terrible twos or tequila

allo!

I am here in Paris, France writing from my family's home. This will be pretty hard to write because French keyboards are slightly different, but it makes all the difference. So if you see a typo, remember that I really know how to spell and use punctuations.

Thank you for the emails and the messages; They are very encouraging and keep my spirits up. It was a rough send off betzeen my parents and me. I do not think that going to Paris was a reality for me until I left my parents at the security gate. Kind of late, but liking the idea that you are leaving is different than leaving. I was crying and they were crying; it was hard to leaveknowing that I would not be back for a year. It is hard to write about it zithout a well of tears gathering at my well used tear ducts. I am quite surprised at my response to leaving just because I have done it times before and have been ok. I guess I have become a softee, but that is ok.

The flight over was fine, nothing too exciting sitting dead center in the middle seat...

I arrived and found the father, Patrice, waiting for me at the gate with a sign for me. We headed to their flat to have breakfast with his wife Benedicte. The meeting with the mother went well I though since she had many apprehensions (and probably still does). Her English was very good since I was told by Patrice that she could not speak that much English. She can definitely speak more English than I know French. She had questions and I answered them and told her that I was their to help her in any way and to let her know that I was there for her family. I think that helped her anxieties. This French language has been pretty difficult with the family since the boys only speak French. they speak really fast and I cannot keep up! Plus I do not understand half of what they are saying. This will be fun.

My flat is nice and pretty big. Very old, very parisian. There is a lot of space, but I only keep to one side of the flat with my room and bathroom. I will be eating at the family's home where it is just a more pleasant place to be, but please come and visit!

I have already started watching the children on my own. Yesterday, the mother and I took the kids to the park, and ooo that was hard betzeen tzo very spirited boys. Both boys like to ride their tricyles (le velo), but it took us a while to get out because the boys were crying and tantruming because the mother hesitated on wanting to go out. Terrible twos in their true form. They had just come back from holiday at their grandparents. they are quite a site at the park, running around with other kids and playing futbol with them; It was hard to keep up zith even the mother there. I hope I will be able to keep up with them when I am alone! The rest of the afternoon and night was fine as I was shown the daily routine and locations of the goodies I would need to take care of the kids. Bed was around 830 and that is the time we ate dinner. Food comes after the children go to bed. As we sit down, I am offered tequila. I do not think it was necessarily a welcome drink, but more of a regular occurance at dinner. Well, ok. It was strong and made me a little flushed, but moreso after the red wine with dinner.

I headed home around 1000pm, and sadly I got lost. I was pretty sure I knew how to get to my flat since it was only two turns! I could not remember what the front of my building looked like, so I thought I was lost. I actually made it the first time, but did not proceed about twenty feet toward my door, so instead I went in circles being lost. Wonderful. Here I am, safe and sound, and know how to get to and from to my house.

End of day two.