February 24- March 13

The highlights were: Tuesday night at the pub with Nico, Friday night getting philosophical with Gary, Saturday at the cafe with the old men, Sunday at the chateau with the girls, Tuesday lunch with Emily, Wednesday hot chocolate writing letters with myself, Friday playing in Carcassonne with Elyse, Saturday with Elyse in Toulouse, Saturday night Jerome's birthday party at La Makhila, Sunday night dinner with the girls, and Monday night Susan's birthday party at the pub.

Tuesday night I went out with the assistants, but I ended spending the whole evening drinking and playing darts with Jerome, Nico, Bob, and Benjamin. We had a great night!

Friday night, I entered into a ridiculously profound philosophical conversation with my friend Gary. It made me happy, and feel like I haven't lost my edge!

Saturday, I did my usual routine of the market, and then met David, David, Pierre, Bob, and Daniel at La Saillon for a huge plate of meat (including chicken hearts!) and plenty of wine. We continued with coffee, and I found myself with David and David, just talking until 6 in the evening.

Sunday, we went to free castle day up in La Cite, followed by lunch at a restaurant, and later that evening a German movie at the cinema.

Tuesday afternoon after “work”, I met Emily at one of my favorite little lunch places. I've only been there twice, cause I don't eat out often in Carca (WAY too expensive!), but I really like it. It's owned by a French-Lebanese woman, and it's this tiny little hole in the wall covered with art work. Apparently, it's an artists collective, although I'm not exactly sure how that works. In any case, she makes one set dish every day, with Moroccan mint tea, and you come in and she just serves you what she has. The meals are always very fresh, healthy, and balanced. Tuesday for example was chicken with herbs, green beans, warm vegetable salsa, spiced carrots, green salad, bread, and tea. It's just a fun place to go, cause it's almost like a boarding hall- you go in and eat, totally relaxed and no fuss! I like places like that.

Wednesday afternoon I went to La Terrade for the best hot chocolate and a great view of Place Carnot to write letters and read.

On Thursday my very good friend Elyse Tishkoff came to town! We went out Thursday night for a drink with Jerome, Nico, Bob, and David. Then on Friday, we did Carcassonne! We had croissants and coffee in Place Carnot, went up to La Cite and walked around, had lunch at Intheieure 13, walked along the Canal du Midi, met girls for afternoon tea, had a picnic dinner of cheese and bread, then went out to the pub with a bunch of people for drinks. I think we managed to get almost everything in in one day!

On Saturday, we went to the market (of course) and had coffee. Then we took the train to Toulouse, where it was beautiful and everyone was out! I had decided definitively a couple weeks ago that I will be returning to the US and staying there next year, but being in Toulouse with all the young people and the sun out and everyone happy made me really want to stay here! I am so torn!

Saturday night was Jerome's birthday party at La Makhila, this funny Basque bar. So I went to that with Celia, Sarah, Charlotte, and Malick. We danced and sang (and I lost my voice!), and had a merry time!

Sunday evening we all had dinner together (Charlotte, Cristelle, Celia, Julie, Katie, Elena, Emily).

Finally, Monday evening we celebrated Susan's birthday at the pub with wine and about six different cakes! The whole crew was there, basically the core of the friends I've made here. It was really nice to hang out with everyone and just enjoy each other's company!

All right, that about catches us up! I know it sounds like I don't do anything here but go out and play with friends, and that's about right. I haven't been working lately because my students are on a two week internship. I have been doing lots of writing, however, and trip planning!

Hope you are all well! Bisous!