The End is Drawing Near...

My time in France is drawing to a close!  I cannot say that I am ready to leave France, but I am ready to get home and see my loved ones and roll around and bask in all things American and Louisianian.  So, I'm going to try to do a quick recap of the last month or so and then make a list of everything that's on my to-do list for when I get home.

My contract finished April 30 but thanks to the wonderful French system of awesome vacation time, I got to spend the last two weeks of April in Paris and Barcelona getting paid to vacation.  Ah the sweet life!  I moved my things into Felix's apartment and spent a week hosting a different American friend every night and then took off with David to Barcelona.

Barcelona was such an impressive city.  For one, they love parks.  So much of our time was spent wandering around aimlessly and stumbling into one impressive park after another.  The city is very interesting because of the fact that there are very tall buildings but instead of having rows upon rows of these monstrous towers, they kind of just pop up all over the place.  The city is surrounded by mountains and the sea so it's really very beautiful and made for wonderfully comfortable weather.  My favorite part of Barcelona was by far all of the Gaudi architecture.  Sagrada Familia is just the most beautiful building I've ever seen and the only church I've ever been in that took my breath away. (Hopefully I will upload some photos before too long.)

Upon arriving back in France I said my goodbyes to David and that marked the last time I would see my American friends (minus a brief run-in with Shelby in which I handed her a CD of all the BEST (but really the worst) and BEST (really the best!) music from our time here in France).  I was very sad to see them all go, but really delighted to know that they have all made it home safe and are enjoying Americaland.

Luckily my mother and stepfather arrived the day after David went back to Valenciennes and I had something new to keep me occupied.  The day they arrived was a crazy day of traveling to and fro across the city to pick up the rents from the airport, drop off a bag at the hotel, get to the train station, eat, and have them hop on the train with only a moment to spare!  (The doors to the train closed immediately after I hopped off the train!)  Paris wasn't made for anyone with a physical disability and it showed.  I think John was quite surprised by the number of stairs he had to climb.  Luckily for them I was there to lead the way and provide the manpower (suitcases are heavy!).

They spent a weekend in Taizé, a religious community that John had wanted to visit.  I think they had a good time, but it was probably not the sort of really relaxing stay you would want after getting off an international plane.  Luckily they came to Paris and had very nice accommodations and were able to relax a bit, but not for too long! We visited Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the Rodin Museum, Versailles, the Louvre and they even went out to Sacre Coeur without me!

We left on Thursday to go to Valenciennes and were welcomed with open arms and mountains of food!  The few days we spent in Valenciennes were somewhat of a blur but I remember Annabelle spoke more English than I've ever heard her speak before, we all ate more than our weights in food, there was a sort of hodgepodge of English and French at any given meal, and general amusement and enjoyment.

Sunday we left Valenciennes, went to Lille, and took a bus to Amsterdam!  We spent three nights there and in the two days we were there we saw the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, ate traditional Dutch food, and the rents got to go to Electro Lady Land (if you see them, make sure to ask them about that!).  Sadly though, all good things must come to an end and their first European vacation came to an end Wednesday morning.

I am now back in Paris enjoying the cool weather, bright sun shining, the company of my darling boyfriend, and possibly Scream 4 tonight!  My father, stepmother and brother arrive a week from Sunday, and I am really excited, but for now I just need to take it easy!  All this travel has got me pooped!  So I am spending this evening blogging, watching tv, cleaning, and working on my resume.  C'est la vie!  Soon la vie will be very different.  Soon I'll be coming home to my many loved ones.

Now, I will conclude this post by listing, in order, what I am looking forward to most upon arrival:

1. Seeing my darling nephew Kenny!  I just saw him at Christmas but from what everyone has told me he is really growing and changing and I just can't wait to see that dude and give him a big ole hug!
2. Seeing my grandma!  One on one time with grandma is the BEST!  She is such a delightful woman and I love seeing her blossom into the independent woman she is!
3. My brother Kenny and Sister-in-law Melissa!  It will be just before Kenny's 30th birthday and I will be happy to be able to wish him happy birthday (even if I'm a few days early) to his face.  And Melissa!  She is oh so pregnant with baby Reese!  I didn't get to spend much time with her while she was preggers with Kenny so I'm really looking forward to having a preliminary meeting with Reese.  Maybe she'll even kick for me!
4. MY FRIENDS!!! (continued with number 5)
5. Brunch at the Chimes with said friends June 5.  I am going to order 3483249 delicious things and 30294293 delicious Abita beers and I'll be able to die happy.  I cannot wait to see my family of friends and hug and love on each one of them!  If you are a friend you are invited!  Food and friends and family and lovin!
6. Who cares after 1-5?  I mean family, friends, and food/beer, what else could a girl ask for?

Be back in Americaland June 1 and back in BR at the latest on June 5.  See y'all then!