Two weeks ago we awoke to tears through the phone from 5,000 miles away. Within 2 hours, I had booked flights and hotel stays to get Amanda home. With a village of friends reaching out to their network across the globe, the chapter ends happily. We are forever grateful to Lois Ferrara, exchange student "aunt" to Lucie deRostolan, and Lucie's parents Elisabeth and Hubert for finding the connection to Mandy's new family. It allows her to stay in France until the end of July and take care of 4 beautiful, happy children.
I've had 10 days of a most unexpected and fun holiday in French provencial Dijon and the great city of Paris. Thank you for following along and encouraging us as we discovered friends and beautiful places. It will be a memory that Amanda and I will treasure always.
There's so much to see here that I feel as though I just sampled Paris. I would like to come again some spring or summer when everything is green and blooming.
I am very comfortable with Amanda's new situation. As Amanda says, having the family meet me made her more real and not like a mail-order servant. And a week together in Paris was a good orientation prior to her employment. She can easily get around the subways and buses. It is very safe here. Teens ride it alone to get to and from school.
Oh, and I got the name of the family wrong. Sandrine kept her maiden name. They are the Lelouche family - that sounds so French!
By the time you read this, I will be flying home or already back in Texas. I leave at 11:40 a.m., fly for 11 hours, and arrive in Dallas at 3:40 p.m. on the same day! I'm sure I'll have 500 emails at work to dig through. But that is comforting to know I have my normal routine waiting. Plus, I get to see my Maddie and Jeff and Scottie!!! We start campaigning for Richardson City Council until the May 14 election. It will be a busy spring.
Je t'aime, Texas et Paris!
Lisa - final guest blog mum
Showing posts with label Dijon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dijon. Show all posts
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
What a day, what a day, what a mighty fine day!
Woo, have we had a long day. We woke up and had breakfast. Went back to the room and showered and got ready for the day. Then we ventured out, and found my mom a place to get a hair cut. I think you have to have guts to get a haircut in a place where you can't speak french and the people cant speak english. but her hair turned out marvelous!
Then we went to my favorite restaurant where I made friends with the older owner woman. It was a blast and the food was great as usual. My mom loved it!
Then I dropped my mom off at the museum so I could go get a manicure. It was fun again to try and speak with the people who didn't know english. At least I wasn't trusting them with anything as big as a haircut :). I got pink nails and they put pink rhinestones on them. After I went back to the museum to get my mom, we stopped into a cute shop I had gone to and got teas.
We came back to the hotel so my mom could call into work, and I could take a nap.
After I was rested up we went to a restaurant and it was yet again amazing. We got escargot for an appetizer and it was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. It tastes alot like crawfish. Then my mom got stuffed cheese in figs then wrapped in bacon and covered in a pastry shell and a salad for dinner, and I got an amazing steak and cheesy potatoes with a spinach tarte. It was all to die for. Of course we had great wine to go with it. When in rome... For desert my mom got a turned over apple tart with what she called the best ice cream she has ever tasted. She actually said, and I quote "I could die after this meal, this is heaven" I had mint ice cream with mint brandy. Overall, it was amazing!
At dinner we sat by a really sweet couple on a date that told us we needed to go to the Notre Dame, no not the one in Paris, there is one in Dijon, because on the side of it, there is an owl that people rub and make a wish on. So we found that, and I made a wish. And don't worry, I did not wish any harm to the woman who tried to make my French experience hell :). Though I don't know how many of you would have blamed me if I had!
We then ventured back to the hotel, and packed all of the stuff up. I brought a big pink trunk with me on my expected year stay in France, but it has turned out to be a huge pain to lug around, so we are ditching it here.
We are calling it a night, to catch the early train to Paris. This will be my last post from Dijon. So thank you Dijon, overall you have been amazing to me!
XOXO,
Mandy & Mom
PS- It won't let me put my pictures up here, so they will be added to facebook.
Then we went to my favorite restaurant where I made friends with the older owner woman. It was a blast and the food was great as usual. My mom loved it!
Then I dropped my mom off at the museum so I could go get a manicure. It was fun again to try and speak with the people who didn't know english. At least I wasn't trusting them with anything as big as a haircut :). I got pink nails and they put pink rhinestones on them. After I went back to the museum to get my mom, we stopped into a cute shop I had gone to and got teas.
We came back to the hotel so my mom could call into work, and I could take a nap.
After I was rested up we went to a restaurant and it was yet again amazing. We got escargot for an appetizer and it was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. It tastes alot like crawfish. Then my mom got stuffed cheese in figs then wrapped in bacon and covered in a pastry shell and a salad for dinner, and I got an amazing steak and cheesy potatoes with a spinach tarte. It was all to die for. Of course we had great wine to go with it. When in rome... For desert my mom got a turned over apple tart with what she called the best ice cream she has ever tasted. She actually said, and I quote "I could die after this meal, this is heaven" I had mint ice cream with mint brandy. Overall, it was amazing!
