The last week and a half has been a whirlwind. So much so that I almost forgot that today is Thursday and I need to post something for my adoring fans. So here you have it. Last week I spent a dizzying 24 hours or so navigating Paris public transportation with major jet lag and intense humidity. Paris was a bit blase after all the reports I’d heard about it being the most beautiful city in the world. It seemed pretty average to me at first, but it really comes alive at night.
I was supposed to meet up with a new friend who was also headed to American Village, but having no cell phones our lines got crossed and I had to go it alone. I didn’t mind figuring out the route on my own, but it was a bit scary at times to wait for the train solo and figure out how to get to the Eiffel Tower and back again.
The Eiffel Tower was absolutely breathtaking. See it as soon as you can. I was in awe to finally see the real version of all the little earrings or tacky keychains I’d seen littering Paris gift shops. All I could do at first was look up. After a bit of wandering around and very touristy photo taking, I found a friendly French couple who had a wine opener and used my basic French to ask them if I could borrow it. My mini bottle of Cotes du Rhone and I walked around the tower as the light show began, and a pair of tourists asked me to take their photo. I ended the night by getting horribly lost and having to take a very pricey taxi ride back to my wee hotel on Rue des Plantes.
Yesterday I took my one requisite day off of the week, and it was lovely. My friend Bilbo from Ireland (everyone goes by nicknames here, remember I’m Clementine?) also had the day free so we ventured out to Mont St. Michel, a UNESCO monument and major French tourist attraction. It was beautiful! There were countless shops and restaurants lining the streets and Bilbo and I took a tour through the winding corridors and dim staircases of the abbey. After a blissfully kid-free lunch we took a barefoot stroll along the shore. A man rode by on horseback while tourists snapped away and I basked in the peaceful sunlight of a day off. It was magical.
So now it’s back to work. Every day lasts about 15 hours, after which the only thing I really want to do is sleep. I’ve been enjoying the early days and late nights, and getting to know each and every adorable (and sometimes patience testing) French children. I love my staff and we’re all very cohseive and connected, so it works. We need to be able to pull together hyperactive kids and last minute activities, which often requires boatloads of patience and a heavy dose of making fools of ourselves.
That’s all for now. I am beyond tired but it’s time for the dance rota, an afternoon activity in which the kids will be split into groups and taken all around camp to learn dances like the Soulja Boy and the Cha Cha Slide. I hope they like it! Tonight it’s our version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ which will, with the right preparation, wear them out efficiently. See you next week!
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