Danc, santé pour un nouvelle commence

The last few days consisted of a thin pizza, a visit to the hospital, being “chased” by bulls, and a long uncomfortable plane ride home. Once Branden and Jessie discovered other towns around Aviano, I think they both became more excited and enthused with their living situation. I am jealous and excited for them.

The last night I was there we took the little car high in the mountains to discover a little town at the base of a ski resort. Here, surrounded by beautiful scenery and tall mountains we ate a picnic and walked through the cow pastures. It reminded me of Grenoble and a like Bend Oregon. I definitely would have wanted to live up there, and I am sure the two of them will find time to stay and ski for a weekend or two.

A few nights before while watching the Kings Speech, Branden had trouble breathing- it got so bad we rushed him to the base to take an ambulance to a local hospital. In the end it was just muscle issue but it was definitely a little scary. Unfortunately I’ve felt those chest pains before and was glad to hear that it had nothing to do with his heart. They took care of him, but there’s nothing like having a translator describe what the problem was to the doctor.

I am still dragging along on the plane- restless and bored, wishing to be on the ground. I definitely think my sleep schedule isn’t going to be easily adjusted. Entering the US wasn’t too much of a shock as I was expecting, lots of English of course, and surprisingly I realized how happy Americans usually all. I am not saying that we don’t have our fair share of serious, grumpy, don’t talk to me people, but it was good to see some smiles.

I’m ready to start my diet and change of lifestyle, no carbs, no juice, and plenty of exercise and bible reading. I’m ready to start exploring or planning to explore the states, and to turn my life around for the better; less complaining and planning my future every step of the way. I’m ready for God guide me and to start making relationships with friends and family more a priority.

A little learned

When I left the states I made it clear to myself that I would be heading home in August, and soon I will be on a plane doing exactly that. I always knew in my mind though that if I found a place, or a town, or a person that I just couldn’t live without I would take the chance to make it work. Either way one might look at it; there wasn’t anything in Europe I couldn’t live without. Don’t get me wrong I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, meet some great people, and definitely began a traveling adventure but its time to get back to the current home of school and work on the West Coast.

I guess the best feeling about heading back to the states is that I know, God willing, I will make it back out here, back out to the other side of the world. There will be more opportunities to travel, work, or study abroad again anywhere I desire.

• There’s more to life than the things you’ve already been exposed to
• Other countries seem to know so much about the United States but we are so clueless to what’s been going on around us in the world
• The few friends and family I find myself thinking of often have impacted my life and are dearly missed
• I’m not to interested in tourist things or perhaps the famous art, history, and architecture I am “supposed to” care about
• Emersion is the only way to learn another language
• God is not as apparent in the places I’ve visited, sadly
• Europe is way to expensive, and I’d rather spend my money on things other than overprized objects
• The people you meet and or already know can really open new doors for your life
• I need better clothes or maybe just better style
• Nutella is extremely addicting
• I’m giving up drinking until my 21st
• Music is still food to my soul
• I now understand what it feels like to be in the US and not speak good English, and I am sorry for having such little patience with those people. I’m coming home will a new view on language and a better understanding of hand gestures.
• Not being afraid to ask questions was the best way to learn more information about history, or politics, or language.
• I pretty much will eat everything except lettuce
• I am beginning to understand the things I desire in other people
• One person can make a big difference
• I cant be myself when I don’t feel comfortable with the way I look
• Eating delicately is a habit to acquire
• I truly love being in the car and just driving, seeing all there is to see
• Life is now, and its happening
• If you love to eat, it should be delicious
• Its time to start learning about my country and the beliefs I want to stand behind
• Reading is such a important resource
• When you dive deep into peoples lives you really can learn a lot about them and their culture-in return they allow you to view the good and bad about yourself.

I am not the only person in the world
I’m definitely not the most important,
My country isn’t better than any other
And my education has failed numerous times
But I wont be just another brick in the wall
I’m changing my thoughts, I am opening my mind
Thank you God for the opportunity to live life

Eau .. Vasa .. Acqua

I remember the morning I left France, Allison and I were at the breakfast table, of course eating Nutella and bread. Joseph comes in (surprising looking okay in regards to our night out the day before and offers Allison something to eat or drink-I cant remember-anyways as he reaches for his usual coca cola morning drink he spills the entire 2 liters all over the table, chairs, floor and wall behind him. I can still picture the bottle flying through the air. One thing I am glad about is not having to see his mothers reaction when they finally found out what happened. I miss laughing with that kid.

