Without further ado~~~~PICTURES!!!!! Here is where I've been spending a lot of time with you all

Doesn't that look inviting??

There are lots of little bars and restaurants like this one.

Famous Cathedral St. Just.

Another view of same.

Run doggie run!

Ancient walkway...



The main town square- Place de la Mairie, I believe.

Note the tunnel the boats pass under; there's actually people's homes/business above.

Boats.

This market is v. close to where I live.

Finally the canal. Now, if taking the time to post all these photos isn't evidence of my love and dedication of you all I don't know what is!

hey guys,
you'll be glad to know I'm feeling better today. I actually managed to open a bank account today. Otalia came with me and it took all of my documents plus all of hers and it worked! I should have access to that account in a week or so. This means I can get paid, very important! Then I walked around and picked up the papers that explain in detail all the paperwork I'll need to submit in order to have my proper residents card etc. So that's papers to give papers to get papers; the french don't mess around when it comes to documentation! Tout comme it faut! I also went to a real chiropractor, trained in the States, spoke great english and he cracked my back good. It still feels a bit inflammed but I feel like I'll wake up tomorrow feeling relief. Yesterday I bought some towels and tommorrow will be the bed I think. wish me luck~~jess
P.S. I promise some pictures v. soon!!!! maybe tomorrow!

v. good questions by mom. Actually I'm not posting in the middle of the night. couldn't if I wanted to... The internet cafe is only open from 10am to 11pm. So it kindof sucks for chatting! :( Sorry about that. I know you are all sleeping right now. It's 11am right now for me. I know, I know, you want pictures! I promise to figure that out very soon. I have so much crazy paper work to deal with. I haven't been making pictures a priority although I'm sure it's possible. I moved in last night although by moving in I mean moved my suitcases to Otalia's. We just shared her bed since I don't have one yet. We were both exhausted after carrying the suitcases across town and up two flights of stairs, especially Otalia since she did most of the work because of my back. My job doesn't sound like it will start for a couple weeks still! I haven't been assigned to the schools yet although my supervisor said they will all be within walking distance, no problem. They were all v. impressed I had already found a place to live. Next Thursday I'll have a training day in Carcassonne with all the assistants in the district. talk to you soon.... jess

Did I mention that Narbonne is intensely picturesque??? It is such a pretty little town, all ancient cathedrals and cobblestone streets. I have more good news: They have found my suitcase and are delivering it today. Yay! Also, I have found a place to live. Yay again! It's with a girl from the Ivory Coast who also just arrived in Narbonne to study law. The apartment is really spacious, bigger than the place where Melis and I lived. We will have a guest room! It's not expensive either, althought the downside is that it's barely furnished. So, by going this route (sharing with a roommate) I don't have to pay a crazy 2 month deposit and rental agency fees but I'm going to have to spend a bit to furnish my room, etc. My roommate's name is Otalia, she's 20, very friendly and enthusiastic and a native french speaker. Obviously it's a tad on the young side of what I wanted but I'm sure it will be fine. I'm meeting today with my supervisor so I'll finally find out more what my job will be like, which is good..... Only bad news: I've done something crazy to my lower back. It kills. I made an appointment to see a chiropractor this afternoon. I can barely stand, walk, or sit, which doesn't leave me with a lot of options. miss you all like crazy, love jess.

Yay! I'm in Narbonne. The keyboard is so weird though...totally different placement of letters. Guess what??? More fun for me: on my flight from London to Toulouse Easyjet lost my big suitcase, the one with all my clothes. It's like everything that could go wrong is going wrong. Did I mention just before boarding my flight from Vancouver, Royal Bank decided to cancel my debit card??? So I couldn't withdraw all the money I was planning to bring, exchanged in euros. I've done some creative financing and I'm ok short term but it is a huge pain that isn't resolved yet. I also had to pay some major penalties for my over-weight baggage which I know is my own fault but didn't make me feel too delighted. Then after paying for the extra weight they lost my suitcase! So, there I was last night about 9pm, at the lost luggage desk in the Toulouse airport. I was so tired, exhausted, and I still had no place to stay as the phone card I bought in Gatwick airport to try and book a room didn't work. I explained my situation to the guy working there and he decided he would help me although I never asked him. He closed up his office, grabbed his keys and we set off for his car. He drove me to a hotel nearby where I could stay. There was a room free so finally I could shower and rest. Such a nice guy!
I feel so much better today...managed to get to Narbonne without any difficulties and found a really cheap place to stay, like a youth hostel, very clean. There's still tons of difficulties to overcome, like no clean clothes or apartment, but I'm optimistic. It will all work out in the end.

Stuck in Gatwick airport currently. I'll fly out this evening to Toulouse. Wish I had reassuring news for you all, but not yet.... This airport doesn't have any travel agency at all so I can't really book anywhere to stay tonight. I may try to book something over the phone, we'll see. The cigarette smoke everywhere is killing my eyes; I'm quite tired. It's going to be a big adjustment for me, living in Europe again! Maybe by this time tomorrow things will be more settled. Love you all and miss you already.

I'm a new woman. an unemployed one. Today was my last day working selling software. I didn't feel any regrets at all until the last hour when I realized I won't be in that office space ever again and see my co-workers as my co-workers again. Really, I worked with a lot of sweet people, many of whom I will miss. Tomorrow I pack like a demon and Saturday mom and dad are coming over from the island with a moving truck to move me back to Victoria. Then one week til I leave Canada. again. It's still not real for me that I'm leaving so soon.
I mention I have red hair these days?? Here I am with the love of my life:

Isn't he growing so much?!

Hey~~~ Welcome to my site. I hope to share photos w/ you all and if I do something interesting or fun that too. Here am I at work (in the middle) w/ some friends.


Soon I'll be on the plane to London and then to Toulouse and eventually I'll make it to Narbonne. That's where I'll stay over the next 9 months working as a English language assistant in French primary school. From what I understand I'm called an assistant but I will essentially be a teacher, with my own classes. I don't know where I'll be living yet but I'm looking into working as a nanny as well, maybe on a vineyard not far from town. Narbonne is a small town of about 60,000 people 13 km from the Mediterranean. It's famous for its Roman architecture and....that's about all I know about it now. I'm hoping to refresh my French skills and get more teaching experience. I'm excited to go. I'm also sad to leave and I know I'll miss lots of people. Please come and visit!!