qu'est-ce que ce?

Here are a few recent picts of other kids I've been babysitting (Miles who is American and Minkey who is Austrailian), my bouldering adventure at Fontainbleu, the organic farm in Italy, and some friends in Paris...





Alright, it's been way too long since I last wrote. I'm not a big fan of long, drawn out explanations, so I'll just give a sum up of all that has gone on in the last month...

I went to Italy on the 25th to check out a master's program I was thinking about applying to. I ended up staying with my old neighbors here in Paris on an organic farm and then we all went over to explore the school together. The school is just outside of Parma and sponsored by SLOW foods. For those who don't know SLOW foods, it's basically an organization that supports using whole, organic, sustainably grown food instead of food produced with shelf-stable/non-sustainable products. It seemed like a perfect program to compliment my education, but when I went to check it out, I realized that it was a bunch of great information, but nothing that would increase the experience that I want and help me get a job after. I enjoyed speaking to all the students, but all of them said that they weren't getting the education that they were expecting, they didn't know what they were going to do when they graduated and the school was run really erratically (well it is in Italy!). Anyway, long story short, I'm really glad I went to visit, but I'm not going to apply.

This then leaves another question...Am I going to stay in Paris and work for the same family for the next school year? The answer is "no." I really like Paris and the family, but I can't stand living in the city any longer. It would be one thing if I was making a ton of money or if I really loved the city, but I can't honestly say either. I've already told Anne-Marie and we agreed that I will stay on until the end of September, but after that, I've got to leave. I also feel like, though this has been an amazing experience in ways that I can't eloquently describe, I feel like I need to move on and get experience doing other things. It comes down to a question of what is best for me and what I really want and living in Paris working as a nanny doesn't fall into any of those categories. I feel confident in my French enough to get around and have very basic conversations and would like to continue to improve. I have been doing a hell of a lot of thinking about what it is that I really want and (for now) I really want to learn more about organic farming and sustainable agriculture. So, I've decided to do WWOOFing (willing workers on organic farms) in France for a while. I don't know for how long as I don't have a working visa any longer, but learning about sustainable agriculture while improving my French sounds like something I would like to try. Where I will go and what exactly I will be doing is still up in the air, but in France there are 332 organic farms that are members of the program, so I'm sure I will find something. And hey, if it doesn't work out my alternative options don't look too bad either. So, that's where I'm at now.

My immediate future includes going to Alsace tomorrow with my parents (Dad and Pam) who are visiting me this week and last. I love having them here and it gives me an opportunity to experience foods and cultural activities that I couldn't afford to do on my own. Plus, it's great to experience those things with them. Oh man, we've been eating well! They got in last Friday and we have been going and going ever since. No major arguments yet, but I really notice how slow people in Portland walk. I'm also coming to terms with being the tour guide. I know I've just got to let it go sometimes, but when I know that there are better things ahead and we are dallying someplace, it's really hard to maintain patience. Whatever, I'm glad they're here and will be incredibly sad when they leave. I am coming back to Ptown for two weeks in August for Kyle's wedding (13th to the 27th), so whoever is around, I would love to hang out. Back to Paris... for the last week it has felt like February here. We were walking around the other day and could actually see our breath! Yesterday and today made up for it though and finally, I think summer has come! Yesterday was Bastille day, which is the French Independence day and there was fireworks by the Eiffle Tower. I've never seen more people in one place in my life! Next time I blog (which will be sooner than a month) I will post pictures. Cheers!