sorry

I am sorry my blog updates have been quite sparse these days due to the death of my Mac.

Happy up here

And well... I am in quaint and adorable Walldorf, Germany.

I am not going to lie... but I never really had a desire to visit Germany. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any negative feelings against Germany, just no strong attraction.

I am so glad I came! How have I not put this country on my places to see before I die list?

Robert and I attended his military ball last weekend and it was so fun. I had to borrow a dress from his friend, because of France's lack of selection of fancywear this time of year. It is such a pity I didn't think to pack that prom dress of mine.

I will be spending the weekdays alone while Robert is at work. Yesterday, was quite an adventure.

How I locked myself on the porch is still a mystery to everyone.
9h25: I stepped outside to enjoy the crisp air
9h45: I attempted to open the door, but it wouldn't open.
° Robert has the special sliding doors that can only be opened and locked from the inside.
10h00: Still thinking it was warm outside, I sat on the lounge chair and let the sun caress my face. Robert said he would be back for lunch break... how long was that... one hour away?

I paced around the patio, traipsed myself on the lounge chair as if I meant to rest on the icy furniture in my pajamas, and even began to do some stretches to avoid drawing too much attention to myself. Up the stairs and down the stairs, I watched some movers gather furniture from the upstairs apartment. Maybe I should have knocked on the door to get their help. I blame whatever pride I have on this. Stupid me.

A few church bell chimes later, I realized Robert would not be coming home for lunch. I stopped keeping track of time, because I did not have a phone. I decided it was time to break into the apartment. I had two doors to chose from: one that linked to the stairs for the main part of the apartment complex and the one that opened from the living room of Robert's apartment.

The door for Robert's apartment was open partly- mainlyfrom the top, so I tried to shove my hand through the crack. FAIL
My second idea was to take my scarf and make a link to attach to the door handle. Bad idea. This just shut the door even more.
I was so pathedic. Finally, a woman poked her head out the window and said something in German. I do not speak a word in German, so I looked confused and she must have realized at this point that I was American. Her husband jumped out the other window and asked, "help?"

I nodded and he disappeared. Then his wife made her hand into a fist and held it to her ear... "CALL HOUSEMASTER!" she shouted.

Finally, the landlord came and opened the door for me but of course, Robert's apartment was the only one he did not have the spare key, so he had to call the other landlord who was 3 hours away.

I sat on the steps facing Robert's apartment, glaring and scowling at the door.

Finally an older woman approached me and invited me to her house. She spoke no English. This was fun. She gave me a blanket and offered me coffee. Her friend who spoke English showed up and translated. It was about 15h00 when she offered me a glass of champagne. LOVE!!!! The two woman were so friendly and so eager to help me. hospitality at its best.

After a tour of her apartment and the complete history of all of her antiques, the other landlord arrived and let me into the apartment.

Be.A.Ritz

The scenery flashed chateaux and vineyards like a silent movie through the window of my TGV. The prettiest sight I could ever imagine. It was like a post card. How absolutely delicious. I am so lucky.

Nadia and I jumped on a train to Biarritz to spend the weekend with some other language assistants. It seemed like the perfect time to get out and do some exploring of the region. We couldn't have had more luck (good luck or bad).

So we arrive to the glamorous city/town called Biarritz. Just some background on this place.

Spain is Biarritz's neighbor... lend me some sugar!
Surfing is a huge sport here- the popularity dates back to the 50's here
Sand- I love the beach... LOVE... can you tell I have been beach deprived?

And so the weather wasn't as pretty as we could have imagined for the beach, but we were still happy to be in a new setting.

Greets and meets
So we settled in at the apartment and met about 8 other assistants as we prepared a massive feast of deliciousness and a super slumber party
.
I always find it interesting how living abroad brings the most random people together to form a group of friends. Always unexpected pairings and groupings with very little in common. For us, it was that we were all assistants of some language... not just English, but we had Spanish and German in the mix too.
I really enjoy this interesting melange of people. Its like Chex Mix. miam miam

So on with the night, we left the apartment shortly after dinner to enjoy some karaoke... France style. After living in Korea for a year, I found myself disappointed by the lack of enthusiasm that many of the performers displayed. Their voices were weak and their song selections were pitiful. Someone get me to a noraebang ASAP! I guess it still made for some good entertainment to say the least.

