Food and Books

We have started the count down, having less than 3 weeks left until we leave for back home. It is bitter sweet for both of us as we are really enjoying experiencing the French life but missing our lives back home. Time seems to go by more quickly and we are starting to feel the crunch of our job and desperately wanting to complete it. We have mapped out the remaining books that need to be completed, and we are having some days doing over 100 books. Those days are not the greatest but we create ‘carrots’ for motivation to make them a little more enjoyable! Today, having a very productive day in books, we bought fresh gnocchi from a local Italian shop. They were definitely the best gnocchi either of us have ever had. And because our job requires us to sit - a lot, we have exercise time every once in while where we do jumping jacks in the living room to help us get our blood going.

We are also feeling the crunch of our job because of the other activities we wanted to do while we are here. We did have the opportunity to climb Sainte Victoire, which is the famous mountain where Cezanne spent much of his time painting the wonderful landscape. We did not make it all the way to the top, but we made it close enough and it was a wonderful spot to have a picnic. Our host family took us to two wineries in Provence. We had a great time seeing more of Provence and tasting the wines of the region.

Kathryn has been making her hair cutting talents useful, cutting hair for some of the students that attend our church. She has stayed busy with other activities with the church as well including attending a football match (soccer game) in Marseille. She was amazed at the intensity of the fans and players; it is nothing like American football.

Debbie continues to meet with Colette for ‘Franglish’ chats over French pastries and tea. She has thoroughly enjoyed her company and feels like it is helping her French a lot.

We have really settled in, in our area. We have a regular bakery that we visit and love seeing the same women. She is so nice; Kathryn wants to bring her home with us. We though it was great, she describes her pastries by showing you a corresponding candy bar – they must be her inspiration! We thought that could make a great Iron Chef Episode – make a dessert to taste like your favorite candy bar! 

We try to limit out sweets but when we need bread, we try to visit around 5 p.m. when the baguettes are just coming out of the oven and sold piping hot.  It takes a lot of will-power to have at least a little bread left when we gethome!  

We also found a Tunisian restaurant that we’ve visited twice for lunch.. The food is inexpensive, the service is excellent and they always serve us complementary tea and a Tunisian bonbon for dessert afterwards. Both the owner and employee know some English –  and we have such a great time talking with them!