Updated foot photo

Believe it or not, this is the healthy progression of a second-degree burn... It's gross, but I can't help but be fascinated - I've never had a boo-boo this bad before...

Today sucks; yesterday was better...

So, see the post below for my adventure today... I'm off work at least until Tuesday because of it, and possibly through all of next week (which really means until Jan. 8th, as vacation starts next weekend) - and while that may seem good, I am not meant to be paid for it, since I'm new to the French system... the principal at my school is working with me, though, and told me to just come talk to him about it again on Monday, when I can go for more than 30 seconds before bursting into tears...

Anyway, yesterday was a train day - I got up at 5 am, got on a train at 6, and didn't get home until 9 PM... I spent the morning in Paris, the afternoon in Amiens, and an hour in Lille before catching my train homeward... And to top all that off, the controlleur didn't stamp my railpass, so if I can turn a 14 into a 19 or a 29, I've got a day of free travel coming up. Not that I can even make it to the train station in Charleville at the moment, but I'm sure this burn will heal quickly.

At least, I hope so.

So, here are some pics from hier... enjoy!

Amiens Cathedral - the largest in France.


















Store window in Paris...














The head of John the Baptist, acquired in 1206

















Rimbaud (who was born in my hometown) sculpture in Paris















A sunny day in Paris... beautiful!

AAAAAIIIIEEE!!! (ouch.)

Well, I've never found myself to be extremely clumsy, but I proved myself wrong this morning, when I dropped my kettle, full of boiling water, onto my left foot. It hurt at least as much as it looks like, and on top of that, I was shuttled to the hospital in an ambulance, while trying to explain everything in French... I did learn a lot of new words, so that' s a plus, I suppose...

Bruges... and beyond

so, a few cool things about traveling alone...
- I get asked for directions all the time... guess I must look like I know where I'm going (I don't)
- I get to walk at my own speed.
- I get to choose what to see and what not to bother with...
- No one knows I'm a foreigner, since I don't walk around speaking English all day. (Bonus: I don't have to speak to anyone all day...)
- I can go to grocery stores in every neighborhood, looking for the cool unique items that can only be found there...
and, I can eat really cheap, since I only get food at grocery stores...

but, there are some down sides, too...
- no one to talk to
- no one to eat with
- no one to laugh with
- no one to hold hands with
- single hotel rooms are expensive!!
- can't really walk around much after dark; just seems foolish so far from home, and in unknown areas...

Anyway, my trip to Bruges was a combination of all of the above... I'm really glad to have gone, and look forward to going back with T. and enjoying the romantic side of the city a bit more:

Vacances de Toussaint!

Glad I thought to take a couple pics on the first day; the rest of the time in the Netherlands it was rainy and very cold. The first day was lovely, though!


For the American assistant who decided not to come; I brought you back a picture, but that's it!




We had the most beautiful weather I've ever experienced in Paris this time; tank tops in November, you've got to be kidding me!!




I love the random art everywhere in the city; this is outside one of the side entrances to the Louvre... really cool to stumble upon...

One the way to the prefecture...

Internet in my room!

Wow! finally got the NeufBox package that we've been waiting for... still no high-speed WiFi, but that should only be a week or two away... right now I've got old-school dial-up that is really slow, but at least I can finally use my laptop!!!! Woot!

So, here are some random pictures from the last few weeks...

This is the park across the street from the train station in Charleville...















This is me grinning to myself in the same park; I know, I'm a goober! This is on the way to do my final administrative task: request a residency card, or as the Frence call them, la carte de Sejour... The lady at the window was so impressed with my 'dossier' that she took care of everything really quickly... Having lived here before comes in handy sometimes...


The banks of the Meuse river, two blocks from my school/home...

Well, each pic is taking at least ten minutes at this point, so I'm afraid that's all I've got... more later...