After karaoke, we went to a super chic (and practically vacant) night club and I am so sorry, but I cannot remember the name of this place. To describe the décor, I need you to think of the most 1991 era yacht. White leather furniture, ceurelean blue fluerescent lights gleaming along the ceiling, and a sexy bar.
"This has got to be where the pretty people hang out," I thought to myself.
Unfortunately, we did not stay here very long, because it was too expensive for the average budget of a language assistant and aside from the swanky elderly couple swingy around showing off their best moves, we were the only ones inside.

Off for a walk along the beach. Best idea ever.

Back at home for sleep before our day trip to San Sebastian, Spain... A day trip to Spain!?
Saweet!

So excited.
Off we went the next morning. After a few train changes, we finally arrived. It was awesome to change the frigid gray skies in for a sunny blue warm air... even if I couldn't understand anything that was going on. It was crazy how just a short distance away from Biarritz would feel so different.
The day was great. We walked around the beautiful city, witnessed a demonstration (I love cultural events), walked around the beach and napped on benches.

Later that afternoon, I tried to get money from the ATM. Of course, I forgot to warn my bank about my Spain trip, so they blocked my account after the previous charge I made that morning.

No icecream and back to France.

The following morning, Nadia and I had to run to the train station to get our train on time. Our new friends lived 45 minutes from the train station- on foot... which was practically the only way to get around the city, since public transportation isn't like the Seoul Subway.

Running Running.... we feared we would miss our train, so we begain to run. Clunkity clunk clunk my maroon and rose striped suitcase jumped around on the cobblestone. With nearly 6 minutes until the departure of our train and no tickets, Nadia and I almost began to give up hope. Just then, a car slowed down beside us and a man got out and asked us if we needed a ride to the train station. AHhhh! yes please. We jumped in and he started to explain how he was our guardian angel. He was, but just as we got there, we had no time to purchase our train tickets, so we jumped on the platform and ran into the train reminding ourselves that we could buy the tickets on the train.

Note to self (and anyone reading this who plans to travel in France):
DO NOT BUY TRAIN TICKETS ON THE TRAIN UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY

Instead of paying 16 euros, I paid 32 euros for my train ticket. Doubles.

Back at the Bordeaux train station, I decided to check my email using the free internet from the cafe. I pulled my laptop out of my suitcase and terror struck over my face. My biggest nightmare has really happened! The screen on my laptop is officially done for. At the same time I realized it was a permanent gash along the screen, a random beggar approached me begging for money. Did he really ask for money from me? I must have had a look of crazy on my face, because this man knew to walk away.

And so I will be sans computer for the next 6 months. FML
And this was my lucky unlucky weekend to the beach. So I want to apologize in advance for not updating my blog that often... computer usage will be very rare these days.

Renovated REfurbished... same difference

No big deal.

Just as I was starting to give up on the apartment search, considering options on the streets with the SDF (french: sans domicile fixe= homeless) or the punk à chien (french: dog punks= the younger version perhaps of SDF who use the precious pups to keep them out of jail ) I was incredibly fortunate and found an apartment with another assistant, Nadia.

We get to move in November 1st, because it is still getting renovated- which also means it will be nice and shiny on the inside. I love it's location... commercial center right across from the recreation center... complete with window views into the basketball court. Live sports! Anywho, I am so excited to get settled in.

Things to look forward to:
vacation- I have been cordially invited to go to Germany and attend a very good friend's MP ball. This means dress shopping, which sort of translates into a tad bit of stress.
payday- finally!
new apartment.

dirty jobs: les vendange

After last Sunday, I have a new appreciation for wine and all 100% fruit juice.

I was invited to partake on a very valuable experience. I was staying with my professor's family in the village. Her husband informed me that one of the families in the village owned a chateau and they asked everyone in the village to help them pick grapes. I joined in on this, not really knowing what I was getting myself into.

After lunch, I jumped in the car. The family seemed confused that I didn't change into "special" clothes. For some reason, I saw no reason to change, because I knew I wouldn't get dirty.

Out at the vineyard, we parked the car and met with the rest of the helpers. I was greeted and then handed a basket, some rubber gloves, and some scissors (actually not really scissors but I have forgotten the name-sorry).

After about 20 minutes of clipping, filling, and shouting "Porteur!", I pondered on the idea of this being a full time job. It's fun and not as hard as I had thought.

On second thought, after about 4 hours of 'up-down-up-down,' clip-snip, dump, I had had enough. My back started to hurt and I could feel the burn in my legs.

This was tough work. Grapes were flying everywhere. My legs were spotted with purple and my clothes were in fact dirty.
Finally, we went back to the vineyard owner's house and watched the grapes exit the back of the truck through a tube to be separated from their stems. While we sat around, we drank beer, ate chips, and laughed as the sun began to set.

