Part 30: The Tourist

Bonjour!

I was quite the tourist today, I was. I loved it too! As I mentioned yesterday I spent the day in Grenoble, seeing it as a complete tourist. I did it so I can learn about the city and locations of everything and so I can really understand it. I think I achieved that today. It was good. I know my way around to all the main spots and some other things that I just stumbled upon and thought were pretty cool.

This morning I got up at 8.30 (deaaath...lol) and got up and ready with a slight essence of excitement following me around. It was good knowing I had something fun to do for the day. Carole dropped me at the station and to avoid any disaster, I quickly run out of the car and checked that my train timing was correct, it was so I gave the thumbs up and I was alone. I then had an instant problem, the train just arrived and I hadnt had time to buy a ticket. The next train wasnt until 1.30pm so I had 2 choices, ring Carole and tell her I missed the train or well.... not buy a ticket. In Australia, I would not be caught dead doing this just because there are ticket inspectors on every bloody train but here, I had a trip the other day with no inspectors so I just prayed I wouldnt get caught (I had the toilets mapped out in my head, just in case!). I jumped on the train and sat down trying to be inconspicious and running awesome spy-like ways I could get out of any run-ins with the law I could encounter. Luckily, no one came and checked so, I scored a free ride to Grenoble, although it was scary the thought of being caught and not knowing wat the punishment was. Never again. Haha.

When I arrived I caught the tram to the Art Museum which was my main reason of going into Grenoble today only to find out it was closed (alongside ALL museums) on Tuesdays. At first I was gutted and was like.. well what the hell do I do now?! Then I realised there was so much I havent seen or wanted to try here, so I had a whole day to just explore blind. I first made my way to the famous ouefs things (the eggs that go up to the bastille) only to find that didnt open for another 20 minutes. I didnt want to wait so, deciding to come back later, went off in search of the 'office du tourisme'. I hunted around and found it quickly. They gave me a map that had all the touristy spots on it and told me things I already knew. The map was good though.

First I went back to the Bastille, but a different, quicker way than before I figured out by fluke! I took the very touristy ouefs up to the Bastille just to say that I had done it. I mean, I'd been to the Bastille, but not the touristy way. I literally went up stood and looked out for about 5 minutes and went to the souvenir shop just to not look like an idiot going straight up and down. Hehe. It was fun though and something I'd been wanting to do since first seeing them, so all is good.

After them, I pondered around some more looking for anything interesting. I caught trams galore and just went everywhere and anywhere I could find. I went back and forth and found some really cool things and some really not that exciting things. By about 12, I had seen everything the tour on the map took me too (but that didnt include everything I wanted to see!) but I was hungry and it was cold so I decided to catch a tram for 20 minutes out to a big shopping plaza. I was surprised I found it so easily, I kinda guessed my way there. I did though, and it was good. I had been at the plaza for half an hour once before (on the day I went rock climbing, if you recall!) but I spent a good 2 hours there just walking around going in and out of shops, again, I didnt buy anything really. I dont know why but I am to scared to buy anything. So silly. Oh! I did by lunch though. I had lunch there.

When I got bored of the plaza I trammed back in to the centre of Grenoble and sat on some steps thinking of what to do next. I decided I wanted to see the Winter Olympics '68 flame bowl up close and the big tower thing that you can see from nearly everywhere thats behind it. It wasnt on my map and I didnt know how to get there, so I just looked at it in the distance and hopped on a random tram that luckily, went straight passed it! I got off as soon as I could and walked up to the bowl and tower which where both quite impressive up close, the tour especially. I took some photos and stayed there for a bit, I really like the tower, I dont know why, its just cool. I made sure to touch them both so i can look back and be like... 'yea, I touched that...' then left.

