Forgive me for wearing my heart on my sleeve
Its been two weeks that I've pecked away at my life story and my life beliefs. Slowly they are coming together and stored conveniently on my hard drive. With the contemplation that it takes to piece together one's history, comes another weight brought on by the grand questions of life. What am I doing? How will it end? Have I taken a wrong turn?

Each night I lay to rest these questions and confidently ask only for the strength for tomorrow. Why I offer up who and what I am: Grace to the broken. ...way more valuable than my life...

today i had a thought:

two years ago i was located in portland oregon usa.
today i live in a paris suburb.
two years ago i worked at starbucks on 45th and glisan street.
today i work with cbi.
two years ago i drove a '95 toyota camry that i called little genie.
today i don't have a car.
two years ago i did my shopping at fred meyer on 102nd and glisan.
today i bought my groceries at tang frere in lognes france.
two years ago i got my exercise by going swing/lindy hop dancing at the viscount on burnside and 6thish.
today i went for a vigorous morning walk around the town to exercise.

how my life has changed... and yeah, it was all one thought.

words from Garry Friesen, professor, friend and author of Decision Making and the Will of God:

I recently gave some marriage advice in my Bible class. By the way, none of my marriage advice has been contradicted by my experience. Since my marriage experience is minimal, actually nil, I usually end my comments with “but, what does a single guy know.” A lady from my Bible class e-mailed me and asked, Could you write down those points you gave at the end of class? We had just finished a discussion of husband/wife relations and specifically the submission of wives to husbands (complementarian view in contrast to the egalitarian view). “Ladies,” I said, “if you believe in the submission of wife to husband, I have three suggestions.”
(1) Don’t say yes to the proposal of a wimp. Trying to follow someone who is afraid to lead is impossible.
(2) Don’t marry a man who uses his leadership as a power trip rather than a chance to show sacrificial love. (Test him by finding out how he treats his sister and his mother).
(3) Don’t marry a man who is hooked by pornography. You will never be able to satisfy a man who is in the process of perverting his sexual desires.

But, then again,
what does a single guy know,

Garry

Return to my Roots

All my youth, my loving parents sent me off to school with the typical american lunch: PBnJ sandwich, juice box, piece of fruit, and couple cookies. It was the staple on which I survived as a student, an athlete and musician. For the last week, it has become my comfort food and lunch. PBnJ on toasted bread, piece of fruit, juice and whatever little sweet thing I can find.

I just completed my first working draft of a biographical sketch. This too has been an adventure down memory lane. As I reread my story, my childhood and history of my walk with God, it is with some pain and then joy that I contemplate where I've been. The story could be much longer than 5 typed pages but the application for which it is destined says no more than 6.

summary of recent email from CBI:

Hi,
welcome to the party.
here are 10 thousand steps to finish by May 13th.
see attached.
see attached.
see attached.
see attached.
see you in June,
Linda

I can't get it out of my head: the crucifixion of this innocent God/Man. This morning I entered a cinema to watch The Passion of Christ. I purposefully chose the daytime and strategically picked Good Friday. My stomach knotted as I climbed the escalators into the shopping and cinema complex. I could barely speak out the words, "one place for the Passion, please". I organized myself with a neat pile of tissue and my water bottle as they rolled previews for Monster and a french comedy about marriage.

And then, I watched this Jesus take on the sin of the world. He healed while being arrested, He was silent when accused, He sacrificed his power when tortured, and He triumphed when he died. I wept the whole film and the girl next to me sobbed the whole time. I can still hear her. My heart weeps as I remember the weight of my sin that fell upon Him. What a scandal, this cross- that an pure and holy God receive the just punishment deserved of men.

Good Friday must have been one of the longest yet shortest days in history. Long- an agonizing day that saw the fearsome wrath of God on the Sin of the world. Short- It is finished. Today I will remember that my sin is paid for. By one man sin entered the world and by One Man, it is paid for.

This Summer
This morning I had a phone call confirming my summer desire. I'll be taking off for Basque Country in late June. The purpose is to explore the mission field, meet people, participate in the current ministries and a September surf outreach, and get wet. Its about time I learned to surf...
...keep watching for more info...

When it rains here during the springtime it works like a faucet: there are two positions= "on" and "off". When it is on, you look for cover so you won't be pelted to tiny bits and wetter than a drowned cat. When it is off, you warm up in the sun and watch the steam rise from the puddles that you are stepping around.

The fearless Gideon team headed out for a second round of street interviews and gift delivery in the town of Chelles France. What is Easter all about? We get a variety of responses: chocolate, the kids, family, long weekends; bells in Rome, 'something catholic' or is it Jesus? Easter is the day we remember Jesus' victory over death. We will live again: One for all, once and for all! Better decide before its too late.

I'm still chuckling to myself after reading how to not embarrass myself at a Baptist church by the TallSkinnyKiwi.

sorrow: ...this mountain's high/ too high for us...
...your ways are high/ too high for me... Martin Smith

I was asked "why?" the other day by a young woman. Why these horrible things? Why these deaths, wars, diseases...? All I can say is I wish I had an answer. God is just too huge for me to understand. And so instead I ask for compassion, Lord!

Creative idea #57 gone kaput: spaghetti is 1cm too long to fit in a Pringles can.

Emerging Church publishes my supervisor's words.

I just bought Delirious? 's World Service album! I've been waiting what seems like an eternity to get my paws on it! I listened to the prereleases until they stopped letting me stream them... but NOW... ah thank you iTunes!

This wednesday, the 31st, is the day of prayer and fasting for the Pays Basque in France. 40 days have been organized to pray for France over the period of Lent. I'm tossing it into overdrive this week as I pray and communicate with my mission agency in CO about applying for full-time ministry in this unreached corner of France.

The italians brought the sun...
Well, they aren't exactly italian but they are my friends who came passing through Paris this weekend and they came in from Italy. It was wonderful to visit with Fae and Debbie, Kimi and Jenny... Thanks for your warm presence here in Paris- you lifted my spirits, like the sun always does.

I will never forget the organ playing randomly as we sat in St Eustache today. Sun rays flooded the stained glass of the gothic cathedral and I set my face toward the glow capturing the moving light with my camera. The majesty, reverance and beauty- reminds me of my God.

I joined a rainbow of faces at church today. We celebrated birthdays, Audrey's dream coming true (she's going to CA for the summer), and friendship today at the Claye church.

Yesterday I contemplated the idea of getting some design training. I stumbled upon some of the crazy flash sites that make you want to learn how. It was my day off, my day to dream. I even slept like it was my day off last night.

