It's been a while since I have written on our blog. We are settling into a routine here. Joe is commuting to Oxford from Tuesday to Friday, Abby is working hard at school, and I am keeping busy doing a variety of things. I find it takes longer to get things done here because it takes longer to get anywhere. But it all works out.
I am attaching some photos from Joe's cellphone. Two are from when he went to a meeting in the 7th arrondissement: one with the eiffel tower in the neighborhood and another with pigeons enjoying a baguette at the rue Cler market. Next are a bunch of photos from a Sting concert at the end of September. The administrator in Joe's office here in Paris gave us tickets for the floor seating. Her brother works for LiveNation. Sweet!!!!!! He was amazing on stage. His voice is better than ever. Then finally there's a photo of the dining hall at Balliol in Oxford, where Joe is staying. Does it look like anything you've seen in movies? (HP)
(Joe now)
The Oxford commute is stressful but it's also a pretty impressive place. It's a very different kind of academic institution, beginning with the expectation that most fellows of Balliol College will attend Wednesday night dinners (you have to inform them if you will not). Everyone has been very gracious. Abby is finding her school challenging but we're proud of how she's handling it. The French teachers are supposed to be mean, and there have been times they weren't nice in class, but they say nice things in the "carnet" -- the notebook which we're supposed to check frequently for communications about her performance. It is all very structured here... as opposed to Oxford, where there appear to be many more pubs than colleges, and there are 39 colleges! The Master of Balliol (yes, there is a Master, and a Praefectus, and so on) says the secret of Oxford is that it's all so totally decentralized. I'm not sure the French know the meaning of that word...
(Sydelle again)
I thought I would tell you a little bit of my activities. I of course do laundry and clean house and go grocery shopping. All of which are as mundane here as they are at home. Shopping at the open markets is a little more fun but I remain intimidated by the french language. I have begun french lessons tuesday and thursdays for 1.5 hours each day. There are now 10 women in this class and we are very supportive of each other. The teacher is great and very funny. The time flies. Also the Parent-in-Adaptation (PIA) at abby's school have lots of activities for us stay home moms. I have been on some tours as you know and am planning to tour Luxembourg Garden on Monday Oct 18. They have a tour guide so we learn alot and get to meet more parents with kids at eabjm. Last week we toured a chocolatier's factory where they make not only chocolate but macaroons. These macaroons are not what you get for passover. They are round with a filling inside. Scrumptious!!!!! The chocolates - well what can I say???? The chocolate master explained there were different types of chocolate depending on where in the world the bean was grown. The flavor is different. So very interesting.
I got some macaroons for Abby's birthday which was oct 10 as i am sure you all remember. We had no cake but macaroons and Joe's ice cream. By request I made mashed potatoes and meatloaf. One blue plate special comin' up. A good birthday for her. Can't believe she is 14!!!! Ahhhhhh the time is flying.
Thanks for reading our blog. Enjoy the pictures.
Still missing you all.
Sydelle
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