une journée dans la vie

One of the many benefits of teaching here this summer is living in a typical (if there is such a thing) French town.  Not glamourous (or touristy, depending on your point of view) Paris, not the Riviera, not wine country ... just living like typical French citizens.  Here's how it works:

Start with cafe au lait at the local cafe.  This may be accompanied by a croissant if I haven't already had the local yogurt back at my apartment.  No Starbucks drive-thru - I walk a block and have a leisurely breakfast.

If it's not a school day, I take either books or my laptop to the park.  Since classes have ended but I don't yet have finals to grade, today was a perfect day for pleasure reading (The Greater Journey by David McCollough - about American expats in Paris in the 19th century.  Great read and perfect timing for it.)

Today's view from a bench at Jardin le Coq

After the morning work, it's time for lunch at a favorite restaurant - usually Le 1513, where you can eat galettes and crepes in an ancient building or in their sunny courtyard:

The weather is cool enough (except for last week's heat wave) to jog in the afternoons.  It's a necessity after croissants and crepes, and a great way to see the town.

I never get lost - I can always find my way back by looking for the twin spires of the cathedral.

For a hill workout, I jog up to the neighboring town of Royat, where there are thermal spas.  (By "neighboring town," I mean 15 minutes, even at my slow pace.  It's like jogging in Jacksonville from Avondale to Ortega.)

The water stop at the top of the hill at Royat.

After more work or reading, I go to the grocery store - again, walking.  (I love being able to walk everywhere, and I don't miss having a car!) I go every day because it's so convenient and I don't want to purchase more than I can carry.  The grocery stores are very similar to those in the US with some slight differences. For instance, you weigh your fruits and vegetables in the produce section, and the electronic scale prints a label for you to use at the cash register. Also, and I absolutely love this: no plastic bags!  Bring your own, buy a bag at the store, or put your purchases in your purse.  And while they sell very good wine at the grocery stores, forget about picking up any allergy medicine or ibuprofen - you have to go to a pharmacie for that. 

With so many student activities and touring activities, there have been few "typical" days, but I have enjoyed them.  When I return to the US, I hope to incorporate some of the aspects of these typical days ... but probably not jogging on a summer afternoon. 

Bonsoir!