Rues, Cafés, Épiceries et Églises

This is what I love about life in France:

1. Adorable rues (streets) that veer off in every which direction and are never straight therefore, giving you the sensation that you've just stepped into a movie and you might possibly find a handsome European man that will sweep you away on a little vespa at any minute, but of course, before that there would be an excellent photographer who says, "May take fotograph of lovely American woman with (tall, dark and handsome) young man?" And he captures the essence of the lovely centuries old wall that you lean up against while the handsome young man perfectly positions himself to lean over you with one arm on the wall (you know what I'm talking about, right? That pose that you always see in the picture frames when you buy it.).

2. I've said it and I'll say it again (probably until you're sick of hearing it.) The food is AMAZING! I can't think of anywhere else that I'd rather be in the world than just sipping a cup of café at a little café in France. I feel like I could be one of those chic, boho friend girls who would sip coffee and write a book or a poem or I could be a fashion addicted Parisienne who is also just as chic but in a much more done up way and of course both of these scenarios would have to include me being stick skinny, gorgeous and with a cigarette in my mouth (explaining why French Women Don't Get Fat...). En fin, coffee anytime is delightful but at a corner café, ten times more wonderful!
3. Buying food from local vendors...if you haven't noticed the trend yet, I really like the food here...but, yes, I love that you buy your meat at the boucherie and bread and pastries at the boulangerie/patisserie. I've even started to get to know my local grocers who all ask if I'm anglaise and I politely respond, "Non, je suis americaine." I always get a bit of a response to this like "Ahh! so, do you like it in Nancy?" And of course I say "Oui, oui bien sûr"! I live in a Arabic area of town so they sell things like olives dunked in spices and couscous that you can get by the kilo and lots of Halal meat and lots of sweets like Bakalava that I tried out the other day and it was fantastic! Its no wonder that Organic food is weird to the French because their food already comes that way - I mean shouldn't organic things be organic?
4. Brocantes! Last weekend I went to the old town to go antique/secondhand shopping with Siân and it was so fun to look at all the old French stuff. I got a ring and Siân two brooches that she's going to make into necklaces and just all in all it was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon...and then you can refer back to number two where we took a lovely cup of coffee in the plaza...

5. Old churches. They're everywhere. I go to mass each week in the Cathedral that is just giant and I'm just kind of dazed each time that I get to celebrate mass there! Love it!

Bon weekend!

Blonde!

AHHHHH!!!!

Yep, this was my sentiment after Siân and I finished our little salon endevour. I am now officially blond, blond, blond! Do blonds have more fun? Well, I must say that since I got paid (the reason for our salon day), got internet installed in my apartment that comes with a free calles to the US on the home phone (!), and after two weeks, got my gas turned back on and the pilot light working so I can take hot showers and cook I'm having definitely having more fun...incidentally, I don't think this is connected to the blondness but all the same, life is really good once you're settled in!

I've also got into the swing of things at the university. French students are a 180 from US students and most of us lecteurs have decided that we can see why teachers either LOVE their job or simply HATE it.

When my students (still weird to say that) actually participate in class, I leave feeling like I've conquered the world, one English syllable at a time and when they don't, and give me that blank stare of confusion...well, I resort to speaking really, really slowly, making hand gestures to illustrate and finally repeating it in French...ugh...and then I walk away worn out and pep myself up by buying a coffee from the Salle des Profs - yes, that's right - I get to use the all exclusive and elite TEACHER'S LOUNGE now!!! I rather enjoy this priviledge after years of wondering what goes on in the infamous lounge...well, in France it tends to be coffee breaks and everyone always use the bathroom there because it is actually clean, has a toilet seat and (gasp!) soap!!!

Thus continues life in France, it really is lovely. Yesterday, on my day off, I walked around the old part of town and bought a rather endearing old leather binded book by Colette in the older part of the city called the Ville Veille (literally, Old City) and because it was such a lovely day, I had to buy a pain au chocolat while I walked around the the Parque de la Pepinière.

Gros Biz!

Pure Bliss

I have fallen in love...

I mean head over heels...

This love story began long ago, once upon a time (last spring) and is now beginning to flourish since I have arrived in France. Some might call it an addiction, but I call it love. I don't know how someone could arrive in France and not be swept off their feet immediately...I mean the amazing wonderfulness that is the nourriture (food) of France just takes you by suprise and you will never be content again without the things that become staples of everyday life such as the fresh bread you can get from the boulanger down the street, the lovely coffee that comes in adorable cups and with little bitty sugar cubes and cookies, wine from the best vineyards, cheese aged to perfection and chocolat....ahhhhh...just take a look at this cappuccino, gorgeous, non ?

So, I really have done more than eat since I arrived, I promise. After the nine hour flight, none of which I was able to sleep, I arrived in Paris then drug my massive suitcase, little suitcase (but equally heavy), and two carry-ons to the bus stop outside. After 45 minutes I arrived at the train station and managed to get on the wrong train that was not leaving but was right next to the one that was heading to Nancy and therefore lugged my baggage off and sprinted over to the other train and managed to lug them all up onto the train while a very capable French man watched the sweet, little girl hurt her back trying to get on before the train left...very gentlemanly...mmmm...but luckily I arrived to Nancy and then got a taxi to one of my collegue's (hehe, I have a collegue) apartment. She is from outside of Manchester, England and we've spent quite a lot of time together, getting along swimmingly and learning more about the different words that the British use than French words. The picture below is the street that she lives on.

Its right downtown and my new apartment is just down the street from her. I should be moving in on Monday! This Wednesday I'll be starting classes, so in the meantime I'll be enjoying the good life and getting my apartment all set up - I must say that it is pretty adorable! Below is another photo of a cute street, the kind that only exist outside of the US.

Well, don't worry, I'll make sure that I eat enough of the good French food for all of you. My current status is:

croissants: 2

pains au chocolat: 2

coffees: 2

Gros biz !