Today, I have compiled some photos from Barcelona. My brother and I dared to venture into the terrorized country just after the March 11 bombings for a little skating. I'm not a skater but moreso a photographer, and filmer in this case. It took us about 2 days and 10 falafels to meet some guys who then joined us for another couple falafels. German, Spanish, Canadian, Irish, American- thanks kyle reynolds, for the pharmacy sweatshirt- the NYC guys know PDX and the DEPT. Joey, Thomas and guys- hope we meet again some day!

Brie with Sun-Dried Tomatoes


1 pound Brie
2 Tbsp. minced, fresh parsley
2Tbsp. freshly grated parmesan
4 sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drain, reserving 1 Tbsp. oil, mince)
6 cloves garlic, minced and mashed to a paste
4 leaves fresh basil (or 1 Tsp. dried, crumbled)

Remove rind from Brie with a sharp knife. Place Brie on a serving plate. In a small bowl, combine parlsley, parmesan, tomatoes, garlic and basil. Add reserved oil and combine well. Spread mixture over Brie and let stand at room temperature one hour before serving. Serve with French bread or crackers.

Thanks Anne, it was a hit!

Monday: the sun is shining...wait a minute... not now... but now.... It's springtime in Paris.
taptaptap, I have about 100 emails needing response and Monday is my day to write them.

Gearing up for a little more pain this year, I decided to enhance the experience by purchasing a new Fender guitar. This baby is making people smile. The quality of sound surpasses what a debutante like me should be strumming. My musicianship goal is to be singing a worship song or two by summer. Kinda steep, but I count on a small hour per day to callous those digits and train agility.

written 11 March in face of life and ministry here in France

Exhausted from a full day, I sit down and recognize the dirt I've accumulated throughout the day: my ears have endured foul language, my feet have walked dog-trodden cobbles; my hair has grown straw-like in the dense air of a cafe, and my faces itches from the smoke of my neighbor's cigarette. Its been a tremendously profitable day.

Exhausted from the old life without Jesus, I sat down to realize that dirt in my life was killing me: my mouth poured vulgarities, my feet darted around in anger and looking for love, my hair became part of my mask, and I wore the smoke of my condemnation upon my clothes and skin. And then I met Jesus who listened to my words, walked my paths, breathed this earthly air and exchanged his perfect eternal life for my rightful damnation. This is the most effective day of my existence.

From here out I move forward desiring to become more like this amazing personification of Grace, godly and pure. I live here on earth among millions of souls just like me and I will remember the dirt that has been washed away. And I will go out into these peoples to live an ever brightening life among them because of Jesus.

Pray for France:
60 million souls

photo- green eyes: she looks like Liv
green- Gabe in Chicago is donning it again; Starbucks at Metro: Pyramides, 126 Ave Opera
sing- elise; elise and lise for lagny
lagny- beware of 806 in pedestrian cross walks
walks- from lognes to noisiel to gournay
from short to long- emails
print- surfer=surfeur
uncertainty and love

Suivez mes amis les MONGE et même partagez ce dont Dieu vous a donné. Sorry for all you who only understand English- but that sure shouldn't stop you from giving! This is an excellent cause for the Name of Jesus.

I am truly becoming française. I can not décider which langue de parler. Je talk english même avec un french accent. And en plus, I sleep with socks on my hands slathered in crème pour les protèger at night because le froid here is making them too dry. Anyone a une solution?

Go Mel! vote here

Feeling bored? Try out a few lindy clips. to get your heart pumpin'. Anybody in Paris wanna teach me how?

Take a stroll through my cross collection from Père Lachaise today.

Meet Basque. A worthy read for the curious.

Père Lachaise
Took a stroll through a cemetery today. I guess it blew my mind: so many people have lived and died, and all that is left if stone. Sepulchers with broken stained glass windows remember the years past, and rusted metal doors tell of the beauty that once was. Certain trees have lifted ancient stones and tipped crooked the crosses. Flowers are either fresh cut, wilting, or dead- only the plastic ones have somewhat survived.

I shuffled around wondering what people really believe about their lives and what they anticipate from the end. For as much Catholic tradition that is painted across this landscape, one might find it surprising that just outside the gate, death feeds an industry; I can pick my stone, choose my carving artist and pay for the flowers.

They tell me somewhere snuggled in among the history lies several famous people like Jim Morrison... I only saw Oscar Wilde's monument kissed in a myriad of lip shades.

Congratulations to my friends Dan and Kara in Portland who will marry on March 13th.. Sorry I won't be there. We can't all be everywhere at once, and besides, someone needs to go to Barcelona and film my brother skating. (Kurt- you wanna come?) It will be my mini vacation of the year. Remember last year- took 2 1/2 days to visit Nice! You can see the photos via the link on the side there.... ------->

Its been one year since I've been 'en France.' Yesterday I tacked up a string of Christmas lights on my wall. Everyone loves Christmas lights even if it's not Christmas. They are so useful. I had a brilliant idea of shaping them like a star but my star looks more like an amoeba than a star, and my roommate thinks it slightly resembles the street layout surrounding the Arche de Triomphe. My desk is cluttered with cords and books and papers, and my wardrobe won't close cuz of my favorite sweatshirts that hang on the doors. It was a busy day finishing one invitation for the Chelles Church, and planning for the technical side of Saturday's big youth event. One video down, one loop to build and a powerpoint show of publicity to create. Sorry if my email bounced back today; my bad- I have to start remembering to dump my online stack on a daily basis.

Zer gertatu da?

Now if only I knew how to pronounce it. Of course this question structure triggers a neutral sentence order response. Oh, I finally know what to call the cross hanging around my neck- thanks to some energetic french basques I met in Paris this weekend: it a Lau-Buru.

J'ai changé.

I said, "A change could do you good"!

I think a hair cut might be in order.

Where in the world have I been?



create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide

So maybe I haven't seen that many countries- I can't wait to see the others.

Laïque

The point is this folks, we are in desperate need of some authentic missional communities of Christ that are not concentrating so much on "doing" church as they are BEING the Church. Rob Graham

Uncover your head.

it snowed here.

Here is a link to go and check out the photos from this trip to the Basque.

Ok. Last time I told you that this was going to be a journey blog. Well, my journey has many facets and the one I'm about to tell you about looks like it will turn into a longterm project.

The Pays Basque or Basque Country of France and Spain has been layed on the hearts of multiple people in the last few years. The number is Followers of Jesus are few and far between but interest in a relationship with Jesus is increasing.

A year ago, I made a debut trip into the region, starting in San Sebastien Spain. We toured by car the northern coast came face to face with the beauty of God's creation, cliffs and world-class surf waves from Bilbao to Mundaka. We met people who would become our friends for life and were invited into homes that any other stranger would never have entered.

