Finding my way to Plum Village

I wake up really early in Bordeaux, Around 2:30am, no longer tired so I play around on the internet. Around 7am I figure its late enough to go for a walk and see the city. I walk outside to find that it’s still dark, but I wonder anyways. I’ m super hungry but found only the café I ate at yesterday open. I walked right by it hoping to experience something new. After awhile of walking I now start to get tired. I turn around to go back to my room. I also realized that I’m still hungry and outside of that one café the only thing I saw open was an American Cafe. Not because I’m trying to stay away from American food while in France, but because I can’t read anything on the menu nor recognize anything in the store - I pass and go back to O’ familiar café. There I pick up an Orangenia (same drink I had the bight before) and an Pain Au Chocolat - whichs means chocolate croissant. I’m not too into them but figured I should try one while in France. From here I walk back to my hostel but notice a bakery open on the way. I wasn’t hungry but I wasn’t full either so I walked in and ordered something. My first meal was pretty sweet so I went with a bit of bread with salt on it. My tummy was still hurting a little so some times I need something to soak up the bad tummy juice and I thought that bread would do the trick. DOH - that’s not salt but thick white cubes of sugar. Though it was tasty - too many sweets for breakfast, so I discard half of it. Make my way to bed at 8am and sleep til the manager of the hostel knocks on my door. SHIT! It’s already 11am! He says he needs me to check out unless I am staying an extra day, so I go downstairs and hand him 26euros. Afterwards he tells me he doesn’t care if I stay all day (whhaaa?) but I pack up anyways so I can be on my way to Plum Village.
I remember I needed to take the number 6 tram back to St. Jeans train station. I look on the map to figure which direction I need tram #6 to go and stand on that platform. And while I’m standing a marvelous thing happens! I notice the machine I need to use to buy my tram ticket! Last time all I saw was the tram boarding - so I ran on thinking I’d pay someone on the way in, but there wasn’t anyone. I noticed half the people that go on feed a ticket into a nearby machine and the other half didn’t. When my stop came up (6 stops later) I quietly walked off. Though I gained a free ride I felt that I should pay this time - hey it’s only 1.40euros! So I get my ticket and board my tram. I even punch in through that nifty on board machine before sticking it in my pocket. Two stops before mine a man walks on and says “Bonjour!” I look at him and smile then look away while he continues talking to me in French. He “Bonjours! The man next to him so I figure he’s asking for money. Again, I am “Bonjour”ed by this man, so I say “no” hoping that’s enough - then a woman with a uniform and clipboard comes over to me - I look down - I look at the Bonjouring man and say “OHHHHHHHHHH!! Ticket! YES!” And show him my ticket! He smiles, gives me two thumbs up which is code for “Woman with clipboard move on to someone else” She understands and quickly turns to the man next to me who did not buy a ticket but now gets one for free! Yay! I broke no French laws!
Now I am at the train station and assume I am standing in the “I want to buy a ticket” line. After my encounter in Paris, I get smart and take out my French phrase book and turn to the transportation page - score - I can now say, or at least read “One - way” in French. When it’s my turn in line I go to the guy and ask “English?” he responds “only French” so I say “Un billot to St. Foy la Grande“ ,he looks at me strangely so I show him my paper with the station written on it and he responds “Just you today?” ‘yes and one way (in French)’ “What?” I show him my the phrase book “Oh! One way - which class?” Damn - that’s some good “Only French” speaking skill you got there buddy! 11.5 euros later I have a ticket to Plum Village!
So my tummy’s still upset then I realized I need heavy hang over food - not because I got one - but because again I need something to soak up that bad tummy juice. Can’t figure out a menu - don’t know what I want so I order a sprite - a 2.7 euro sprite! Mmmmm tasty! But that helped some - now I need real food - sweet! There’s a bag of Lays BBQ chips! Just the greasy American good I need1 I buy it from the machine - eat it - feel lots better and then realize I should have a normal meal before coming out to Plum Village. I find a sandwich stand and can’t make out the meat in any of them so I decide to go safe and get the mozzarella and tomato. It’s on Ciabotta and looks awesome! I realize there’s a magazine store next to the stand so before eating I go in to look for a magazine on Obama - I look down and see they have Kinder chocalate bars. Kinder is so creamy and yummy (and I don’t think I’ve had it since my high school German class!)
Realizing I have 20min, I begin to eat my sand. OH YUCK! The Ciabotta bread has both green and black olives!! I hate olives! I even tried the olive bread at the French bakery I used to work at and hated that. Oh well - its food. BITE! Holy cow they drizzled olive oil over the inside and everything is so fresh and yummy plus I don’t taste the olives! This is one of the best sandwiches ever - I almost want to vow only to eat sandwiches while in France!
So now I get on the train - it’s overly packed but I squeeze my way in. I get on and realize there is no one to tell you the stops we arrive to nor is there a sign in the train. I was luck - only because I kept asking “St. Foy La Grande?” at every stop - because when it was my stop a few people looked at my and said “WI” now to find the Plum Village people!
Hey look! Monks! Shaved head people! People wearing robes that says “Thich Naht Hanh” on em! Lucky! Oh God - I was about to cry - I made it - no more traveling for two weeks!
Once I get here I find my place to sleep - in a dorm with 8 others. I claimed the top bunk of two bunk beds. I soon meet two lady’s - one from New Zealand and one from Pittsburg who has just moved to Berlin for a year.
Shortly after I join in with walking Meditation it’s so beautiful outside! Though cold and drizzly. We do some exercising in the middle - then mindfully walk back - all the while by being chased by two cats!
Afterwards I go into the meditation hall and join in silent mediation. Half focusing on my breath and half trying to stay awake - I’m amazed I made it over 30min. sitting! It’s been a long time!
When we’re done I talk with the Berlin girl some more - she’s cool - we got here today and are leaving on the same day - I’m sure we’ll hang out some. OH- the awesome thing - most of this is in English! They do some Vietnamese, but then always have a translator (very little French though) so when it was time for dinner - we ate in silence - we we’re served Vietnamese food. Or at least I think it was. Very tasty. I sat for a while after finishing not knowing what to do. I looked behind me but never saw anyone done - they just kept getting more food. So I finally got up and bowed then was pointed to the side hall where I was my own dish and am done

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