The Amazing Race. . . or something

I feel France enjoys making life into a game. Not a fun game, like Candyland or Sorry. I would have to say it is a very difficult game- much harder than the game "LIFE." Which I must add- I miss the cereal LIFE. ^^ You must follow all the rules. Sometimes it can feel as though you are playing with a child who decides to add random rules in favor of himself. I get so frustrated here. . . every time!

This morning, I found this amazingly perfect apartment. The price, location, size were all perfect. I called the lady first thing to see if we could view the apartment, but no one answered. I left an awkward message with my best broken French I could use. I sat at McDonald's stalking apartment websites in hopes that something new would appear if I pressed the "refresh" button. I waited for someone to return my call. Of course, no one called back. I called Laura (a friend who is also looking for housing with me) and she met me at McDo for some coffee. I hate to admit this, but McDo has some pretty tasty coffee. ^^ Anywho, so she arrived with her friend, Pascal. This was great, because he was able to translate. We retried the number and finally it started to ring! *excited* He informed the proprietor of the interest in the apartment. Then she wanted to know incomes, job situations, blood types, duration of stay in France, life stories, etc (so maybe not that detailed, but it was a lot of information that she wanted). At this point, it wasn't a question of looking at the apartment- it was "take the apartment before the others!" Who knows if it even has a bathroom. I'm pretty sure it was unfurnished. That's ok, I think furniture is over-rated, anyways. Going for the new zen minimalist look. I am envisioning "Art gallery chic." So while Pascal got a lecture from the proprietor about what she requires, I was imagining this place as my own. It's lovely stained glass window blocks along the door, the red wall, all of its beauty would soon be. . .
Unfortunately, she said in order to look at the apartment, she needs income to be 3 times the amount of the monthly rent. haha... Yes! This is easy! NOT! While I have tons of benefits working for France, this also means I work less, which means I don't make much money. This isn't really a job, its more of an internship. So, even if Laura was in on this, our combined incomes didn't work. Since this was a problem for us, she also requested that we get a garantie. This normally can be done from parents back at home. Laura called her mother but she was away from the house and wasn't able to fax the required information asap. Next option- get another assistant in on this. This situation just gets more and more desperate. So this two bedroom apartment was now going to hold three of us.

sans domicile fixe

I have been wearing the same clothes for the past three days. Fortunately, I thoughtfully considered the fact that there was a possibility that I might be staying in Bordeaux overnight, so I brought one extra outfit, my toothbrush, and my computer. I am sitting in McDo, using their wifi.

Over the past few days, I find myself people watching in the parks. I am not watching the normal strangers who pass by, but rather the homeless people who approach the average passerby and beg for money. Could this be my fate? I could be the crazy drunk man with the raspy voice begging for cigarettes. Oh my! I always wondered how people get to this point and I may soon find out. Ok, so it isn't that bad. I am not sleeping in the parks or beggin yet. ^^ I still haven't found an apartment. Technically, I am homeless. More homeless than I was in Grenoble when I crashed on the couch at the Fairholme house and stayed in a hotel. My money is quickly running out. I am getting very concerned and I have this great fear of checking my bank statement online.

Seriously, I am so frustrated to the point of packing up my bags and going back home or back to Asia. There is a lack of housing in the city. This is a fact. The universities ran out of student housing, so many of the apartment options that would have been available otherwise are inhabited. This leaves me staying on couches of strangers and colleagues. Yesterday, we had an orientation with all of the other assistants in my area. When the directors asked how everyone's housing situation is going, they were surprised to see so many hands fly in the air for being homeless.

My standards are lowering and my budget is getting higher. This is a problem, right? My goal this week is to find an apartment- furnished or unfurnished.

Since we know I am socially retarded at this point, I have managed to offend one of my professors who I was staying with in my attempt to not offend her. Ah yes, cultural barriers. I think it is harder to deal with this when coming from a culture that wasn't your own in the first place and then going to a completely different culture that still isn't your own. It's worse than reverse culture shock, I think. At any rate, it has been a very rough week and a half in Bordeaux. I have had some serious thoughts about why I am here.

If things don't start getting better, I will be making a few life changes to my goals. I know things are supposed to rough to make someone stronger, but seriously, I don't know how much stuff can get thrown at me in a month's time.

At any rate, my friends (old and new) have been an amazing support. Thank you!

Aside from that, if I am homeless, Bordeaux is a beautiful city to be homeless in. ^^ Many beautiful parks, the Garonne, gelato stands everywhere, and tons of people watching. Today, Chandra reminded me that "life is beautiful." So true.