One week later!

Yes, hard to believe it has already been a week since my arrival. This first week has just blown right by and l imagine it will continue to be like this for the next 3 weeks, with Christmas, New Years then my birthday. Fun filled days ahead and so is, drinking, eating and drinking some more!!! ) I swear that is all they do here, eat and drink, maybe it's because of the holidays????

Well yesterday was the big day......... my first introduction to the card playing gang! The "gang" consisting of approx 50 seniors ranging from the ages of 60-90 something! Once again l found myself to the object of curiosity but that is to be expected and l will say that everyone was very welcoming. I decided to not get involved in the game of cards this time around as l keep forgetting to ask Philippe to send me my cheat sheet on the rules (make mental note to send Philippe e-mail re: cheat sheet) LOL. Maybe once l have them and reviewed the rules l will feel confident enough to take up the challenge but l won't dare before hand. I would be taking my life in my own hands, these people are serious card players, no screwing around here let me tell ya! LOL.

Instead of carding playing l was put to work, being the "bar maid". Drinks consist of coffee (cafe), water (leu), wine (vin), beer (biere), and orange pop served with bake goodies that some of the ladies of the club provided, all of course for a price! Biere could be purchased for 1.50 eu (2.00), vin 1.00 eu (1.40) leu 1.00 eu, crepes .50 eu (.75) each, slice of pie (big pieces too!) 1.00 eu. Let's just say they are not making big money with their prices but sure is good on the pocket book. Actually spent my first euro by having my first french biere, went to a good cause and the biere wasn't too bad either! :) When the intermission took place you wanted to move fast because when you have 20 or more seniors coming at ya at once, good help you if you didn't put a move on....... You would think they were on a time clock or something! 5 hrs later after everyone left and a group of us stayed behind to clean up, champagne was served, champagne seems to be the thing to drink these days, lucky me! All and all it was a good day!

On today, my plan was to spend this cool,crappy rainy day studying my french but l guess other plans were in store! Not sure where it was that l was going, l'm just a follower right now! :) I found myself at another senior social club gathering and apparently l am now an official member of the Les Bleusts ( l think that's how it is spelt, ink smeared) HAHHAAHA. They actually gave me a card, l'm not kidding, does that mean l can qualify for a seniors discount!!LOL. This was a smaller gathering of a total of 18 in attendance, again lovely people, kisses all around,( they do alot of that too0 and warm greetings from everyone. I decided to just be an observer once again and studied my french, thank goodness l had a book in my purse, don't leave home without one! So while everyone played l studied until it was break time and out came the gateau (cake) and champagne, champagne is obviously very cheap here! Break over with games resummed and l to my book! Next thing l knew l was heading out the door, to places unknown only to discover that l was going with Alice to her English class!

Alice is 70 yrs of age and is taking an english course. She wants to learn because her grand kids speak english (the kids are bilingual), with me being apart of the family now and for travelling purposes. I give this lady credit, learning a language at any age isn't easy, so bravo to her for doing so.
Being in the class was interesting, interesting in watching and listening to a french person teaching english. There was a couple of things l would of corrected her on but l kept my mouth shut, yes l can do that when l need too! :)  Carolyn (teacher) was kind enough to give me some french exercises to do while the students were working on their english exercises. I only got two wrong out of 20.... not bad l would say! :)  l was asked by the teacher, Carolyn, why l came to France l of course explained why and l in turned asked the students (ages ranging from mid 30's to 70)why they choose to learn english, majority of them said for travel purposes. It was fun attending the class, l came just at the right time because it was the last class before the holidays so treats were served and yes............... champagne!!! LOL I enjoyed meeting and chatting with the students and from the sounds of things only got some of what was said but body language sometimes speaks louder then words that this won't be the last time l attend this class......

To sum up my first week in France.............  new discoveries....... new friendships........and exhaustion!!!! Speaking of exhaustion, time for me to go to bed, 12:30 am your time!
Bonne Nuit, mon aimes!