6 of us then made our way up into Biarritz and Bayonne of France to encounter God at work through a family hard at work in house church planting and a lone surfer who just wanted to show us his surf spots. This rendez-vous turned into the launching pad for a new believer and an open door into a whole network of local surfers from Hossegor to Hendaye.

Today, I am reflecting upon a return trip to the French Basque country. I returned to Paris Wednesday night from a long weekend spent with Bernard and his family in Bayonne. The trip featured the voyage of three mission-minded men: Gerald, Chris and Joe and their surf boards; the second encouter with Jean-Yves and his family, waves, and Christian Surfers International.

"What's going on," you ask? There is a growing movement in house church planting in the region, more spiritual interest than ever before, the Surfer Bible on the verge of translation into French, the preparation for an evangelistic outreach into the surf community in late September and a new team of reinforcements dedicated to the region is developing for which missionaries and believers in this area have been praying for years.

This team looks like it will be coming from several corners of the earth. Just today- an email from a family in Australia-- Christian Surfers holding their annual conference in the region will target these waters and beaches soon-- a boardsports missionary in Paris fields calls and project propositions for which he does not have enough time-- a french pastor and his Basque wife watch from Marseille-- an exchange student program hosting Basque students in Christian homes dives into another season of recruiting-- and young men and women in America are mailing applications to a mission agency while CS guys translate testimonies into French surfer lingo.

Meanwhile back in Lognes France, I'm clicking away at a very long blog. I think I'll let this turn in your head for a while and then I'll let you in on what I'm thinking... and maybe sign up for photos so I can give you a visual!

Good morning Thursday. These last couple days have been devoted to organization for the coming year- kinda like spring cleaning. I've been cleaning too: Audrey let me re-pot her Christmas plants and I think they are going to make it. Besides their living presence in the house, they will be quite beautiful- adding necessary greens and maybe a pink or blue here and there. They tell me the sun will come out again, the cold will melt into warmth and the brown grass will turn green. I've started to look forward to Jonathan's tulips- they're coming!

organization also means reloading and updating all the email addresses that I have floating around after another year. This time I'm putting the LizToppy to use and organizing in it's sync'ed addressbook and mail features- We're gonna love it! But 600 addresses is an awful lot of people to keep track of.

This is also the week that I think and pray and write down goals and dreams for the now and future. I'll be turning the original work over a few times before its ready to share; but this blog is going to start telling a story of where I am going in life. Believe me...it will, eventually.

Like last year- this one starts with a bang! A trip to the Pays Basque. This trip's menu:
1. revisit Bayonne and it's surf with Gerald Griffin, Chris Probasco and Joe Brandi.
2. reencounter with Bernard and Evangeline Gaye and their house church network.
3. see Jean-Yves, Cecile and Pyrenee; witness JY's baptism!! He became a Christian last year when we visited!
4. talk to the Robinson's about involvement with their student exchange program.
5. take my new digital camera for a spin and let 'da boyz be boyz'- surfing is in the lineup! (3m waves yesterday.)

I had nightmares in highschool about the PSAT and then the real thing, the SAT. I didn't score so well but to me it didn't matter much after I got off to Bible College. Today I stumbled upon an IQ test online and decided that it has been enough years to give it a whirl and see just how I measure up. Well I scored 131 and they labeled me a Visionary Philosopher. They say that I have a talent for explaining things to people because of mathmatical and verbal skills. Well, now that my brain has been squeezed for all it is worth..., I think I'll fight sleep and the jetlag for another couple hours. Been up since 5:30am. Oh, wanna take the IQ Test?

I just arrived back in Paris after a very long travel experience. Thank the Lord they de-iced the plane in Seattle before taking off and that they didn't try to fly the plane in Cincinnati with a broken door. It sure did make for a long haul as well as an eventful trip.

With a trip home fresh in my memory, I can't say how wonderful it was to see family and friends. I missed out on a second trip to Portland because of the gnarly snow storm but I did get to see a few people early on. There was absolutly no way that I could have seen everyone even though I wanted to. Certainly there is a list of precious faces that I had wanted and intended to see: Jeanette- I never got my massage, the Cabes, Timmy, Celeste..

Well, I'm trying to stay up as late as I possibly can, and after a nap this afternoon I am doing pretty well... I do have a ton of laundry and cleaning and organizing to do over the next week before I trip it to the Pays Basque.

we are hanging out as one great big happy family up in the San Juan Islands. dad knew a great guy who offered to let us stay in his place on the water. beautiful...
I'm trying to relax and can't get my muscles to relax.. can't wait to see Jeanette who I will enlist to massage the knots out in January.

spending a rainy tuesday around multnomah's campus.
found that its café and library are hotspots and registered my LizToppy so that I have access.
updating my records of people, changing girls last names etc...
its kinda strange to be here.

So I arrived finally in Seattle on Friday night. The trip was long and made even longer by the delay in Paris which caused me to miss the connecting flight in Cincinnati. I hit the ground running: left almost immediately for Portland and survived Sunday full of meetings and seeing people.

I haven't even had much time to collect my thoughts... So far everything is very familiar except all the changes for the people around me: relationships, marriages and kids. Everyone here thinks my hair is long.

So far I've been to church and seen many many friends, went to my dear PhotoCraft to have my film developed, stopped in at the Dept. to visit with Mike and Dan and enjoyed Baja Fresh with Bethany. I also savored a McMinimins cheeseburger on Saturday night with Mike and Fay and Courtney and Hayes- ...love these people...

Oh.. I also visited the dentist. They said that my teeth were doing good. "smile pretty"

My bags are packed. Tomorrow I catch a plane to the USA. The day after, I'll see you! Don't be surprised if I mix a little french into my english..."ziss appens after you ave bean een Fronce fo a while". a+++

See Michael Christophe Finley born December 10th at this blog.

After 48hours and one 'sleep' I'll employ the airfrance ticket that I am looking at right now.

Its all over. I spent 10 minutes telling two prestigious Sorbonne professors that "his Majesty- the Fat Cat" ended a dispute between Madame the Weasel and the Little Rabbit by eating them both. I also was quite amused at the primary adjudicator who doodled spider-webs on her note pad as M Fesquet, my professor, and I discussed Louis XIV's politics as it was related to "his Majesty the Furry One". (see the Fables of La Fontaine)

Tomorrow the Finley family will grow by one. Jonathan and Karen will get to hold Michael finally! And "yes, there will be photos" says Jonathan.

tired
calm
anxious
delirious
blaise Pascal
fly
mom and dad
america
need sleep
RER
la belette
manque de temps
disaster
pack
stomach knots
exhaustion

Last night was the Thanksgiving meal to which about 100 people showed up. I joined the super gang of people who tackled the kitchen to help pull off the event that Michelle had planned so carefully starting several weeks ago. I was tired, very tired after it all. We served the usual: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans and corn. I got an extra workout in translation.. sometimes I don't even know what is coming out of my mouth as I try to describe how, when, etc.. At one point in time, I felt like a orchestra conductor as the servers moved the food from the kitchen to the buffet tables. It reminded me vaguely of working at the Old Spaghetti Factory on a Saturday night.

