The END

Ahem, hello audience. I know that you're all rather upset that I haven't been posting any blogs lately. You're wondering Mary, what happened on the 19th, the 20th, and then the 21st when you left for Chicago? And your winter break? What of that? Relax those questions will be answered. Right now actually. The three days following the 18th of December were dull as hell for a blog. They were my last days of the semester but not a lot happened. I spent a good deal of time with Paula, on the 19th early in the morning I said goodbye to Kate, which was wonderful. However, it was basically just bumming around and talking. Paula didn't feel so hot the last few days, some bug, and I was still healing from my upper respiratory infection thus we didn't go out. As for class all I had were make-up medieval history lectures. Boring! So you see there wasn't anything to really say on those last days. As for break that is private. No nothing scandalous occurred; I spent my time with my family and friends. I did go snowboarding at Cascade which as always was a blast, but everything else was relatively tame. I socialized so there. Now here is a not-so-sad thing that is about to happen. This will be my last post, keep reading, on this blog. If you all can note the title of the blog it is Fall Semester. Think, this means that I will be making a Spring Semester blog. I am in the midst of creating this little beaut and will be posting the link to it on this post when it is ready. That blog will not start until my second semester starts. That means that you will have to wait which you are used to by now. Once finals are over I will begin to blog once more. Take it in audience, season one is finished but two is right around the corner. Thank you for being with me this far and I hope you continue to read my rambles.

Many thanks,

                        MareBear

The Second Semester Blog
http://marysblogadventurepart2.blogspot.fr/

December 18th

I had a voluntary early morning today. That's correct, the universe has now imploded upon itself. I've complained before about the time differences between France and the United States before, I'm sure that you remember audience. Well the issue of being nine hours ahead of the west coast bit me in the ass, no surprise. My brother Pete is a resident of sunny California and therefore nine hours behind French time. This became an issue when he and my friend KC, she who happened to be visiting Pete, wanted to skype chat with me at 10 pm Le Havre time. No internet in St. Nicolas, the Docks are closed, and the closest internet cafe is downtown and also closed. Crap. Thus I made the deal that I Mary would do the unthinkable, I would wake up early in order to chat with them over the internet. I was at the library 8:30 am sharp, but they didn't open the doors until 8:37 am, thank you France. I set everything up and was prepared to skype call my brother when the university wifi cut out, thank you Le Havre. Finally everything was functioning and I was able to speak with KC and Pete. It was great to see their faces after such a long time of absence. Fortunately I had a dry cough, last stage of being sick, to hide the fact that I was talking in the library. The librarian was very suspicious, but every time she looked over I went into a hull of painful coughing and was left alone. Excellent. After the morning chat with KC and Pete I dragged my tired, and hungry, self to class. Yup I had class today. Thanks to the numerous amounts of canceled class in Medieval History our professors decided to use the last week of class to host "catch up" lectures. Roar, that's all just a roar. Paula and I were there accompanied by the faithful fifth of the class to learn about abbeys. Oh it was riveting. I could not wait to escape back to St. Nicolas for a few hours of relax before tutoring. Brendon Urie you are a master at making the hours melt away with your mellow melodious music. Hours later my head was full of Panic! lyrics and Brendon's voice. I was ready to teach my kids. This last lesson of 2012 was adorable in so many lights. Alexis, the youngest, brought out some cookies for Louis and me to eat. While holding the plate Alexis said in English, "I made desh." I almost melted from how cute it was. Louis did wonderfully today with his speaking. We practiced some simple conversation questions which he answered properly. His accent is improving which from a teaching prospective is rewarding. Anne's lesson was more complex, as always, and covered a favorite grammar section of mine, relative pronouns. Oh how they are a pain in the ass in both languages. It ended with Alexis giving me a lovely wrapped Christmas present. Just going to say sweetest moment ever! It was a box of chocolate truffles no less. I could have never predicted that I would be tutoring English in France to children but I'm so glad that I am. Over break I will find something spectacular to give them, a piece of home in a way. Don't worry it won't be Hershey chocolate audience. After I received my present it was time to go. I gave everyone lots of kisses and wished them merry holidays. It was a strange walk home but a happy one. Truly it was.

December 17th

Mondays that start at noon, finally my dream has been realized! Honestly I'm not big on having Monday morning lunches at the university cafeteria due to the fact that French cuisine isn't exactly brunch-like. Plus I rarely enjoy anything they serve there. Twice I've asked for just salad and the chef looked at me as though I were on acid. Dude I just need my veggies, don't make me feel guilty for not wanting the salted mystery meat, probably rabbit, mixture. So topsy-turny. Today I actually did have a salad, but it was more than just lettuce. An all lettuce salad is something I call a turtle salad. See turtles, not a pun, like to eat just lettuce and an all lettuce salad is well, all lettuce. So it is something that a turtle would eat. It made sense when I was twelve audience, habits rarely die with me. I enjoyed my non-turtle salad with Paula at Espace Coty the local Le Havre mall. Paula and I had eaten at this cafe before and had enjoyed their salads. Thus we did a repeat today, it kicked ass. Kate met up later, about an hour actually, and the three of us sat down for some after lunch munch. Salads never freakin' fill! Unless they're spinach, drool. Right then, our after lunch snack session...it was delicious because for Paula and me it was sweet crepes. Kate actually ate lunch, again she had a salad, but Paula and I wanted more sugary sustenance. White chocolate crepes are possibly one of the most satisfying desserts known to the world, or at least to MareBear. After food, yes the food was finished, we window shopped for a bit, really not that long. Kate and Paula had to go, so sad for me, but I was able to stay and shop in the mall, so sweet for me. I needed to finish my Christmas shopping and did so rather efficiently. I found a lil something for both Paula and Kate, fingers crossed that their gifts agree with them, and also a few accessories for my boys back home otherwise known as Pete, Brian, and Timmy. I enjoy spreading the love of the holiday season and this year the love was hard to find! Well for the boys anyways. Normally I grab some suited gifts from Spencer's, belt-buckles and shot glasses are popular, but France has no store equivalent to Spencer's. Disappointing. For those of you who aren't familiar with Spencer's, it is one of the most crude and enjoyable gift stores in the States. They sell everything from Ninja Turtle wallets to anime blow-up dolls. Classy for sure. It is the perfect place to find gifts for the American male sex. This year I was without my golden ticket and had to actually browse random shops. I did win in the end though, the gifts were found and bought. I'm still recovering from my lung illness, I believe it has moved into my sinuses, thus I returned home after a long mall day. M-O-N D-A-Y R-O-C-K-S*, only this one time.

*M-O-N D-A-Y S-U-C-K-S sung to the Mickey Mouse Club theme song