One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain

Ah this week is over. I did not write on Wednesday like I said I would because it wasn't worth it and I don't want to write short posts as to irritate my band of misfit followers. Monday I did not ride my bike anywhere. It was raining and gross like all day. Super sad. Tuesday I had two seperate French classes at two seperate places. The first class was just people speaking in French so I literally sat for two hours listening. It was so stupidly exhausting. My class in the afternoon was also semi uneventful. I was waiting for one girl to show so I could invite her to Paris this weekend but she never did. The rest of the week was normal. Feeding children, watching them, playing with them, bathing them, being irritated with them. The usual. I ran several times. I have to say, anger is a serious motivator. I am amazed by what my body is capable of in such a short time. I can run a lot farther than I ever have been able to and I am getting faster and faster. Faster by my standards because I would NOT classify my times as fast. Ha. Not even close.

I almost forgot! My American review of French McDonald's. It was good. Tasted close to what we have. I had a big Mac with fries. I tried to just get something normal because some of there menu is...interesting...to say the least. Feel free to check it out here!
http://m.mcdonalds.fr/home#menu_anchor 
Anyway, they have a sauce for the fries...I don't know how I would even describe the flavor because it was not very strong. It was a creamy white sauce with some green herbs in it...? I used it, but like I said it was just okay. The burger was not greasy, and was a little thicker than ours back home. The drinks are much smaller portion which doesn't actually surprise me. I really haven't seen many overweight people here. Things are much different. In the end, I'd eat it again, although hopefully not often. I'm not sure of the cost comparison because I stayed home while the dad went to get it.

This week has just been hard in general. When left to my own devices shit gets crazy. I'm still adjusting to this new life. To not having things that I did in America. Not having the ability to do whatever I want whenever. Not seeing my friends all the time. And just adjusting to my life as it lies currently. I've said 100 times this is not where I thought I would be and that really is so true. It is hard to just move on and not think about the past. There is a great quote by C.S. Lewis, who I am very fond of, he says, "there are far better things ahead than any we wave behind" In theory, this makes PERFRCT sense. In practice it's like getting punched straight in the stomach.

A few awesome things did happen, things that make me appreciate what I have in life. My plan was to hit up this American bar in Paris this weekend. When talking to a friend about this and my nervousness of this outing he gave this sound advice...you just do it. When I moved I just started going to the bar drinking and then I met people and said hey I need a couch to crash on. Actually, don't do that second part... Haha seriously so fantastic. I did not go to the bar and thus was not given the opportunity to spend the night on a strangers couch. I didn't go because this bar was having some huge Oktoberfest party. It's one thing to go to a bar and drink alone, which I am not above, I can promise you that. But going during a huge party to sit and drink alone...I don't know.

I also found out Netflix works here. All my research previously wielded results to the contrary, but it does work. However, and quite sadly I might add, it is very limited so I went ahead and canceled my account for now.

I have also been looking at concerts and things over here and Ed Sheeran will be here in February. I am quite excited and will probably buy tickets soon. I am also really REALLY hoping to see Bastille somewhere in Europe. I don't even care if I have to travel...obviously.

It has been interesting living here and understanding the government, health care, and political issues. It also makes me realize how far away from American news I am. I don't keep up with it all as much as I should and the information I get from Buzzfeed.com should maybe not be my only source of information. I will try to make a better effort keeping up with my home country. This same sort of isolation goes for music and gossipy stuff as well. The radio stations here and pretty decent. They play English and French music. Some of the French music I even like and enjoy quite a bit. Let's hope one day I can understand more than every other word. Anyway, I don't really know what's happening or whats going on over in America. It takes a lot more effort than if I was actually living in it all.

Before I left my family threw me a going away party, which was amazing, in every sense and I still appreciate my friends and family who came out so so much. Well at this party, my sister asked people to write me letters that I could take with me. Well I have since read three. One from my god son which was adorable as are all his cards to me. One from my oldest best friend which was fantastic and one from my aunt this week. My aunt attached a picture inside that made me start crying as soon as I opened it (because I'm not the cold hearted bitch I appear to be or people think I am) Her words were upsetting and uplifting at the same time. The support that I have is so overhwleming sometimes that I don't even know how to process it. I don't know if I will ever be able to put into words my appreciation.