So now the fun and games are over for about a week. I am off to memorize my french grammar and vocab. Pray for me.

Today I dive into the last two weeks of classes at the Sorbonne. Saturday the 6th is my written exam and then I'll take an oral the following week before I board a plane for the States.

Yesterday I fought a gnarly headache all day long. It squeezed my brain from my rising to my going down. Thank God I managed to play for two services without too much difficulty. 3 people were baptized yesterday here in France that I saw. How encouraging to hear the testimonies of two young women wanting to follow the Lord with their lives.

More thoughts on the emerging church are bouncing around in my head today. One specifically from Jamie Hoskins is found in his "bechurch" blog title: "Thoughts on the emerging church, the struggle of birthing it... and other stuff".

I'm realizing how difficult this re-naissance is and praying for France.

I've been thinking about the emerging church stuff quite a bit and read Andrew Jones' blog where he writes:

Translate that to church: Our parents defined church by what they DID when they got together. But what if emerging church was defined by what people gave up to be together, by the activities that they sacrificed in order to "assemble" and the assembly itself was an act of worship, valuable because these people stopped the machinery of makingmoney/havingfun/cleaninghouse/etc to BE TOGETHER with God and each other. Not what you do, but what you don't do. The Catholics might do this better than the Protestants - with their discipline of silence, abstenance from foods and things, fastings, etc.

Its good fuel for thought.

Ok. This afternoon I will try the new Beaujolais. Every fall it hits the resto's and today I have a very good reason to go and taste it. What I mean is, this afternoon I will present for about 10 minutes in my class on the subject of lavender. I've done a little research and prepared a quick look at lavender. I'm nervous but have been stressed for about a week now that I really don't have anymore energy to get wigged out...so I tell myself, "Self, go up there, talk to your friends, and then go out and taste the Beaujolais to celebrate."

God bless Jayme for posting shots of both Seattle and Portland, my two beloved Northwest cities in her latest post.

Its Friday already and I'm staring down the barrel of a matrix-like automatic weapon. I'm just hoping I can revert to ceiling mode when it gets rough this weekend. I'm going to see the "frenchmen" to try and speak their language. Let's just hope I have enough energy to survive Monday where I'm expected to entertain my prof and classmates for 10 minutes with the topic of lavender.

When it's chilly out and I have more homework than I think I can finish before it's deadline, I put on jazz, and amuse myself reminding myself of my favorite pasttimes here in Paris. One of my favorite things to watch is people who rush for the RER or Metro making their entry as the buzzer announces the closing of the doors. For each one it is a personal race, and effort to win against the doors- they smile to themselves until they realize that everyone is staring at them and they will quickly apply the 'naked train face' to which everyone is socially obligated.

I also enjoy watching a few adults move large amounts of children. The best scene yet I may have mentioned long ago: 2 adults moved about 20-25 3yr olds in the Paris Metro. It was splendid watching them- like herding chickens.

Today I was reminded that I move in a large city every day. The bus', cars and motorcycles; women with crazy uncomfortable shoes and the smoke!... Paris is a big city, bigger than any city I have every lived in. Thank goodness for jazz...

today was a day off. I sent Sky off on the highway. We prayed that he would be picked up right away and I have faith that that's what happened. I spent the rest of the day creating a powerpoint show of how to create a blog. Its been a learning experience for me as well as tiring. I will be presenting in french on Saturday for about 30 minutes. So I wrote out as best as possible in french my commentary. Now at least I have a working draft. Tomorrow I head back to class.

So today I was pleasantly surprised to find a friend from Multnomah wandering around the Paris area. I didn't find him- he called me. I had just informed my roommates that a sudden visit from a friend was about to take place and he knocked on the door. Sky gets a nice warm place to sleep tonight and we ate chinese for dinner. He's catching up on email and eating and such as he's been backpacking around Europe. He's tracking his adventures at his blog spot. His next destination is Barcelona as long as he can convince the French motorists that he's a nice guy just wanting a ride as far south as they are willing to take him.

Ok for all of you who are trying to learn french along with me... you can follow me over to a new blog that consists of a conversation between the OIKOS living and working in France. I am able to post photos there as well as take my language learning skills for a spin. Check it out and meet other cool people like Lorenzo, Matt Glock and follow the links and comments of Andrew Jones and other OIKOS fans from all around the globe.

I'm sitting here with my toothbrush hanging from my lips as I write. It's gotten late again and I take off early tomorrow morning as well for church at Lagny. I'll venture on the RER and bus to get there. Hopefully it will work out.

Me and the Lagny group went to see the Matrix today. I hoped there would have been a more philosophical conversation afterwards but everyone was still enamered by the plot, trying to figure it all out. I listened to about 7 people talk at once. I don't know if they can all hear eachother when they do that but for me it was like looking at the matrix on the screen...too much activity at one time. I guess conversation is an art that I will have to keep observing for a while. One day I hope I can be one of the 7, sneaking in my perspective at just the right moment.

My friends from Portland, Kathy of the Varis family, posted a sweet memory picture of my beloved Oregon coast. I remember how the dark falls early during these months in Portland. But they were also the best- showing up for skatechurch as the sun went down and watching the guys tear it up in the warehouse. Or heading off to the Viscount for a Tuesday night DJ swing session...

I've heard it said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." So when in Paris, I do as the Parisiens. I take the train every day, sit in smoky cafes, drink coffee, and speak the language that they speak: french. Today is Friday, and I am tired. We did a round of vocab today in class and I didn't get any of it. I wrote it all down, but this is no guarantee that I will remember this new plethera of words for tomorrow's conversation over the Matrix or for any other chat I may have. I walked away more tired and frustrated than enthused by "all I had learned". I may go to bed early tonight, hanging up my smoky clothes to air out... like the rest of the Parisiens.

I went and saw the Matrix this morning. I needed a jumpstart for a Saturday viewing in French. Anyhow, its late and I want to rock and roll tomorrow morning to catch a few shots of the wood at Vincennes before the rains hit and turn all the leaves to brown mush on the sidewalks. I wish I had enough time to go all the way to Versailles but it will have to wait til later, I guess.

He must be heard!!...même si c'est en français

Lorenzo Monge is a super cool guy working with youth here in France. He's a musician, and camp speaker as well as snowboarder and surfer. I hope to get to know his family better over the next year. We'll be worshiping together at the Chelle church which is launching bit by bit.

