Spring is in full swing with flip flops and all. I don't know what happens to all the people during the winter but the cafés are totally packed now. Aix had a grand parade yesterday which Bruno and I watched from the other side of a huge icecream glass. Wow, French people really know how to do it up. If I hadn't of known better I would have thought I was in Venice for Carnival. O yes, and the men dooo love to dress up as pretty ladies. lol.

Heading to Salsa lessons tonight.

NO school yet.

Going to Prague or Budapest will be real accomlishment at this point. I will need walk to Italy and leave from there. It seems this coming week the national strike begins; most importantly, train and bus employees. The students at the fac are still planning the national assembly here in Aix. The fun begins next Saturday.

I had an afternoon on the water's edge in Marseille yesterday. Talk about relaxing. It was about 4pm so the sun was just right, not overpowering but enough to bask in, and the sailboats were coming in for the day so they were all in viewing proximity. Being not quite the weekend or summer, we had the whole place to ourselves. And it was around 70 degrees, 74 with a glass of wine.

.....I mean....I can't wait for classes to start again.



Adriana: the nez news: it's good. No probs thus far. What are you irritated about? I went to a shop and asked if there is a smaller thing and he said no but he lied cause I found one. But I am afraid it will fall out. In any case, you can't see it hanging out of the bottom of the nez. Miss you, and yes, pompier news will be delivered today. Please excuse the messages, I just couldn't stop laughing.

Suprise suprise, la Greve continue. I am sure by now everyone has heard of the violent protests in Paris against the CPE. There was a big protest in Marseille last weekend and another today..they like setting cars on fire there. And the students at my university want to organise a national assembly on our campus. That's to say, bring what's going on in Paris to Aix - it's not going over to well but they are "searching a solution." Needless to say, classes aren't going to start any time soon. Most students who are not fired up about things have decided to travel: Amsterdam and Rome are popular greve vaca destinations. Personally I'm looking at catching a flight to eastern Europe...might be a bit safer.

Weather is extrodinary and the pastries taste even better in the sunshine. That about sums it up in this neck of the woods. Gros bisou!!

Not a whole lot happening around here. The strike is still going strong and there is rumor of extending the semester into July due to the now 3 weeks of missed class. In the mean time I have been perfecting the art of doing nothing and not going stir crazy...you laugh but it's difficult. I sleep in, have breakfast and listen to the radio, then slowly wander through the markets and revel at all the wonderful french delicacies. I return chez moi and check email then have a little lunch. By this time it's 2ish and I pack my books and head into town, installing myself in either a park or a cafe and read until I am antsy or hungry then take an hour walk in whatever direction my legs carry me. This is where things can get crazy. After the walk I can either reinstall myself at a cafe with a glass of wine instead of coffee, with a friend or alone. Or, if there is an activity at the Mejane or o movie I want to see, this is when it happens. You see all the options in that last part? It gets a little stressful sometimes. Finally, somehow I end up talking with someone until about 1am when I go to bed and rejuvinate myself for another busy day.

In all this sitting and observing I have noticed that the French and Europeans in general have got an amazing knack for conversation. I realize that in an effort to streamline myself and be as efficient as possible in order to profit from my busy scheduele in Chicago, I have lost the ability to sit for hours with someone and never have a silent, akward moment. It is really impressive to see the cafes in action. Sometimes the topics are serious, sometimes superficial but it is always something, moving flawlessly between a million ideas. It took someone pointing this out to me for me to realize how boring I can be. When asked "how do you like Aix" I answered politely and briefly so as to not sound arrogant or over opinionated. This french gentleman sat staring at me waiting for more and I had nothing to say. He then said "yes, that seems very Americian. Talking too much is a bad thing because there isn't time for it." I thought about this and I realized that my answer to his question could have been quite long but indeed I didn't want to talk too much. So in the name of anti-efficiency and French cafes, I strive to be long winded and take pleasure in other long windeds.

In other news, the strikers have begun to take over the city. They play dead on the steps of the town hall or wave their flags in the middle of the Rotonde blocking rush hour traffic. They take a break and at about 10:30 they get a second wind from all the beer they drank and attempt to wave their flags and shout again. Looks like everyone is having a good time here in Aix.

