Everyday I come across something and think to myself, I love this about living in France. I don't have a picture of all of them, and I forget some of them right after they occur to me. I don't have a picture, for example, of the many people who spend a few minutes looking out their window onto the streets below, but I notice it often everyday. It's a little thing I love, that reminds me of people watching at the cafes, mais a la maison. Here are a few more things I love about ma vie en Boulogne.

descriptions of photos from top to bottom...

la vue depuis ma fenetre//the view from my window

le chien vigilant//the watchful dog, sitting in his cafe doorway all day long

cafe au lait avec un chocolate//coffee served with a chocolate

Bon courage

To borrow the title of France's most popular movie...

Bienvenue chez les ch'tis!

Welcome to the sticks

I have been in Boulogne Sur Mer for less than a week and I already love la vie en France. There are culture shocks on a daily bases which keep me entertained... such as today on my first trip to the lycee's cafeteria, when I noticed a barrel of wine in the teacher's dining area and many a jug of red wine at the teachers' tables. A glass of wine costs the same as a Coke at the cafes and seems to have about the same perception as a Coke. Initially the students clothes came as a shock to me but I'm beginning to accept that the girl students dress better for class than I would for a night out back at Miami University. There is no dress code for teachers or students but the teachers keep it tres chic and many students do as well. I thought I was going to the sticks!

I start teaching my first English class on Friday at noon. I am scheduled to teach 9 hours of class a week. I don't know what to expect as far as the classroom experience, but a week ago I didn't know what to expect about any of my stay in France and things have been pleasant so far. Friendly people, nice dorm, great little town, pretty beach, delicious food, and cafe au laits served with a chocolate. The change at first was a little overwhelming when jet lagged and generally sleep deprived, but everything is better than I had hoped (with the exception of my French, which could be better.) It's odd being so far away from family and friends and everything I know so well. I'm entering the real world in another country without the safety nets I usually rely on. But as the French often say, "bon courage." Je aimerai habiter ici!