Tuesday, February 16th

Stayed up rather late again last night. Just three of us in the bed tonight. Got back to my room around 1:30pm. Tried to use my key to open room 205. FYI, I live in 207. Perhaps I'm not getting enough sleep.

Anyway, tonight is pancake party back a Charlotte's complete with masks for Mardi Gras. Amanda and I are going to make out first attempt at potato pancakes. So this morning/mostly afternoon, Saoule and I clenaed up the house and I'll be back there at 6:00 to start crepes/flap

jacks/potato pancakes.

It's been overcast and warm today. So nice.

What I learned:

Don't try and open strangers' doors with your room key

There's a huge difference between 3 and 4 people when it comes to sleeping in a bed

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Tuesday Night

Mardi Gras party!

Pancakes and Masks (face paint)!

lithuanian, hootinanny, and crepes

people: minnisota, isaac, melissa, mike, emma, family, helene, ando,

movie: hot fuzz

charlotte did isaac's swirly makeup

dancing

80's workout Rocky from Saule

learned some west coast from Mike

Charlie ended up with tears, french mustache, and a harliquinn diamond

Monday, February 15th

We all finally fell asleep around 7am. Charlotte, Amanda, Saule and I all piled into one bed. Got up around noon, cleaned up, came back to Cuque. Did some hand washing. Went back to Charlottes for dinner and movie. Megavideo takes forever to load, so we alternated between whatever was loaded on The Man Who Knew Too Little and Simpsons episodes.

What I learned:

Simpsons in French sounds more like German

France's version of the hot dog is called a Knack. And you do pronounce the K.

Sunday, February 14th

Best Anti-Valentines Day ever. I started out in a funk this morning. The party was cancelled, my finacee was 2,000 miled away.

Went to church and found out the party just got moved to a different location. After church we got Chawarma. The plan was take it to Isaacs house and eat before moving the party chez Charlotte. Isaac's was stuck babysitting his younger sisters. The oldest is hillarious, by the way.

We ate our dinner, then played the human knot game. The first few rounds were incredibly easy. The last round took us about 40 minutes to undo. I think I spent most of the time on the floor. We all agreed the bast word to describe it was "epic". Michelle from la fac de theologie joined us. It was the first time he'd met most the people. And there's not a whole lot of personal space in the knot games.

We decided to stay at Isaacs and watcha movie. After much debate, we ended up with Push. Definately worth watching at least once. Just ignore that it's Dakota Fanning.

Amanda lives out of town and Charlie and Saoule are staying with Charlotte for the week, so around 2am we all headed back. I was going to return to Cuque, but ended up going to Charlotte's. Better choice by far. Watched a movie, then stayed up talking.

What I learned:

No matter how hard you try, the owner will still make fun of the was you say Chawarma.

Frace internet does not support: Pandora, Fox.com, or Netflix

Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th

No use separating the days. All I've done is sleep and watch movies. It's been too cold to go out and do anything. And my friends who live here in the dorm are all on trips because there are no classes this week. Not sure what I'll be up to. I think Amanda and I might go explore Aix if it warms up a bit.

I left the room to make food in the kitchen, but that's as far as I have gotten. I've got the crepe flip down pretty well, if I do say so myself. :)

What I learned:

Sink is big enought to wash a sweater, but not quite jeans

Thursday, Fubruary 11th

On the third trip to the International Office, Amira's assistant was there. None of them know why I need to get this form filled out or where to find the information to complete it. And Amira left for something. So after 3 days of visiting offices, they had me sign the bottom of the blank page and leave it on Amira's desk.

C'est la vie, c'est les francais.

I think I'm going to be a much more chill person after a semester here. (Jason, France says you're welcome.)

Classes are over and it's officially vacation!

What I've learned:

There is no such thing as "normal operating hours" in France. If you think you may ever need to go to an office again, write down where they are open. That will give you a 75% chance of finding them.

Wednesday, February 10th

Right paper, possibly right photo. I'm praying my cell phone dosen't ring.

Still trying to get that form filled out. So glad there is a wine tasting tonight.

--

Wine tasting was so much fun. Learned hour to smell, taste and evaluate wine. Very fun and very relaxed. Hillary, our wine expert, is such a lovely, bubbly person.

One wine was very smokey tasting and all Isaac and I could think of was how good it would taste with a medium-rare steak from the grill.

What I learned:

-French wines are labled by region, not by the type of grape used.

-Most are a combination of the grapes from the region. It's rare to find a wine that isn't a blend.

-The top 3 roses in the world are made in/around Aix.

