J'ai Arriver

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Well I have finally made it here. As I sit in this seaside cafe, it's hard to believe I spent 24 hours traveling time to get here. Oh wait a minute, the heaviness of my eyelids and the general failure of my body reminds me. Again amazing how little sleep the body can run off of. And how much closer to clinical insanity I am right now. I strain to keep myself awake right now, hoping to get over any jet lag as soon as possible. Surprisingly for all my stresses the flights all work out. I had earlier concern about catching my domestic Air France flight, which unbeknownst to me until a week ago, left from another airport. I had mapped in my head all possibilities and road bumps I could possibly have. I couldn't help but feel very celebrity when I jumped into the back seat of the cab and commanded we get to the Paris orly airport " trop vite!" thanks to the skill of my cabbie, 30 minutes later I had jumped out at orly rushing only to a very long Air France line. But I digress. I made it in fine form and walked out of the Biarritz airport only to be greeted by Bernadette my apartment host. She was so lovely. She even drove me around to show me where my school was and where one could find groceries . After she dropped me off at the supermarket, which closes at 1:00 on Sundays, I walked back towards the apartment hoping not to get lost. Luckily I did refind it. So now i was truly on my own, left to my own demise. I threw on my shoes and got out to give myself a tour of the city. I think that once I do a couple laps it will be easier to navigate around but on first sight, it was hard to judge because nothing is open on Sundays. I remember this from Paris, and being a product of convenience. I don't, myself, find this a charming attribute, but rather inconvenient. I get the whole day of rest thing but what are you doing for 10 hours each night? Whatever all you that know me well know that rest is never in my vocab. Except when it comes to beaches.

Day2:
I must say I am really tired today. Fighting jet leg and also for the fact that my apartment walls are so thin I wonder why have them at all? Some people must have partying I heard them all night long. French class was a struggle for me as well. I really felt the jet lag setting in and towards the end of the class I started doing some serious nodding off. I could see whenever I could peel my eyes open, the swede guy watching me. How embarrassing The lesson was difficult as well. I could not for the life of me understand what our task was. I keep trying to shake it off and remind myself I'm here to learn, and to be patient. I'm trying to get my iPad hooked up to run on 3G but seems o be a problem. So here I am back at cote 57 abusing the Wifi. The major plus today was the weather. It was clear skies with the perfect breeze. When hide tide is in and covers up the shore, everyone lines up their towels along the rock wall. The ocean is a great temperature as well which was perfect for an afternoon of surfing. The surfing here is a lot different than Hawaii. The water is waist deep at most, which makes it so you don't even paddle out, similar to body boarding. My instructors name is Clemont and his basic instruction to us was" ok, just get up!" The girl beside mean looked utterly confused by this. "what you mean just get up" his attitude was definitely surfer laid back. During the lesson, when he needed to talk to me and clearly didn't remember my name he would call out" Hey girl, come here!" I found it amusing to sat the least. At the end of the less son this girl who was surfing with us, or more just playing around, comes up and starts chatting. I ask her where she's from and she replies, " Hawaii" I comment on how she must surf a lot there and she replies" oh yeah I'm here For the competition" ( for the Roxy surf jam) how great it must be to be at that level. Judging from some of my wipeouts today I still have a long way to go!

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Comments

[Auntie S]

Learn Lots!!
Have fun, stay awake, and totally enjoy yourself!!!