A Travel Outfit

Spring Travel by e.cordes featuring leather shoes

Before I come home, I'm going on a few more big trips with people I love this. I've been blessed to make so many memories with old and new friends during my time here, and I can't wait to make some more.

Because I'm planning these trips,  I've been thinking about my ideal spring and summer traveling outfit.  Actually dreaming about my ideal outfit, as I'm saving all my money to pay for these trips.  But if I had some disposable income right now, this is what I would buy for drinking tea in Bath or traipsing around Rome:

1. A stylish leather backpack, like this one from LeMode accessories, to carry all my necessaries, but keep me from looking too much like a tourist.
2. A light summer scarf in a fun color. If you want to look more European, the easiest thing to do is throw on a scarf. (Warning: in France, you will fit in better with a more muted color. But I've worn black all winter, and I'm ready for some color.)
3. A comfortable, cute dress that can be dressed up or down, in a suitcase-friendly material, like this one from Five Bamboo.  
4. Some basic jewelry that I could wear with other outfits, too. I've been learning to pack lightly this year.
5. A light spring jacket with a hood. Travel doesn't stop for a chilly evening or a sudden rainstorm.
6. Sunglasses.  I find it's easier to people-watch when they can't tell where your eyes are looking.
7.  Comfortable, cute sandals. I love how basic these ones are.
8.  Okay, I know a DSLR camera is not fashion.  But it's the one accessory that I've wanted to add to almost every outfit I've worn this year.
9. I like to carry a small fan to keep cool when I travel in the summer; my current one was purchased for one euro in Italy six years ago. It's starting to break, so I might be looking for a new one when I'm there this summer!

Anything else you think is necessary for fabulous spring and summer traveling?  I just realized I forgot to include my Nalgene water bottle, another summer travel must.

Fun French Friday: Les Soldes

It's dangerous times in France right now. 

Well, for my bank account at least.

And also for these poor sweaters:

Alas, that's Les Soldes.

France has official, government regulated sales twice a year: in June/July and January/February.

This gives the stores a chance to move out old merchandise and show off the new spring collections currently appearing in stores.

And me? Well, I want lots of pretty things. Unfortunately, most of France's sale prices are still a little too pricey for my budget. I'm waiting until the very end, when things get down to 70% off.  The racks will probably look a little like Charlotte Russe's clearance racks then...cheap, but mostly a little strange.  I'm working on the idea of investing in my closet and buying more expensive, quality pieces that I'll wear again and again, but I still have a relatively cheap price point for most items.

Also, I don't think I'm really a fan of this system of sales. Although French stores can have promotions at other times, the reductions aren't as steep.  I like the freedom of knowing that any time I walk into a Kohl's in the United States, they will have a clearance rack for me to browse through. It's a lot of pressure to know that if I don't buy things on sale right now, I'll have to wait for June to get really good prices again. But it is nice to know there is a lot less "pricing clothes higher, just to put them on sale" like I see so often with certain retailers at home.  I know other countries, like Britain, have a similar sales system.

What do you think? Good idea or no?

I'm here.

This is not Brie. But it is giant cheese.
This quarter of it was bigger than my head.

Things that have ended up on my laptop this week:  Brie and Nutella.

I'm so in France.

Sometimes I just remember it, and it makes me smile.

Back in France

Sorry for the radio silence. I've been enjoying two wonderful weeks home with my family and friends. And since those are most of the people who read this blog, I didn't feel too bad about just savoring my time at home.

It was wonderful: Christmas cookies, tree decorating, snuggling on the couch, Just Dance 2 marathons, Lego Rock band, carols, dishes, all the clothes I've been missing, shopping and so many other great moments.

But yesterday I had to make the long trek back to France. A friend of mine in college used to do happies and crappies on her blog, and all day I kept thinking of my own. Traveling is always a little stressful, but there are always good things too:

Happy: Spending two weeks with my family and friends.
Crappy: Spending only two weeks with my family and friends.

Happy: Being in the first group of people sent to a new security line in the Chicago airport. Hello, no wait!!

Crappy: Lugging my broken suitcase through the Chicago airport and the Paris metro. I wanted wheels.

Happy: The mom next to me in the Chicago airport reading "Anne of Green Gables" to her kids.

Crappy: The French man who sat in my seat on the airplane, then acted like it was all my fault.  Also, United's Economy Plus seating. I'm pretty sure they just squished the other seats together to give more leg room to the people willing to pay $97 extra. My legs did not appreciate it.

Happy: Two New Years! I celebrated Paris' midnight in Chicago with my family and another one over the Atlantic ocean!

Happy: Free transportation in the Ile-de-France for New Year's Day! No 10 plus euros to get from the airport to the train station in Paris.

Crappy: I was careful not to fly in on a Sunday, because the busses don't run on Sundays in my small town...however, they also don't run on holidays...like New Years Day. Stranded at the train station in the spitting rain? Not so much fun.

Happy: The women who gave me a ride home. Nice to know there are still nice strangers in the world.