Next I made my way to the church (which is also called the Notre Dame!) and spent about 20 minutes sitting in there. It wasnt huge or anything, but I liked the feel of the place. It was so comfortable. I walked around for a bit and took photos but then just sat, turned my iPod off and just listened to the quiet chatter of other tourists and a faint piano track playing in the background. It was really peaceful. Eventually though, I left and the wondered what to do next,

I still had about an hour and by now, I had seen everything Ithought I wanted to see. I then just walked around until I ended up in some spot that I didnt really think of visiting, the old part of Grenoble. I didnt see it all of it, I just kinda went on the outskirts and admired it After, I went in search of a specific shop that I went to once, but I could remember for the life of me where it was. I didnt find it in the end but the journey bought me some very attractive headturners (objects AND people) that made me smile the whole time. Eventually it was time to go. I felt like I had done enough for the day and its good because I still have the museums for a free rainy day!

The train trip home was so good too! (one, I was relaxed because I bought a ticket! I am such a rebel!) I sat down and called Carole to let her know to pick me up soon and because I said it in English, the girl I was sitting next to became interested in me. She couldnt speak English and so we spent the entire train trip just chatting in French. What was so good though is that it was so natural and fun and it was just a normal conversation. We were talking about what we do, why I was in France etc. she is a 20yo biology student at Uni who can speak Italian. Oh, and she commented that I have good french and it was impressive. I was pretty chuffed haha. I was sad to leave the train not knowing her name but whoever she was, she was pretty awesome. Anyway, so that put me in a good mood as well.

I met Carole at Goncelin station and chatted about my day and because I had been doing it, I did so in French. When we got back to SMd'A it was just about 6 we picked up Tim then went home then I chucked my stuff upstairs and run over to Vincents place, I had English with Antoine. English went well we were going over 6 irregular verbs helping him commit them to memory. Chya... We did translations and such as well... I hope I am helping and not confusing him more... haha. I need more of a plan.

Back at home it was tea (dinner!) time. Then I came up and played around on the net and typed this. I am doing it earlyish today I dont think the day is over, but all I can imagine myself doing is computing and tv-ing. Oh! I am also in a good OMG COUCHSURFING IS AWESOME mood. I cant wait to give it a crack. I have so many new plans I can make now! Time is now the only problem, my lack there of! Amazing.

Oh, and my inablity to be spontaneous.

Anyway, thats all! Toodles!

(good day today! :) )

Photos?

(Me infront of the tour perret! :D It was built in 1925 and is 83m tall. Built for some touristy stuff)


(The 1968 Winter olympic Games bowl and the tower in the background. They look so good together)


(inside the church, sorry its a terrible photo and doesnt do it justice)




(A statue I like. Its a person [sorry, I forget who!] its pretty big and quite cool)

(inside the egg looking half down at another one, just to show I was in there!)

Part 29: A bit different

So, I thought I'd be a bit different today and do a comic strip of my day. Obviously, theres not as much detail, but it took quie a while to draw! Sorry, its really little the blog doesnt make it biger and I didnt think of it.

Strip 1: so, it was a beautiful day in SMdA, the sun was shining and the birds were singing...

Strip 2: but I stayed inside like a crazy person (butterfly is saying 'Nobody expects 'the butterfly')

Strip 3: I spent the day on skype!

Strip4: Planning a trip to ITALY :O

Strip 5: Teaching piano to a kid with a broken arm

Strip 6: and then watching smallville. What a day. hahaha. I love smallville / its about superman as a kid but its too hard to draw

There you go. Sorry, its not detailed, but much more fun for me and something just to jazz up the blog slightly.

Righto, I'm off to bed, Grenoble tomorrow!

**EDIT**

Click on the picture, it will become much bigger and better! :D

Part 28: How very French

Hello!

