We are living in a 4 story apartment building just on the northwest side of the densely packed streets of the main part of town. Our apartment is on the 2rd floor – which in the US would be the 3rd floor - the French don’t count the first floor. The location is absolutely perfect and is so close to everything, including a beautiful small park and a large supermarket called Casino (funny name.) The apartment has two back bedrooms, kitchen, one bathroom and the library off the living room. There is also many more books in various other places around the apartment as well. The living room faces southeast and with the low winter sun – it seems we get sun all day long. Our room is very nice, having two small beds, which seem smaller than twin beds and does not look anything like a prison cell (Haha.) We are really enjoying the house and it is slowing becoming our home day-by-day.
The first three days we spent wondering the town of Aix en Provence. There is great architecture and many fountains on the corners of the streets. So far, we have only heard two other English speakers out on the street. Kathryn is dying from not being able to talk to anyone and Debbie has to hear all the blabber that she was accustomed to using with her Clients at the hair salon. It took a while for Debbie to initially speak French to the people, but is gaining confidence to speak a little easier.
The librarian from England came on Wednesday and after a lunch of French onion soup and salad, we jumped into our project. We calculated needing to do about 80 books per day – and after only getting 4 books done the first day, we wondered if we would get a minute off, let alone a weekend for site-seeing around the area!!!!! But things are picking up – we got 41 books done today in about 5 hours. It is tedious and you just need a break after so long. It’s not that our eyes go cross-eyed from the numbers, but you get exhausted from thinking so much.

New Years Eve was really fun. There were 6 of us including Nathan – from our host family, Charlyn a friend to Robyn and Nathan, Mary the librarian, and Colette a French friend of Charlyn. We spoke a lot of “Franglish”: Colette knows some English and everyone else except for Kathryn knows French or some French.

The weather has been nice for the most part; cool, but nice. One doesn’t go out without scarf, hat, coat and gloves though!

Today, Sunday morning, we are going to the French church in the morning and then we will go to the English speaking church in the evening. Debbie is looking forward to hearing a service in French and Kathryn is looking forward to finally meeting some people her own age. Not much in the way of stores being open on Sunday – so you have to make sure you have what you need on Saturday before 8 – that is when the grocery story closes!

Thank you again for your prayers.

Au revoir -Deb and Kat