(this is not a lesson plan)

No, it certainly isn't a lesson plan, this blog post. Instead, it's a picture update. This is because, true to procrastinatory form, I'm avoiding my lesson plans just as effectively as I ever avoided churning out a research paper or a stack of French Lit journal entries. [Note to Dr. Gregoire, if you're reading this--that was merely an illustration point and should in no way be taken seriously... ;)] So enjoy the fruits of my misdirected labor, all!

*edit: This is a tiny picture update, because loading photos onto blogger is taking a ridiculously long time. I shall thus continue posting pictures, but probably little by little, rather than all in one go. So for now, dive in.

I put a letter in this post box, and to my slight and happy surprise, it did in fact reach it's destination! The French don't have the same drive for constant updates in every aspect of life that Americans seem to--which makes for much more quaintness, in general.

This is a view from a few minutes' walk downhill from our apartment--it's a steep, slippery descent, but once you get down there, there's a lovely park with a 5k footpath along the river. It's nice to have such an accessible outdoors space so close to the "city!" The post box from above was just across the bridge against one of the nearer buildings.

Following are just a few snapshots of some of the pleasures of the park.

As I mentioned before, this picture post is somewhat truncated by my current unwillingness to wait 20 minutes for 3 pictures to load at a time. However, keep checking back, there will be more!

And for those of you who have noticed a recent staunch in the flow of blog posts, I offer a peculiar excuse, something that may seem too strange to accept--but accept you must, because in foreign lands, one meets with very foreign novelties: too much vacation. That's right, I said it. No, perhaps not too much--but a very lot. Since starting classes the beginning of October I've had weekends, wednesdays, 10 days for Toussaints (all saints), a five-day weekend for Armistice day, and learned today that next Thursday the public school teachers will go on strike--so no school again. I don't think I've had a full week (and again, let me remind you that a "full week" is four days) of teaching in over a month. On a tight budget, with so much time off, there just hasn't been too much going on for blog posts. As a friend told me, it's almost like being retired. At 22.

But for those of you who are curious as to how I've filled my days, here's a taste:

I've restarted the same wool scarf four times and think I've finally settled on a pattern and dimensions I like. It should come in handy as soon as it's finished--Rodez can get cold and windy!

I've learned 3 card games, taught one, and a couple of dice games. Then played them a lot with Sandra my roommate and our most frequent friend, Maria (German primary assistant).

I've read A Year in Provence, finally. It had been recommended to me several times before, but I'm glad I waited to read it until I found a cheap used copy at the British specialties shop in town--I appreciated the author's insights into smalltown/southern French life far more than I would have, had I read it in Paris.

I invented a soup and spent an entire afternoon assembling it--because I needed a project!

I got enough sleep for three sleepy College students--which magically provided me with energy and enthusiasm for my classes the first day back after Toussaints despite having stayed up the entire night before following the American election.

I filled out a preliminary Grad school application for a translation program in Geneva. (Haven't decided whether I'll send it or not--it is interesting, however, to note that their entrance exam dates exactly correspond with my spring break...)

I made far fewer lesson plans than I intended. :(

I did more personal writing than I intended. :)

I went on lots of walks and collected chestnuts with friends for roasting back at home.

I hosted a successful, friendship-full dinner party and laughed hard for the first time since arriving in Rodez.

And finally, I struggled my way valiantly through a few rounds in the gladiator arena that is French bureaucracy--a battle that is nearly over, but not yet won. More on that later, though.

I suppose, now that it's 2 am, I should go ahead and post this, so I can turn in. I've got class (I know, shocking, right?) first thing in the morning. That's another thing I forgot to mention--over all of these days of leisure, I've reestablished some terribly unhealthy sleeping habits. Night Owl Emilee is officially back and in need of a good vanquishing.

On that note, good night! Expect more, and soon!