Alençonnaise par cœur

The nostaligia is coming upon me, even as I'm still here. A blog/journal dedicated to my last month in Europe. Kate. 23.

[stleonights]

April 24

One week. I'm ready to go. I miss Virginia. I miss home. But I will miss Alençon too. Today was my last class with the TLs and it was good. They liked the novel and learned a lot from me. Middle schoolers drive me crazy, buff, but they're fun too. Jeannette is overbearing, but sweet and loving as can be. French politics are pourrie but so is the USA. I have a headache. Róisín is sooo sweet and I'm gonna miss her. And Monaco's.

[stleonights]

Unreal beauty at Kuekenhof in Lisse, Holland

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Youth Hostel Moment

I'm dying!!! At our hostel there is a school group here from Germany and so we have two 14 yr old girls in our room. I told them all the Deutsch I know!! #thanksRiki

[stleonights]

I'm loving my stay in Amsterdam, but I miss my Alençon life? How has this happened..... these people!!!

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[stleonights]

My life is too great and too full to blog about it

[stleonights]

April 9

Mixed feelings. But it was a great day?

[stleonights]

April 8

Il faisait tellement beau aujourd’hui

I can’t believe how hot it was today! And sunny– and I’ve the burn to prove it. Jeannette and I ventured to the edge of town for lunch. She is so sweet how she wants to please me. But she also drives me slightly nuts! Afterward, we found Alexes in the park near the cathedral. She came over and we talked until about 6:30 and drank juice with sirop de pêche. Yummy tomatoes and eggs for dinner! Started my taxes.

[stleonights]

April 7

Needed today to process yesterday

Yesterday: went to work, ate with Jeannette, went to St. Leo’s. AKA so many other Alençon days, but of course each day is different.  

Work: waited and watched youtube. taught 2nd about US Landmarks. had a discussion on the Reluctant Fundamentalist. listened to European class oral exams. One girl cried, the others did well talking about different topics such as South Africa and the UK Labour Movement in English!

Jeannette was super depressed yesterday because so many of the people in her life are sick or dying-- or both. Dinner was getting sad, so I had her speak about Victor and Italy. And then... I decided to invite the 74-year-old to the bar.

St. Leo’s bar was happening! Jeannette ordered a hot cocoa, and I got a bear. We chatted for awhile, then the others arrived, which was a relief because I was becoming frustrated with the same stories. Katarina, Andrew, Róisín, Marion, LauraMarie, Alexes, and Candace were also there. Benoît came later. We had a lot of laughs. Jeannette stayed until 10:20, which is pretty late! After she left, I fell in love with an older man--maybe my Dad’s age? He plays Jazz piano and is so calm and distinguished. I thought he asked to have a coffee, but apparently not. 

Today: slept late, watched “The Help,” ate lunch with Jeannette, had a beer with Becky, walked around and a Kebab with Candace. Alexes joined us later.

It’s so strange how my life is a constant Saturday. My work week consisted of on real work day, and even then, the morning was just me wasting time at work. It will be nice to feel useful and busy again. But It’s also so wonderful to have time to enjoy the beautiful stars and crisp night air while laughing over a cold beer. 

[stleonights]

April 6

I’m tired. and happy. 

[stleonights]

April 5

problems don’t just disappear 

Once you leave a place, it is very tempting to be nostalgic and forget the things that you didn’t like about the place or time in your life. For me, it’s also very tempting to only write about the wonderful things which happened here in France. But there were more than a few times when all I wanted was to be home in Virginia. Today was not one of those days, but I did get bored. Part of that for me is being surrounded by people. Even though I had a good afternoon with Andrew, and a nice day with Jeannette, I still want more. I’m not sure what that is. To be more intimate with someone. To be more sincere. To win a game of chess or to not be scolded about how I hang laundry. I think most of all I cannot wait to be useful again. I want to make a difference in people’s lives. Often here in France, I feel like there is no point in my work. Not all the time--But often enough nonetheless. 

With all that said, I also love how slow and peaceful my life is. 

[stleonights]

April 4

Sometimes life is just simple. 

A baby’s laugh was the brightest part of my day. A Chicagoan’s conversation the most thoughtful. And an Irish girl’s curry the most comforting. 

My time in France has been filled with precious simplicity. Some of those moments are cliché, but the ones I feel the warmest and most content are the ones where I'm laughing with friends or family and wondering about the future. 

My mom visited back in February and we didn't get to travel to all the places on our wish list, but we did get to visit Paris, Chenonceau, and Honfleur. All of these places feel like you glimpse a movie set or a fairy tale. However, the times that I appreciated the most was when I was driving through the French countryside with her gossiping about home or guessing what I'll be doing next year. I also loved having her meet Jeanette, my sweet little landlady. It was ridiculous translating for her, though! And before Mom left, we bought Jeannette a pair of earrings since she had lost hers in Honfleur. You could tell that she was deeply touched. So much so that she began to cry when Mom left. It will be really hard for me to say goodbye. Sometimes Jeannette drives me a little crazy by the amount of time she wants me to spend with her, but at the end of the day, I appreciate her and all the time I’ve spent with her more than I can say.

[stleonights]

Rigoler au soleil - April 3

Today was one of the most peaceful, beautiful days that I’ve ever experienced. 

It began by the sunlight drifting through my sheer lace curtains and the sound of a dachshund barking. I opened the window to see my beautiful view consisting of rooftops, solar panels, and a dungeon, and breathe in the brisk morning air. Realizing it was going to be une belle journée, even before my coffee, I texted my friend Candace and ask if she'd like to picnic in the parc de promenade. She immediately agreed and I invited Róisín too. After buying some meat, cheese, and strawberries at the store and two baguettes at the best boulangerie in town, we spent the entire afternoon laughing, eating, and talking in the parc. I love these girls!!! We talk about everything and nothing. They have made this time in Europe so wonderful. Afterward, Róisín and I drank tea in Jeannette's garden. Jeannette is precious. She taught me the name of each flower in her garden. She lets Volcan, her dog, eat anything and do anything he wants, but today he was digging in her plants and she became upset with him. But then she still gave him sugar when he jumped up on the table! 

We randomly went to this closed café to meet up with Candace and Andrew. Candace has befriended this 14-year-old kid and his older brother. I spent two hours laughing with their Dad, who had many kind compliments for me and my French. Also he said that Je suis vraiment une rigolote!

[stleonights]

Twilight begins - April 2

I officially have one month until I leave to back home to Virginia. And I cannot believe what I wild ride this year has been in France! 

It started out pretty bumpy. I was at first waitlisted to the program and rushed to get everything together to move to Normandy. Upon arrival in Paris, I dragged my bags across the city and onto a train headed to Alençon where I was greeted by Hélo, my prof de reference this year. Side note: she is amazing. She speaks perfect English and loves literature and discussing all that travel can offer a young person. So anyway, I spent a week with her family in the middle of nowhere while searching for a place to live for nine months. She has two girls who loved to correct my French and they thought it was a game when I'd ask for a word. "Et ça?" "Un toboggan!" My first few weeks at the lycée were a blur. Introduction after introduction. English. French. Français.... Oh, Mylanta!