ReCap Seville trip

Seville trip

Few weekends ago I went back to UK to fly out on a trip long ago planned….(October) to Seville with Boat Club. This trip was great last year and was great this year for different reasons.

The weather was wonderful.

Sangria is my favourite thing to drink on Earth and sooooo yummy!!!

Great Food!!! This is do to ARAG and her hubby NG (didn’t want to call him NAG…..hee hee), they no Spain very very very well as they have spent loads of time there and it could be said….Fell for each other there……. They speak the language and in general know there food. So Love for each other’s company and food ALL AROUND.

This trip was for me a catching up time with ARAG and NG as (they left Cambridge last year and are back in London full time)…..and it was sooo nice to hang and catch up. They really helped me in sooo many ways. One being the fact that the day before I was to fly off to the UK to go on this Spain trip…..I had an accident and nearly broke my ankle and was taken to ER here in France. Labmate/new friend Franck came with me to help me out with movement and language at the ER which was great as ….I never learned the work for Ankle in my French studies and they thought I was saying Uncle…….and then I had to give up and say the thing near your foot which they looked down and then Viola they understood as my Ankle was the size of a melon! I was seriously hurting and when arrived back in UK with crutch, M was there to nurse me for the few days before my Spain weekend.

Highlights

---My friends trying to help me all the time….so kind

---Catching up with ARAG and NG who are AWESOME people (we are from the same place (meaning country) and it was nice to chat with them about things that we all know and get……

---FOOD

---SANGRIA

---Flamenco club….which was a small place and we missed the main show but the music was still being played and local women would jump up and dance…..so great!!!!

---SUN warm SUN

---Purchase of new hand fan that ROCKS

---Playing with Hand Fan for ever and annoying everyone with ….. “talk to the Fan” movements…..

We landed back in UK at 12am and I was taking a 6am flight back to France so I was planning on staying at Airport…which was fine when I had two working ankles…

I was surprised by M who showed up at the airport to hang out with me and with a completely wonderful dinner he made and all the needed accessories. HE ROCKS!!!!

M and I had a wonderful night hanging out at the Airport, he is such a prince…..

Premier weekend dans l'apartment

First weekend in new apartment was very good. I love the location and I got to cook in a kitchen and walk around in the sun! GREAT!!! It is really cute and nice; I just wish I could have people over to visit.....d'oh! M is coming in week and a half for a little bit so that will be great.

This weekends highlights....... (in random order)
a) Big TV....yes it is in French but I understand it and it helps that it is movies (Oceans 11) and LAW and ORDER.....was on like non-stop......( I had seen a few already so I could just listen to the French and understand it....)
b) Sitting in a park seeing these two adorable little sisters saying good-bye to their dad in French and then walking off with their mom speaking English with her. ......this gives me hope. They are sooo cute!
c) Buying groceries for my cute blue fridge and fresh bread!!!
d) Meeting my apartment owner to pick up keys and meeting her whole family....who tagged along to see the apartment. They were all sooo funny and we all ooooooohhhhhed and aaaaahhhed around the place.
e) Making my first proper dinner!
f) Making my lunch for today!!!
g) M's adorable love letter-like texts messages. I need to work on my love letter text writting mine are always short and cute....his are long and sweet and make me gush and giggle. ....And I am suppose to be the Native English speaker here.....hmmmmm
h) Call from SAJF who misses me (and his France) and I miss him and I really wish he was here to see me living in his country....
i) Great calming talk with Mom and Dad about my upcoming sailing trip with M. I was a bit nervous as they both know I can get. I just don't want to be seasick for a week!
j) Buying ICE CREAM and storing it in FREEZER.....MY house in UK doesn't have a FREEZER and this drives me NUTS!

here are some pics

Reb-bie says RELAX

Got a funny email from VOG……and to answer your question of course I don’t hate you …..How would that be possible? We have a history and a good funny one at that! Sure I have moments with you… like with my favourite things where I get sick of them and put them away but then there is always the bright moment of re-discovering that funny supportive friend I have in you!

Who else could I …….

