Surreal

Sometimes I have to question is this all really happening, I am in France...this is my life right now or is it? It sounds odd but at times it feels like I am living the family's life not mine. For instance E and S had a dinner party and the guests included a Cyprus representative a Greek consulate representative the director of the Syracuse in Strasbourg program and the respective spouses. It's exciting to meet all these people who are in jobs that I would love to have living these foreign lives that I am sort of living as well. I wonder if I am in over my head.

An interesting opportunity came up and I am going to find out more information this week. I am apprehensive about what the future holds.

8 yrs old!

This is the cake we had for Ir's 8th birthday, it was the best cake I have ever had, fruit with cream soooo delicious!! You are actually supposed to eat the flower petals as well.

Congratulations Josh!

Last night my little brother Josh graduated from high school! I guess he isn't that little anymore but to me he will always be the annoying little tag-a-long brother no matter how old he gets or how many achievements line his door. When I was a senior in high school he was a freshman, I can't believe he is finished already! In the fall he will be attending Iowa Central as a swimmer and begin studying history and teaching...I think? Congrats Josh!

We are French

I went to the train station to buy a ticket to see Alex in London! The girl helping me was my age and super super nice. At the train station there are several different tellers and there is a screen above each window stating which language that specific teller speaks. Well I decided to be brave and go to a French speaking window. Which actually turned out great. Almost the entire conversation was in French, which really isn't too impressive since trains and travel is probably ch. 3 in everyone's French 1 book, but still my life is all about the small victories. Anywhoo this girl was explaining to me that before I get on the train I have to validate my ticket, essentially put it in a little machine that stamps that date and time on the ticket. Where I got lost was when she was trying to explain why I didn't have to do it in London because France is somewhat unique in that requirement. Sensing my confusion and disbelief that France would dare to be the one European country that requires this she laughed and said, "We are French" as if that alone explained and justified all the craziness that foreigners experience here in France.

Roses

The Alsace region is known for its flowers of all kinds. Right now roses are everywhere, it so happens that roses are my favorite flower. Everywhere I go there are roses of all colors and sizes it's stunning. When I was little I would weed my Ipa's rose garden and watch as my grandmother tended to her roses. Of course D being the little sweetheart that she is likes to run by the flowers and rip them off...

Tennis

Thursday was a holiday. Despite France aggressively touting it's separation of church and state it is a country deeply steeped in Catholic tradition. Thursday no school and no work because of "ascension". Friday in most parts of France people still have to work but the mayor of Strasbourg decided that it should also be a holiday. This is the third holiday this month and there is one at the end of the month as well. I suppose it's gets everyone ready for summer...
I went to a pool here in France and it's pretty much the same except speedos are the norm here. I really don't like pools that much a bunch of screaming crazy kids all in one confined area. D, one of her friends and I played tennis on Thursday which was hilarious. D and her friend don't play that well and while I can play decently enough, I certainly can't teach tennis so they were just chasing the ball around the court. People take tennis very seriously here and we were laughing and messing around while the people on the other courts were clearly phenomonal players. But we did have someone offer to give me free lessons. I politely declined :)

Strasbourg in Spring