I decide this week to also make a list of some of the things I miss...because there are several...
1. A dryer. I have to do laundry like every other day because it takes 4 days for things to dry! I never ever thought I would miss a dryer.
2. Warm weather for running. It's cold her in the evenings and mornings and its only going to get worse...
3. American food. Because I'm a fat kid that loves food. Things here are so different and I miss snacks and like chips and dips and BREAKFAST!!!!! Shanes rib shack, too jays, fresh seafood (that I actually recognize the name of...) Spicy food...
4. Floss. Apparently floss is not a thing that is believed in here. I don't even like flossing but this is becoming an issue...
5. Sports. I can't watch any American sports here. One because it's not possible as far as my research has shown and two the time change!!! College football starts at 9, 10pm and like 2am here. It's crazy. I guess the one positive is the American bar is open till 5...? Plus when basketball starts...waahh
6. Lunches. I'm a professional lunch go-er. Ask anyone that knows anything about me. I miss lunches with my friends.
7. Ruled paper. They use this weird graph paper here that makes my eyes sad and my head hurt. I don't get it!!!

This weekend will be lazy for me. Besides cleaning my room and studying I have no plans. This is a blessing and a curse...see above when left to my own devices. But also doing nothing feels great. Next weekend we are traveling somewhere...I am not sure the name of the city. It is where the kids grandpa lives. He has sheep! And made his own airboat...? And grows Apple's in large amounts to make his own Apple juice which he sells. I am excited about this because I love Apple juice. The next weekend I'll get back to Paris and go to the American bar. Nothing crazy planned for the week either. I am going to ask a girl in my class if she wants to hang out some night this week tho. We will see how that goes. I don't have a ton of pictures this time. I have some from my running (which if you follow me on social media you have seen, so my bad) but I also took a picture of the terrible paper and my lunch on Tuesday which I bought myself at the grocery store. Lunch of champions my friends. I also hung up some inspirational things I printed out before I came here and hung that up. Some of the pics below are those. I also included a picture of the picture my aunt sent.

Something else I'm regularly slash moderately sad about is my parents buying a new boat. A bigger better boat. and I won't be there to use it till next year. This is super sad for me, a kid who grew up on a boat on the water. I am so excited for this it is not even funny! #teamnewboats ... Sorry mom...haha

I'm still alive and well so no one worry. Apparently there are some worries going around. I'm good. Figuring it all out and by it I mean life which is fucking hard, and exhausting and turbulent. But hey, I'm in France. Time to grab life by the balls, oui?

And lastly the interactive part of this show! I need a new book or books. Please if you're willing and have some ideas feel free to leave comments! I'd love suggestions...

Title quote: Bob Marley

A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.

As it turns out...my fans demand more from me...and by that I mean cuss me out that they wasted their time reading my last short blog post. Jk Jk they didn't do that. But like I told someone I was quite uninspiried. I'm at a stopping point currently in feeling anything. I'm trying to adjust, trying to take care of children (which is really putting having my own kids in perspective), learning a language and teaching a language. It's weirdly overwhelming and underwhelming all at once. It's been a life adjustment as well. I know I've said this before but I never ever thought this is where I would be. Ever. Not the being in France part, I hoped that would happen at some point. The being single, career-less 20 something living...LIVING...in a foreign country. As much as I love it and I know this was the perfect decision it's a lot to handle in a big picture. I am so beyond lucky to have this opportunity and I am doing my best to remember that constantly but there is a part of me that can't wrap my nead around it.

This weekend we are going to a grocery store that has American things apparently. Peanut butter being one of those things and maple syrup... I got the older kid, G, hooked on grilled cheese which is so perfect for me. We are going to make PBnJs at some point and even American pancakes. Speaking of pancakes, we had crepes the other night. So good. First ham and cheese ones and then nutella ones. The kids here love nutella, I think as much as Americans. I however am not a huge fan. I've also now had Czech beer, liquor and soup! The soup was crazy good, kind of like chicken noodle soup...I could eat that again for sure. The beer was great. A light beer that you can apparently get in America...? I don't know. I will have to look into this. The liquor was strong. So so strong. And tastes all kinds of wacky. It is made from herbs apparently...not the good kind that are legal in Amsterdam, but herbs non the less. I don't do shots so I had to take it twice to get it all down and then my feet were tingling. They also have this awesome liquor which I have yet to try. They actually grown their own fruits and things and then take them to a person who ferments it all and makes it into liquor then it's yours!!!! I think this is like the neatest thing ever. I will try this soon I'm sure.

