“…and of course there’s never a cloud in the sky here.”

Wietse’s assertion has proved correct for the fourth day in a row. Well, that’s 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. I’ve lost like 80 pounds due to a combination of that and polite eating habits. While most people assume this is always a good thing, I’m not so sure. My hipbones stick out so much that they bruise easily and that’s not a desirable feeling.

One of my favorite parts of the day so far is picking the girls up from school. I love looking at the other schoolchildren and their parents/nannies waiting for them. The children come straight out of that Crayola ‘ethnic’ skin kit; to say the spectrum is beautiful is an understatement. There’s rarely any dark, dark brown, which was surprising, but I guess I didn’t know what most French-north Africans look like. Many are what Americans would say look ‘mixed’ (big curly hair, mocha skin, blue/green eyes, insanely gorgeous). I love that one in 20 mothers/caretakers wears a hijab. My favorite mother today (non-hijab wearer, if the description does not make that apparent) was one in big obnoxious sunglasses, dramatic lipstick, flashy gold jewelry, shorts, and over-the-knee patent leather boots - and get this - she didn’t look like a hooker at all!

On the walk home I always see myself in Apollonia when she lags behind and picks up stuff on the ground. Smooth acorns, pieces of metal, and other bejewels of the sidewalk. We know they’re worth saving even if most of you don’t know it.

Dinner has been a success 2 nights in a row, thanks to my decisions instead of Wietse’s (let’s be honest: no one likes boiled cabbage and plain potatoes). It’s funny bribing the children and using tactics that I remember my father using, like “3 more bites and then xyz”. It works though!

Every time you walk by someone on the street you get a whiff of his or her perfume. I can’t decide if I approve of this or not. It often smells quite nice, not like cheap teenage fruity stuff, but on the other hand I kinda feel like it’s a bit intrusive. I mean, I didn’t ask to smell you. We’re not making out. Why can I smell your pungent odor?

How’s my French, you’re asking? So kind of you to ask, cyber-audience. Welp, it’s:
- Good enough to exchange an electrical adapter at the store (since I blew the first one trying to plug in my hair straightener. No straight hair for me in France; I can’t afford to blow 100 euros on a new one)
- NOT good enough to open a bank account on my own
- Good enough to shop at the grocery (but I learned the hard way that you have to weigh the produce yourself and print out stickers in the produce area, also that you have to request and pay for bags before you finish checking out)
- Good enough to effectively convey thoughts to a 7 year-old
- NOT good enough to understand everything a 7 year-old says when speaking at her regular rate
- Good enough to understand when a stranger asks the time and respond accordingly (granted, after a 4-second pause while I translate the numbers in my head and blink too much, looking up at the sky)

Today I realized my money situation is worse than I thought. I looked over my contract again and noticed that I had miscalculated my pay. Not only that, a dollar is worth 130% of a euro but 1 euro and 1 dollar spend the same here! So in other words, when I went to Subway, a 6-inch sub is 4 euro. It would be 4 dollars in US, so it’s really 6 bucks here. I didn’t realize the cost of living was that high down here, I though that was just Paris. So no cell phone or trip to Paris to see Sarah’s friend or going to a bar (even once) or anything else I had been dreaming of. On a bright note, I think someone very sweet is sending me a camera next week!!

Speaking of, here’s what I’d have taken a pic of today: Apollonia and Olympia playing DS (borrowing mine since they only have one to share) and playing the LOL game and giggling hysterically at the kitchen table. Also grinning while playing Junken (I’m spreading that game all over the damn world! I think Whisky Junken with Amanda has been the best version tho). Sigh. Not having a camera has given me more heartache than I expected. Even though I know may things will be around tomorrow, I know certain moments are only here now. I should look at this as a positive time to embrace the Nowness and not worry about capturing it. Then I realize that’s one of those things I talk about philosophically and ideally but really deep down I just want to take the fucking picture.

Pic #3 I’d have taken: a burgeoning collection of Apollonia’s found objects on the windowsill. I just adore her and everything she does. When she can’t express what she wants to, she just pauses, giggles and contracts all her limbs until she’s like fetal position. Standing up. I dunno. I’ can’t explain it but it just brings my heart so much warmth.

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