Parks

For shame! It's been too long since my last post. But let me explain, my laptop hasn't been charging lately. So I conserve the battery as much as possible, and when it's not charging I'm probably too grumpy about it to write a blog. But in my mind I have so many topics for blogs and catching up to do.

So, it is summer vacation! The teacher kind, where it starts with lots and lots of grading. This can be amusing when you're grading people writing in a second language. I cannot believe the school year is over. I have learned so much, and I survived. At the beginning I remember being so overwhelmed and lost by a lot of things. I learned to just take one step at a time and things usually turned out easier than I thought. It is really something else, teaching at the university here after teaching at UC the last couple years. My friend Dan, another lecturer, and I have really missed the organization and technology we grew so used to back home. But the students were great, and by the end I realized I really enjoyed my time in class teaching even if teaching English isn't my passion.

Summer means time for other things. Like planning trips (to Corsica with my friend Jenna!!), visiting Paris with family (Ahhh I can't wait) and JOB HUNTING. This now has become my main occupation. But not to fear, still finding time to enjoy France. This morning I went to Jardin des plantes. There were cuddling bunnies, chickens (reminded me of Nina Camic and I wondered who let them out in the morning) and, oh, the flowers. The combinations of colors is just so unexpected and so beautiful. I forgot to hit HDR on my phone for the first half, so they do even less justice than normal, not picking up as much color as with HDR.

Last week I went to Jardin de Maille where they have a picturesque cafe perfect for sunny afternoons. I got the best ice cream here with Samantha, my partner-in-(French desserts)-crime. Afterwards I strolled around and snapped a picture or two of the recently stunning flowers.

Then I headed back home, and there was a sweet old couple outside my apartment building. 

Ok, one more park picture from last week at Parc St Nicolas across the river. I passed through out of curiousity on my way home from school. Et voila, some parks in Angers!