I'm playing basketball again!

 Well shoot (get it?? haha), basketball in France. I didn’t see this coming.

I shall start from the beginning. I volunteer at the library, and the woman I work with asked if I wanted to go play basketball with her team. I was thinking the rec league, slow-pitch softball version of basketball. NO. Because France doesn’t really do sports via school, people play through their city or department (there are 98 departments… so its kind of like a state/county). Well, not to brag but I want to brag a little. I went to play and they asked me if I wanted to play next year on the 1^st level team (that’s the best level) for this city near Angers! YAY! We did drills and I felt quite rusty. But it was so fun and better than my sad attempt at running (20 minutes once a week is “running” right??). And I learned lots of new phrases via … the process of feeling like an idiot.

Shot = tir

Free throw = lancer franc (like FRONT LAUNCH)

Screen = écran

Key = la zone restrictive

On offense = on attaque (WE ATTACK)

This girl kept yelling at me to get out of the key after three seconds and I’m thinking “back off, I am getting out of the key”… but ACTUALLY, the key is a weird non rectangle shape so I wasn’t indeed ever stepping out of the key. Mehhhhh I don’t really care. Anyways, we ended with beer … I mean obviously right, and for some people a smoke break, not for me of course but good gracious these women must be severely more fit than me if they can smoke AND play basketball for two hours.

Also I should mention that before this Marianne invited me to her house to help celebrate her daughters fourth birthday. Before dinner, her daughter Thémis and I played in the garden, putting grass in a big barrel of water, then putting our hands in (all the way!) and then taking water out and putting in on the grass. And then she soaked me with water. Good to know children are the same in every country right? Furthermore she told her mom she “gave a bise (kiss) on the mouth of someone at school.” And her mom asked who? Arthur. Her mom said but we explained kisses on the mouth are just for amoureux (lovers). The daughter evidently replied “Bahhhh oui Maman, je suis amoureuse avec lui” (Duhhh Mom I am in love with him). It was adorable to say the least. For dinner we had, ready: rice, tuna, corn, avocado, tomato, and hardboiled eggs mixed together with mayonnaise. It was surprisingly delicious. And obviously cake for dessert, did I mention her boyfriend’s a pastry chef?

Now I am playing every Thursday with the team and if I get to stay next year I will keep playing! The girls and nice and I feel very awkward yelling “écran” or “tir” but I do my best to make an effort, and not push anyone too hard… just yet. 

Romania, and a little bit of Paris too!

Bucharest Bucharest Bucharest! What a treat! I decided to go on this trip to Romania mostly because I had extra funds (thank you French welfare system) and because my friend Amy has family there, but it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable trips I have been on in all my travels. Also I have heard it mentioned that people remark that my blog usually mentions delicious food, and this entry will not disappoint… Is there a job called “international food taster of delicious things”?

Upon arriving, Amy’s family immediately asked if I like Indian food… ummm yes!! France may not do Indian well but Romania failed me not. Amy’s family could not have been better hosts and also offered us other treats that I had not had in a long long time – blue corn chips with cheddar cheese, salsa and JALAPENOS. Her family works in Foreign Service (and buys some of their food at the commissary) so I got enjoy many American foods I have been missing.

The first full day we had, Amy and I explored downtown Bucharest which is a huge untapped tourist market. The Romanian currency, the Lei, is about 3:1 with the dollar and 4:1 with the euro, meaning Amy and I could afford some luxuries we otherwise can’t, like lunch WITH beer. We strolled and enjoyed the strange juxtaposition of communist style buildings right next to Parisian buildings. Earlier in the 19/20th century, Bucharest was often referred to as “little Paris”. Unfortunately during Ceausescu’s (trying pronouncing that) rule, most of the city was leveled and only a small part of the old city remains (Amy’s family also provided lots of historical info!). Amy and I had a first experience with “Wow, no one speaks English and we feel stupid not knowing anything” when trying to ride the metro. Since the city doesn’t really cater to tourists there are really no directions for the metro, let alone some in English. Makes you feel really really lame to just hold up two fingers and hope you get two tickets in return. Oh and that night we enjoyed a really delicious Thai dinner, Romania two for two as far as awesome meals…

The next day we packed up (Amy’s cousin, his wife, their two year old daughter and four month son) to head to Dracula’s Castle! Bran castle and one certain royalty inspired the character for Dracula. It was a lovely castle and great to drive about two hours through mountains and hillsides, and see another part of Romania.

Sunday was basically Romanian Labor Day and we went to Bucharest’s version of Central Park. That evening we enjoyed a FABULOUS Romanian meal (three for three) at a traditional restaurant with house brewed beer, spicy beef rolled in cabbage leaves with polenta, hot peppers, sauerkraut, and cream. It was freaking amazing. I am actually surprised I could fit it all in my stomach but it was just too good.

The last day we hung around center city more, discovered awesome Romania pastries (we just took chances but ended up with: some puffy pastry treat with pork and cabbage inside… we think), and saw the ridiculous, drove-the-country-into-bankruptcy building that is now Parliament (started by Ceausescu). It’s enormous, we took an one hour tour as saw 2% of the building. Everything inside is from Romania – marble, crystal, beautiful rugs and room after room of ridiculousness. When the people revolted in 1989 they wanted to blow up the building but then after doing some calculations they figured it would cost more to blow it up than to finish the 30% that was left. There is a fantastic balcony that Ceausescu built on which he intended to give motivating speeches, unfortunately for him the only person to ever use that balcony was Michael Jackson when he said “Hello Budapest” by accident. Opps.

 (notice Amy against the far back wall in this photo... that's how big the room is)

I headed back to Paris and immediately on to the Moulin Rouge, quite possibly the most fantastic, unbelievably magical, glittery, sparkly, wonderful hour and 45 minutes of my life. UNBELIEVABLE, from the second I walked in, I knew it was going to be worth every penny. On the train home, my friend commented “you know what would be funny? … If we had real jobs”. Now certainly the children are a REAL job but I think she was pointing out that it’s a Tuesday night and we’re riding our train back from the world’s most famous cabaret in Paris after traveling from Romania earlier that day. I never for a second stop feeling so incredibly lucky. ☺

The following days included: more Chinese dumplings, going to enormous(ly beautiful) Versailles, and lounging in front of the Eiffel Tower. Back to Angers, back to teaching, and starting national exam testing.

I hope all is well at home! Much love and best wishes all around!