I havent got a lot to report really today, I spent up until 1.30 doing nothing so I will start here. I went downstairs upon hearing the summoning bell for lunch time only to find Carole and Benoit standing around with little skewers then, looking down at the table, realising, to my horror, what they were eating. Yes, thats right my friends for an entree to lunch we had snails. Well, actually, the kids dont like snails so they didnt eat any but I figured, 'Hells, I am in France, what else is everyone expecting me to eat? (frogs legs? Baguettes? [I love baguettes!])' and thus, had one. Just the one. It took me two turns to get it in my mouth after stabbing it with a skewer and prying it out of its shell. Staring at this repulsive little greenish blob was not appetising and the first time I put it near my mouth I instantly pulled away. Calming myself down, I mean really, its such a little thing so I should get over it, I shoved it my mouth and swallowed it down. In all honesty, it really didnt taste all that bad, if I didnt know what it was, I wouldnt have been phased. Oh well, eating snails in France = check.

The rest of lunch was good, we had quiche (oh, for god sake, I pray thats right) it was so nice, I even took another slice. I then found out that at 2, the Beyliers - Bastien + me were going to a museum with another family (Fannys friends family, who is a family friend. I went on a bike ride with Carole and the mum the other day, if you recall and next weekend going on a ski weekend with them) The museum was in Grenoble so we drove in. It was cool because in Ste-Marie d'Alloix, snow had been threatening but never really achieving much, but in Grenoble, the city was white and snow was plentiful. Quite stunning actually. We walked up a path thing to the museum and the kids and Benoit were throwing snow at each other the whole time, it was funny and just bizarre to watch. It made me remember how cool where I am is. They would just grab a pile of snow of a parked car or a tree and hurl at at each other while we walked. Benoit chucked a few at me but me and my ninjaness easily avoided them. bwahaha.

The museum itself was okay. I dont know why but I got a massive hit of fatigue. I cannot explain it, it was like I just shut down so it made it hard to concentrate and thus enjoy the museum. I didnt read much because it was in french for the most part and French + fatigue doesnt mix well so I didnt really know much about what I was looking at. Oh well, there was at the beginning, a piano and a guy came along and played it. I didt recognize te piece but it was very pretty and made me just feel inspired to get into it. I want to find that song and learn it, well the start bit anyway everyone left halfway through, so I left too without hearing the end. I was constantly ahead of everyone for the rest of the museum tour because I wasnt bothering to read anything. At one point I did sit to watch the TV but promptly closed my eyes and nearly dozed off. Luckily Carole came and was like, 'um.. before you go to sleep, you should know we're going upstairs if you wanted to join us..' How embarassing! Goodness.

I then learnt the history of skiing, snowboarding and snow boots, which was in English and French and then we left. I enjoyed the walk back to the car because it was snowing really frequently (I cant say heavily because the flakes were so little, but there were so many of them!) and it was cool watching my jumper get covered in white. then wiping it off, then watching it covered again. I love snow. I think I dozed off on the car trip home because I dont really remember it, just waking up at the carport.

Back home, the other family (I am so bad with names!) were staying for a hot drink, so I sat and listened to them chat and tried to wake up enought to focus. It worked, I could catch on for the most part. Later, they said there farewells and I went upstairs and researched 'CouchSurfing' something which the American I am going to Lyon with suggested we try. I think its a great idea, nerve racking but cool Its a network thats been running since 1999 to help travellers. You sign up and then you search for other members who live in the area you're visiting and you stay at their house for as long as you're welcome. They can also, if they choose, act as a tour guide or give you hints about the place. Being local, they'd be very good at it. I think its a great idea and could be very useful for later travels to, well.. anywhere, its all over the world. check it out www.couchsurfing.org

After that, I had dinner which was soup again then played uno with Bastien, with poker chips to add interest. Then, I watched an ep of Season 1 of Smallville (yes, I am very obsessed) I missed season 1 beause when I started watching, they were in season 2, so I want to see what I've missed haha. Gosh. So lame :-)

Right, thats it. Oh! I also got more organised for my Paris trip which I think is actually on the 5th maybe. Haha. Okay, I am ready for everything now, sick of waiting. I have plans. Bring. It. On.

Part 27: Night Hikes and a Few Plans

Hey there, for the hat trick, I am tired whilst writing this. Its getting quite ridiculous my tiredness. I'm a tad over it. Even with the title of the blog, I am still sleepy.

