Boy the weather just will not cooperate for my last week.  I don’t know if completing this goal of swimming will happen before I leave!  It is raining! And cold!  Perhaps I can jump in the ocean in Spain.  It is fitting that the weather is gloomy so that I can be productive with finishing all these school research papers.  When the sun does poke through the clouds on certain days I know to take advantage in case it doesn’t happen again.  On a recent sunny day I headed to SaintJean Cap Ferrat the famous peninsula that houses many celebrities and the ultra rich.  One of these ultra rich families by the name Rothschild, lived on prime acreage with views on both sides.  The mansion is now a museum with a gorgeous garden.  I enjoyed walking the gardens so much that I realized I was about to leave without seeing the inside of the house!  Ms. Rothschild loved pink.  I could’ve been happy with just the gardens. 

Since we are on my last week here I felt it was appropriate to have a quick review of things and feeling (a bit more sarcastic then positive) that have evolved since arriving Jan 4.

• I began eating 3/4 of a chocolate bar each time I opened one to now eating 3 squares, progress

• Initially, croissant consumption consisted of 2 per sitting, I am now down to virtually none (about 2 a week)

• My nemesis cookies are finnnnally making me nauseous at the idea of them, I simply ate too many

• When I would catch a baguette right out of the oven I would eat the whole thing that day (how can you resist that), now I am a fan of ordering the ‘demi baguette” (half for .40E) and that is every 2 days or so, vast improvement

• The basement finally is referred to as ‘home’, especially after the run in with shellfish

• Realized the bed is actually more comfortable with one mattress rather than 5, sometimes less is better

• Any leak coming from the ceiling doesn’t’ even make me flinch, normal occurrence now, whereas before it would ruin a day

• I am sick of brie and camembert!! I am now on to feta and fontina, ahhh relief

• Eating as a single person sucks.  Waiters/waitresses out there should realize it is vulnerable enough going out to dinner by yourself, shitty service does not help your evening (like I don’t notice you giving everyone else olives and popcorn at happy hour and not moi) and if you were nice and treated me like everyone else you’d get a pleasant, big American tip.  Learn it.

• Not being able to stand up for yourself because of a language barrier is very frustrating (see below, among many other experiences)

So you can see there have been many growing experiences =)  I know that some sound negative, but it all part of the learning experience.  The other day at the market I bought some tangerines from a booth and I had just paid and I decided to try some of the nice, big blueberries offered in an open container.  Well.  I got yelled at in French that that was NOT all right and to put them back, she literally made me put the two blueberries I had in my hand back into the container.  Was this because I had already completed my purchase???  What kind of customer service is that?  Because who is she to assume that I would not buy a box of these scrumptious blueberries after I was able to take a taste!?  I was pissed! And there is nothing you can do about it.  Now I just want to stick out my tongue every time I walk by.  In terms of leaving soon, I find myself taking pictures of everything, as a last resort to soak it all up before I am gone.  I finally had a wonderful French meal the other night, beuf de provence, slow cooked beef with veggies and polenta.  Really rounded the eating experience out to have that dish and an amazing green salad.  Why are fresh, simple greens so good with just some simple vinaigrette?  I could eat that every day.  The market is changing with the season, more fruit, more people out, more vendors, sad to leave right when Spring is here, but there is always the Bay Area to enjoy during this wonderful season.  Travels and no more school is up next.  See you all so very soon!!