April already?

I am always surprised at the rate in which time passes. It seems like just yesterday Patrick and I just arrived and now it is April, crazy. Spring has arrived in Valence, which not only makes Valence more enjoyable with beautiful flowers beginning to bloom and trees budding pretty little flowers but also improves my general mood. Here are a few updates from the pass few weeks.

Paris: Round 2

I have to say the more time I spend in Paris the more I enjoy the city. Don't get me wrong I loved Paris when we went in December, but Paris is not like the rest of France. It lacks some of the best qualities of French life because it is a city that runs like all big cities do - non-stop, tourists after three days begin to ruin the cities charm even for me - another tourist, and anything that resembles "real" French culture has a price - an expensive one. However, all that aside there is a magic to Paris, just like all big cities, it gets under your skin and moves you like a marionette to the play that Paris wants to tell you.

This trip was a little different this time since we had our dear friends Devon, Rosie, and Kevin come to visit. The role of being simply a tourist morphed into that of a tour guide. Patrick had to work part of the week so I was left alone to show them the city. It was so nice to see them and to share with them France. I loved getting to watch each of them see the city and the country. Rosie's eyes were wrapped up in everything around her so much so that Patrick and I had to make sure we didn't loose her. Devon became keen on French, you could say, as we would walk around the city I would teach her the little French that I know and got to watch her practice her French with real French people. As for Kevin it took him a little bit to see the city as his mind was on other, more important things, than merely a trip to France. You see Kevin planned to propose to Devon while on the trip and the day was set for Saturday. However, after the proposal and the celebration of their engagement Kevin got to enjoy the city too. It was great to watch the newly engaged couple have little romantic moments all throughout Paris.

Life Update

I returned on Friday morning to a beautiful day in Valence. The sun was shinning and flowers were in full bloom. This Friday I finally received word from UCLA about my application status; I didn't get in. Oh well, no graduate school for me next year. I have a plan B which involves taking some classes, writing a lot, and working so that I can reapply again. It might take some time to get where I want to go but I will get there.

That is about it for now. Patrick and I are preparing for the summer with looking for fruit harvests to work on, getting excited for Brook coming, and trying to figure out how to afford that last little bit of travel. My goal is to see the west coast of France before we leave, which is feasible. So get ready for summer stories about Rose wine, late nights, picnics, French camping, and fruit harvests.

A bientot,
Molly