Coffee is a mom's best friend!
Forgot to add that yesterday and today I have had no voice. My raspy, squeaking effort in French is really hard to understand with an American accent, I am sure. Well, yesterday I really wanted some coffee to drink on the long drive to get SA. However, I have never seen a French person drinking anything in the car or walking around with a travel mug or to go cup. Everyone just sits down in restaraunts and drinks coke, hot tea, and espressos around here.

THey laugh at D at work because he brings his travel mug of coffee every morning. I had no idea that this was an American phenomena until I moved here. Anyway I mustered up some courage and asked at a cute cafe in the mall if they had coffee "a emporter" i.e. "to go". Of course the lady had no idea what I was asking for, so after another attempt and a little drama she understood, looked around for some disposable cups and then said "sorry, no." Ok, I knew it was a long shot anyway. However, a taxi cab driver in Paris told us that everyone has coffe to go, so I thought I would give it a try.

I passed by another bar/ cafe with a sign for "drinks to go" so I got excited, stopped, and ordered a cafe creme (that is coffee with milk in it). I forgot that the French always and only drink espressos, so my cafe creme came in this tiny little cup- like the size of the kind your mom used to put in the bathroom for you when you were little- or the size that they gave to us when we were like 2 years old in the nursery for juice. I am serious- we don't even use that small of a size in the nursery anymore! On top of that the lid had no way to drink out of it- just a tiny hole in the top that let steam out and a little coffee too. So I am walking to my car with this tiny little cup. I had to take off the top to drink and my hand is getting coffee all over it from the little hole. Well, that experience didn't last too long because in a few swigs it was gone. So now I am really irritated- where was Starbucks, Atlanta Bread Co., Panera, etc?

I decided that I needed some chocolate- they do have good chocolate here! But, I didn't want any fine, expensive chocolates- just a nice big brownie or muffin. Quickly spotting another cafe/ patisserie, I went in, found a lovely chocolate covered muffin and thought- maybe they have coffee? I was in luck and this time I thought to order a "grande". So this coffe was about one-third the size of a tall at Starbucks and is served with no top in a REALLY flimsy plastic cup that burned my hand. It was at this moment that I asked in French for a "sleeve" for my coffee. Sleeve is not a French word nor am I sure that it is the right English word to use for those nice little things that come on your coffee cup at Barnes and Noble that keep your hand from getting burned. Anyway, the girl gave me a napkin to put around my cup and I managed to make it to the underground parking garage, pay for my parking at the little machine that doesn't speak English with about 10 people in line behind me(they were actually nice and helpful), and make it to my car all without spilling my coffee. Then it only took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to get out of the labrynth garage. Wow, I bet Starbucks would make a fortune if they opened up here. These people are deprived and I am being deprived with them. Coffee, after all, is a mom's best friend.

Today is April 27th. This is my first post in this blog. I think it will a good way to process my days here. My perspective is often too egocentric, I admit. It doesn't help that there are only a few English speakers to talk to around here. I thought I could start a blog so that the friends and family that are interested can keep up with me when you want to. Please offer feedback, I miss communicating with ya'll and I need to keep a healthy perspective on things.

Sometimes I think - "Is this really happening? No, seriously? You're kidding?" But of course, I keep all of these thoughts to myself in an attempt to integrate into this new culture. Why didn't someone tell me that I would still be facing culture shock after 6 months of living here? I think I mistakenly thought that I would be pretty good at crossing cultures- to France after all doesn't seem like that big of a jump- compared to some places I've been. Well, I have found that Proverb that says, "Pride comes before a fall" to be true lately. I feel like I have fallen and I can't get up. :) Remember that commercial?

Well, before you all get tired of reading, let me tell you about my latest cultural challenges- So, I go to French class today- only to find out that we don't have class today. In fact, we don't have class for the next week and a half. Of course the next 2 Mondays are holidays , so of course we don't have class, my teacher explained to me (in French, I might add. She will only talk to me on French.). Why are May 1st and 8th holidays here? I have no idea. "Aren't they holidays in the US?" my teacher asked me. "No," is all I could say in French and then mumbled something about having a holiday on May 30th. Here there are 4 holidays in May- sounds great but not when you need to learn French NOW. It is so frustrating not to be able to communicate.

After having driven for an hour to get there- including dropping SA and all her necessities at the babysitter's, I arrived early (almost a first for me) only to find out that I was there for nothing. What a bummer. In fact this is the 3rd time that this same thing has happened to me. I have no idea why I show up and there is no class. All that to say that I left a little frustrated today and had no way of communicating to figure out why I keep having this problem. That is after all why I am going to the class- to learn French- so I can communicate here!

So, trying to salvage the day and take advantage of having a babysitter and some time to myself, I decided to go where? Of course, shopping! Sounds great - if it were possible to find a parking spot near the store I wanted to go to. I tried unsuccessfully to maneuver into a parallel parking spot that was too small and then decided to give it up. I would shop elsewhere and brave the underground parking lot- wonderful to look at these underground lots- lots prettier than the above ground kind in the States- but they are mazelike labrynths on the inside. The parking spaces are tiny as if they are trying to pack the cars like sardines, and it is scary coming in and out because of the very narrow and steep entrance and exit ramps. And then the parking spaces aren't slanted so it is difficult to get your car in without backing up and back alot. Well, I made it into a speace finally and got to go shopping- a less than enjoyable experience after all the disappointments of the day. Can't wait to tell you about my cofffee to go experience- but I'll save it for another day. Au revoir!