The Cemetery

Well, I’m sitting in my apartment debating whether or not I should go to bed. Now don’t get all excited; I know what you’re thinking. No, I still don’t have internet. I’m typing this in Word and will post it to my blog whenever the heck I feel like going to McDonald’s again. Who knows when that will be? As one of the other assistants kindly pointed out, I’m sure living up to the stereotype. But let me tell you, I’ve been to McDonald’s more in the last three and a half weeks than I have in the past six months at home.

The internet… What a headache. If there were one thing I could have asked for in my room when I got here (okay, besides a bed, clean sheets, my own shower, etc.), it would have been internet. I mean, I realize it’s not absolutely necessary, but it’s so hard to function now without it. Anyway, I was supposed to pick up my wifi box last Friday. I’ve gone every day since, and it’s still not in yet. Looks like it’ll be November by the time I get a connection in my room. And I’m not really exaggerating either. And you know what? I’m paying for it right now. If anyone really wants the whole story, feel free to ask for it. But for now I’ll spare you all the frustration and keep it to myself.

I’ve been bored out of my mind for the past couple days. Well, actually much longer than that, but I’m past the stage where I need to constantly go out and buy things I need in order to live. I have what I need, and I’m bored. I’ve played enough games of spider solitaire to last me a lifetime it feels like. Seriously, I should have learned in Pau exactly how life-saving my Full House DVDs were. A few nights ago I had a dream about them. I was in my house looking right at them, telling myself I was so dumb for thinking I didn’t bring them with because clearly they were right in front of me. Then, in my dream, I snapped out of it and realized I wasn’t in France, but at home. So there was no need to need them. Another night I had a dream that a random television and DVD player appeared in my room here. Wait, not one, but two! And I was SO excited and telling myself that I must be dreaming. But the TVs kept working and it sure felt real. In my dream, I knew it was too good to be true, so I told myself to jolt myself awake, and if I didn’t wake up, it was real. I tried once and it didn’t work. The second time I woke up for real and realized how disappointed I was. THAT is how bored I am.

Sunday I went for a long walk. I’ve seen these houses out my window far in the distance on top of a hill. I’d been wondering what it’s like up there, so Sunday I decided to go find out. Well actually, first I started by walking down roads I’ve walked by all the time but never gone to. I ended up walking aaaaall the way around Lure. I mean I didn’t compare it on a map or anything, but I’m pretty sure I walked pretty far. Anyway, I found my way to the top of this hill. Nothing special, but it was kind of cool to see the city from a different view.

On the way home, I walked by the cemetery. It’s right next to the school where I live, but on the opposite side from where I walk every day, so I don’t see it often. This is no ordinary cemetery. Maybe it is for France, or Europe in general, but let me tell you, I’ve never seen such a sight. I’d gone by it a few times before, but this time I decided to go inside. At first I was super creeped out and hesitated to walk in very far. But then I realized how interesting it was. So interesting that I decided to finally get my camera out and take pictures. Yes, you heard right. I took pictures in the cemetery. I don’t know if my words can explain how cool (?) this was. See for yourself.

Man, these things make my dad’s “huge” bench look miniscule. I remember once going to the cemetery at home with my aunt, and we just walked around being amazed and interested in what all the headstones said. Let me tell you, Susie, if you thought that was fun, you’d have a blast here!

It’s finally starting to get cold out. It’s no longer horribly hot whenever I go anywhere in the afternoons. In fact, I think I need to go buy myself some gloves. I’m excited for winter. Everyone keeps telling me that it gets sooo cold here. I can’t imagine it getting any colder than I’m already used to. And you know what? I’d rather walk the 50 feet to work every day in the snow than shovel my car out of it, cross my fingers it actually starts in the morning, and hope I don’t get in an accident. We’ll see how I feel though once I have to walk to get groceries in it. That’ll be fun.

Okay, now it's the next day, and I'm actually at McDonald's. McDonald's is now becoming my idea of going out on Friday night. Yep. This is about as exciting as it gets around here. All I do is eat, sleep, walk, and try to find ways to get online... with a little bit of work in between.

Can I just say that one thing I hate about being away from home is that I'm never myself? I mean I am, but I don't feel 100% myself on the outside. I don't have enough shoes. I don't have enough pants. I don't have enough every-day shirts. I don't stay up to date on my haircuts because I don't NEED to, and on a limited budget... yeah. I don't have my every-day things that I normally use at home. It's like living "temporarily" for a really long time. That's pretty much stating the obvious, but whatever. It's true.

Now that I've met more students, they're starting to actually say hi to me when I walk by them either in school or anywhere else. And they get all excited when I respond back. In English. ;)

Only one more week until vacation. And yes, I'm going places. I won't tell you where though until it's closer. But I'm excited. :) And if my internet isn't up and running by the time I get back, I'm going to be raging mad.

Okay, I think that might be it for the day.