Sunday was one of those lazy-day's...time to catch up, etc.. I jumped out of bed one minute before we were supposed to be on our way and made it- dressed! Church went well too. The afternoon I lazed around (because we had a little break from our homework) and upgraded my liz-toppy to the new and absolutely fantastic OS X 10.3 Panther. Ahhh, a clean and rearranged room, best computer on the planet and no homework are a great combo.

Monday...well, monday Monsieur Fesquet loaded on the homework which somehow I finished yesterday evening. Its tuesday and I'm dreaming about what digital camera I want to buy at Christmas time and shopping online for a blog upgrade that suits my personality and budget.

Well, I know some of you are just dying to know how the Friday Night the 31st Party went. It was great! We all worked overtime to make it come together and it did. We had marvelous food prepared by Audrey and Michelle, and a crazy decor that I work on all week. Around 25 people showed to dance the night away. It was quite a mix of people from my language class, Paris, and friends from out east. Check out Michelle's blog for a few photos. Becca won the M&M guessing game and took the whole lot of 637 home with her. Vanessa and Nico showed off their dance skills and I got a lesson in breakdancing. Now I just have to practice.

We are definatly going to wait awile to pull another one of those all nighters...yeah, I was up til 6am saying goodbye. But we all learned a little something about partying: 1. Watch out- the price climbs fast; 2. Set a time limit- say 3am; 3. The Limbo will always go over well.

a picture is worth a thousand words
I just realized that the faithful surfers of this blogspot, are people who most likely pray for me and I just wanted to thank you all. I'm working on budgeting a couple extra bucks to liven up your experience with photos. I really, really want to be able to post color and no-color "1000-word-boxes" for you. Yeah, I guess if you wanted me to shut up, you could just hand me a camera.

I really should have written days ago about the Finale of the Avant Garde Conference we had on Saturday. It started last spring in June: L'Eglise en Devenir or Emerging Church. June was fantastic with a multitude of deep thinkers and wise people to meet and so this fall was follow up with a day full of conference with Stuart Murray-Williams. One of the best communicator's I have heard on the subject, I thoroughly enjoyed and took notes on what he had to say regarding the Emerging church movement. A couple points that got me thinkin were: 1. this younger generation is different from the one previous in that generally it hasn't heard the story of Jesus. Previously, the story was at least known; now a days, one can't be sure. 2. Part A: this country where I am at, has a great divide between church and state. In fact, it seems that if any hairbrained religious thought isn't connected to "institution" it is considered a secte. Part B: This generation rejects "institution". Thus, a huge indicator of difference between the "modern age" and the current emerging generation.

Ok. Today I had my first random meeting of a french skater. I've met a couple others but this was a conversation that was struck up on the metro with a complete stranger. Fortunately he wasn't too strange to me since he had his longboard along for the ride. I noticed right off the bat that he seemed a cheerful person, whistling as he went- almost without a care in the world. Turns out he is from near Valence in the southeast of France and is currently a student in Paris. It was a pleasant conversation. It all started cuz I was carrying a large box with a disco ball in it and I was wearing my Dept sweatshirt- gives away the fact that I know skaters. "You gonna have a party? he asked. -Yup! Friday.

Today the hits this blog receives from the USA caught up with the hits from France: 430 each. This is measuring since June 5th 2003. Kinda cool. That is what that little blue button at the very bottom left corner tells you if you click on it.

So today I took the day for myself and God. I did some homework too. It refuses to be left out. I find myself counting down the weeks til vacation even more than before. 6 weeks of school and one week for the tests. I wish I could just keep up but I'm having to strain every last ounce of energy from my brain and body to follow and even with these efforts, I don't always arrive. Friday as our prof gathered our essaies from our trembling hands, and I finally surrendered mine to his red pen, he said, "Man, Liz! Your face is so red!" I told him that it was because I had put my last ounce of energy for the week onto that paper. I think he knows how hard it is to keep moving forward, but he hasn't backed down on the homework load. I feel more swamped than ever. But today- I have given my best effort to what I had to do, laughed at the second acte of L'Avare, and tried to rest up for next week, not to mention found a topic that interests me for my oral presentation. So I feel like I got something done this weekend.

This is the last week of October. At the end of the week, Audrey and I will throw a little party here in our apartment. I'm in charge of the decor and ambiance and Audrey is thinking about munchies. I hope people come. I really want it to just be a great occasion to hang out, meet others and feel the party. We all need that at times.

I've been dreaming about getting out of the big city. I grew up in the country with the cows, sheep, chickens and dogs. I now live in/near a large city. I like the big city- it is amazing; but everyonce in a while I starting looking for familiar nature scenes of the Pacific Northwest: crashing waves on the Oregon Coast, high speed winds that make the trees look like Dr. Seuss created them, my dad's tall Douglas Firs, green fields and winding roads that I know like the back of my hand.

My best bet is that these things can be found right here on continental Europe so I'm beginning to think about how I can go and find them this next year. They tell me Normandy is incredible, green and with much history, history that America left there 60 years ago. I have friends out in Brittany and I want to see Brest where it rains! Bordeaux wine country calls as do the spectacular castles of the Loire. Today I pray for the swells of the Basque Country. Billabong is trying to have a pro surf competition at Mundaka but they haven't had the waves they deemed worthy of a wealthy sum to ride.

For now, I have 8 weeks to work on my french and then I get to see those great Firs on the farm.

We have 7 weeks of school left. Our prof is tossing an exercise at us that causes me to tremble in my boots: résumés. We listen to a fairly long text twice, taking notes on the most important pieces and then we got 45 minutes to reformulate the text in 120 words. It is tough and scary and also a terrific measuring method of our progress. I'll find out how it went next week. For now I'm just glad that one more is done and that means one less until the end of school. I am also glad that I braved a Chocolate Torte in the kitchen this morning. I borrowed the recipe from Michelle and she left me with many helpful tips to make it turn out. For now, it looks good- the real test will come tonight when I share it with real french kids at the Lagny youth group. I think I shook just as much over the crust as I did over my resume yesterday.

Sometimes I feel like I have to scramble to keep up with the pace of life. School seems to be taking over. I am staring down the barrel of 2 months remaining to understand all that the prof is tossing at us and respond correctly on the final exams. After a very tiring last week and a wearying Monday, I headed out today, Tuesday, with a brave renovation to my spirit... only to have it squashed by the homework we came home with. Anyway, I gave myself a headstart and tried to finish some for Thursday.

Another writing project that is weighing on me is an update letter one month overdue. I will get to it as soon as I have an inspiration.

