. And I digress.

What I want to say, though, is that being here and being uncomfortable motivates me to be a person who welcomes new friends, new relationships, and people of different language/cultural backgrounds more so than I have in the past. Being an outsider gives me a new appreciation for the outsiders who exist in places where I feel I fit in. Let me tell you, being invited over to a real French family's HOME for a real French dinner is a big deal to me. To be able to practice speaking French, as difficult as it can be, with real French people makes a big difference. And I would like to be that (English speaking) person for others. And I encourage you to be, if the opportunity should arise.

Tidbit #4
My computer is slow. Someday I'll get around to posting photos from Christmas and my brother's visit down to Hyeres after the New Years, but that day is not today. Uploading photos on a 5+ yr old "ordi" (as we say in la France) is not my cuppa tea. Mañana, mañana, mañana. (Cultural reference to Spanish tendency to always put things off til tomorrow...which is true, in case you were wondering).

Tidbit #5
Teaching is going well. Love those kiddos. Seriously. Love 'em. Well, most of them. We're working on colors this week. Playing lots of games. Taught them Heads Up Seven Up, and of course they all go crazy for it, just like we did when we were in 4th and 5th grade. It's been fun seeing them around the town, as I've said before, and I've even been invited to some of their afternoon fieldtrips! I went to the circus (small theatrical performance with 2 acrobats) and I saw a movie at our local cinema. Both times being out and about with them made me feel a little like a celebrity b/c all the kids from my various classes were calling my name and wanted me to sit by them.

Tidbit #6
And the French husband? ("French husband?" you may be thinking...) Ok, well I've joked with a lot of people about never coming home, of course, once I find my smoldering French man...haha. Just wanted to throw a big "DON'T WORRY" out there, b/c lately the cutest boy I've seen is in my Thursday morning class, and I'm twice his age. (Meant to be a joke, people, don't go freaking out on me here)... And anyone that comes close to my age...well just refer back to paragraphs 1-3 about feeling like an idiot of Tidbit #3 and you get the idea.

Tidbit #7
I have a never-ending appetite. I don't know if I'm not eating the right things (not enough protein to stay un-hungry perhaps?) but, man, I'm always hungry. And, with little to do, I'm usually eating. I'm convinced it's cuz, in France, every time you eat around someone they tell you "Bon Appetit". It's working on me; my appetite is insatiable. If you've got any ideas other than "just don't eat" or "pick up smoking", let me know. I've already thought of those, and have decided they're not actual solutions.

It's midnight (the bell tower by my apt is ringing) and I'm hungry. I'm off to brush my teeth and hit the hay, before I find myself marching downstairs to find the jar of nutella. Thanks for staying posted :) xoxo