day is a-breakin' in my soul

this is my life. sitting outside at cafes drinking tiny espressos

Another week has flown away since my last entry. Teaching gets a tiny bit easier every time, though many of my students reaaaally try my patience. Also I keep getting mistaken for a high school student. This only happens at Rascol, which I don't understand. For example, yesterday I was dropping of my attendance sheet in the "salle des professors," or teacher's lounge, and two teachers came up to me and were like, "what do you think you're doing in the teacher's room, mademoiselle?" And, since this has happened several times before, I'm pretty sure I gave them quite a steely look and told them that I was the English assistant, to which they apologized and said it's only because "you're just very young." Bah! I guess it's understandable because actually many of the students at Rascol are my age (some are even older) because of the weird French education system. But still, it annoys the heck out of me.

The other night, I went with Brent and his roommates to an "international dinner" at the university here. It was incredibly silly, but really cool because I met a lot of French folks my age, including a girl who plays folk music...I am going to try to twist her arm into trying to play some music with me. Gosh I hope that happens! There was a lot of karaoke (why do French people love karaoke so much?), and I felt pretty overwhelmed and intimidated and like my French wasn't very good, etc etc. But Brent is super at ease socially with French people our age since he spent a year at a French high school in Paris, so he breaks the ice most of the time. He also is always looking for a joke to make, which for some reason makes all of them (especially all the girls) just love him. Haha. I really like his roommates and their friends...Samira, who I told you is from Rennes, wants me to go there with her and meet her family and whatnot. She is a sweetheart!

I have two more classes to teach until vacation! I can't believe we already have a vacation. It is completely absurd. I am going to Spain, to the basque country. So excited! It's been a while since I've traveled like this, so I gotta put on my travelin' boots and try to remember how to thumb my way across Europe.

I am still discovering Albi...I find new sweet things every day. Thank goodness I have a bike...it makes my life so much easier. I love being able to get around on a bike and walk when I feel like walking. Kat and I decided that one day we want to try to walk from one end of Albi to the other...because it is entirely possible to do that. It would take a pretty long time, but it's just funny to me that we would even think of doing that in the first place. My students ask me sometimes if I think Albi is too small, but I really think it's just right for me right now. And we are not far from Toulouse, which is a huge city.

It's cold out today! Yesterday we had our first real rainy day here. I came downstairs wearing a scarf and my rain jacket and Mino (our resident grandma) asked me if it was cold out. I said that I thought so and that also it was raining. She looked outside and said, "oh! ca y est! c'est l'hiver maintenant." Translation: "well, that's it. it's winter now." I thought that was very funny of her to say that. But it was warm and beautiful until two days ago, so I can't complain at all. I've been spending my free time reading, knitting, and writing songs (or at least trying to). At this rate I'll go through a record number of books (for me) by the time I leave here. My brain is just buzzing with new things in French, melodies, and thoughts on spirituality. I wish I had this much time to be introspective in the States...

I have had my fair share of homesickness lately. I miss my beautiful community in Greensboro. (I miss you too, mom ;)  )
I still feel near to them though, even all the way in France. It has been nearly a month since I got here. Wild!