When in Rome...

It was just like I remember it being the first time....basically, I feel like I'm in a movie and I wish that Gregory Peck was by my side to lead me through the city like he does with Audrey Hepburn. Everything is picturesque and colorful and all the roads are old and cobbled and you see little vespas on every street and waiters sing to you while they serve you amazingly delicious pasta (true story). I found myself walking down the street below and I asked Beatriz, ""¿Por qué no nací una italiana?!!" (Why wasn't I born Italian?!!)Since I can't be reborn a Roman or move there, although the thought did cross my mind to just stay and open up a little café on one of these tiny, little vespa-lined streets and learn Italian by immersion, I lived it up like a Roman while I was there...

Those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE tiramisu (Coffee, chocolate and whipped cream...need I say more?) ...I don't know if I'll be able to go back to Casa's tiramisu in Fort Wayne after the incredible one I had in Rome.Cappucinos. PERIOD! Once again, those of you who know me well...I'm addicted to coffee and I'd say I'm a bit of a connoisseur...One, they are ridiculously cheaper in Rome than in France and ridiculously more delicious! Since I am an addict and was rather sleep deprived from sleeping on the floor, I think I averaged 2 or 3 a day, the foam is just so amazingly creamy and the espresso is really strong. You can see poor us with our last one (note the sad looks) during our layover in Venice.One of the coolest things about Rome is all the old fountains that are littered throughout the city and all with drinkable water. Last time I was in Rome, this one was the first one that I noticed on my day alone before the padres arrived, I felt rather nostalgic seeing it again!
Sadly my favorite site wouldn't fit in my backpack. I was in awe last time of the Fontana di Trevi and it was just as breathtaking this time as well. I am just astounded that someone could carve this into the side of a wall and, of course, I threw in a coin to make sure I get to go back to Rome someday...then maybe I'll open my little café amongst the Roman ruins...Missing you all!
xxx
e

ROMA!

I'm leaving in one hour...une heure...una hora...for ROMA!!

I was reminiscing about the last time I was there in 2008...The day I wandered around Rome by myself, before Mom and Dad arrived from London, I came across the cutest, most picturesque streets. I remember feeling like they had to be out a movie. This street was my favorite.
Can't wait to see what I discover this time!
Ciao!

Doggy Poo

I'm leaving for Rome on Friday, that's 8 more lessons to teach and I'm home free (for a week), and let's just say that the Honeymoon...it's over.......

Yes, I do love living in France for the year, but sometimes there is a build up of things that you just CANNOT understand and that start to get on your nerves, so I'm letting you know that life is not this idyllic paradise in France. Bear with me as I take away your naivety and reveal to you the ugly side of France...

1. Do you see the lovely picture of the "Canisac"? These are little Doggy Bags that are scattered throughout most French cities and yet I have not seen ONE person clean up after their dog. NOT ONE! No one follows what's posted "Dare to do a good deed!" A good deed? It's not a good deed, its just common courtesy for goodness sake! Somehow in Chile, where there are way more dogs everywhere, I didn't see nearly as much ca-ca scattered in the streets.2. As I mentioned before, I'm training for the Mont St Michel Marathon (10 miler last week! Woohoo!) and yet I am amazed every time I go out for a run and there is a group of guys walking in a line covering the width of the street. Siân and I approach, at a lightning pace of course, and yet NO ONE moves...this happens EVERY run...it's just bizarre.

3. Techno music in the Discotheque. Every song. Every club. Even pop songs get turned to remix techno. Getting oooooooooooooooold. At this point, I'd be happy if they played rap...I know, sad.

4. People keep thinking I'm a student and giving me nasty looks when I go to the teacher's room. I always check my mailbox first so they know I'm allowed.

5. No spicy Mexican food. I could murder some Nachos de la Casa with extra CREAMY QUESO from Cebollas right now! (I could also eat like three bacon cheese burgers from Logan's right now as well...hehe)

I could keep going along the list, but I'll stop right there so I don't destroy your lovely image of France and make you think that I hate it here. I don't. I just need a little Roma!

Ciao bellas!
e

Reflections from a Twenty-Two Year Old

It is 12:00 pm on Saturday morning here in Nancy, and although I have not stepped outside, weather.com informs me that it will be a nice 45 F (7 C) when I go for my 5 miler today (its a heat wave). I don't think that I've mentioned that I've training for a marathon. Yes, 26.2 miles of running (45.2 km). Luckily, it's along the coast of Northern France from Cancale to Mont Saint Michel. Now, I don't want to jinx it, but since I ran my first ever 9 miler (15.5 km) in 1:24 last week and can still tell you all about it, I feel pretty good and let's face it, I need some accountability to keep me going. More on that in later blogs...

While I was pensively making my coffee this morning and reveling in being in my pijamas until that afternoon, I reflected on the fact that I turned 22 last Thursday (not 25 as some of my students guessed...YIKES!) and that while this may come across as rather big headed...I realized that I am 22 years old and I live on my own in an adorable flat in downtown of Nancy, (pictured below) France and most importantly have survived now for 5 months completely on my own.

It's really almost too good to be true, but somehow, after pinching myself, I realize that its true.
Why is this so incredible? Because I have always wanted to live abroad on my own in a downtown somewhere and it has happened.


Then my thoughts traversed to the fact that I really haven't done this on my own . I mean, my parents, sister and friends would be millionaires if I had to pay them for every time that they have talked to me on skype or the phone and listened to me cry or complain about how stupid the French bureaucracy is or how I can't stand another minute of my students staring at my with what we like to call "Nancy Face." That blank stare of boredom and confusion after you have slaved over a lesson plan is the single biggest reason I will not become a teacher if I can help it (I tip my beret off to all of you who can do it and I am sorry to all the teachers that I have given that face to in the past!!!).Being abroad really puts things into a new light (and so does getting older...haha) and that is why I love it. I love appreciating other countries and their cultures and seeing what my country and culture can improve and what we do really well.

When I get back home, I will enjoy every minute with my family and friends and I will treasure the cappuccino that my daddy will make for me (you were planning on doing that, right Dad?) and I will savor the PB&J with a glass of milk like I never have before, but then, most likely, I will miss my croissants and pains au chocolat and my little flat in the center of downtown Nancy....so, I'm making my new resolution for my 22nd year that I will live each moment,(including "Nancy Face") with no regrets. So, please, hold me to it!