late night thoughts

so, i have been back and forth with my parents and bank of america because this whole banking situation seems to be impossible to handle overseas in one simple step. it's more like five thousand not simple at all steps. but as the french say "jamais simple"
my fingers are covered in marker because i've been making posters of the days of the week and of months and bingo charts so they can review numbers. although i think the marker's making my fingers itch a bit, but whatever.
i know i've spent a fair amount of time complaining, so i am going to make a list of all the things i love about being here:
meeting the frenchies who i've become friends with. they have taken us out and treated us so well, and they are so silly and also learning english (they are university students studying business, for the most part, some engineering) and we always wind up having a good time and partaking in silliness.
meeting new people all the time, and striking up conversations.
the dance clubs - and running into other assistants, and the crazy italians i met a while back. this past weekend was a blast - we saw them saturday night and they are loud, and wound up, and have no fear about leaving a bad impression anywhere. it was a great time. it's so fun here, much different than the states in that regard - everyone just starts dancing and lets go. although the italians started a mosh pit and i got sandwiched in between two very tall, very large men, bryan came to my rescue though since he's the one who knows them all.
learning french idioms for random things, and putting them to use.
the abundance of cheese. thank you, cheese gods.
walks around the city - if you avoid the unbelievable amounts of dog crap on the sidewalk, the weather is usually agreeable - the coldest temperature feels like a brisk new england fall day and i just love it.
the fountains in jean jaures, and the christmas lights they have started to put up.
getting accosted by my students when i walk into the school.
how inexpensive wine is.
castles are so inexpensive to get to, and the towns are so cute and quaint where the castles are located - it's quite unreal and unlike anything you will EVER encounter in the states.
adorable french old men who strike up conversation with you in cafes when you've stopped to have a coffee in the middle of the day.
chocolate is served with any coffee you get - anywhere.
how good the coffee is - everywhere
goat cheese here is inexpensive, and amazing.
window shopping takes on a whole new meaning - there is some crazy stuff here.
the foot bridge over the loire - it's so beautiful and calm to stand over this massive river and realize that i'm here in france, on that little spot on the map that i looked at for so long on the pages of an atlas from the US
getting to practice my french - non stop, and hearing people tell me i speak good french. also - teaching people english. other than my students, it's kind of fun.
getting packages and letters from home - best thing EVER.
becoming familiar with french music and french comedians. understanding them - that's soon to come. i swear.
online talks with the US friends that i miss so much.

alright. i should skip off to bed now.
catch you all on the flip side.