PS Fuller: I was calling to talk to you sir! I will give you another try today or tomorrow. Can't wait to see how you've been. Ciao

O girls, thanks for the messages. Those were much needed. :)

Ems: Rilke is in my bag and I am on the way to The Two Boys. Thank you for the gift. I am really looking forward to reading it and thinking about you the whole time. I am so glad you (and your enterage) were able to come on such last minute's notice. It wouldn't have been the same without you.

Adriana: I accept your request to continue cherching a discoteque. lol. There won't ever be class again so I should have plenty of time. The nez is good....can't wait to get a shorter thing. I don't dig the bull look. Are the Ps really angry or just a little deranged? Nice philosophical meditation there....quite impressive for a jet lagged girl @ 6am. I propose Emily's solution...meet in the middle on an island and we can "transcend into a higher state of intellectual splendor" there.

PS: I NEEEEED to be there too.

BISOU!!!!!! I love you tout le monde

Where to begin? This past week was so wondeful. All those crazy Ameeericans where here. Dan tried to get sick the first day but after a good nights rest he was back in the groove of coffee and cafes. The 7 of us hung out in Aix, eating and visiting, until Tuesday when we headed to Nice. After we settled in in our apartment we began what would become our ritual of eating. All 7 headed out to discover exactly what kind of french goodies we could find to whip up in our kitchen. Tuesday we started our dinner around 6:30 with pre dinner snacks and wine, of course. We had fresh salad, fresh fish pasta, the smelliest cheese we could find and after we couldn't eat any more, we had dessert. It is quite impressive how many bottles of wine 7 people can drink over the course of a 4 hour meal.

Wednesday we woke up, filled oursevles with baguettes and fig jam and headed in to discover Nice. Lots of walking involved there. Then back to the apt for another long, wine and cheese filled dinner.

Thursday was Monaco. It is beautiful but unlivable, unless you like living in a little plastic world. The views on our bus ride were extrordinary. Then we dined at a retaurant back in Nice.

Friday Dan and Adriana made breakfast and then we romped around Nice doing a little shopping and sun basking at the cafes. Beautiful weather! Then it was back to chez nous for another wine filled wonderful dinner.

Saturday morning we dragged our weary selves to the bus and headed back to Aix. Back in Aix we split up and the finished anything remaining to be done in Aix: buy french shoes, eat croque Madames, say bye to Brigitte. Then we ate. You must see the theme here. Our days osolated around meals and they were always long and very tastey.

This morning everyone got on the big blue bus for the airport at 8 am. I am more homesick now than ever. Having my three best friends here for a week was so wonderful, as if no time has passed since I was with them in Chicago. I realized that the feeling of "home" depends upon the people you are with, not the geographic location. It was so nice to be home for a week.

My university was closed all week for the strike and rumor has it that it will continue next week.

4.5 weeks till Oma and Dad get here....I am counting down the days!

Le Fac est Fermé and I'm going to Nice

Monkey Squad: The apartment in Nice is paid signed and sealed. Are we still planning on Monday through Friday? The train will be about €60 round trip and the homestead will be around 60USD per person. WOOOT we are gonna live in Nice.
Caution: it got a bit chilly. It snowed for about 2 seconds today. Although there is discusion of whether is was actually snow.

Anyone wondering about this apartment business: The 7 arrive from Chicago on Saturday and we have rented an apartment in Nice from Monday to Friday. It will surely be a wonderful time.

The Fac, my universtiy, is closed due to a student body strike. After heated speaches about democracy and students' rights they took an official vote which was a raise your hand kind of deal. Anyone who looked like they might vote against a strike was given the french stare of death and persuaded to abstain. Needless to say, they won. They are now "occupying" the university = sleeping in the grand hall and creating the great wall of China in front of the doors out of desks, chairs and tables. After the wake up call and coffee, they stand arm in arm in front of the doors, screaming unrecognizable french things, and refusing to let anyone through. Magnificent to see these students organize themselves. If anyone tried this aux Etats-Unis, it would be stopped on the basis of a fire code violation...o the irony.

OK we have two choices and I am going to book one tomorrow. If you can call me tonight and tell me your choice I would love u.

1 is the one dan found

2 www.homelidays.com reference 73443

BIZ and see u in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!