1. Nap with during Shark week,
2. Have Groundhog-day-like nights at UNOs,
3. Wake up like a newborn baby calf to make a Mocha request from 2^nd Cup in Montreal,
4. Could I trust to take my sofas and wearing them as a hat and run up and down my street looking for my dad’s truck,
5. Drive my get-away-car when I was asked to perform last rights on a pregnant dying squirrel,
6. Threaten to throw eggs at those who hurt me,
7. Spend $1,543,423 on Sushi with,
8. Cover with black and white body paint,
9. Watch a commercial with and then instantly want to eat what they are selling (Can you say Burger King).

Huh? No one that is who…..now reading this you think that doesn’t make sense….a list like that should go up to 10 at least NOT STOP AT #9……but that is just the thing this friendship between me, you (VOG) and JASL doesn’t make sense either. It is close even though we are far and special even though it started at some BBQs…… and nothing will take away from that, cause we won’t let it.

And well then there is Chop or as I like to blog JASL who without him (and his wonderful comic relief at key moments in life….) I would have murdered you (VOG) long ago….. JASL coached our dancing for the Inter-nationals and scouted the competition and counselled the “big fight” on the dance floor in the Dancing Squirrel in Barcelona……leading us to a victory in the one couple competition at Palanoma during the Lost Night….that didn’t exist in both of your minds!

…..and YES JASL for the Love that is all that is holy of Natalie Merchant……..USE MY GMAIL ACCOUNT…..you always mess up my yahoo one. You are great with the maps and the poetry but not sooooo great with actually bringing the map or emailing the poetry. J

Boys Boys Boys……..I love you guys! Be good!

We three kings of beating jokes to death and getting the crash cart out and reviving them to only beat them more.........

Your Dearest Reb

Languange

Funny language story

I was talking to French Boss about this summer my attempt at learning German for M……well it is for me, M does not care if I ever learn German he likes speaking English but still I would like to try and it helps to have someone to practice with…….

Ok so funny story…. French Boss said that he tried and never succeeded with German and he realized this when visiting Berlin, he heard this man yelling (in German) and Boss was confused and didn’t know what was happening and then he realized that the man was talking to his dog……and Boss thought…..I know less German than that Dog. Hee hee…..true.

............................................................
The days leading up to my return here…..I was trying to catch on my sleep in the UK (which I succeeded in with lots of naps and sleeping in….this is due to M and that I get some of my best sleep when he is around.) M had some work to do via phone/computer in Germany so it was really funny to wake up to him having phone meetings in German. At first it startled me and then I smiled ( I like hearing him speak his native language). He finished and looked over at me smiling.

M: “Sweetie are you ok? Sorry to wake you I needed to talk to them on German time.”

Me: “That’s ok, So you are really German huh, Sometimes I forget…and back to bed I went…?” hee hee ….

We are both lucky….I like to hear him type as I sleep through the morning and he likes to work at his computer with me still sleeping. He says I smile in my sleep and he likes my smile. ……yes I know……cheesy!

You know your in France when......

Little reminders that I am in France…..(aside from hearing the French being spoken)……

Vending Machines having

1. Cans of Perrier……hee hee I love this stuff and it cracks me up.
2. Coffee in the machine is brilliant…..(sure I prefer the Cafes but when you live in the lab you have to make do….and it is well the best I have ever had from machine)

This list will grow......

...did I say brilliant.....like UK-ism....hmmmm
note to self return to US soon for a visit.

Living here......

Who am I?

I was talking to some people during lunch the other day and they are happy to hear I am moving out of the lab.

Me: “Well I couldn't take living in the lab and to make things worse....there is NO Boulangerie in this area!”
I mean I can’t live like that…..and everyone nodded there heads……..then I thought....what the hell am I saying……….I have lived for 29 years with out a Boulangerie in my area. HAHAHAHAHAHA …but seriously ....there is none near the lab….and that stinks! I freaking love french bread and pan au chocolate!!!!!!

Being here has been funny......I am a talker and like to interact but I am so Rusty in French so I have lame or strange conversations.