I am a little frustrated with the whole kid thing cause currently the mom and dad are home often and when they are the kids are crazy and don't listen to me when their parents are around. Luckily, the parents realize this and soon it won't be the same and they will be gone much longer during the days. Speaking of the parents working, they get 6 weeks vacation every year! W.t.effff. I need this like asap...in the job I don't have of course. I am interested to see what happens when it is just me with them more often.

Something I thought about in the shower tonight. My friends and family have been so supportive in my life and some of the quotes I've used since starting this online diary have been from them so from now on I will mention where I got the quote and in this post I am going to go back and give credit. (Disclosure I am sure my friends did not come up with these not did pinterest or where ever else I got them but I'm giving the most immediate credit.)
Post 1. Freshmen year drinking poster...so thanks allposters.com?
Post 2. Pinterest, where all the best things come from.
Post 3. Samantha. Most oldest bestest friend.
Post 4. Friday night lights of course. One of the best shows and by far the best quote from a tv show.
Post 5. I don't know...people just say this I think...
Post 6. Pinterest again because obviously
Current post. Aaron, one of the best friends ever.

Like I've said previously, I write these over several days. We went to the grocery store and it was nuts. So so many people and they are all kind of rude, in my opinion. But they all seem to understand that and just get on with it. Their grocery stores smell so amazing. They have butchers, and this fresh seafood section. They had an entire tuna, atleast 70 pounds, just sitting in the seafood section. We walked by the deli area and you can just smell the different meats and cheeses. It is kind of amazing. We also went to a big shopping area and I found a store I am in love with. Promod it's called. Seriously the cutest stuff like ever.

This weekend I had intended on going to the next town over to study and of course I didn't do that cause I am a terrible student. Like the worst. I am always like yea I'm going to go back to school to do something great and then I do and I realize I am an idiot for thinking that because I hate school. I  constantly procrastinate and really I can't on this french thing because my survival, and mostly sanity, depends on it. The french language is so complicated. It is not even funny. The mom also wants me to start a second class. Which I get because one, I suck at french but mostly she wants me to meet people. I am quite curious about this though because the group has tons of people from other countries so I am interested in seeing how they actually teach.

As an update to my lady friends...or guys I guess that are also interested, I have seen attractive french men!! Finally. I can't actually speak to them so at this point this matters none at all...but they exist...which I guess is a positive.

I have impressed myself with eating while I've been here. I ate beans!!! Once even voluntarily. I didn't love it but I didn't cry about it. Last night I also ate like a zucchini caserole. It literally had only zucchini and cheese in it. I despise beans and zuchinni, be tee dubs. All the food here is so interesting and my mom here is a great cook. Today, Sunday, lunch was huge and delicious. Snacks, pizza, quiche, salad and then a Czech desert and then coffee after. So. Much. Food. Tonight we are actually having McDonalds. Im quite interested in seeing what it tastes like...

I finally went running yesterday(last four pics below) I ran the Seine. Amazing. It was nice out but the weather is a huge difference. Even though it wasn't super cold it still affected my lungs and chest. Should be interesting to see what happens as it gets colder. Tomorrow I am going to ride my bike to the grocery store. I am not exactly sure how far it is, it is in the next town over. Ill probably run again on Tuesday. If I go somewhere great I will def include pics in my next post.

Today we went to that next town over. We walked there. The pics below are from that town. Same place I wanted to go study but clearly did not. This town is beautiful. Most places here are. Even the not nice looking places. It is all so different from home. Anyway, we walked there and ate ice cream and just walked around. The arcitecture here leaves me speechless so often.

