Back in the Action

Alrighty, here I am. Back again, only this time blogging to you from Avignon, France in Provence.

I'm having a problem getting Mr. Garmin 305 to upload to the website--it gets to a certain stage in the uploading process and then freezes every time. I emailed Garmin about it and we'll see what they say. I REALLY want to see the map from yesterday's run! (Update: Got it to upload, but the map is mysteriously missing... See splits below). It was the longest I've done in a very long time (8 miles) and it was all around the island next to Avignon called Ile de la Barthelasse. My roommate, Claire, went with me the whole way on her bike and directed our run, which was really helpful since I didn't know where I was, and fun because I had someone to keep me company. I'll upload the map and such as soon as I get Mr. Garmin's problem sorted out. Have any of you with the 305 had something similar happen? I'm going to keep the GPS in miles while I'm here, since I don't really have a good grasp on kilometers.




It really took 1:42:ish to do the 8 miles, the last 15 minute or so was walking back to the apartment with Claire, who's bike ran over a piece of glass and went flat. I should have started out at a slower pace obviously, but I'm still pleased at how it went overall.

Speaking of not being used to European units of measure, yesterday Claire and I went to Ikea and bought a scale (in addition to bedding for my room and a super cool picture frame thing for my photos of the fam, Jon, and Sahara). At 5 euros, here's our new acquisition:



I haven't weighed myself since the last hiatus post, so I was pretty curious to see what I was at now, after 10 days in the country of food. The scale clocked me in at 74.5 kilos, which, thanks to Google, translates to (drumroll please) 164.24 pounds, making me .24 from my mini-goal and 5.6lbs from my last weigh-in. I'm not going to lie, I'm having a bit of trouble believing it's true, but I guess we'll see next time I weigh myself in? Regardless, I'm really glad I decided to go ahead and pack my 30-pound earrings. In case you'd forgotten, I'd bought them a year ago anticipating that I'd wear them in a week or two and they have been hanging out on my refrigerator or in my jewelry box ever since.

I really think walking has been very beneficial. I take the bus to my schools, but other than that (and the occasional car rides with my roomie), I walk everywhere. Thankfully, for winter's sake, the bus stop is RIGHT in front of my apartment, but I'll still be getting in a lot of walking.

Other than that, here are a few photos to give you an idea of what I've been doing. From here on out, I hope to get back into blogging pretty regularly, so stay tuned! I'll try and catch up on all of your blogs in the next few days, I've missed you guys!

Sunrise from the balcony of my apartment in Avignon on my first day. Even in France, God is an Auburn fan. :)
Cooking dinner at the apartment with two other assistants: On the menu pasta with turkey, green beans and a goat cheese sauce

My cousin Michel took me to visit the cities I'll be working in. In one of them, they were having an American day! I couldn't find Ohio, but I did find Alabama!
What American Day would be complete without kids dressed as cowboys on donkeys...
...Motorcycles...
...and native americans?
A view of the Provençal countryside from the car
Inside Avignon's Papal Palace
A view of Avignon through the interesting glass in the palace
The Mediterranean from the house of the US Consulate General in Marseille (she invited all of the American assistants over for dinner)
Me, from the Consul's terrasse
Sunset in Marseille over the Mediterranean
Random street performers in Marseille
Raclette! A French dish usually served in winter, where you cook the cheese and slices of meat on that machine and then put them over a baked potato. YUM
First view of Gadagne, one of my towns

An American evening in France: Bowling
and American diner with burgers


Then, a french night with froglegs!

Okay, that a was ton of photos, but at least now you're all caught up! More later! Wish me luck for my first day of teaching tomorrow! Subject: American Halloween, a holiday that's not really celebrated in France.

Oh and last thing, WAR EAGLE! I can't believe that Bama got beat by South Carolina! Go Gamecocks!