My oddest-lame conversation dictated by my French …..occurred when on the way to the Airport to meet/greet M for our lovely weekend here. It was 7am and I was not “on” a-la translation mode, when the driver started speaking really fast. I asked if he spoke English but he did not and I said ok…..and spoke French saying I wanted to go to the Airport. Then we sat in silence and I thought …. “this sucks, I suck….errrrr” and I told myself OH just F-ing speak! So here is my lame conversation…..to the airport…..I will write it in English.

French Me: “Excuse me, Do you know what the weather will be like this weekend?”
Taxi Driver: “Very bad, Lots of rain, very bad.”

French Me: “Oh I am staying near the sea at Palavas. Lots of rain huh? Well I live in UK so I am used to lots of rain.”
Taxi Driver: “Oh UK bad weather huh, they have lots of rain?”

French Me: “Yes. So….Having lots of rain here will effect the wine/ vineyards…. No?”
TD: “Ah yes it can, we are dry over summer so we need rain sometimes. You like wine?”

FM: “Yes my favourite is Muscat and I did not know that this region is known for it here, until I arrived. It was a nice surprise.”
TD: “Yes did you go to the vineyards?”…he names some

FM: “Yes I went to ….(one that he names) that was lovely.”
TD: “Your French is very good, I should learn English.”

FM: “Thank you, I am having an easier time understanding the people here, I understand their
French for some reason. I understand your French very well. I have a hard time understanding the French spoken in Paris.”
TD: “Eh really? I am from Paris.”

FM: Oh and here is the Airport…just in time…….hmmm….. clearly I don’t know what I am talking about then…..but how cool is it to put your foot in your mouth in another language…..I was pretty happy about that.

my new bike

Here is a pic someone took of me and my new AWESOME bike....I LOVE THIS BIKE!!! It is great. M went over to Berlin on Valentines day and picked it out and brought it back to UK for me! He rocks and knows how to pick a winning bike.
When I went back last week it was sooo great he put it in my room (among other surprises he hid around the room....giant vase of daffodils.....and candy and new phone and other things...he is soo great). And then off to the side there she was...my new bike...and he put a bow on it!!!! I LOVE IT!

this pic is me on the bank looking at my team as they are about to race.......

YIPPEEE!!!...... VIOLA!!!

I am a happy girl!!!

I have found a great apartment for me to stay in here (Montpellier) as I work. I will have it for March and then figure out April but I am soooo happy. I found the ad on internet yesterday and my French Boss called for me and took me to see it today. It was sooo lovely and great. The area is wonderful right in the heart of the city centre and in a great neighborhood. 5minute walk from the Tram! Everything is perfect. It actually sleeps 4 so I wish I could have visitors. I am sooo excited. It is sooo cheap cause I got a deal too!

The people in my lab are going to come over for some dinners and M will be visiting soon. It is sooo great there is a Market outside in the square, a cute cafe, wonderful little restaurants!!!! Everything.

I am soooo happy.

what's up? Ca va?

soooooo

I finished the first initial test experiments in the two weeks I was in the Labo (French for lab....so the French lab I was in)......finishing this meant working crazy hours, but I got to leave Friday and M flew here for a visit.

We had a wonderful weekend.....we stayed at Palavas this lovely seaside town just outside of Montpellier in a wonderful hotel and ate great food. M is awesome!!!! He rented a car and we drove to Neme and Pont du Gard.......seeing the wonderful Roman sites. We had a great weekend and it was what I needed and he looked forward to.

Next we returned back to UK and I had a restful week....(well sort of) and meet with my UK boss while having France boss on phone....and it was decided that I would the following week with a ONE-WAY ticket to return when the experiments are finished. .....this will be end of April.......I have trip and things already planned so I will be doing lots of flying back and forth while collecting more and more passport stamps.

M is going to visit and SAJF is going to visit......and we are looking for a place for me to rent and now that I know what I am in for I can plan time away from the lab to explore this city.

So Here I am back in Montpellier. Sun is shining and the people in the Labo are happy to see me return.