YAY!

I thought this week would creep its way on by as I am very anxious for tomorrow, but it surprisingly flew by (like each week before it!). I had many classes, a lot of preparing, and a lot of drama with our car (thanks to the mechanics doing something terribly wrong to it and then not being able to figure out what they did wrong)!!!!  However, all in all, the week was a positive one, partially because I have been so excited for what tomorrow will bring..... MY MOM!

My Mom has had quite the travel bug lately. She spent last weekend at a very good friend's wedding (which I regretably could not attend) in Boston. She arrived back in NJ on Sunday evening. She flew out Tuesday morning to North Carolina for a little trip with her gal pals and arrived back in Jersey late last night. Tonight, she leaves for France! She'll be staying at the beautiful Best Western Hotel Belfort in the best room! Retired life is treating her well.

AND, not only will my Mom be coming, but today marks the last day (or at least this is what I have been promised) in the marathon work schedule my guy has had. Over 40 days (with the exception of the one amazing Sunday) he has worked non-stop - day and night - and usually until the wee hours of the morning. Let's put it this way - if I saw him before 10pm, it was a miracle! And, I don't really think I ever did. In fact, over the course of the last week, he was working until 2, 3, 4 and sometimes 5am!!! UGH! Glad that is over.

Not only will I be able to see my guy more, but I will have my Mom here, too... so it's perfect! I know my French man will be a perfect tour guide, and I am really looking forward to spending time with two people I really love.

I am looking forward to eating delicious food, seeing new sights, shopping, talking, and showing my Mom the town where I have lived for the past 7 months (with the exception of the one month vaca I took back home!).

I know the 10 days my Mom will spend in France will be marvelous. She will arrive tomorrow evening at Basel-Mulhouse Airport - on the border of Switzerland and France - just 45 minutes from my home!

So that's my big, exciting news! What are you all doing this weekend?

staycation

Last night I took a little staycation. I went to the Best Western Hotel Belfort and took a little ME time. I lit some candles. I took a long, hot bath. I spread out across the big, comfy bed. I relished in having a tv with a lot of channels. I ordered Japanese food from the restaurant next to the hotel. I just relaxed. I needed to relax. (If you click on the link for the hotel, you can see the link for a map to the right. I live on rue Stractman which is just next to the hotel!!).

My guy met me in the morning and enjoyed the wonderful breakfast spread at the hotel with me. There are beignets, crepes, different kinds of bread, 5 or 6 different kinds of jelly in those cute, little glass jars, nutella and honey, a cheese plate, fresh fruit and traditional French items such as baby pickles, radishes, olives, and cocktail onions. There are plates full of meat and another with a variety of pastries. There are, of course, hard-boiled eggs (yuck!). There is American coffee, an espresso machine, different hot teas, and 4 different kinds of fruit juice. This is how I want to eat breakfast every morning!!! Mmmmm... Needless to say, I was relaxed and stuffed before I headed to work for a few hours this morning.

We are working on something new at work which I find particularly fun. Until now, our clients have always been adults. We invited our clients and others in the area to bring their children to the office today. A colleague and I prepared a lesson for the children - we played Old MacDonald, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and the Alphabet song. The kids were ages 4-8 so they were super cute! Half of them were too shy to speak and the other half were so eager to be the one to speak. Today was just an introduction. The parents watched their children through the glass and had the option to sign them up for a bundle of sessions afterward. Many people were interested, and I really hope I get to teach the class!

Off topic, but check out this link: i love laughing babies. This is super cute. I especially love how the little girl braces herself and gets a stance going when it's her turn.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Tour de France: Belfort

Train Station by night - Directly across from the Best Western Hotel Belfort, the beautiful and accommodating hotel which I am currently calling home or la maison

Lion of Belfort - made by the same sculptor that did the Statue of Liberty. 

View from the Fort at the top of Belfort (where the Lion of Belfort is located)

My first stop on my Tour de France is obviously Belfort because that's where I'm living; and I had to put my pile of suitcases somewhere! Belfort is a quaint town that is full of colors and rain. It rains a lot here, and when it's not raining, it's cloudy. However, I will say that this week, we were blessed with a few very sunny days that gave me the slightest glimpse of hope as to what Belfort will be like when it is Spring! The people were out on the streets and everyone was smiling. I couldn't tell you what they were saying, but by all the energy and the buzz, I could tell they were just as happy to see the sun as I was.


To be fair, it is a different lifestyle than I am used to so in my critiques, it is only the opinion of an outsider that grew up in a foreign culture. However, I must say that a few things are quite strange here. See below...

1. On Monday, I ventured out on the town only to find that the stores would not open until 2pm (I wonder what they do all morning).
2. Nothing (except for maybe 2 pizza places which are open until 10pm and a few kebab restaurants) is open after 8pm (I wonder how they make money). Don't say they see that they are losing out on so much business? I am not the only one crawling the streets at 8:30 looking for a place to get some food! I grew up where food stores are open 24/7 and pizza places are open until 2am. It is so strange to walk the streets and see every business closed. As I sat at the front desk of the hotel, I heard all of the guests checking in asking what restaurants were open, and the receptionist could give them only 2 options: pizza or kebab. Most opted to wait for the wonderful breakfast put on at the hotel! I see a business opportunity in Belfort... open a restaurant with many options and keep it open until midnight!
3. The last train stops at 7pm (I guess it's good for the hotel business).
4. I wonder if school is mandatory. I see kids walking around all day long.

Well, I think that's all I can think of for now, but I am sure there is plenty more where that came from... next stop on my Tour de France... still to be determined.

Until then, au revoir et a bientot! Bisous!