prodigal

After a somewhat crazy week, I find myself glad its Friday, which is the first time I've had that feeling since being in France. Honestly, its the first real Friday I've had; every other weekend has been a trip to somewhere else outside Dijon. And after this week, I need some relaxation time.

After getting back from Normandy on Tuesday night, a super hard test and a ton of homework kept me from catching up on sleep.

Not to mention my birthday on Wednesday, which meant salsa dancing til late, and a cocktail party with all the Wake students and their host families last night followed by my first experience at a boite de nuit (literally translated, means "box of night"...its essentially a dance club).

Today we didn't have class, so I slept in until 11. It was glorious. I met MaryKate, Kara, Jenn, and Carleigh for lunch. Wright and Peter are in Munich for Oktoberfest, Miles is in London, and Lauren went to Geneva. I almost went to Geneva, but I could not be more glad that I chose to stay in Dijon this weekend. My host family invited me to the country again, which would have been nice, but Monday morning I leave for a two week trip through the Loire Valley and Paris. I've got clothes to wash, packing to do, and things to study, so I decided to stay here in Dijon.

I went to FNAC this afternoon, kind of like a BestBuy with a book section, and bought a French Bible and a random French novel. I think its going to be kind of like a beach read, but thats what I wanted because it will be fairly simple and entertaining to read. Kara, Jenn, and MaryKate each bought books too, so we're going to read and rotate.

After FNAC, Jenn and I went and hung out in the park, and then I headed back here to the house to chill and do some laundry. Tonight Jenn is having all the girls over for a movie night/slumber party at her house. She's got microwave popcorn. YUM. I am constantly amazed and thrilled that our group has bonded as well as we have. It's great.

This week has been a weird week for me. Exhaustion, birthday away from home, and disappointment mixed with dancing, new friends, and quality time with my host family. I'm living in this awkward place between being so happy and having an amazing time, and yet feeling frustration and disappointment and a bit of homesickness.

This weekend will give me some quality alone time, and I think that's exactly what I need. I need some time to recenter, refocus, clarify, comprehend, drink it all in...I've been living at the speed of lightening since getting here, but this weekend, I think, I can just live. I'm planning to spend most of Saturday lounging at the park, reading in the sunshine, and people watching all the while.

So here's to wonderfully green French parks, a new Bible in a new language with new lessons, and the sun and the wind on my face.