Well, I've officially survived the first 3 days of my 26th year. I got a bouquet of lovely flowers, several cards from people all around the world and a couple phone calls "en plus". Michelle came like Santa from the States loaded with wonderful treats that she and Randy packed so carefully from my mom and dad. It is nice to be relieved from a particular phonetics class, where I learned lots, but did not appreciate quite so much the pedigogy of the prof. Tomorrow marks the debut of week number 5 at the fall session at the Sorbonne. I'm pondering my blog. I am super tempted to spend the cash to bring a new and improving photo-world to you.

A new adventure that I have embarked on is to learn the dance called the balboa. The balboa is a fast little swing dance- an 8 count dance that really moves. I found a professor who is willing to teach me for an hour a week. Wednesday evening is the day. I had my first lesson yesterday and was overwhelmed, not only at the steps I was learning, but at the new french vocabulary too. I think I will be a pro at 1-8 before long! un...deux...trois - quatre;...cinq...six....sept - huit! (quick, quick, long... quick, quick, long....) We'll be perfecting my lindy, too as well as training for the fastest swing dance= the SHAG! imagine girls in pigtails and stripey socks, kicking up their heels from side to side : )

These guys are crazy! I would take to heart their training program. But they sure do remind me of the good ol' days when I was young and Mel and I used to race around the farm on bike and foot, chasing whatever we could imagine, and fleeing whatever evil we could invent. Those days are now one year farther ago... well, in France they are. My mom might remember the day a little differently and say it all happened the 6th of October 1977.

Theory
There is a scene from the movie The Matrix that we all love. Neo trains in a program where the world moves around him; his eye is caught by the beautiful creation dressed in red- but this is when that world stops, freezes and Neo is left to ponder in a never-ending "event" moment. We've all experienced those moments when the clock seemingly stops or time slows extraordinarily. I have to say that these types of times cross my path daily, now-a-days. The 2-minute RER ride from Noisiel to Noisy Champs, seemingly takes 10. And why? I'm convinced its a brain phenomenon. Too many deep or profound thoughs jam the brain-circuits. The interesting part is that the world around me is spinning just as fast as ever and it doesn't stop. I feel like I do. This fact contradicts the sensation of time slowing for both me and the world. In essense- I actually speed up and process at 3 or 4 times the speed of reality and upon concentration of that moment/event, time is tripled or quadrupled to match the experience.

I've been bombarded lately with the reality of disconnection from the world I knew in the US of A. I see the differences when I read emails with news, and when I realized I haven't heard from people in a while. I know I miss people and certain things very much but at the same time, I'm determined not to let this 'lack' over power my will power to keep moving forward here. I've taking the 'bull' of school "by the horns" and feel like I'm both winning and losing. I've plucked up courage to enter a bar/club to see a photography exhibition of a gal I met once, and wandered into a outdoor swing dance party and left with blisters on my feet.

Its the days of "limbo"; wanting and missing; tired yet driven.

Today has been a good day. I headed off to class and got my coffee to-go and the guy is going to start recognizing me each day at the same hour. But hey- 90 cents for a kick that need after the trainride... Yeah, well tomorrow I'll need two: I'm excited to say tomorrow is my day of art. I'm headed off for a breakfast meeting in the 20th to talk about art in the city and as a Christian. I'll have a two hour break to work on homework before class, two hours for coffee, food and homework, and then the regular 3 hours of class. Then for the evening I'm going to hunt down a photographer's exposition. I met Clara back in August and I've been waiting for her expo. So tomorrow night is the debut as well as a concert in the 11th. Fortunately I have a willing chauffeur for the return- thanks Nico.

As for tonight, we went to celebrate Isabelle's birthday and it was worth it. Homework can wait...till tomorrow- there are plenty of cracks in the schedule to fit it in. Au lit!

I've been thinking: I still want to learn how to play the guitar. Over a year ago Dan Baber helped me learn a bit and I really was making progress. Now the toughened pads on my fingers are gone and I still want to learn. The only problem is that I don't have a guitar. Audrey said she would like to learn too. So I think that is a good sign that the OIKOS house needs a guitar.

Well, I've gotten my fall cold. I hope I can drown it in tea but today its not showing signs of backing down. Monday, monday... I'm going to have to pull myself together and head off for school in a few hours. 10 weeks to go and then 1 week of tests! It can be done!

I received a care "ziplock" from my mom via hand delivery yesterday in Paris. What a sweet incident! The Williamson girls brought a little love, socks, facewash, and some candies that I prefer and even treated me to dinner. There is included a little envelope that I will wait to open as my birthday approaches: you know, delayed gratification. : )

Thank you Mom! I love you!

Took a walk with my camera today cuz I needed an 'out'. I didn't go too far, just around Lognes. I was hunting for texture in brick, stone, mortar with overtones of construction on my mind. I found a whole roll of 36 worth. Our neighborly Catholic church provided a few shots and several different walls and sidewalks, barriers. Then as I headed into unknown territory- I heard the screams of a girl and the bass blaring from a car and several guys. I didn't want to know anymore so I turned on a dime and encountered two men laying a brick wall. I stood there in shock for a minute (because it was just the genre I was looking for) and then bravely asked them in french if I could take a few pictures of their work. I felt like I had stood up to one of my fears (how to approach people to get the photo I want). They said they didn't mind and kept working and let me shoot around their hands, mortar and hammers. I think I got the shot I wanted! I thanked them generously and said I might be back with the photos and started down the sidewalk only to pass two children. A colorful girl, blond curls and purple glasses asked me if I would take her picture. I stopped and said sure, asking if this was where she lived. "No, but it's where he lives," pointing to the boy. So I offered to bring the picture back at some point in time. She took a smiless shot that I think rather creative. It was a relief to have finally made a turn in the town where I live and to have encountered people doing what I love.

And oh, I stopped to hear jazz yesterday and really enjoyed myself. I invited a classmate to join me. Melissa and I talked about all kinds of things and enjoyed the "happy hour" after our long week of school! Totally worth it! She even bought be a drink. Next time's on me, Melissa!

Excited that I found a ticket for Christmas. I'll be soaring the AirFrance skys on December 12th. Can't wait to see everyone! Praise God! Now I just have to keep working away at my studies.

No jazz... they play fridays during happy hour. Now at least I know.

I think I'm just a little overwhelmed by the things going on in my life right now. Fortunately I wasn't tormented by horrifying nightmares last night. It really can't be as complicated as it feels, so let me break it down: I have school which means, grammar, reading and research, conferences, and phonetics (which can be fun); Then I have church activities- Sunday's (sometimes I play piano) and a youth group twice a month; Various meetings and one-time events; Normal things like sleeping and eating, grocery shopping and commuting; Then all the things I want to do but don't necessarily have the time or finances, like meet with a few friends, do photography, go out for jazz, swing dance classes, work on my research for long-term work, talk to people far away.