Oh well. Yesterday was a nice day. I spent most of it just relaxing in my room and working on the project. I'm still not 100% on my Geneve, Switzerland trip yet either. I have been researching and I will get there, but the when is whats throwing me out. I dont know how but I am busy enough to not have a proper free day..sorta. Monday-Piano, Tuesday-English, Wednesday-ski(maybe) Thursday-uni Friday, Saturday and Sunday are free but usually something is happening. Oh well, eventually.

At around 3ish Carole went to Lumbin, a small town about 15 minutes from St-Marie d'Alloix. She was going to look at a school for Tim next year there and asked if I wanted to go as well. Considering I'd done ...nothing, I thought I probably should just to get out of the house. Lumbin is just under a well-known paragliding mountain thing and theres a field where there was a guy practicing, so I got dropped off at the field and Carole said she'd be half an hour. I watched the guy fiddle around for a bit then went for a quick ponder, knowing I couldnt stray to far. I got to the meeting point only to be called and hear Carole would be an extra half hour. I then toured around some more but the shops were closed and there was nothing really to do because Lumbin was quite petit so... I just walked around. When the half hour was up Carole rang saying should be another 15 minutes, so I just grabbed my iPod and listened to music until she came and picked me up.

Back home, I didnt do much apart from bum around until 7pm. Carole, Benoit and I were joining a rather largish group of other adults in the town (I think 22 all up) for a night hike over the alps (which turned out to be the ones over Lumbin, so I could look down on where I had been from where I was looking at earlier that day...) followed by dinner. We all met infront of the kiosk and then drove up to the mountains at St-Hilaire du Touvet. Here, we got out of the car and hiked in the freezing cold night. I chatted to a few people, which was one of the first times I felt confident enough in my french to speak it without too much hesitation. Mainly becuase it was dark and I had no idea who I was talking to. I knew they would know who I was, but it made me at least feel anonymous haha. Oh well, everyone understood me and I understood most of the time during the hike. The views were pretty specky too looking down on the lights of the surrounding towns. Quite pretty. I took photos, but honestly they're so bad I dont even think I'll keep them at all let alne post them here.

When the hike finished we all made our way to a restaurant for dinner. There were two choices for dinner: Cheese fondue or steak and chips. Carole had already put in my order and I was having the steak along with only two others. I sat with Anke, Fredericke another couple whose names I forget and, of course, Carole and Benoit. Most of my conversation was with Anke which was good to get to know her a little better. The food was pretty intense haha. We started off with some cracker things and white wine mixed with chestnut stuff, I am officially not a fan of chestnuts. Then another entree thing came which was toast with egg, tomato and pepper it was really nice. Then came the mains. I loved what I had, but I also tried some of the fondue. There were two types, blue cheese and cheese and mushroom. I tried both and actually, surprising even myself, found that I liked them. I ate a few more bits of that when I finished. After that, we had a huge bowl of chips come so that was eaten. Then after that, we had dessert which was out of a few different options, I got some chocolate thing because thats what everyone told me to get. It was good so that was safe. I also tried some of the person (who I am really sorry to have forgotten the name of) who was sitting next to me's dessert which was chestnut flavoured and thus not my favorite. I did forget to mention by this time, there had been a few rounds of alcohol too wine and such. I didnt drink all that much though at all. I did drink a local drink that is made by monks in the area (only two monks in the world know the secret recipe!) but, apparently you're not even meant to drink a tiny bit like a shot... I didnt know this though and it burnt a wee bit. Haha. Then after dessert they bought out teas and coffee which I avoided then they bought out another alcohol shot, but it was straight alcohol and just tasted... like alcohol something I would have to be drunk to drink. I did sip it and feel my throat burn a lot but it made everyone happy so all was well in the end. All in all, the dinner was really a lot better than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed it and although it was tricky, I really tried to speak as much french as I could and I could finally feel some improvement. Win. dinner went for 5 hours and we got home at 1. Then I went to bed.

