I asked Jaqueline if I could see her before work one day this week because I won't see her again before I leave here. So this morning she picked me up at 9am to go shopping in the city. She took me around to shops and pointed out to me the shoes and colors that are "mode" and in style this season. We didn't spend any money, we just had fun hanging out and looking at everything. When we first got the city she asked me what I ate for breakfast, and not being an early riser, I couldn't lie, so I said nothing. She walked about five steps to the next patisserie and bought me this pastry with apples inside. She's funny because she'll see a piece of clothing that sleeves and fitted and say, "ooh-that's very pretty-but for the young like you, not for me and this part under my arms!" After shopping she took me to her house and made me lunch. (This is a photo of her dancing while making lunch-isn't she cute? She told me she loves to salsa and mambo and that she has a radio in the kitchen, her bedroom and her bathroom. I didn't believe her at first, but she's 72!) For lunch...oh boy...she prepared confit de canard (yep, mommie, you missed the duck) with salad (she made the dressing too), sliced tomatoes, and baguette with foie gras. But even before this I had a Corsican apertif, nuts and apples.  

Oh yeah-then we sat and talked over coffee and a pastries:) I will surely miss her-and she said she was "tres, tres triste(sad)" after our afternoon together. This is one lady who was a God send and I will be keeping in touch with her. 

"C'est cool! 

One of the posts at the entrance of her house 

the three monkeys who came to visit me:) 

me and carly at the arc de triomphe-together again! 

I made my mom jump into this tree for a pic, and then when she looked up, we found out.... 

it was an olive tree!  

I call it "Self puddle portrait" 

My last time at church-yummy snacks like quiche and little asparagus sandwhiches and oranges with cinnamon....and sangria! yeah, go figure:) i was surprised at first, but then i thought, good for them-it's not a deadly sin-i probably just feel like it's taboo from going to church in the bible belt of america:) though that's not a slam--i love my church at home and 7:22 and can't wait to worship with you guys again!!!  

The very nice, young family that took me out to lunch for my last sunday and then an afternoon out at an equestrian competition-and ta da another fun and surprising sunday:) 

jump! before they started the competition they played this dramatic, braveheart-like music and gave the announcement that only five minutes remained for warming up. but with the music going over the loud speaker the whole time i can't imagine it was very calming right before a competition. can horses get nervous? 

clip clop clip clop... horsies! 

found this dog at the equestrian competition today--quiz time caron...tell me all about him! thought about you when i saw him, so i had to take a pic for you and sintos:) 

when the kids see jaqueline, they say "bon bon, bon bon"-she makes them give her kisses first, though:) she's grandmother to all-especially me, picking me up for church every sunday and always calling to see how my work is going! 

i was walking along and then had to back track for a second to take this picture-the people i were with were like, "what in the world are you taking a picture of?" i don't think they see the fun of it:) that's ok, it's really just for me, i guess-and don too-he's my ignition reflection-lovin' friend 

So I took a picture right outside the bus stop, so while i was walking on the bus i was closing the camera. the bus driver looked a little disappointed and said, "oh, i thought you wanted to take a picture of me" (but in french, of course). he was really funny, and i was travelling to his last stop (where he takes a five minute break before starting the line again)--so I said, "ok, ready for our photo?" he had a lot of fun with it and was really excited to learn that the "people of america" were going to see his photo. he had a rock star moment:) 

I'm doing it. I'm driving the bus. Line 16, watch out! 

Saturday I had to work all day:( So when I finished, I had to go into town because the sun was shining. And Saturday in the centre is always full of surprises. This one was no disappointment! Found a funky band to listen to at Comedie:) 

Banjo and trumpet section--JSU people, these outfits scream Hardcorps, non? 

The low brass section-get a load of that sousa, carly! 

I don't think I've mentioned, but Darina left to go back to Germany the weekend my fam arrived here. Luckily they got to meet each other, but it was good for me that my mom, carly and katie came, because otherwise i would have been sad the whole day she left us. We got along well and she was the one who would take me to the beach on sunday afternoons to sit on the rocks and chat. The photo here is our new roommate and stagiaire, Guadaloupe, or just Guada. She's from Spain, so now I have plenty of places to visit with places I can stay:) She's very nice and is adjusting well to the hard life of the lowly stagiaire. 

A giant orange with carrots sticking out of it greeted me at comedie saturday afternoon... 

Decorations in the fountain for the fruits and veggie festival! There were several lillie pads full of different kinds of foods, all "good for life" (that's what the signs told me) 

Comedie on Saturday-apparently along with the regular market we were having a fruits and veggies celebration-the sign beside me says "the vegetables and the fruits-our friends for life"