I hope my new schedule will begin to look a lot less formidable in a week. By the way, if you ever want to talk to people far away there are really amazing deals offered by Bigzoo.com. Ok off I go to work on my homework.

Today was the first church service in Chelles. It was good to be reassembled there in the little Hotel Kyriad conference room. Pascale and her sister and two friends led the gospel worship.

Its been an overwhelming weekend and tomorrow I am launched headlong into my french studies. I did my best with the homework and will feel it out tomorrow as to what we were supposed to have done with that 'Comprehension de l'ecrit' page that he handed us.

This week has been interesting: The STM change team set up camp here for a week as they pounded out a more final proposal to CBInternational. The highlight for me was Thurs evening when we normally do our OIKOS dinner. The team was invited to a french dinner prepared by my roomies, Michelle and Audrey, and Karen. I helped with the serving. It was a great evening and we were given the opportunity to share our experiences with them.

Alliance Jeune met today and I listened to them hammer out details for a youth leadership training weekend. I was so lost. Not until nearly the end did I understand what we were planning. I think I finally got it down although I still don't know where the event will take place. From what I understand though we have a pretty cool plan for the theme of 'networks'. We're going to provoke thought on our personal networks within the area youthgroups, then nationally and internationally. I pray for motivation to become a resounding theme amongst the youth leadership and youth. I think the workshops we are working up might possibly light a few fires in students to live bigger for God, letting their 'life' flow out into their networks. Pray for a revival! Stoked that we'll be having Matt Glock with us and praying that he'll bust out his Alternative Worship- I think a change could do some good!

So tomorrow I wonder if there will be a live jazz group in that little cafe on the corner as I make my way home after class...? You know, a change could do some good.

wanna read an old blog from august that never got published? This was during the heat wave that killed some 13,000 french people.

The evening, as the sun boiled down on us Parisiens, I noticed a Kraft style piece of cheese being melted to the sidewalk. I passed by an Indien family and the little baby girl with wide eyes and frizzy black hair stared at me from her stroller. She must have only been about 1. A little gem was planted squarely on her forehead.

Our grammaire prof thought it would more convenient to take our test today rather than tomorrow as planned...so we did. Fortunately there was no passé simple in subjonctif. I don't know what I would have done if there had been. We spent 2 hours in the un-airconditioned phonetics lab while the rest of the world cooked outdoors in the sun.

Today I learned about the goods and bads of Franco. I'm slowly catching up on my spanish and french and german history thanks to my new classmates.

Gros(se)- /gr oh(s)/ adj; big or fat
Mot- /mo/ (m) noun; word
Gros mot- /gr oh mo/ exp; bad word

Riding along on the RER Friday last, I was being entertained by a young guy challenging the gal across from him in her morals- He asked her if she knew Jesus and then proceeded to either hit on her or preach to her. I couldn't tell which. She was obviously disturbed by this and asked him, "How can a person like you, who doesn't know me, challenge my morality?"

I listened, unable to put all the conversation together... The train approached Bry-sur-Marne. Suddenly the conductor hit the brakes, trying to stop, but instead we cruised through the stop and then we heard his voice: "Sorry, I was supposed to stop there, but I missed it..." A groan when up from all the intending exitors as well as a few "gros mots" directed at the conductor. A smirk formed on my lips as I tried to keep my straight train face; it was just too funny- A train that missed its stop.

The young man continued his haggling of the young woman who began to insist out of nowhere that she loved her son...

Well, my hunt for a good ticket price around Christmas from Paris to Seattle is going to continue. Anyone know somebody who could hook me up?

So today was the grand day that I registered for my language classes. I got up and didn't hurry too much, arrived at the Sorbonne, found the line and stood in it. I didn't realize it, but it worked out nicely that I arrived just before 10h when the doors opened so I was one of the first 50 or so people in line. The rest of the time would have gone just as nicely but didn't. I was instructed to try out the new system which included a hike to one of the other buildings and when I got there, I was waiting patiently to pay with the very simple check method since they don't like "plastic" and the finance lady disappears with a "plastic" machine that has gone "en panne". Station 1 was a gal who checked over our info and prepared our student cards and station 2 was the finance lady. I sat with number 21 in my hand and watched station 1 call to 18 and 19, then 20. Suddenly there was a cufufel and both ladies began to pack up! It wasn't even lunch time! Follow us back down to the old system- this new one doesn't work.

I'm beginning to understand why it takes so long for things to change here in France, especially at the Sorbonne.

Back in the original building, I lost my "next in line" place and became one of many frustrated foreign students. I prayed that they wouldn't "claque" the door in my face as soon as I got to it. My watch arrived at noon and then 12h30. I made it through the process and have a student ID to show for it.

It looks like my schedule will be more afternoon evening classes. I can't figure it out here. So anyway, the adventure has re-begun and I'm feeling pretty good about it.

A guy stopped me at the corner of Blvd. St Michel and Rue des Ecoles. He wanted to know where the metro Cluny La Sorbonne was. I told him that it was right ahead of us and off he went. He was going to meet a friend.

So it is Saturday morning August 30th of 2003 and I treated myself to a 'graisse matinée' until 8h30 because I successfully finished my first month of school at the Sorbonne's langue et civilization program. You would think that by now I would be competely straightened out concerning that powerful little instrument in my mouth and of course entirely civilized now, but alas, I am not. Sometimes the fact that 'the more you know, the less you know' really takes on reality.

Two days ago I had one of those very strange experiences where I was sitting in a little chinese joint on the fringe of the 5th and 6th. I looked out the window and watched the traffic for a minute and was thinking through a fog of grammer and drowsiness. I suddenly realized that those funny looking trucks and little cars and crazy motorcyclists who drive up on the sidewalk as a short-cut were becoming familiar. So I did a quick brain search for what american cars and drivers are like. I remembered but then I was hit with that crazy question that pops up every once in a while, "How in the world did I get here, and what in the world am I doing here?"

The answers are simple: I followed the God I love and my dreams, and I am greatly profiting from my time here. Although I am far from 'rica' where all my family lives and a large part of my closest friends abide, I am equally stoked to be in a city as amazing as Paris. Everyday I see people from what seems like hundreds of nationalities. Last night I ate in the Indian quarter. As Sev and I walked up the sidewalk the city turned into a neon light show and Sarees where being sold in every other store; the markets were transformed on shows hosted by hindi speaking shop-owners. The married women wore little red dots on their foreheads and gold jewelry was abundant.

An hour earlier, I was one of two white people in a métro full of different african-origin people. I live in one of the most multicultural cities in the world.