-Alcohol content is lower in most French wines than in American wines

-Rose is made from red grapes, but the skins were only left in for a few days to give it the pink color

-Blush is leftover white wine that have had red skins soaked in it (aka not good)

-Box wine in France is as good as the bottled wine

-wine + pears = mmmmm

-restaurants in France usually have different sized bottles of wine you can order

What we tasted:

Domaine du Paternel (Cassis)

--white wine

--not to dry, not too sweet

Chateau du Seuil (Coteaux d'Aix-Pce)

--rose

--very fresh tasting, common summer drink

Domaine Coillot (Marsannay-Bourgogne)

--red, smokey wine

--steak cravings

Domaine de Cassan (Gigondas-Rhone)

--dark red wine

--really really good with dark chocolate

Domaine des Bernardins (Beaumes de Venise-Phone)

--possible the sweetest wine I've ever tasted

--can't get it in the US

--most vineyards are pre-sold out of it for the next 3 years

Tuesday, February 9th

Right paper, wrong photo. And a new form! Yipee! (a.k.a. shoot me now)

Made it to Monoprix for notebooks. Monoprix is basically a more expensive Target. It's the only store I've found that is all-encompassing. There isn't really anything else like Target or Shopko or Fred Meyers here. And I bought a mug so I can make tea!

Monday, February 8th

Wrong paper, wrong photo.

Made it to Ed this time. Picked up tomatoes and lettuce for Community Group hamburger night. Group was amazing, of course. Still making our way through Luke. No group next week, Bill and his family are going to Paris to look for appartments/houses. They are most likey moving there this summer. So we are reading Ephesians on out own this week.

A new girl, Melissa, came this week and we chatted quite a bit. She asked if I was Bill's daughter and was surprised when I said I'd only been in Aix for a few weeks. She said I looked so comfortable here. It made me appreicate even more ( I didn't think it was possible) how wonderful ICCP is, and how welcoming Bill and his famiy are. God has taken such good care of me. And this church is difinately on the right track.

Sunday, February 7th

I was on my way to Ed to do some grocery shopping when I came across a large group of people lead by Minnisota and Charlie. They had just come from the French morning service and were on their way to La Fac de Theologie for an English Lunch. An American from the church invited all the English speakers to la fac for lunch. Got to spend tome before lunch getting to know the Minnisota girls a bit more. Michel, who studies at la fac gave us a tour of the place. It's about 5

minutes from my dorm. I pass it on my way to school.

After a delicous lunch of spaghetti, we all walked down to an incredibly beautiful park. It's a ways down, but its set up around a river. You come off the highway and drop down into this beautiful forest. I think it will be a nice retreat when I start to miss home.

There are lots of pics on Facebook. It's been suck a beautiful day. Aix finally proved it was part of the south of France. Keep it up!

Didn't make it back in time forn chuch. I didn't want to start back before everyone else because of my amazing talent for getting lost. I waited on a bench on the Co-Bo for church to get out and got hit on my a Frenchman. He came up and asked if I was Russian. Pretty good opening line. We chatted for a while and I turned down the invitation to go have coffe. And the one to go have tea. Or wine. Or beer. (If he thought I was Russian, you think he would have offered Vodka.)

It was nice to know I can carry on conversation outside of the dorms and the grocery store.

Met everyone for Chwarma after church. Someone told the guy that "sauce blanche" was "white sauce" in English and it made his day. He thought it was hillarious.

Rain, Rain, Rain

First real dinner I made for myself in my little room

Pretty Leaf

Student modern fairy tale cartoons. Mostly involving lots of blood.

Beautiful Aix en Provence

The last photo is the view out my 5th floor window. The others are looking out the other side of the dorm.

Room Pics

Empty Room

Peach scented toilette paper. What more could you want?
Room!

Baby Tiger Chilling out

Friday, February 5th

Updates from the Breakfast Club make me so happy! (It's two Rs. H-O-R-R-I-...yeah.....BURN!) Love you Lisa and Lydia!

It's absolutely pouring rain outside. I need to go to the store to get my costume for Charlotte's party tonight, but I don't want to get completely soaked on the way.

I can't post what my costume is until tomorrow though, because at the moment, only Charlotte knows.

Oh, the sun just came out a bit. Come on sun! Hopeefully it will stay out for the day. Charlotte is so excited about tonight, she can barely contain herself.

Ah the sound of accordian in the morning. That song, that same song..............one more time! Pictures on their way.

Thursday, February 4th

Gota message that it is Siblings Week on facebook. Relized I ony have 3 pics of Lenny and me in my facbook albums. On is the two of us on opposite sides of the kitchen, in one I am dead and he is Jesus, and the thrid is the two of us at Universal Studios on Lenny's high school graduation trip. Totally went with the third. Snap, I used to have muscels.

Movie party at Karri's! Walked in the door and was greeted my an aorabl kitteh! She had a projector set up and kitty watched the movie intently for a while. Isaac and I tried very hard to get everyone to watch Zoolander, but failed. 500 Days of Summer was good, but I'm really not a huge fan of watching people be adorable and in love right now. Sigh.

Wedneyday, February 3rd

Skype is so infuriating. And by skype I mean this internet. There's a double charge on my accout as well. This is going to be fun to work out in French.