Oh!! Something great before I get outta here...the mom. She kills me. We went to the market and I was of course not only rocking an FSU swaetshirt but and LSU tshirt. I'm not sure how this worked out but it did. I took off my sweatshirt because it was soo hot and she asked how much weight I'd lost since being here and I said none. For some reason she tries to make eat all the time!! And actually I just thought of something. Haha anyway. Ill make that connection in a sec. Its funny she does this to me because she doesnt eat a lot either. So I think, she thinks I have an eating disorder. Clearly if she just looked at me she could tell thats NOT true. Well a few weeks ago I was sick. No big deal...specially since I've recently had stomach issues and undergone tons and tons of testing. Well she twice asked if I was pregnant!!! And once when I told her no she looked at my stomach!! I wish I could tell her that I did not get pregnant, move 4000 miles away from my family to a socialist country, quit my job, to have a baby. Nope. Didn't do that. (The connection, maybe shes worried about my eating cause she still thinks I am knocked up) The third thing, she was quizzing me about my love life. Once she asked me something so, I think, she could determined if I liked dudes or the ladies. Well then when we went to Paris she kept asking about guys I've dated. God knows this is not something I talk about with my best friends much less this kind of stranger. Well in the end I am not sure what her perception of me is. Im convinced she now thinks I am an anorexic, pregnant, man hating lesbian. This should be so fun...

I will write again Wednesday. Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to say or that no one will really give any fucks. Which is fine, I get annoyed with myself plenty. Enjoy the pics!  Although now that I look at them they are not great. Ill take more soon.

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea

It is funny to me that people enjoy or like or simply just tolerate my writing enough that they continue to read it. I'm mostly just a normal girl who likes to exaggerate things to make them funny and who from time to time can be rather witty. My friend definietly nailed it when she said my last post was like having a conversation with me. It's true and its a compliment because a lot of time my conversations are far crazier...please see spider conversations two posts ago. Those are sincere and honest conversations as they happened. I want to thank anyone who reads or continues to read the thoughts that I am able to put to paper. I'm a terrible speller and not that great of a writer...unless it's investigative reports or legal findings...now those I could write All. Day. Long. In my sleep even. Either way, thank you. 

I have a French phone number!!! So weird. I will also be considered a resident once I attend a meeting at some official office within the next three months. I guess if it hadn't felt real till now, these things should confirm it. 

Friday night before Paris was apparently revenge of the spiders. I've killed one giant one, a baby one on my desk and a baby one on my face/mouth. (Update: since writing this I have had two more giant spiders join me for the evening. I will no longer write about them because now I'm just pissed)

It is interesting standing waiting for the train to Paris. I'm excited because it's Paris and hello but at the same time I live here now...I can go to Paris whenever I want. That a a ton of other amazing cities within this country. 

Paris was beautiful. I mean breath taking. the architecture and history are amazing. I can't even begin to put it into words. But it's a busy tourist city like many others. I wasn't overly impressed with that part. We went during a sort of celebration and they open up different places for people to visit, ones that are not normally open to the public. We went to the Picasso museum which was totally disappointing because none of his art was there. We also went to the city hall. I have to say I am so so jealous of the people who get to work there. The building was stunning. Everything about it was stunning. That is where a majority of the pictures below came from. We also got to see the mayor's office. She has a view of Notre Dame out her office window! It was amazing. We had lunch and walked the Champs-Élysées. We saw the Arc de Triomphe, the presidents house, the Eiffel Tower from afar and some other sites. I spent my first money since I've been here. We sat at a cafe had two cokes, a bottle of water and sorbet which cost 30 euros. The entire thing was great. I also attempted to understand the train and metro system which is totally nuts. Below are the pictures I took of that day! I found several stores that we also have in America in Paris...gap, H&M, sephora. All things that can easily get me through my time here. I also found out about a store called BHV I think? It's like a department store here that sells everything apparently. While in Paris we also went by the Louve and saw the church where Tony Parker married Eva Longoria and saw the fountain where Andy throws her cell phone at the end of The Devil Wears Prada. Ps there are pics of all these below. I also found out am artist that has always impressed and intrigued me will be having an exhibit in Paris. Hokusai is the last name of a Japanese artist who I think is so impressive. I'll go back sometime this fall to check that out.

I'm still in school. Nothing much has happened as of recently. I am going to the next town over this weekend to study, wait till I post those pics. That town is beautiful as well. My mother sent me a package is was so appreciated. The children are much the same. The little one hates me, the big one is a smartass. But what can you do? Somethings also really suck...like missing time with my family. I've now missed my brother and dads birthdays, but this is just part of this process. I still am I'm such appreciation of how I can keep in touch with everyone so much. I guess this is it for now. I will make an effort to write another post sooner this time.