...dans les rues à bordeaux....

Dear friends:

It has been awhile since I've written. In the next few posts, I will slowly catch you up to my life again. Of the past 5 weeks. I went on vacation for 21 days , visiting 6 countries and more than 12 cities. I brought along a huge suitcase, but still, it was not big enough to fit you all in it. Pas de souci, at last, I have returned <3.

Since I have been back, learning French has became my addiction. I find myself spending hours disaphering phrases and tangling my tongue with novel combinations of syllables, mesmerized by this transforming process. Even keeping my sanity with all the random rules and exceptions of complicated french grammar can be a pleasure if the weather is good outside. I long for a day when words can just flow through my throat without inhibition or hesitation in their natural rhythm. But for now, I must wrestle and tame my awkwardness.


A few times a week, I will take my book french and bring it dans les rues à bordeaux. The words I stacked in my brain will surface themselves with no particular order during a conversation. That makes talking to me enjoyable for.....very few people. I am grateful of those patient enough to listen and to correct me over and over again.

I realized that the more french I know, the more vibrant my social life would be. Here it has also began to build upon itself. One evidence is that my cell phone is no longer just decorative, but necessary again.


To give you an idea, this week alone, I was recognized on the street by people I know_twice! Ahh...those were the highlights. Next time, I will be prepared to sign an autograph.

Last saturday afternoon, one of my friends invited me to dinnner across town. I took quite a short cut to get there. Can you keep a secret? I am convinced that spiderman lives in Bordeaux.



That night at her house, I had Raclette for the first time. It was such a delicious meal that I am still salivating just from the memory of it. It is a bit DIY, which you take these special raclette cheese, melt it over the grill, pour over hot potatoes on your plate, then eat everything with meat and salad. Simple ingredients that do wonderfully sophisticated tricks on your taste buds.


My friend has a reputation of being a professional cook. I couldn't resist but to peak into her kitchen. To my estonishment:


there stood a WASHING MACHINE!!??

Maybe the invention of a dishwasher was inspired after visiting a french kitchen. Or maybe the machine is the grand master chief behind it all. Or maybe even more. Not only one can demand for a delicious dinner with the touch of a button, but the machine can also extend it's magical power to clothes washed here. When wearing such fabrics, one possess the golden finger to turn any material into edible food. In that case, light bulbs can taste like marshmallows, tables and chairs are like cereal bars, and one can shake hands with a friend and there start cannibalism. Midas didn't die of greed, but of gluttony. Or maybe simply, the washing machine can be a useful storage place. For example, if I am not satisfied with my salmon, I will just put it back, let it swim a while longer in and out of my socks.


Imagination was my dessert for the meal.

Life in Bordeaux is like a box of "Macaron", I pick my flavors and I am always surprised...