Can't Think of a Clever Movie Title Reference

Hello everyone,

It’s been a lot longer than I would have wished for this next installment of Frankish Adventures, but here it is (for those who care). I’ve definitely been missing everyone in Bellingham, ‘cause here it’s taking quite a bit of time to know people. It’s not so much a cultural thing as it’s a new environment. The same thing happened to me when I went to Seattle to study; I didn’t make that many friends. 

There are a few guys that I’ve been hanging with: Jean Baptiste, Kevin, and Dmitri. They are my neighbors at the apartment complex. But our varying schedules leave me always outta the loop. The rooms here make me think of the dorms: small rooms and you know everyone on your floor. Even the mentality is the same here; love triangles, arguments, drinking and smoking against regulations, and such things. I, of course, am far more mature than them: I would never be part of a love triangle ;)

I’ve been spending most of my time at the school. I go there every day but Sunday, from opening to closing. It’s extra, unrequested work, but it’s good for the experience. 

I haven’t had much opportunity to visit around town or the countryside, but I’m sure that that’s to come.  Salon de Provence is not much different from Bellingham. Not much to do but work.

So far it’s been kinda of depressing…pretty lonely. Let’s hope it’ll change!!

I’ll tell you guys more about the school next Saturday (since this coming week is super crazy with 3 lessons to do!)

National Lampoon Presents: Dorm Daze

Hello dear followers,

I'm writing right now from my computer at 1 AM because I cannot get back to sleep. I believe that I may have the 24 hour flu, since I feel much better now than 6 hours ago. But viruses are fickle entities.

On the plus side, I've moved into my apartment, toured the school at which I'll be 'educating,' and gotten a feel for Salon de Provence. It's a nice little town, but there are still components of a city that are present. Such things as many cars, MacDonalds, and graffiti rear their ugly heads. I do not enjoy the modernization of a town such as Salon, but that's the way things are everywhere.

My apartment is tiny, about the size of a dorm room, but it does have a bathroom! There is a kitchen on the floor and a laundry room one story down. Next to the complex, named Le Foyer des Jeunes Travailleurs (Home for Young Workers)there are some tennis courts, so the raquet that I brought will probably get used. The school is within 5 mins of walking distance, and the stores lining the street(s) are littered with small stores (esp bakeries!!!!)

I've made quick friends with some of the other assistants. 3 are from Spain, 1 from Mexico, 1 from Germany, and 1 American. I should point out that all but one of them are of the fairer sex, and cute. Yeah, it's going to be a rough year....  ;)

With the other assistants, we were able to go watch and experience the Festival des Arts de la Rue, 3 days of theater, acrobatics, and music. The highlight of this festival had to be Voyage en bordure du bord du bout du monde.  (Travel[s] to the edge of the end of the world);

It was a comedy about 4 poor actors putting on a performance with their beat up props, costumes, equipment, and sloppy routine. As the play progressed, you slowly realized that these guys were acrobats as they started doing things that I couldn't do, climaxing with several of them getting launched by a catapult OVER the stage (for a total height of at least, at least 30 feet and a length of 20 feet) It was awesome but also incredibly frightening!

Anyway, there's more, but I should get some sleep now.

Salut!! 

Cirque du Freak