Today is not much of a story. I woke up this morning at 8am randomly and stared out the ceiling for a while until I fell back asleep and re-awoke at 10.30 and had breakfast. Benoit and Bastien just got back from the dentist, Basiten is getting braces soon. Then Benoit went and played tennis with a friend. After breaky I went upstairs and worked a lot on the project. I dont know how its going. I like it sometimes and dont like it other times. I need to get opinions on it. Anyway...

Later was lunch, we had steak and chips (I was so tempted to point out that I was having food deja-vu but then I remembered the joke about the french not having a word for 'deja vu' then, feeling awkard, didnt say anything... haha) The tennis friend was here for lunch. His name I, too, forget but he lives in L.A and is visiting France... because he's french. Lunch was good to listen to but I didnt say very much at all. It was weird hearing the guy speak french because he had been in the US for so long that his french ahd beganto disentegrate a little and thus would use English words here and there. It was odd.

After lunch, more prject work. Then... what did I do? I dont know. days just go by, dont they? Oh! I texted one of the people from university asking if they want to go to Lyon with me and we're going for a weekend soon. We were going to go next weekend but the Beyliers have their ski trip thing which I am going on, so we have to make a new date, probs the weekend. Oh well, should be good. I cant wait to go to the art museum. They have like actual Picasso and Monet stuff there. I mean, haha, thats cool that I'll be able to say I've seen them haha. Also, the friend drives, so we're going to road trip there which could make it that little bit better I think. I dont know. I'll text her tomorrow and see what she wants to do. Also, if we dont make it this weekend, I will go to Switz on Tuesday I think. I'll just move English to Monday... I'll see. Always with the 'I'll see' I am ready for set plans.

Oh! And I cannot remember if I mentioned but someone who I went to primary school with is in Europe and thanks to facebook we have decided that early April (1st-?) we're going to catch up in Paris! Its not finalized yet dateswise (thus Carole, this is probably the first time you've heard of it...) I really hope it doesnt fall through! Because, I am going to hold out on Paris until then so its new for both of us! Much more exciting. If it falls through, I dont know how I'm ever going to find time to get there! Sighhhhh... I hate plans. I just want it to all be in action.

To end on a positive : As I said, I finally can feel my French improving. I still struggle, but I think my confidence is starting to creep in which most definetly helps.

Well, readers - I hope you enjoyed! Catchya's tomorrow - unless I skip out again (apologies for that, how ridiculous!)

Part 26: The Opposite Side

Wow, I am so sorry, I am really tired and grumpy again AND missed yesterdays blog. Sigh...

Right, so yesterday was what? Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday. I had to get up earlyish yesterday because I was going skiing as a supervisor with Vincents mums, Helene, ski group thing. Its for kids to learn how to ski, Tim is apart of it. We were leaving at 10am from Le Touvet so and we were picking up Charlie and his sister who are apart of it.

We got there and there were two buses and Helene organising everyone. She spotted me and let me know what I was going to do for the day, help organise the kids get ready when we get there, help then get ready when we are getting ready to leave and in the time in between, ski. It was a good deal, a free day skiing and all I had to do was change the shoes of kids who were incapable of doing it themselves and make sure they had helmets.

The day flew by, I started off on the really really easy hills but got bored quickly and then went onto the harder ones. It was good, I was on my own thus took my time, did it my way and then gradually built up speed and such. I am getting heaps better everytime. Its good. After a while, I just finished and was getting ready to go on the chair lift when I met one of the other supervisors who informed me we had an hour to go. I didnt have a watch so she said she would stay with me. It was good talking to her whilst skiing and trying to keep up with her. She also told me that Charlie broke his arm. Yep... poor kid, I dont know how piano will go either...Hmm I guess we'll see.

After skiing was over we walked back to the bus then changed shoes and had lunch. I love taking those shoes off its such s relief. It was snowing while we sat outside eating our lunches, it was quite cool. I sat and chatted to Tim and other kids who were constantly staring at me for having an acent and being new... Oh well.