Germany was fun, I really had a good time the last days I was there hanging out with a few of Phillips sisters and getting to speak with his family. German dinner usually consisted of something small like bread, lunch meet, and cheese.

Amsterdam was crazy as I imagined. Lots of people, lots of drugs and smoke shops. I got to walk through the market and eat great free cheese from some small shop. I saw beautiful flowers and took a picture in front of Anne Franks old hiding place. Phillip Stephy and I walked through the Red Light District which was humming with business even at 2 in the afternoon. It was quite the site and rather disturbing at times. After Amsterdam we traveled a little outside the city and walked around looking at old homes and old windmills.

I really enjoyed my time with Beverly and one of the last nights I was there her and her sister Tessi really did me up. My face was covered with

makeup and they curled my hair before we all went out. I have to admit it was extremely fun even though I wasn’t sure I liked the way I looked.


I left Germany having experienced the autobahn, driving, eating cakes from other planets, rock climbing, realizing no one wears shorts, getting sick, watching Avatar/Good Will Hunting/Saw Shank Redemption, eating a Duran, and having Natalie do my nails.

After landing in Venice and flying with two empty seats beside me, it was so good to see Branden and Jessie. It was so nice to be greeted by family and not another empty country-although Germany felt pretty normal because everyone spoke English. After they picked me up we ate great Pizza and Calzones and headed back to their hotel. The two of them are somewhat in my shoes now, not knowing any Italian.

Today we saw the air force base and later went hiking. I think our hike could have been called incline walking because it was steep the entire way up. I ran into a snake and thought a lot about how much I miss France and speaking another language. You know the military wouldn’t have been a bad idea, all the benefits, discounts, and traveling. I think I would have liked it and I really enjoying speaking languages other than English.

Weirdest thing thus far about Italy is that the toilets in the shower oh and you really can drive in other countries with a state license. I drove here in Italy too last night.

A castle in Germany.

When you come home from the day and you don't begin to do the daily routine things you've just gotten used to, sometimes I think its easy to get lonely. I miss France and I miss home. I miss daddy too. I've seen some of Germany thus far and eating some good heavy food.

I am so glad to be staying at Phillips and very thankful that it all worked out. It really takes a lot of effort, time, and money to host someone in your home. After he and his girl Stephanie picked me up at the station we ate dinner and came home to watch a movie. Today we went hiking ate lunch and then Phillip and I went to the chocolate factory. It was actually really interesting.

The German language is definitely not the prettiest language spoken but its so interesting. Some of the words are similar to others of course and the pronunciation doesn't seem to hard, but I am fascinated with the length of their words, it seems like sometimes there missing spaces.
Man I should have tried to be a Linguist.

Oh and I didn't mention that Phillip who has 15 brothers and sisters lives in a castle. I mean it would make sense with a family his size but goodness this place is four stories with bedrooms everywhere including numbers on the doors similar to a hotel, an indoor pool, outside garden, and a bathroom attached to each room. The paintings, carpet, and furniture remind me of extreme royalty, but goodness this place is strangely not what I was expecting. 

Germany is very different from France but the people are similar in the sense that no one really talks or smiles at strangers. Oh and they don't wear shorts here. Fries and salad come with everything, and its still super expensive. The Germans aren't really proper like the French and they don't have a ton of rules or manners for the table or the way one may eat, but I do miss the fact of being with the St. Germain family and passing around the food to all the ladies first before the men dish there plates (of course with Ludo being last to take any)


Tomorrow I believe its the Netherlands.
AND I MISS SPEAKING FRENCH


Oh and Aimee I got your email. Congratulations on the new job (you deserve it and I am glad your so happy with things), I think I will write back tomorrow.... Bisous

Oh la la

For the first time this trip I feel a rush of sadness. There’s been a big change of emotion and I feel a little lost. My goodbyes this morning were a little disastrous just like the going out last night. After reading my ticket wrong and missing my original train I finally broke down and lost all composure. I am on my own now, I am getting older and I need to remember the important things in life, I need to remember or learn how to survive when everything around me is gone. I didn’t say goodbye to Patty this morning and I think I left Joseph and Ludo feeling a little stressed because I wasn’t confident in my departure or where the hell I was going. Charles left before I could see him, and Anna’s on a different train. After Joseph helped me get a new ticket he began speaking directions to me in French about what to do when I get into Paris and man was that the last string. It was difficult enough to understand my own thoughts in English. That aside I am on the train to Paris and Anna’s going to meet me. I just read Patty’s letter and I’ve got my Ipod to keep me company. Besides the fact that my bags weigh too much for my body I’ll be in Germany this evening- a new country! At least I am learning, gosh I have learned so much from this trip. Goodbye Grenoble. A bientot. I think looking back my only regret was sleeping too much and not getting up in the early morning every day to enjoy the beautiful calm mountains. I was happy with the present I made for the family and I cant wait to hang up the gift they got me.


