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!

Berlin-Poland Adventures

Pheww, finally back home in Aix. What did I do the last week you might ask. Well:

Showed up in Dortmund Germany on my way to Berlin.
Saw the whole of Berlin in one whirl wind day. Not the most attractive city but a very important one.
Trained it to Poznan Poland early Friday morning where I met the Sgrois and Micelis. Thus began the adventures. Somewhere between tours of the city, always being late and the cousin getting married we managed to eat one meal for the duration of 8 hours and knock off many bottles of vodka. The traditional alcohol count for a polish wedding reception is one bottle for every guest. WHAT!
Spent Sunday recovering. Monday retrained it back to Berlin, this time with 7 others. Sent the 7 on their way to Florence and I stuck around Berlin another day. Saw a concentration camp north of the city-wow. That is just one of those things that you have to see in order to understand the horror behind it.
Flew back to Nice and then finally to Aix.

It was wonderful to see the family and intreguing to see the Polish and American families attempt to integrate despite a very large language barrier. A little vodka seemed to clear that up.

The 7 who popped to Italy will be here in Aix by Friday. Next weekend MaryFaith and friends are coming and the weekend after that I might be going to Germany for World Cup fun. Then I leave!! NOoooooo :( This last month is going to be pack full of fun and adventure so I won't think about leaving untill I have to. Hope everyone is well!

PS Got an email and I haven't graduated yet. It has been moved to this summer. I'm still an official student!! YYIIPPPEEEEEEE How long do you think I can stave off the end?

(: Still here

hhmm sorry for the retard. After all that sitting around of the greve, the three weeks of traveling threw off my groove of doing nothing and I got a little etourdie. Things are beginning to pick up around here. Upon returning from Italy, Spain and travels in the south of France with mon pere et mon Oma I commenced the coursage. But alas, two are on the verge of being canceled so I need not stress out on studying. Passed a week by being homesick. I still am but I got it into my thick skull that I am coming home in a month and a half and I should make the most of my time. This saturday we all hiked up a mountain and slept at the summit. That was loads of fun with loads of food and du vin. It took a little fresh air to regain my senses from the pensés of Chicago. I have met the most fabulous people here and I am sure that just about the time I really get to know them we will all be prending our planes homeward bound. Fortunately many of then live in that cluter of funny french speakers above us called Canada and one of the Brits will be in Wisconsin this summer. Aix continunes worldwide.

Next week it's to Poland for the cuz's wedding but first I am passing par Berlin to check out the non existant wall. I am really looking forward to the "Sgroi/Miceli take Europe" adventure. Hopefully at the end of June, as one last excursion, a friend, Katie, and I are going to have a pint of the World Cup in Munich. Still trying to convince Lucas to come. You too...you should come. Might be going to Loire next weekend to stay with a friend. If not, we are mounting the mountain again: good for the buttox.

Who is my cousin who calls themself PBandJ? ...I am sure I love you but I don't know who you are.

Apparently I graduate Friday. Woah.... I had better discuss that with a pastery and coffee. GROS beeeezzzooooos à tous le monde.

This one comes to you from Barcelona. After bullfights and a few days in aix the fam and I have wondered out of France. Gosh I love France but it is nice to get away from Aix and the Frenchies for a little. After 3 days here we are renting a car and going to Bilbao to see some little museum called the Gugenheim. O yeah, on the way we are going to stop in Pamplona to have an aperitif Hemingway style. hoooot

School will be back the 2nd of May! Hooot, the students won!

The road trip to Italy was superb. CInque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Venice and a lot of food and laughing.

I am in Arles with dad and Oma and we are going to see a bull fight this morning. Happy Easter to that.

Will write more soon.

In about 10 minutes 3 friends and I are hopping in our rented car and driving to Italy...random and really exciting. HOOT!!

Dad, I am locked out of my email for some reason but I wanted to let you know I have booked several train tickets and the price for all three of the tickets for three people is around 500€. One of them is a night train too so that is good. Not sure how you want to divide that up with Oma but will you let her know. I can't wait to see you on Friday!!!

Hey Kathryn, Yes on the Loyola email. No probs there. And you spewing water on your computer made me almost pee in my pants. hehe. I hope things are going well at school. I take a pass on your homework but I hope you enjoy. I'll be in Italy.

At the risk of shocking the world, I announce that the strike at the Fac de Lettre @ U of P......continues. A hopeful email from a professor gave me a little jolt that I might have to do some work next week. I feel pretty doubtful about that. Yesterday's "day of movement" resulted in over 3 thousand protesters around France, most in Paris and Marseille.

I got a hair cut today and I was avoiding that because I know the prefered hair do in these parts oddly resembles a mullet. Yup.. I got a french mullet. Hoooot. The funny thing is, I kinda like it. After the most sensual hair wash I've ever known, Jonathan says "Dit-mois." I tell him a bit of a trim and some thinning out. He prepared. This process is the same process of Michelangelo before he started David: a general understanding of the subject matter from afar and near then a visualization of the end product, a tassle here and a sweep there and Voila! he began. It was serious: an hour of him making love to my hair and proudly spurting out english phrases like "I have a red table", and finally I have a mullet.