The trips on the bus were easy, just staring out the window. When I got back home it was about 4.30 I think and Carole said there was some games thing on. I went to see what it was. It was just a bunch of... well... games... It wasnt the most exciting thing for me but Fanny and Tim loved it, so I stayed with them and Carole went off to go work at the library. Eventually, I got over it and told the kids we were going, half an hour later, we were going. We were there for like and hour and a half, that was an achievement. Especially because in the end there were like 2 other people there...

Anyway, back at home I worked on the project then had tea. After tea I did some more work on the project until Carole asked to watch Smallville, of course!! We watched the rest of season 3 and started season 4... Woo! At 12.15-30ish I finally got to bed, knowing full well this morning I had to be up at 6.30am to go catch the bus to university.

I wokr up this morning and nearly died at tiredness haha. 6.30 is an hour/time that should exsist. Anyway, I managed and got ready like a snail carrying a piano in one hand (reference) until 7.50 when I made my way to the bus stop about 3 minute walk away. I waited there with all the school kids, after all, my bus was a school bus as well, standing awkwardly a I recieved more 'who-are-you' stares. The bus arrived late which meant I was now going to be a little bit late for uni. I grumbled my way on to the bus and tried to buy a ticket only to get frustrated because the bus driver was so not good for tourists. I told him I needed to biy a ticket but he couldnt understand my accent properly, so I was making gestures, with the money in my hand pointing to the stupid machine that he needed to punch into, and he still just stood there just staring at me, not saying anything, guessing what I was trying to say anything. What the?! In the end I was like 'TIC-KET' and he was like 'Ohhhh' Friggen tool. Made NO effort *bad mood coming through*

right, the bus trip was okay apart from that until I realised I didnt actually know were to get off exactly. I missed my stop and realised straight after. Then I decided to stay on the bus until I saw the tramline, afterall, I knew which tram I would need to take thus would be able to find it. It took a while for the train to get to a tram by the time it did it was 9.30, school started at 9.00. I then took the tram which took 20 minutes to get to the stop, only to realise I forgot what the stop was. I stayed on for a while then called Carole, then caught the tram back a bit, then forward some then called Carole who told me she couldnt really help becuase she didnt kno where I was, she told me the stop, which I was at, but didnt seem familiar to me. She also told me it was in the 3rd section of the uni's which is a massive block thing... I couldnt find the stupid place for the life of me. Eventually I asked someone who didnt know exactly where but gave me enough direction to find it...

I arrived at 10.15 and then found the class at 10.30. Rage. I was sooo relieved when I saw them all and they recognised me and welcomed me into the class. Class itself was no story, it was just learning French.. At 12.40 though, it was lunch time, we were told to meet the teacher at the musee de Grenoble at 1.50. We were going to the museum today. I decided to hang out with the other Australian (prev. mentioned) and we caught a tram into the main part of the city to find a cafe to eat at. We pondered around and I found a fountain I had been looking for since I first saw a picture of it. It was good. I will add photos, I bet you've missed them, sorry I havent even put them on facebook (I am sooo slack!) We found a nice little cafe/bookshop eventually and had lunch and a glass of red, which I wasnt too fond of. We chatted for the hour until we had to make our way to the museum.

The museum was okay I guess. Wait... no, the museum was great, our tour of the museum wasnt. We had a tour guide who chatted away in French, which was fine, good actually, I helped one of the other people by translating for them which was a good exersise for me. The problem was is she talked waaaaaaaaaay too much about one painting that we only got to see like 4 things all up. It kinda sucked haha. Oh well, I will go back sometime. After the tour finished me and an American who I was translating for wanted to look at something so we left the group for a bit and had a quick tour of the little section we were in. Its okay, we still had 20 minutes to kill at the museum so doing this really didnt matter. If we went with the group we would have sat in chairs talking about what we're doing next week... fun...

