Beaucoup nice things

To begin, it is summer in the south of France which means it is unbearably hot and equally charming. Daily coffee has turned into luscious things such as daily Diablo Fraises and Ice cream. Yum. Last Wednesday was the national music festival. Basically a large amp was plugged into the side of France and it sand. I think the entire continent was dancing. The old part of town was closed and people flooded this town. The Cours Mirabeau was hardly walkable and music venues were partout, just far enough apart so as not to drown each other out..but just barely. There was everything from punch rock to full orchestra ensembles. After about 1 or 2 am it turned into a city wide dance club. Tout le monde was getting their groove. We just popped between bands danced a little and moved to the next. I can't tell you what a good time I had. It was a good 'ol fashioned good time. After our feet decided they needed to head home we passed by an acoustic percussion group and spent about an hour meandering through the streets as they processed out of town making the crowd move simultaneously with the beat of their drums which seemed to set the pace of your heart. I do decree...La fete de la Musique is more celebrated than Bastile day and what a party it was.

Since then I have seen a few dear friends off. It changes the atmosphere around these parts and in a way it makes it a bit easier to leave, but not much.

Spent the day at the beach with Fateh yesterday. That really is the best way to sum up the life style of the south of France....warm with a cool breeze, lazy and sleepy. Naturally there are cafes just steps away from your towel so you don't even have to put your sandals on to get a coffee. It is best to bring a few cookies from your local bakery seeing as the best time of the day is sunset on the beach. So you have your "goûter" around 6 to hold you over. The salt water and sand makes them taste so much better. After being thoroughly sunned and sanded we headed home tranquil and relaxed while watching the coast of Marseille pass into the last breaths of sunlight of a perfect Monday.

Saturday night we had a splendid tea party in the park. Many of my friends are Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisia so he had a Magreb party complete with a hooka, spiced tobacco, mint tea, and a couple guitars.

I finished my last exam today. It was an oral exam which I have never had before. Not sure how well that went for me but it was an experience anyway.

As of yesterday Kathleen and Allen are the proud parents of a little baby boy. Everyone is doing well.

2 weeks left!

No extrodinarily exciting news around these parts. Folks are starting to pack up and head to the next destination. Sad :( I am a bit paralyzed because I don't want to leave here as equally much as I want to come home. I figure that is a good thing, though, because I can't go wrong either way.

Last week I ran a small hostel out of my teeny tiny room. Maryfaith and two friends stayed two nights and the following night two guys from Loyola passed through town. A good time was had by all.

Going to the beach today with Fateh and we might be taking a little voyage to Corsica for a night next week! yiippeee

It is officially summer and UBER hot. Wednesday is the national music festival and I hear it is great fun.

Last night I was in town with some friends for a drink and we crossed a tango party. It was in the middle of one of my favorite squares (the one where l'Unique is for all you Aixoise) and the cafes set up their chairs around the danse area in the middle. 1930s tango music sounded from the speakers and the rest of us with two left feet sat and stood looking on with our wine and cocktails. Everyone was fabulously dressed up and the scene looked like something straight out of a black and white film: The relief of cool night air, the ladies and gents dressed to the nines, the crackle in the music as if it where being played from a record, their cheeks pressed close together as they gracefully danced this ceremonius dance - it was intoxicating. The longer I am here the less and less it happens but I had to pinch myself to remind myself that it's not a dream.

It's official, I'm coming home to Ameeerica

Well I finally managed to bring myself to buy my ticket home. A very bitter sweet feeling. I am finally getting settled in and building dear friendships and it's time to leave. But I am equally excited to come home and see everyone and eat a bagel. The bagel excitement will surely wear off after about a day when I realize I have no baguettes or decent coffee and I will begin convulsing in shock. Fortunately I still have over 3 weeks till that happens. I land in Newark the 2nd of July and will be in Chicago about a week later.

The 7 passed chez moi this past weekend. An eventful weekend that was... The relaxing cafe experience changes a bit when one is with 7 non french speaking very thirsty americans. But nonetheless it was wonderful to see my family.

Besides that its back to the ol' coffee and bread routine. Love you all and miss you and see you bientot!