Adriana: yes, I miss muffins too. lol. Hows le nez?

Spring is in full swing with flip flops and all. I don't know what happens to all the people during the winter but the cafés are totally packed now. Aix had a grand parade yesterday which Bruno and I watched from the other side of a huge icecream glass. Wow, French people really know how to do it up. If I hadn't of known better I would have thought I was in Venice for Carnival. O yes, and the men dooo love to dress up as pretty ladies. lol.

Heading to Salsa lessons tonight.

NO school yet.

Going to Prague or Budapest will be real accomlishment at this point. I will need walk to Italy and leave from there. It seems this coming week the national strike begins; most importantly, train and bus employees. The students at the fac are still planning the national assembly here in Aix. The fun begins next Saturday.

I had an afternoon on the water's edge in Marseille yesterday. Talk about relaxing. It was about 4pm so the sun was just right, not overpowering but enough to bask in, and the sailboats were coming in for the day so they were all in viewing proximity. Being not quite the weekend or summer, we had the whole place to ourselves. And it was around 70 degrees, 74 with a glass of wine.

.....I mean....I can't wait for classes to start again.



Adriana: the nez news: it's good. No probs thus far. What are you irritated about? I went to a shop and asked if there is a smaller thing and he said no but he lied cause I found one. But I am afraid it will fall out. In any case, you can't see it hanging out of the bottom of the nez. Miss you, and yes, pompier news will be delivered today. Please excuse the messages, I just couldn't stop laughing.

Suprise suprise, la Greve continue. I am sure by now everyone has heard of the violent protests in Paris against the CPE. There was a big protest in Marseille last weekend and another today..they like setting cars on fire there. And the students at my university want to organise a national assembly on our campus. That's to say, bring what's going on in Paris to Aix - it's not going over to well but they are "searching a solution." Needless to say, classes aren't going to start any time soon. Most students who are not fired up about things have decided to travel: Amsterdam and Rome are popular greve vaca destinations. Personally I'm looking at catching a flight to eastern Europe...might be a bit safer.

Weather is extrodinary and the pastries taste even better in the sunshine. That about sums it up in this neck of the woods. Gros bisou!!

Not a whole lot happening around here. The strike is still going strong and there is rumor of extending the semester into July due to the now 3 weeks of missed class. In the mean time I have been perfecting the art of doing nothing and not going stir crazy...you laugh but it's difficult. I sleep in, have breakfast and listen to the radio, then slowly wander through the markets and revel at all the wonderful french delicacies. I return chez moi and check email then have a little lunch. By this time it's 2ish and I pack my books and head into town, installing myself in either a park or a cafe and read until I am antsy or hungry then take an hour walk in whatever direction my legs carry me. This is where things can get crazy. After the walk I can either reinstall myself at a cafe with a glass of wine instead of coffee, with a friend or alone. Or, if there is an activity at the Mejane or o movie I want to see, this is when it happens. You see all the options in that last part? It gets a little stressful sometimes. Finally, somehow I end up talking with someone until about 1am when I go to bed and rejuvinate myself for another busy day.

In all this sitting and observing I have noticed that the French and Europeans in general have got an amazing knack for conversation. I realize that in an effort to streamline myself and be as efficient as possible in order to profit from my busy scheduele in Chicago, I have lost the ability to sit for hours with someone and never have a silent, akward moment. It is really impressive to see the cafes in action. Sometimes the topics are serious, sometimes superficial but it is always something, moving flawlessly between a million ideas. It took someone pointing this out to me for me to realize how boring I can be. When asked "how do you like Aix" I answered politely and briefly so as to not sound arrogant or over opinionated. This french gentleman sat staring at me waiting for more and I had nothing to say. He then said "yes, that seems very Americian. Talking too much is a bad thing because there isn't time for it." I thought about this and I realized that my answer to his question could have been quite long but indeed I didn't want to talk too much. So in the name of anti-efficiency and French cafes, I strive to be long winded and take pleasure in other long windeds.

In other news, the strikers have begun to take over the city. They play dead on the steps of the town hall or wave their flags in the middle of the Rotonde blocking rush hour traffic. They take a break and at about 10:30 they get a second wind from all the beer they drank and attempt to wave their flags and shout again. Looks like everyone is having a good time here in Aix.

PS Fuller: I was calling to talk to you sir! I will give you another try today or tomorrow. Can't wait to see how you've been. Ciao

O girls, thanks for the messages. Those were much needed. :)

Ems: Rilke is in my bag and I am on the way to The Two Boys. Thank you for the gift. I am really looking forward to reading it and thinking about you the whole time. I am so glad you (and your enterage) were able to come on such last minute's notice. It wouldn't have been the same without you.