After rejoining the group we caught the gossip for next week then uni was finished for the day. I left to go home only to be invited out to a coffee with the Australian and Canadian. It was something to do and I had no rush to get back home (except for my severe tiredness) so we went to a little pub in the main part and sat and had hot drinks... lol it was nice. I dont know how well we get along really, I think the Canadian isnt my biggest fan, but you know what? Who cares!? Haha

Eventually I made my way back to the tram, then train stop and got to Goncelin station where Carole met me with keys in hand. It was my turn to drive. In France. On the right side of the road. On the left side of the car. Mannnn! I was sooo bad, the month off driving didnt help at all. I mean, I got home okay, but I kept veering (get this) too far to the right... It was very odd. It will definetly need some getting used to. Oh well, driving in another country on the opposite side of the road = check!

Now, I havent had tea yet but I can imagine I'll do that then watch Smallville or something. I am getting this done so I dont have to think about it later. I currently feel a bit sick too, my tummy isnt happy : death.

*Yawns*

I hope I get my writing flair back soon. Oh, and my iPod headphones bloody broke. I have no headphones goddamnit.

Photo:

its not the best photo (I had others but Im not in them and I totes ceebs editing atm) and I dont know if I was actually allowed but thats me in the fountain... it was water-free due to the winter.

Part 25: Ceebs, sorry.

As you can tell from the title, I am completely NOT in the mood for typing a blog. My mind is just drained at the moment. I dont really know why, I am just tired and grumpy. I did a fair chunk of my project I am working on, that was fun, but it is draining, so maybe its that...

Anyway, today was not a bad day at all. I woke up and did the morning stuff. I was home alone for a bit whilst Carole was out, so I played the piano too. I was awful haha. When Carole got back home, she had no work to do for the day so we spent a fair wack of time trying to work out a way to improve her website that she has for the new company she is trying to launch. Well, not improve... just make it free. Haha. We did work it out in the end, I think. I mean, its a small business that hasnt been fully launched yet, so she only needs a small site for now. I am going to try and jazz it up and make it match the current website she has.

After that Fanny got home from school for lunch. We ended up watching an episode of Hannah Montanna and then having lunch - hamburgers :D After lunch Fanny did some piano practiced so I stayed and listened in until she had to go back to school.

At around 2.15 a friend of Caroles came for a bike ride. I tagged along because it was a great day and I felt like some exersise. Idiot! Haha, they were going up and the mountains to La Flanchere, which isnt really that far, but it felt like death going up the steep hills. It was pretty though and nice in the weather, so really it was nothing to complain about, especially with the riding back down the hills, that was fun! We toured around for about an hour and a half all up getting back at 4, just in time for Carole to go pick up Tim. I went upstairs and started work on my project.

I then spent the rest of the day socialising with the family, working on the project, eating tea etc.. No Smallville today. Surprised?

Skiing tomorrow.

Bye.

p.s. All is well, just cannot be bothered typing details. At all.

Part 24: Many is for Quantity

March! Its official now. 1 month.

Today was a pretty nice day, I enjoyed it. I awoke this morning to the sound of a vaccum cleaner in the hallway just out my door, the Beyliers house cleaner was here early for some reason. Annoyed, I stayed in my room lying in bed thinking about what I wanted/needed to achieve today. When the vaccuming stopped I got up and had a shower then went down for breakfast. Inspired by the newly cleaned surroundings I went straight back upstairs after and cleaned my room properly. It is now pretty much spotless. Its amazing, I have practically nothing but I still manage to make a massive mess. Ridiculous. After, I also cleaned my bathroom giving everything a good spray and wipe.

In the right mood for it, I did two loads of washing, all my sheets and also all my clothes. It was good. While waiting for my sheets to finish, I went on the computer and chatted to people. When they finished, I hung them out then chucked on the next load. This time, rather than going on my computer I took Caroles advice she gave me this morning. She suggested I spend an hour or two completely English free. Do things that mean I dont have English anywhere, just French. I ended up watching the film 'Amelie' which I had seen before with English sub-titles quite a fair time ago. I watched it this time with no sub-titles and just loved it. Amelie is such a cool film it just makes you smile the whole way. I recommend it to everyone.