Today I'm giving myself a break. I slept in and I'm going to talk about ministries in the area with a fellow believer for lunch (in french). I live far from what was most familiar. I now live in a world that is going to stretch me and push me to my extremes-- and its only going to make me a stronger and better person. So today if it is hard, I'm giving myself a break.

I've been discovering the neighboring arrondissements to my school. Since the temperatures have cooled down, I've taken to promenading in the 6th and 5th. A day ago, I sat in the place at St. Sulpice and watched the few tourists and the pigeons.
Its a huge square with a magnificant fountain and plenty of benches and too many pigeons. They all waddle over to a suspect and eyeball their lunch with those beady eyes. One woman tossed the rest of her sandwich over her sholder and they all blew in a torrent to it and devoured it. The birds came from every direction. Then another person across the place dropped their sandwich causing a rucus to ensue. Every bird seemed to have seen it and they flew like a herd of turkeys toward the opposite corner of the place. My hair blew with the rush of their wings and I watched as a unsupspecting Parisien got hit in the face by one of the flying missiles. The bird did a few corkscrew flips before it regained its equilibrium. The young man was smiling and laughing as was I.

Pigeons are one of the ugliest birds known to mankind. These grey, homely creatures in the late summer waddle along until they find a good spot on the cement or perch themselves on unknowning cement and bronze statues, fluff up their weathered feathers, even pick at them with their sharp lips. Then they pretend to sleep, feathers sticking up like Alfalfa's hair. Every once in awhile, a jerk can be spotted- as if he had something more than all his forelorn family, he'll dominate, attack and peck the others who may or may not have both claws. That's my analysis of parisien pigeons.

Of an easterly sunrise: 6:39am
A sea of blue, thin creamy foam in winded patterns, toasted on their undersides with firey white heat and a hint of orange...only momentary until its glory is overtaken by its creator.

wanna read about how hot it is here?

Phenomen this morning as I woke up and jumped from the shower into my clothes: It started to rain! I haven't seen rain in what seems like a lifetime of heat wave. So now we have a small luggy breeze flowing through the house and I don't get to stay and enjoy it. Instead, I'm off to fend for a seat on the RER.

So I survived another week, only to be thrust this morning into another. I am actually excited to be busy studying and learning and practicing my french. The only bummer about another week is the predicted heat.

Things I'm learning about myself: 1. If I sleep on my hair wet, it will be curly in the morning. 2. I have very high arches in my feet and must buy comfortable and, unfortunately, expensive shoes. 3. I hate to get the cash register and give up my carefully selected peaches because I don't have enough change.

so I wrote the previous post yesterday but the blogger was on strike so they didn't post it... I've come through another friday and survived. Today I met a couple french gals. One is a photographer and the other, her agent. It was a very cool contact. I'm hoping to meet Clara again some day.

The evening, as the sun boiled down on us Parisiens, I noticed a Kraft style piece of cheese being melted to the sidewalk. I passed by an Indien family and the little baby girl with wide eyes and frizzy black hair stared at me from her stroller. She must have only been about 1. A little gem was planted squarely on her forehead.

Our grammaire prof thought it would more convenient to take our test today rather than tomorrow as planned...so we did. Fortunately there was no passé simple in subjonctif. I don't know what I would have done if there had been. We spent 2 hours in the un-airconditioned phonetics lab while the rest of the world cooked outdoors in the sun.

Today I learned about the goods and bads of Franco. I'm slowly catching up on my spanish and french and german history thanks to my new classmates.

The evening, as the sun boiled down on us Parisiens, I noticed a Kraft style piece of cheese being melted to the sidewalk. I passed by an Indien family and the little baby girl with wide eyes and frizzy black hair stared at me from her stroller. She must have only been about 1. A little gem was planted squarely on her forehead.

Our grammaire prof thought it would more convenient to take our test today rather than tomorrow as planned...so we did. Fortunately there was no passé simple in subjonctif. I don't know what I would have done if there had been. We spent 2 hours in the un-airconditioned phonetics lab while the rest of the world cooked outdoors in the sun.

Today I learned about the goods and bads of Franco. I'm slowly catching up on my spanish and french and german history thanks to my new classmates.

Its been 7 months or so since I visited the coiffeur. About a week ago, I woke up and noticed a split hair... a long split hair.... with about 20 different splits in it. So I decided to gut it and go to the coiffeur here in France again.

The first time I made this enquête, I felt like a miserable failure and walked out with what the girl wanted to give me instead of what I wanted. It was frustrating and expensive and I gave up and returned to my mom who trimmed my hair for the rest of that séjour in France.

This time I started by hunting around in the little streets around the Sorbonne, my new school. Certain places advertised for student rates and so I began hunting for their prices and watching through the windows to see what kind of work they were producing. I say all this because I am quite attached to a talented hairdresser that I have in Portland- namely Jen at Salon 181. I miss that girl.

The going rate for students in spendy Paris is still 3 times what I payed Jen, but I took the dive today and met my new coiffeuse Marie. I chose a little place a block from my new school and across from a little park where they once beheaded people and just two steps from the café where Jonathan and Karen secretly met all of 4 years ago.

I took a photo along, trembling as I pulled it from my shorty's backpack as she said she couldn't "see the coiffe". Mince! I let her talk and tried as hard as possible to assimilate all the new vocab, but since I had been up since 6:30 when the glass recycler came by, and I had spent a good 3 hours in french class and the phonetics lab, my best was to follow what she said. She gave my head a good washing and quickly whisked it forward into a ponytail and wacked it off. I was a bit scared but I relaxed as I watched her mold it into a nice cut, layered around my face. The head wash was done in cold water which was quite refreshing considering its about 40 degrees Celsius, but she had to insist on styling my new head and swiftly applied her hairdryer to my rebellious hair. I thought my scalp would broil.

Voila! I have a new doo! still quite long but with all the possiblilities of "chic" to "rebel" and a new coiffeuse.

Well, the plan was to go to bed 30 minutes ago; that's changed. My homework took longer that I wanted it to- it always does, but I feel I did my best for the first time round. Tomorrow I have to be at class by 8:30 and I will spend a third hour in phonetics. When I untie my head from the headphones, I'll eat lunch and study and wait for the afternoon conference. I want to get a feel for these lectures.

I can say that after my hour of digging through the dictionary for a one-page exerpt from Maupassant, my brain is dripping with new words that I tried to "redige" back into my little notebook in complete sentence form for my new professor, Mme Vrillaud. I'll let you know what she thought of my few lines. I have a feeling that I will spend quite a bit of time digging through the dictionary, and I'm not talking about one of those French/English ones- I'm talkin' the real thing- french all the way through; so that when I don't know what a word in the definition is, I have to go and dig up its definition.