Making Connections

On the bus from the CDG airport to the Montparnasse trainstation, I must have seen this advertisement 15 times. I think it's powerful. It stayed in my head, at least.

The husband of one of the 6 American Consuls in France works at SYA. I met him. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to talk to him. I haven't had a conversation like that...ever...to my recollection. Every single thing that he said was extremely interesting! Not that I havne't had a conversation where everything was interesting - but it was all...FRESH. New. Absolutely new to my ears. And the best part was he is an adult and treated me like a peer. I imagine he's in his early/mid 30's. He invited me over to his house, where I met his wife and newborn daughter. They gave me contact information in the US Embassy in Jordan, where Virginia had her first State Department job.

I love France!

Interesting stuff I learned about today:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/index_fr.htm
http://amman.usembassy.gov/user/default.aspx
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1149.html


 

How Weird it is to be BACK here!

I thought this was funny. You know how things are translated into Spanish, but they're always below the English in USA planes? Yeah...not so with Air France.

I'll admit - the plane ride over was a little bit scary. I didn't talk to the person next to me until the last 5 minutes. She was an American who openly admitted to hating America - not just President Bush - which made me feel disgusted and annoyed. Whatever. She lives in Italy, designs handbags for Armani. Bof.

Trevor dared me to speak in French the whole way. I fooled the flight attendants and the wannabe-expatriot I was flying with by answering their questions in French. Qu'est-ce que vous voulez manger? Du poulet. The last five minutes, I spoke English with her. This is me looking somewhat scared.



But then, I made it to France! Not scared anymore!


I thought this was funny. I took a bus from the airport to la Gare Montparnasse, and saw some funny signs. "Dit Non A La Peine de Mort!" ---- it's a sign organizing a strike against the Death Penalty. 4 years, and not much has changed.






Me outside the Gare de Rennes, my train station. I walked here many times a week, especially when I volunteered to teach English to l'Ecole Maternelle with Natalie Smith and what's-her-face. I am on the north side, looking at a place I haven't seen since I was 16.




The outside of the Gare de Rennes. Claire did a, "S'il y a une "KATRINE VASICEK" quelle puisse venir voir sa partie a la reception!" and that's how I found her. She was with a little girl who, at first, I thought was Anaelle, but in fact it was Tyfenn, the one who she was pregnant with when I left. Pictures of the family tomorrow...


Turns out they have un reseau sans fil - in other words, a wireless network! Wow! That is a big change from when I was here. Only, the battery on my laptop is almost dead and it doesn't seem to work when I branch it - or...plug it in. French words are continually coming back. I understand so much more than I can say, yet I find myself being able to say a lot. I can hear my American accent, and ca m'ennerve!

I can't explain with words what it's like. It's...a dream world that is suddenly back here!

Something that was very good for my ego: Kate-the-date-magnet transcends the Atlantic ocean, the English language, and the American culture. Julien (my first kiss) called, and asked me out tomorrow. He told me Pierrick would be there, too, in an effort to assure I would go. Of course I'm going to go!

To see Pierrick, my French host brother, for the first time in 4 years...wow. It was extremely emotional, in a very happy way. I saw him as I walked down the hallway at church - Claire, my host mom, thought it would be a good idea for me to go to Institute. I saw him coming, and said, "Pierrick!" He ran towards me, I dropped my purse, he lifted me up in the air and hugged me for a verrrrrry long time. Wow. He has long hair and acne, and his voice is completely absolutely different. I knew him before it had changed. He's taller than me. So weird.

Claire and I talked a long time today - about everything! She helped me with an excruciatingly embarrassing non-blog-appropriate problem (ask me about it, I'll tell you), and continues to be an amazing and fantastic mother. I love her so much! It's...so many things come back. I left a big mark on their family. I am also realizing how large of an impact they made on mine. It's incredible.

I don't want my laptop battery to run out before tomorrow, so I'm going to end this early. I'm hoping to buy a USB drive and something to plug my computer in with tomorrow when I go au Centre Ville avec Julien et Etienne.

PS
Julien is a LOT cuter now that he's 18 and not 14.

Preparing to Leave: 4 days away

I have a problem. I can only check 44 lbs worth of stuff from Paris to Amman.

It's not an issue of getting stuff to Paris. The economy seat I booked allows me a maximum of two checked bags at a maximum of 50 lbs each. However, once I get to Paris, I am no longer flying "economy", but "student". My guess is that because France is a socialist government, they subsidize the cost of student travel. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to find such cheap air fare - for which I am duly grateful...

Except for the headache it is producing. How on earth will I be able to compress 4 months worth of material belongings into 44 lbs??? Somebody better mail me a fairy; I'm not paying $26 per extra pound!!!

My research assistant discovered that to send the difference (56 lbs) by UPS from Paris to Amman would cost over $2,000. I asked him to try DHL but evil demons shoved sap-covered pine needles down his shirt, which somewhat diverted his attention.

Welcome to my blog! I recently bought my sister a t-shirt that says, "No-one Cares About Your Blog" - mainly an inside joke referring to my older brother Joe's love of blogging, podcasting, and all things internet-related.

(somewhat similar to this) --------------------------------->

I want you to care about my blog. I plan on posting entries about my life in Jordan, the problems I will run into, the adventures I will have - including photos! - and much, much more. I want you to read, and post often.

I understand that lives are busy, and it's hard to stay in touch with people. This is how you can stay in touch with me, at least until I return to My Country 'Tis of Thee.