Le retour and beyond

At 6am, my french dad took me to the train station and bised me goodbye. I was really leaving. A train ride to Lyon, and another to Paris left me to brave the metro system with a ton of luggage to get to the airport by 1330. I couldnt find a place to by a ticket so 'hitchhiked' the metro to Charles De Gaulle. I arrived at the terminal about 30mins before the scheduled liftoff. Sweltering in the heat, i ate my ham sandwich and got one more call from the CORS saying goodbye. Before i got on the plane, i texted all my favs that i was leaving, that i would miss them and would be in touch. Instantly, my phone was overwhelmed with calls and messages. It was hard to say goodbye not knowing when i would see them again. 7.5 hours later, we landed in Philly. My head clogged with mucus was extremely painful during that flight. Then a 4 hour layover and 2.5 hours in another plane found me in Chicago at 930 at night. Once again i had trouble in the bloody airport! I could not find the bus for Madison! I asked a few people for directions, first forming the question in french in my head and after several moments spitting it out in english. Finally after 28 hours of traveling and a 3 hours bus ride, i was at memorial union in madison at 130am. My little sis came to take me back to her place off camus and the next few days are now a blur.
I know a slept a lot, and saw friends. I went out to find a job, see my old boss and soak in the fact i was back in madison. Talking with my friends those first few days was really depressing for me. After the intial 'how was france' question i didnt have much to say. I dont know if it was because i didnt communicate in english for so long, or that i was just so wiped i couldnt think of anything to say but i felt so unattached and distant. These were my beloved that i left behind and used to know so much about and now its like im starting over. Or i just dont care what they want to talk about.....I know i have changed a lot.

The last hurrah....

My final few weeks in france just flew by and now i find myself back in madison surrounded by familiar faces and places. My body is not cooperating at all. here it is 4 days after i arrived and i still sleep all the time and have no energy what so ever. I am also experiencing a bit a culture shock, it seems that my brain has been wiped clean-i dont know how anything works anymore! More about being back later for now lets travel back to my corner in the Alps.

The last 2 weeks of france i was on vacation and so made the most of my free time by traveling. The first weekend i attended a BBQ European style next to the Lake of Annecy. The English teacher from England was celebrating her birthday and the weather was so beautiful. We had sausages and brochettes (kebabs) and despite my unwillingness to swim, we took a dip in the lake. The lake is filled by run off from the mountains and so in april was ice cold. I stuck my foot in and decided not to risk hypothermia. The teacher however didnt agree and pushed me in the lake! That night i hung out with one of the more mature students of mine in Annecy, Yannick. We spent hours talking and walking around the city. The next day, the teacher, joanna drove me to Geneva- about an hour away. I spend 2 days there visiting by my self the international orgs and beautiful parks of the city. The city reminded me of madison and i felt reallycomfortable walking along the lake, hearing several languages and seeing people from all over.
After Geneva, i went to the third largest city in France to Lyon. I met a collegue there and we ate well into the night. The second day i toured the city by visiting the famous museum of fabrics (lyon is known for silk production) and walking through the old part, the university and of course the mall. The most remarkable parts of lyon are the Rhone River and this one street that is lined with bridal shops. Ive never seen so many bride gowns in one place before and so diverse too!
The last weekend, i headed to Chambery, the 'capital' of the region i was in. A good friend, Bruno, met me at the train station and we spent the day together seeing the town and doing one of the Frenchs' favorite pastimes-eating. Chambery has the Castle of the Duke of Savoie in its center, as well as an unforgetable fountain of elephants called 'quatre sans queu' or four without butts = ) i got lots of pics of that. That evening, another good friend of mine, Mickael came by for games and a movie and we stayed up far into the night talking about our futures. For him, military school, and for me....let's just say he wants me back in france. He came to visit me my last day in France as well. I had a wonderful time at my friends house in chambery. We had had one on one english classes all year and as a result we are pretty close. He truly treated me like a princess, i mean i woke up to him making bread and a kiss on each cheek! Does that EVER happen in the states?

The night before i was suppose to leave, i spent with my french family. I met this wonderful group of people at the school where i taught and they really adopted me. Their three daughters included me in their lives like i was the 4th sister. We ate dinner together that last night, exchanged addresses and took pictures. They told me to visit france soon and that i could stay with them. I really will miss people like the CORS. Genuine kindness is a rarity in this world and the Lord blessed me greatly with this family. I miss you guys!