Adriana: I accept your request to continue cherching a discoteque. lol. There won't ever be class again so I should have plenty of time. The nez is good....can't wait to get a shorter thing. I don't dig the bull look. Are the Ps really angry or just a little deranged? Nice philosophical meditation there....quite impressive for a jet lagged girl @ 6am. I propose Emily's solution...meet in the middle on an island and we can "transcend into a higher state of intellectual splendor" there.

PS: I NEEEEED to be there too.

BISOU!!!!!! I love you tout le monde

Where to begin? This past week was so wondeful. All those crazy Ameeericans where here. Dan tried to get sick the first day but after a good nights rest he was back in the groove of coffee and cafes. The 7 of us hung out in Aix, eating and visiting, until Tuesday when we headed to Nice. After we settled in in our apartment we began what would become our ritual of eating. All 7 headed out to discover exactly what kind of french goodies we could find to whip up in our kitchen. Tuesday we started our dinner around 6:30 with pre dinner snacks and wine, of course. We had fresh salad, fresh fish pasta, the smelliest cheese we could find and after we couldn't eat any more, we had dessert. It is quite impressive how many bottles of wine 7 people can drink over the course of a 4 hour meal.

Wednesday we woke up, filled oursevles with baguettes and fig jam and headed in to discover Nice. Lots of walking involved there. Then back to the apt for another long, wine and cheese filled dinner.

Thursday was Monaco. It is beautiful but unlivable, unless you like living in a little plastic world. The views on our bus ride were extrordinary. Then we dined at a retaurant back in Nice.

Friday Dan and Adriana made breakfast and then we romped around Nice doing a little shopping and sun basking at the cafes. Beautiful weather! Then it was back to chez nous for another wine filled wonderful dinner.

Saturday morning we dragged our weary selves to the bus and headed back to Aix. Back in Aix we split up and the finished anything remaining to be done in Aix: buy french shoes, eat croque Madames, say bye to Brigitte. Then we ate. You must see the theme here. Our days osolated around meals and they were always long and very tastey.

This morning everyone got on the big blue bus for the airport at 8 am. I am more homesick now than ever. Having my three best friends here for a week was so wonderful, as if no time has passed since I was with them in Chicago. I realized that the feeling of "home" depends upon the people you are with, not the geographic location. It was so nice to be home for a week.

My university was closed all week for the strike and rumor has it that it will continue next week.

4.5 weeks till Oma and Dad get here....I am counting down the days!

Le Fac est Fermé and I'm going to Nice

Monkey Squad: The apartment in Nice is paid signed and sealed. Are we still planning on Monday through Friday? The train will be about €60 round trip and the homestead will be around 60USD per person. WOOOT we are gonna live in Nice.
Caution: it got a bit chilly. It snowed for about 2 seconds today. Although there is discusion of whether is was actually snow.

Anyone wondering about this apartment business: The 7 arrive from Chicago on Saturday and we have rented an apartment in Nice from Monday to Friday. It will surely be a wonderful time.

The Fac, my universtiy, is closed due to a student body strike. After heated speaches about democracy and students' rights they took an official vote which was a raise your hand kind of deal. Anyone who looked like they might vote against a strike was given the french stare of death and persuaded to abstain. Needless to say, they won. They are now "occupying" the university = sleeping in the grand hall and creating the great wall of China in front of the doors out of desks, chairs and tables. After the wake up call and coffee, they stand arm in arm in front of the doors, screaming unrecognizable french things, and refusing to let anyone through. Magnificent to see these students organize themselves. If anyone tried this aux Etats-Unis, it would be stopped on the basis of a fire code violation...o the irony.

OK we have two choices and I am going to book one tomorrow. If you can call me tonight and tell me your choice I would love u.

1 is the one dan found

2 www.homelidays.com reference 73443

BIZ and see u in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!

Hoffman are you there? I can't figure out how to use AIM on this computer. Did u leave the message about 148..? Looks good. A little expensive. Did u find the one I was trying to send. Emily gave a thumbs up. It is 58818 on the website.

an hour later....

Ok I just emailed 973623912 people about apartments for next week. Lots of them are wonderful and in the heart of Nice or Cannes or something charming like that. Lots of them only sleep 5 people. However, for our teeeeny budgets I think these places next to the beach are worth a couple nights on the floor. I don't mind. Tell me if you do. I will send links to places that I get responses for. I tried to stick to places that had markets and night life around them as well as beaches and that included terraces for breakfast and such. I feel like that will make pretty much everyone happy. See you soon.

Loyola Spring Break

OK, Kids..... the apartment for Hyere is a no go. Check this one out: http://www.vrbo.com/58818 I am still waiting to hear if it requires a car to get there. But it is close to Nice and it looks beautiful. I haven't had time to do much research so tell me what you think. Also, emily suggested Geneva. Sounds good to me but the little research I did looks quite expensive to get there. By train: €135 and by bus it is not possible from Aix, gotta go to Paris. I am at the Fac but I will brainstorm later today. Can't wait for you to get here!!!!!!!!!!