Day One.

I arrived early sunday morning. So early. I hardly slept on the plane so I was awake for nearly 24 hours. And then I was up all day. YAY JETLAG.

Jean-Yves picked me up at the airport and drove me straight home. The early morning light and mist made everything soft. Sceaux, the village where I am staying, is very close to Versaille and the man who designed the gardens of Versaille also designed a garden right here in Sceaux. (or something like that). More about the garden in a minute. The Renault’s house is just gorgeous. It is a big old house with a blue fence and a lovely backyard. The downstairs is still being renovated.

They are all very proficient in English which, honestly is very helpful, mostly because of the jetlag. I did get to hear them speak French and I spoke a little bit of French with them. They also speak English with eachother sometimes which is really very helpful. I think they will slowly move to more French in general so that I can learn more, but I will keep speaking English with the kids. Some of their friends came over and they were speaking very fast French so that was fun and also scary…

I keep singing songs in my head that are English songs but I automatically translate them to French. My favorite so far was “C’est ma vie, c’est maitenent ou jamais” ( That’s “It’s my life” by Jon Bon Jovi. Also, “pomme derriere jeans et bottes avec la POILS, AVEC LA POILS” (Apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur) WHY

a few fun facts: “wifi” is prounounced “weefee”

Coline was making fun of people with bad French accents when they speak English.

Le phrase plus importante pour moi, ça c’est “excuse-moi de vous déranger madame…” it means “I’m sorry to disturb you madame…”