And I spent 3 hours trying to pay the housing deposit. Woman who works the from gate/housing office is extremely bi-polar and frightening.

Charlotte sent me this. It's amazing. Please enjoy:

------------------------------------------------

Hi All

Thought you had better be aware!

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Ruddy Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Ruddy Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

The Scots raised their threat level from "P***** Off" to "Let's get the rotten scunners" They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror Alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country's military capability. It's not only the French who are on a Heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels Remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher Levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile, and as usual, are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their Allies, just in case.

And in the Southern hemisphere...

New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defence cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty Teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which Is "Jeez, I hope Australia will come and rescue us".

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!', "I Think we'll need to cancel the Barbie this weekend" and "The Barbie is Cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final Escalation level.

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Tuesday, February 2nd

Facebook Status "Kimberly Kristen Calkins lives in between a girl who does nothing but sing along to Japaneses pop at all hours of the day and night and a girl who is learning how to play the accordion. Does this sound like a sitcom setup to anyone else?"

Beav's look alike pics are making me so happy!. Sealab quotes and his pictures are rediculouly accurate.

Class schedule has prevented me from going shopping at le solds with Charlotte. In France, the month of January/first week of February is Sale month. All the store so their massive sales. I really need a pair of boots (especially with the predicted rain) and would rather pay 20euro than 44euro for them. And, knowing me, I wouldn't pay 44euro for them. I'd just slosh around in my little flats.

Prediction:

Neither pair of flats will make it out of France alive.

Monday, February 1st

Made it within one block of the Cathedral, then took a wrong turn. Eventually did make it there, and Charlie was looking all over for me. He's a good guy. Buy the time we made it to Life Group, Charlie had gotten bumped by a car on his bike and I had lost a glove. Very adventurous.

Made to Chinois Life Group. Such amazing home-made Chinese food. I don't know how Bill does it. Bill and his wife are such amazing people. Chrlie is staying with them this week until they have other guests coming. We are making our way thorugh the book of Luke. I think Monday night is my favorite night of the week. Next week we are having something completely American, it's almost funny: Hamburgers. We are all bringing pieces: lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, potato salad, etc. It's going to be amazing.

It's look-alike week on facebook, and the only one I had found was Bette Davis, which wasn't perfect. I was sitting and talking to Emma when a noticed a group around Bill all staring at me. Apparently I look like Emily from Friends. I've never seen Friends, but the picture does have and uncanny resemblance.

Sunday, January 31st

Great service tonight. Music included the runner's song from the Passion Mime and He Reigns by newsboys. Lots of activities coming up with the chuch. The sermons are posted online too. If you're interested it's www.iccpaix.com.

Went and had ?chawarma? I love France! But seriously, they put french fries on everything.

Sat, Jan 30th

totally just chilled out. kind of worried about the whole money thing though. made myself a little diner wich turned out quite well if I do say so myself

so cold here. come on South of France! Do your thing! Very much missing NerdFest

Fri. January 29th

Finally met Amira. She's very sweet. She set me up with the SCEFEE office so I could complete the written exam. Not nearly as daunting as is sounds. I have a class schedule now too. No classes Monday or Friday!

Wednesday, Janurary 27th

I helped Shelley check out at 7am this morning. Really sad to see her go, but Adam is waiting impatienly for her.

My sense of direction today has been much better. I found both the university building and the International office. I know, sweet, huh? I was very nervous for the oral and written exam, but it wasn't as painful as I though it would be. This spoken part went pretty well. Definately had to ask her to repeat a few things but c'est la vie. I was about to take the written when she asked for my student ID card. I don't have one. That was the mass of confusing paperwork yesterday that is still unfinished. She didn't understand that I couldn't just go buy one like the rest of the students. So she didn't let me take the test. No test means no placement, which means to class schedule, which means no classes. So, yeah. And I'm trying to work out the 200 euro fee. Why on earth do I need French social security? I already have 2 different type of international insurance! Anyway, hopefully Sue e-mails me back soon. If all else fails, I'll just pay the fee. Unfortunately I have to go to the post office to do it which is in the middle of town. I really miss Bubblewrap.

Charlie and I headed to Centre Ville today and had crepes. They serve hot-dog crepes here. No joke. All the French students I've talked to love them. Yep, this is where I live. While waiting for the crepes, we ran into Shelley's professor here in Aix.

Charlie is staying with Bill for the next week, so I headed home alone for the first time. I am so proud of myself, I didn't even get lost!

I'm supposed to go shopping with Charlotte tomorrow, but I don't know with all this crazy paperwork. Ug. Completely rediculous.

I haven't met my neighbors yet, but I do know that one is learning to play the accordian.

Nap time. Then continue with the to-do list.

What I learned:

The French have no problem with co-ed bathrooms

A stupid 3 by 4 inch pice of plastic can ruin your life

Jason's Whitworth sweater is the best thing in the world

Avacados by my window make me happy (especially when they explode and drown all the fishy ghosts)