When Amelie finished I hung out the other load of washing. By this time it was nearly time to go pick up Tim from the bus stop. Carole asked me to go and pick him because she had to go and collect Fanny and her friends and take them to Handball. Happy to help and do something, I walked and met Tim arriving just on time. We then dawdled home as Tim told me of his day. He also found a stick that was nearly as big as him and took great pleasure in holding it up and showing that it was taller than me, pretending it was a bow and arrow and shooting things and then, in the end, trying to break it. It took a while to get home...

When we did it was about 4.50pm, I had piano with Carantin (Charlie) at 5.15 so I didnt really have time to do much, I sat on the piano here and fiddled around until it was time to go. Fanny was home too because she had a tummy ache and thus didnt go to handball. I put her onto grid 16 (a game - google it) and she played on that and kept yelling out her scores to me, while Tim was dancing to the music I was playing - that was funny, if I stopped he pretended to fall over and die or something, then when I played again, he would spring to life and dance again. Haha.

Eventually 5.15 came so I said toodleoo to the kids and walked over to Carantin and Ankes place. Piano went okay today. I got my message across again, but its really hard to do that. Its a good challenge though. I also think Anke did a great job in helping him practice throughout the week. He remembered everything and did pretty well with his scale. Today I was trying to explain about the rythm in music like the different between a crotchet and a quaver. It is especially hard because I dont really know the french terminology. Oh well. We worked out thanks to the magic of handclapping melodies and many demonstrations. I again explained to Anke what we had done this week. I think all will be well. I also learnt that Anke learnt the flute and recorder for 14 years all up and thus had the musical theory downpat- excellent. After a good but brief chat about that, I had to say my fairwells because today I also had my new English student...

I made my way from Ankes house and walked directly to Vincents place. Today was my first lesson with Vincents younger brother Antoin. Man, can I say, this was just fascinating for me. Having learnt French through textbooks and such, seeing English being learnt in the same way and seeing the textbooks and stuff was just bizarrely familiar but also somewhat confusing. Also, Antoin is very bad at English. Very bad. He confuses things like 'I' with 'she' and stuff like that. So, thats why I am there. A tutor. Its really good for me though as well because by teaching English through French, I am improving my French. So, its perfect. The lesson itself today was quite interesting, I just saw what he was learning and saw what he found the hardest. The weirdest part was trying to explain why we do things in English like why we use 'much' instead of 'many' some times and superlatives. Oh and conjugations of verbs, although much easier in english made me think. Its really quite fascinating. I can see this being pretty good.

Anyway, after the tutoring I went downstairs and chatted to the family for a while and organised a trip to Turin, Italy with Vincent that will likely to be happening in April. Not in March because exams are on. I also organised to go help out with Helenes (Vincents Mum) skiing thing. She runs a skiing course for kids (which Tim is involved in) every Wednesday. She invited me to come along just to try it. Its quite stupid really, I am going as a supervisor but I am not all that good of a skier AND I cant speak French all that well. Haha. Oh well, its free and its a day out :)

Back at the house of the Beyliers, I walked in on the other Smallvillers watching Smallville without me so I had to run upstairs so I didnt see what would happen! When it finished, I came down and chatted about my adventures making an uber conscious effort to really try to do it in French. I did that all day really now that I think about it. I wasnt lying in yesterdays blog! Then we had tea which was this yum pasta stuff then everyone went and did their own things, I watched my missed ep of Smallville. When that finished Carole asked if I wanted to watch the next one..then the next one... then the next one... Such a good show... :P

After, I came and typed this. its now 1am and I am wide awake sitting in a nice clean room listening to some awesome music.

I didnt organise my Switz trip today, I must do that in the next few days.

Catchyas :)