LOOK WHAT I SAW TODAY!

After class today Katie and I went into Paris.

That's all I need to say right now.

JE PARLE UN PETIT PEU

I speak a little bit, in French. A very very little bit.

It has been a busy week; I have met so many people and kissed so many strangers' faces. The French greet everyone when they enter or exit a room, and it always involves la bise. I was never very interested to know how soft other people's faces were before, but now, I can assure you, there are a lot of soft, firm faces to be found in France.

Yesterday I met a woman named Allison, who is a missionary here with her family. They're from Texas, and they seemed so familiar to me even though I didn't know them at all. Allison has a huge smile, and she has that Southern Baptist mama thing about her and told me to come over again any time. She used to teach the classes, but then got reassigned, so now OM has taken over for her. She still knows all the ladies, though, and was having them over for a party.

These immigrant women are so cute, it kills me. They all gather up on the sidewalk in their endless layers of clothing, concerned because we are standing near a church where both men and women are practicing music together. The church allows this? Are you sure? Finally everyone has arrived and we set off for Allison's house. We begin to take off layers, and sit in a large warped circle in the living room. The ladies shatter to each other in languages that all sound like this to me: zhhigrahamzahhhkfaammmzzz...

Their shoes are off, their veils a little looser, they drink tea and soft drinks from short little glasses and excitedly tell each other what I assume to be the latest news in the neighborhood. When they do speak French I can catch most of it because they speak so slowly- they only know a little more than I do. The other missionary ladies come in and out with more food and drinks. Allison tells a story about a cracked pot in French and Moroccan. Eventually some of the ladies start singing high-pitched chanting songs; someone gets pie tins from the kitchen and uses them as drums. A couple people dance in the tiny space in the middle, the rest of us clap.

A good afternoon.

Later that day I was introduced to a French youth group (more kissing), and today I went to their church. They speak very fast and make fun of each other when they practice English on me, and then make fun of me too when I try to reply in French. It's like a big game. Sometimes my face hurts for smiling.

A NOTE ABOUT MY FUTURE

At some point in time I would like to become an art therapist, as an art+helping people combo. I want to learn what people need, what they think about, why they hurt, I want to see their resiliency.

Also, every time I go to my sister Sarah's school for Open House, the hallways are lined with WONDERFUL pictures made by all the kids, pictures like this:

And I think to myself, WHY AM I NOT DOING THIS EVERY DAY?

A NAVIGATIONAL MASTERPIECE

Paris, France, here I am.

Actually. The OM Office is in a suburb east of Paris, but same difference. I got here!

Yesterday I was in Dallas, but now-- 3 airports and 1 hour of sleep later-- I am on the other side of the WORLD. Have any of you noticed that clouds look like lemon meringue pie from the top?

I have yet to meet all the team members, but so far everyone and everything is pretty swell.

This is the house:

It is the office, and I am staying downstairs in a bedroom. In this photo it is under the stairs. Another girl, Katie, also lives in the house, and I haven't met her just yet.

There are yellow bushes all over the place.

And hatchbacks! My favorite!

WELCOME

Hello Everyone!

To start with, I have never blogged before. In fact, I have never even been interested in blogging before. But for the purposes of this trip that starts tomorrow (!!!) it seems like the most interesting way to keep people updated... so here we go. I'm taking you with me, sort-of.

I am going to volunteer for three months at OM France, where they help immigrant ladies transition into the country by teaching them the language, among other things. Actually I don't know extensively a lot about the program or what I will be doing, but take a look at their website or their Facebook page, and you will be as excited about this as I am!

For now though, I am mostly tired and feeling a little unorganized and like an American with too much stuff. I blame this on the gigantic sleeping bag in my suitcase. Also, if you are interested, I am taking Animal Crackers on the plane; it seems important.