Speaking of that gift- as Joseph would say its “dead.” After running to catch a tram to a different train station my gift fell out of my bag and under the tram I was about to take. At that moment I had the same feeling a child does when their precious ball rolls out in the street. Do I die trying to grab my gift or do I get on the tram and deal with the fact that its gone… and you know I actually had to think about it. Today was stressful so very stressful. If Anna wouldn’t have bought my ticket before I arrived and told me the general direction I think I might have been screwed. Oh la la, its been too much chaos for me. Oh and I forget to mention I lost the water bottle I bought in Grenoble and as I walking fast to the train earlier I almost didn’t my computer which fell on the ground in its case..

I am excited to be in a house tonight, I miss running in the streets of Corvallis, the type of bag I brought here was silly since I am not really backpacking, and I want my dang poster.

things i just might miss

Learning French

Never getting tired of being surrounded by hills and mountains every-which-way (and there even more beautiful with the towns lights right before night sets in)

Eating awesome dinners that magically appear every night

Anna and Patty the prettiest Spanish speaking women

Laughing with Joesph (tonight we sorta made a scene in the carfour while checking out.. being loud running out the aisles and moi speaking really bad french to him from far away- it was great)

Hiking for-sure (One of the things I look for in a man: Does he love to hike as well? And the following below....)

1. Love the Lord
2. Have the ability to make me laugh (good personality)
3. Catch my attention with great looks 
4. Die to Hike all the time
5. Have the same desire to get out and do and create and love many things in the world

Making great French friends like MeMe and Maxy, who are down to earth, true, go with the flow kind of people. Thanks for the booze, great conversation about stereotypes concerning French and American people, teaching me a little about the French lifestyle, and treating me like one of your own.

Regarding the great looking French men and especially all those who dress very classy

Having time to just sit and read novels

Sitting in bars and chatting with friends

Pink toilet paper

Dinner conversations with my family, an just sitting around after letting it all soak in

Friends gathered around a table with music and drinks, cards and foreign language

Walking everywhere

Ping Pong

And possibly just the simple fact of not being in a place I take for granted.

Attention

Skipped school on Friday. Went for a long hike up a beautiful mountain called ChameChaude with Anna Joseph and his cousins. It took a while but the top was beautiful. Completely consumed in clouds and little rock climbing. Its amazing though because most of the mountains here have sides that just disappear into nothing below.



After hiking and long naps.
Friday night I hung out with Max and Miliana, after Dinner and great pizza at a place in the ville with Gretchen, Ally and Cynthia. Max Miliana and I listened to music in the Jardin and traveled our butts all the way to another town to meet up with some of the friends. After the discothèque Max took us home to Milianas. Saturday morning I came home and hung out for a while at Anna’s. After another hike up way past the Bastille to Mont Jala behind my house, Charles and I ate dinner and then headed out to gather the crew. We spent the rest of the night with a good handful of French people. The house party was probably one of the most memorable times here. With Anna and Patty we spent the whole night dancing and drinking and swimming and dancing and laughing. 

• Patty fell peeing
• Patty was dragged in hands and feet into the pool
• Anna was eye rapped by everyone and if I was a man I would probably do the same
• Bisous with five hommes
• I lost Anna's shirt
• Prendre la douche with the three of us, including a disaster bathroom and a dumped drawn
• Charles kept composure as usual
• Remi woke up still unable to drive
• Patty made it to church with the family
• Sledding and biking down the grass hill
• Gaetan in the nuu
• And so much more

It was really quite the night. The French girls their were kind too so it made for a great night. For the first time, I actually felt like these kids weren’t so different from us. Sometimes the French can really come off as well dressed snooty people who don’t care to talk to anyone nor desire to know anything about who you are but last night was different. And I think we all had a crazy time. Anna and I slept at her house until mid afternoon and I am hoping to either get in some soccer or another hike.

Well I didn't do either but instead caught some sleep and hung out with Patty in the evening. Dinner was great as always-such good food. Later the three of us and Benwair CONQUERED our first TAG