leaving france was bittersweet.
i was ready to move away from the small town, some people who weren't good for my personal growth, and the crazy french administration. but i was sad to leave behind the lifestyle which allowed me to travel so much, several people who were really dear to me, and the french language.
being back in baraboo is... interesting.
i feel as if i never left, but at the same time i do not belong here anymore. i have kept myself busy since i have been home - i have been to devil's lake four times, i have cycled over 100 miles, i have made two overnight trips to madison, i have played with my brothers and sisters-in-law, and i have read two books.
the next step in my journey is job hunting.
i fly to san francisco tomorrow morning for a second-round interview with green corps. they do a lot of really worthy things and i hope i can be part of their campaigning this coming year. if not, i will look for a different job which will allow me to fight for environmental and social justice. wish me luck!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
to pick up where i left off...
lyon was wonderful. i had a few relaxing days staying with my wonderful friends sabrina and antonin. we hung out at the apartment, went shopping, saw more of the city, and then i took off for paris.
i spent one last day in paris with sheena. we bought picnic food and wine and headed for the river. unfortunately, we headed to a place where locals sunbathe -- the tannest man i have ever seen with BRIGHT white hair, a nerdy-looking guy with a thong swimsuit, a man with THE LARGEST nipples i have ever seen, a transexual, a woman with fake boobies and several young men with a six-pack each.
after lunch we spent some time in the luxembourg gardens - my favorite spot in paris. then sheena had to head home and i went and sat in front of the notre dame to say goodbye to my favorite city in the world. sitting on the base of the horse statue, i met a young man extremely high on weed, an older couple from minnesota and their tour guide who asked me to stay in france to be with him. the fun never ends in paris!
the next morning i took a train to the airport to meet my parents. we rented a car and thus started our family adventure! we spent an afternoon in tours, exploring the old town, walking along the loire river and drinking beer. monday morning we started our tour of the chateaux! we visited clos luce and the amboise chateau, chenonceau and azay le rideau. tuesday we drove to nogent le rotrou. we relaxed at the gite, took a tour of the town and went to patricia and dan's house for dinner. they were much too good to us, serving an eight-course meal complimented with several different wines. wednesday we took a tour of the region and that night a group of 14 of us ate at the creperie and then went out for drinks at la casa. thursday we visited the chateau in nogent and then we went to rosslyns house for lunch. in the afternoon we shopped around in nogent and then headed back to the gite to relax, pack our things and relax. friday we drove to rouen to visit the city where joan of arc was burned at the stake. a very cool city. then we drove to our hotel in paris and tucked in for the night. i took a train into paris for one last whiff of the city i love so much. saturday morning we drove to the airport, returned our car, and got on our plane home.
i enjoyed the time i had to travel to dublin, aix, lyon, and around northern france. it was nice to see places i have already been - i was able to relax and enjoy the people i was with.
i spent one last day in paris with sheena. we bought picnic food and wine and headed for the river. unfortunately, we headed to a place where locals sunbathe -- the tannest man i have ever seen with BRIGHT white hair, a nerdy-looking guy with a thong swimsuit, a man with THE LARGEST nipples i have ever seen, a transexual, a woman with fake boobies and several young men with a six-pack each.
after lunch we spent some time in the luxembourg gardens - my favorite spot in paris. then sheena had to head home and i went and sat in front of the notre dame to say goodbye to my favorite city in the world. sitting on the base of the horse statue, i met a young man extremely high on weed, an older couple from minnesota and their tour guide who asked me to stay in france to be with him. the fun never ends in paris!
the next morning i took a train to the airport to meet my parents. we rented a car and thus started our family adventure! we spent an afternoon in tours, exploring the old town, walking along the loire river and drinking beer. monday morning we started our tour of the chateaux! we visited clos luce and the amboise chateau, chenonceau and azay le rideau. tuesday we drove to nogent le rotrou. we relaxed at the gite, took a tour of the town and went to patricia and dan's house for dinner. they were much too good to us, serving an eight-course meal complimented with several different wines. wednesday we took a tour of the region and that night a group of 14 of us ate at the creperie and then went out for drinks at la casa. thursday we visited the chateau in nogent and then we went to rosslyns house for lunch. in the afternoon we shopped around in nogent and then headed back to the gite to relax, pack our things and relax. friday we drove to rouen to visit the city where joan of arc was burned at the stake. a very cool city. then we drove to our hotel in paris and tucked in for the night. i took a train into paris for one last whiff of the city i love so much. saturday morning we drove to the airport, returned our car, and got on our plane home.
i enjoyed the time i had to travel to dublin, aix, lyon, and around northern france. it was nice to see places i have already been - i was able to relax and enjoy the people i was with.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
early may
i moved out of the foyer may 1, and thus started the adventure...
