http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/riiiiiii/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from riiiiiii en-us Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:55:14 +0000 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:55:14 +0000 Only one more week The only reason this doesnrsquot depress me is because Irsquove loved this experience so much a far cry from the first few weeks I know and Irsquom so thankful for it that I canrsquot possibly be upset about it now. I've already said goodbye to Aubagne and I'll say goodbye to Aix in one week. I'll spend a few days Paris because that's where I fly out of on Wednesday http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-352526.html I'm so happy these past few weeks I hope it keeps up. Today I took pictures all day some near a cemetery and most of small streets. A few are good but most are shit. I'll post some soon.Just know I'm happy and that's why I'm not writing as much. Can't wait to see you all in a month exactly http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-346243.html the little cuties and their accents incidentally i do not know this kid. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-343972.html This blog is due for a bit of positivity nrsquoestce pas The title is a quote from my student. We were discussing the importance of proverbs and idioms and she enthusiastically wanted to share some French ones with me. I loved this the most and to be honest Irsquom not exactly sure I understand the meaning but I THINK it means you have to really search for happiness in life and help bring http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-343946.html These are all scenes that I have actually seen not just random shots so pretend I took them. My camera settings sure are diverse huh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-341156.html Japanese rust was my beloved muse for a year now itrsquos French doors. They take my breath away. The peeling paint the worn wood near the bottom where thousands of feet have bumped them the centrallyplaced ornate doorknobs the wrought iron occasionally serving as the appetizer to the main dish the graffiti so often decorating themhellip The symbolism of both my international muses is no http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-340960.html I leave tomorrow for Aix and Irsquom a little relieved for things to go back to lsquonormal.rsquo This week has been good though Irsquove spent a lot more time in Myself than I usually do. Irsquove meditated every day written out and focused on my goals for the future and tried very consciously all day long to rid my brain of unhealthy thoughts. Irsquove also studied my ass off http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Midi-Pyr-n-es/Toulouse/blog-339756.html This week I am in Toulouse with the children at their grandparents. Murielersquos brother his wife and children are here also itrsquos kind of like a weeklong vacation with the family in the countryside except the family isnrsquot mine and they speak a language only semicomprehensible to me. So then you can understand my hesitation to assume that this would be a good time right It ha http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Midi-Pyr-n-es/Toulouse/blog-338695.html Things I love Learning to be fabulous at cooking. Today it is Gateau des Courgettes a zucchini flan with crme frais gruyere couscous eggs mint and other yummy stuff. Many of you will be surprised to know that Irsquove cooked a whole chicken on 2 occasions since being here and hear they were pretty good Friends who send a welltimed package to me. Today I had breakdown 2 and even lef http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-337082.html Irsquove been trying not to use a lot of French when I write because frankly I know itrsquos annoying to read if you donrsquot speak it. Like lsquooh look at me I can speak another language and Irsquom going to display it all over you.rsquo But sometimes things just sound a lot better and come out before the English equivalent comes out. I mean the title of this sounds a lot more http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-335843.html Not at the time of course. I want to die then. Swimming or rather drowning in lonliness alienation confusion mourning fear and a general lsquowhat the fuck am I doing with my lifersquo. Ah but after it passes I can sure see the beauty in it. Once I realize I am in fact standing and that I can possibly survive another day here I become proud of myselfhellip.feeling stronger an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-333053.html Last Sunday Wietse Olympia and I took a hike up a mountain for a picnic. This sounded pleasant in theory as it was only to take 2 or 3 hours and the Sainte Victoire is rather famous immortalized by Cezanne and many others. Somehow Wietse got our trails mixed up though and we ended up taking the most difficult route that the guidebook states is lsquoonly for experienced hikers.rsquo That w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-333024.html of my room anyway. taken with computer. once i get enough ballsprivacy i'll take some of the rest of the house and outside. as you may or may not be able to see i have a round room. it's on the 3rd floor and i have a beautiful view. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-330735.html Itrsquos unexpectedly fulfilling to do this work. Doing the dishes laundry cooking seeing to it that the girls are cleaning themselves properly and brushing their teeth tucking them in reading aloud before bed teaching and learning with them etchellipitrsquos all stuff that lsquoanyonersquo can do and I feel like or maybe familyfriends feel I should be doing something of a high http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-330731.html Wietsersquos assertion has proved correct for the fourth day in a row. Well thatrsquos not entirely true I saw 2 clouds yesterday that were about an inch or a few miles depending on your proximity long in an otherwise sunny blue sky.My calves ache immensely from walking so much on the small hills. Irsquove lost like 80 pounds due to a combination of that and polite eating habits. While http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-330727.html Woke after a night of deep sleep and strange dreams mostly fears of making mistakes and not being with Clint. Gawd I wish my subconscious could be a little more creative sometimes. Ate a teeny breakfast of cereal and then escorted the littlest one to dance class because today is Wednesday and they donrsquot have school. She doesnrsquot speak English she is 7 after all but I can speak enoug http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-330043.html The girls are absolutely adorable The youngest Apolonia is giggly and loves to hug my thigh already the middle one Olympia has shown me every single art project shersquos ever done she is actually quite talented and the oldest Esterelle is whipsmart and thirsty for more knowledge. They are all beautiful especially Esterelle. Wietse the father reminds me of a Herron professor or an i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-330041.html Charles de Gaulle is different than I remember. There are gerbil tunnellike tubes with moving sidewalks but the funny thing is theyrsquore at like 30 degree angles so you have to dramatically lean forward just to keep from falling down. It is funny to be in one and see 5 or 6 others nearby going in different directions. When I went to pee there my number one hobby I scowled at the first pi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-330039.html here i go i don't feel like this is real yet it's a familiar feeling of holding my breath and jumping into a strange unknown headfirst. i've talked about it for months but that doesn't make it real it only makes the idea audible or written on a flat computer screen. anything can happen a fact that simultaneously thrills and scares the shit outta me.see you in paris... http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Indiana/Indianapolis/blog-328840.html