Well, like every summer in France, the busy season has descended upon us (along with the heat), and the no-time-for-blogging is about to begin. This summer, with less team mates and a baby being born any minute...I've labeled this season The Crazy (the noun, not the adjective). Thankfully, The Crazy is shorter than normal this year (I remember back in 2008 when it was 10 weeks...how did I ever do that?!). I should be back to blogging sometime in July.
Here's the last few weeks:
My quilting class is up to six women now! Who knew that what began as a hobby in 2006 and grew into a dream (while in Morocco!) in 2007 would one day be realized? Yay.
Last week, I heard continued sirens and commotion outside my window during my morning quiet time. I finally opened the shutters to see what was going on and oh my! The building across from mine had a fire. I never saw any flames, but did see the smoke and got to watch the firemen in action for a good long while. Here is one opening the shutters to let the smoke out:
I was enthralled watching this firemen go up up up in his ladder as he checked each floor to make everyone had gotten out.
This is how they roll up the hose: around their knees!
He went all the way up to the top floor! So thankful for the bravery of firemen, policemen, and military!
Did I ever post this confetti picture from Instagram? Can't remember. This is from Carnaval.
Remember all last year when I would make hundreds of cookies at my place for an Oasis event? Now I get to do it in their awesome kitchen! Woot!
I got a few inches cut off a few weeks ago. It took TWO stylists to get all my hair dry!
This is Josette. She's my favorite peidnoir ever. She comes to one of the centers and cusses like a sailor and even though she acts like Eeyore she makes everyone laugh all the time. Love her.
Another Marseille weirdism: For a little while, with no explanation, there was a giant plastic hot pink high heel shoe at the Vieux Port.
I got to ride a boat for free on the Med one Sunday for about 1.5 hours. Glorious.
We've begun selling the jewelry and it's going great! The first sale kicked the women into high gear and they've begun producing the most beautiful items!!! They're also really getting along and having fun with each other now as well, and that is just sweet honey to my heart.
I went out with one of the summer interns the other night, and when we left the restaurant, this was my view:
I do love the Vieux Port. Honestly, I love Marseille. Last night, Manue said to me while we were having ice cream out at the Port, "You're really going to miss this city when you leave." I know, Manue, I know. I had fun at dinner last night cracking her up with the little Frenchisms (body language and exclamations, not necessarily phrases/words) that I have learned through the years to make. Here's one for all you Americans:
"OOH la la" as you know it in America does not exist in France. It's not pronounced "ooh," it's pronounced "oh." And it is a negative exclamation 95% of the time. I've very rarely (if ever) heard it as a positive exclamation. And the more las you add at the end, the bigger of a mess you're facing when you exclaim oh lala! So what do the French say for a positive exclamation?
In Manue's words: "We don't. The French are a negative people." Haha.
Happy June, everyone. I'll be back eventually...