may 2 i went out to lunch with sadie and holly and when i returned to the house i was locked out!! luckily, the city was setting up their big annual festival of percheron horses, so i went and visited the castle with the elementary students! in the afternoon i sat in rosslyn's garden with maria and nicolas. maria and i hustled to the train station, holly missed it. maria's boyfriend was also on his way to paris, but his train broke down. so maria and i found a happy hour to enjoy until they both arrived three hours later. we met up with a gaggle of friends and went out for drinks until i had to catch the bus to the airport.
may 3 i flew to dublin to stay with petr - and his girlfriend marija, their son adam, her sister and her sister's son. we had a fantastic weekend together.
on the morning of the 5th i went to aix!!! it was wonderful. the weather was great (though one day was a bit cloudy), i got to visit the beach one day in la ciotat, i saw my old apartment and bars... it was wonderful!
except that my debit card was stolen the second day and several transactions were made. i had to finish my day at the police station. then on day four my whole wallet was stolen, then my shoe broke, then my phone died when i was calling to cancel the credit card, and finally i went to the wrong station to take my bus.
BUT i am in lyon with my friends now! feeling up for some friendly relaxing... good thing, no other options!!!
may 2 i went out to lunch with sadie and holly and when i returned to the house i was locked out!! luckily, the city was setting up their big annual festival of percheron horses, so i went and visited the castle with the elementary students! in the afternoon i sat in rosslyn's garden with maria and nicolas. maria and i hustled to the train station, holly missed it. maria's boyfriend was also on his way to paris, but his train broke down. so maria and i found a happy hour to enjoy until they both arrived three hours later. we met up with a gaggle of friends and went out for drinks until i had to catch the bus to the airport.
may 3 i flew to dublin to stay with petr - and his girlfriend marija, their son adam, her sister and her sister's son. we had a fantastic weekend together.
on the morning of the 5th i went to aix!!! it was wonderful. the weather was great (though one day was a bit cloudy), i got to visit the beach one day in la ciotat, i saw my old apartment and bars... it was wonderful!
except that my debit card was stolen the second day and several transactions were made. i had to finish my day at the police station. then on day four my whole wallet was stolen, then my shoe broke, then my phone died when i was calling to cancel the credit card, and finally i went to the wrong station to take my bus.
BUT i am in lyon with my friends now! feeling up for some friendly relaxing... good thing, no other options!!!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
moving out
wow!
i have been back in france for 2.5 weeks already! after one day of laundry and relaxation i rented a car with holly and sadie.
day 1: we visited blois, chambord and a campground where sadie used to work
day 2: we drove around the perche! discovering the countryside around nogent.
day 3: we drove to mont st michel, st malo, and rennes. we went out with some friends in rennes -- we had to take advantage of a night in a big city!
day 4: we visited the rennes farmers market and drove back to nogent.
then we worked for 1.5 weeks. yep, yesterday was my last day of work. today we are celebrating may day with the french people who aren't working. national holiday, you know?! today i move out of the foyer, tomorrow i go to paris, this weekend i will be in dublin (visiting petr, marija, and adam), then i will finally go back to aix-en-provence (where i went to school - aka played hard for a year - three years ago), then i'll visit sabrina and antonin in lyon. finally, i'll head back up to paris to see the city of love for the last time. with my love, sheena. sunday, may 11, i will meet my parents at charles de gaulle and we will spend a week together in france!!! yay! we will visit the loire valley chateaux, the perche region, brittany and normandy. they will meet some of my friends and try some of my favorite foods here. on may 17 we will go back to charles de gaulle for the return flight. not sure how i am feeling about that yet.....
i hope to see all of you before too long. this summer i'll be in baraboo, but you never know when i'll skip the country again. so come visit!! i'd love to take some friendly bike rides!
pura vida,
molly
i have been back in france for 2.5 weeks already! after one day of laundry and relaxation i rented a car with holly and sadie.
day 1: we visited blois, chambord and a campground where sadie used to work
day 2: we drove around the perche! discovering the countryside around nogent.
day 3: we drove to mont st michel, st malo, and rennes. we went out with some friends in rennes -- we had to take advantage of a night in a big city!
day 4: we visited the rennes farmers market and drove back to nogent.
then we worked for 1.5 weeks. yep, yesterday was my last day of work. today we are celebrating may day with the french people who aren't working. national holiday, you know?! today i move out of the foyer, tomorrow i go to paris, this weekend i will be in dublin (visiting petr, marija, and adam), then i will finally go back to aix-en-provence (where i went to school - aka played hard for a year - three years ago), then i'll visit sabrina and antonin in lyon. finally, i'll head back up to paris to see the city of love for the last time. with my love, sheena. sunday, may 11, i will meet my parents at charles de gaulle and we will spend a week together in france!!! yay! we will visit the loire valley chateaux, the perche region, brittany and normandy. they will meet some of my friends and try some of my favorite foods here. on may 17 we will go back to charles de gaulle for the return flight. not sure how i am feeling about that yet.....
i hope to see all of you before too long. this summer i'll be in baraboo, but you never know when i'll skip the country again. so come visit!! i'd love to take some friendly bike rides!
pura vida,
molly
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