Crappy: Returning to my really cold apartment.

Happy: Sliding my feet into my brand new Muk-Luk slippers to keep them warm.

I miss you all already!

Homeward Bound

I'm going home for Christmas on Sunday! And I'm ecstatic! It makes me want to use ridiculous amounts of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I can't wait to see my friends and family.  I can hardly believe I've been gone for 3 months.


Other things I am excited about at home (in no specific order):

• Hugs
• Cuddling
• Having other people to talk with in my house
• More than three rooms to walk between
• My straightener 
• Skim milk
• A proper sized pillow
• Double oven (Two ovens! and they're both way bigger than my laptop!)
• Counter space
• A well stocked pantry, including multiple kinds of cereal and peanut butter!
• American style bread
• Bagels
• Wheat Thins
• Tacos
• Bacon
• Pancakes
• A full size fridge
• Speaking the same language as people in stores and banks and on the street
• Access to a car
• Snow for Christmas
• My dog and my cat
• The rest of my clothes!
• Prices in dollars
• A washer and dryer (What luxury!)

If I take one more step...

Photo Credit

...it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.

Today, I've been in France for one month. Now, France is not the farthest away from home I've ever been (that's Cambodia), and I'm sure I went more than a month without going home while I lived in Indiana. But home was always a possibility. This feels like the place where distance and time combine to make me feel like Sam as he took that step away from the Shire. 

(Am I a dork for referencing Lord of The Rings on my blog? Yes. Get used to it.)

One month also seems like a good time to finally share this blog with other people.

But I have a lot to catch you up on. So here's the short version:

Housing: I've rented a tiny French studio in a little town, Elbeuf, near my schools. When it's decorated, I'll share pictures.

Schools: I'm assisting with English classes in three French elementary schools. My tasks and responsibilities vary depending on the school and the teacher, but everyone has been helpful. The students think I'm very interesting, which is a nice change.

Language: Living in another language has presented challenges that I didn't expect, like people assuming I'm stupid because I say things like, “I train station go. Where?” But my listening (or guessing) skills are growing exponentially, and my speaking skills are following, just at a much slower rate. I say “oui” a lot, in various tones of voice, depending on how much I understand.

Other:

I've eaten so many pastries...and so much delicious bread. I love grocery shopping.

Flattering, no?

I visited Paris for a day with a few other Americans.

 I got to see the English Channel, I've seen three movies in French without subtitles (Social Network wasn't such a good idea...too much talking, not enough action), I found the library, and I've filled out more paperwork than I could ever imagine...and I'm not done yet.

But I'm excited to share my adventures and misadventures with all of you here.

Bisous! (That means kisses!)

Let's start at the very beginning...

Written on September 30th

Hey Blog Readers (I hope you are real and not imaginary…comment and let me know you're out there),

This blog is to record my time teaching English in France from October 2010 to April 2011.  You lucky people are going to be witness to my experiences, adventures, mistakes, classroom fun and my feelings and thoughts as I explore a new culture, a new language and a new land.

Well, that's enough of the boring stuff…

Now for some details: 

I got to France on Tuesday morning. My trip here was crazy, mostly because I met two other assistants also en route: on my flight, a girl also doing the program in another town in Northern France and on the train from Paris to Rouen (roo-on), an assistant from Panama on the train. We had a fun time communicating because he only spoke a little English, some accented French and Spanish. At that point I was so tired I only spoke a little English, and hardly any French. 

Anyway, I was picked up at the train station by an American pastor and his wife and son. They fed me dinner and took me to their church where I struggled not to succumb to jet lag during a prayer service. It was a very good service, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open…any of you who know about my nodding, this was the worst ever. Despite my pinching any part of my body available, I almost fell off the chair during prayer.

 But I met so many people, received many petite bisous (kisses on both cheeks) and most importantly met the couple who is currently renting the apartment where I am staying. They are super nice. They are giving me all the furniture in the apartment whether I decide to rent it or not and the wife took me to find my job, a supermarket, let me use her internet and gave me a cell phone! Tomorrow she's going with me to see another apartment. God has really blessed my whole trip so far.

Other highlights of my first few days:

I discovered I was pronouncing both Rouen and Elbeuf incorrectly (Roo-on and L-buff)

I slept in till 1 in the afternoon my first day. My apartment is on the first floor so it has metal shutters on all the windows for privacy and safety. They shut out ALL the light, which is making it hard for my jet-lagged body to adjust.

I bought my first baguette.

After my first French bath, I realized I didn't have a towel and dried off with a washcloth and two hand towels (Mom, should have bought that camping towel! But thanks for the sunny hand towel-it was very useful!)

I figured out the bus system and attended a French bible study in Rouen. I understood more than I expected too, but also accidentally told a girl that I was staying in France for 7 years, not 7 months.

I got French dust on my Toms!

I learned how to light my gas stove…yeah I'm nervous about that one…I actually have to light a match and hold it in the gas.