At dinner we sat by a really sweet couple on a date that told us we needed to go to the Notre Dame, no not the one in Paris, there is one in Dijon, because on the side of it, there is an owl that people rub and make a wish on. So we found that, and I made a wish. And don't worry, I did not wish any harm to the woman who tried to make my French experience hell :). Though I don't know how many of you would have blamed me if I had!
We then ventured back to the hotel, and packed all of the stuff up. I brought a big pink trunk with me on my expected year stay in France, but it has turned out to be a huge pain to lug around, so we are ditching it here.
We are calling it a night, to catch the early train to Paris. This will be my last post from Dijon. So thank you Dijon, overall you have been amazing to me!
XOXO,
Mandy & Mom
PS- It won't let me put my pictures up here, so they will be added to facebook.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sales time!
As you may have guessed from the title, it's sales time in France. These sales times are mandated by the government. Crazy right?
So I woke up and got ready. I ate the usual breakfast, and started walking into the center of the city in search of good shoes. I got lost and ended up in a handbag store, so I bought a bag. Its a black leather, across the body bag. And hey, it was on sale :). Though I don't know if I've ever bought a more expensive purse. Then I finally found the shoe store. I got the ugliest, most comfortable shoes in the world. But to hell with fashion, hello comfort! I'm an au pair in a country where I can't speak the language, who do I have to impress?
For lunch I went to a restaurant and got a ham and cheese sandwich. Classy, I know. Then I walked home, but after I went in the bar where I have made at least semi-friends with people. Hung out there for a bit, had a drink and mustered up the courage to attempt to take Dijon's public transportation.
At the bus stop, I asked a girl standing there 'Tu parle Anglais?' She replied yes, turns out she was british and here for study abroad. So she explained the bus situation and I rode it nearly all the way home. Still had a 8 minute walk, but thats nothing compared to the time it would have taken me.
After I got home and relaxed a bit, it was time to get the kids. For some reason, I am usually the first person there and Marc-Etienne is the last kid to come out. Joy right? After standing in the school yard with an overly hyped up Raphaelle, Mare-Etienne decided to grace us with his presence. But no, he was not ready to leave yet, he had to go to the school library to get a book first. I really should invest in a crown for him.
Finally, it was time time to walk home. I walked slow so the kids would run back and forth and get tired out so they would be easier to manage. We got home and the parents were home too. Overall the kids were a TON better today. They must have been told they would get a beating if they made me cry again. Ha.
I am quite lonely here and need to make some quality friends pronto. Its sad when the highlight of my Friday night is blogging and going to bed early.
I may hit up some of Dijon's museums tomorrow, to get a break from the house, and hopefully interact with some fellow english speaker. One's that are over 12 years old.
Today was alot better than yesterday!
XOXO,
Mandy
So I woke up and got ready. I ate the usual breakfast, and started walking into the center of the city in search of good shoes. I got lost and ended up in a handbag store, so I bought a bag. Its a black leather, across the body bag. And hey, it was on sale :). Though I don't know if I've ever bought a more expensive purse. Then I finally found the shoe store. I got the ugliest, most comfortable shoes in the world. But to hell with fashion, hello comfort! I'm an au pair in a country where I can't speak the language, who do I have to impress?
For lunch I went to a restaurant and got a ham and cheese sandwich. Classy, I know. Then I walked home, but after I went in the bar where I have made at least semi-friends with people. Hung out there for a bit, had a drink and mustered up the courage to attempt to take Dijon's public transportation.
At the bus stop, I asked a girl standing there 'Tu parle Anglais?' She replied yes, turns out she was british and here for study abroad. So she explained the bus situation and I rode it nearly all the way home. Still had a 8 minute walk, but thats nothing compared to the time it would have taken me.
After I got home and relaxed a bit, it was time to get the kids. For some reason, I am usually the first person there and Marc-Etienne is the last kid to come out. Joy right? After standing in the school yard with an overly hyped up Raphaelle, Mare-Etienne decided to grace us with his presence. But no, he was not ready to leave yet, he had to go to the school library to get a book first. I really should invest in a crown for him.
Finally, it was time time to walk home. I walked slow so the kids would run back and forth and get tired out so they would be easier to manage. We got home and the parents were home too. Overall the kids were a TON better today. They must have been told they would get a beating if they made me cry again. Ha.
I am quite lonely here and need to make some quality friends pronto. Its sad when the highlight of my Friday night is blogging and going to bed early.
I may hit up some of Dijon's museums tomorrow, to get a break from the house, and hopefully interact with some fellow english speaker. One's that are over 12 years old.
Today was alot better than yesterday!
XOXO,
Mandy
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