Home Sweet Home

Hello friends,

I have been struggling to have wifi (this is literally always a problem in France). Perhaps French people just are more immersed in real life instead of their virtual ones. Which is probably a good thing but super frustrating when you still don't have a French phone and your internet is going to take anywhere from 1 week-3 weeks to "be activated." I'm not sure why there are "hundreds" of steps to activate internet here when it takes like two days in California but apparently it does. I should stop my French internet rant before it really gets rolling. Sooo, that is the reason it has taken me so long to post about my new home!

I will be living in Toulon, a city about the size of Berkeley, population-wise, I believe. The main attractions are the port, where tons of yachts dock, and the naval base. I haven't seen too much yet because I have been so busy finding my place and doing all the necessary life things. But, there's the port, the naval base, a student area (restaurants and bars), small beaches, and a mountain with a zoo at the top that you can go up in a little gondola suspended on cables. If that makes any sense.

Mom and I arrived about a week or so ago. We stayed our first three nights in a hotel whose staff was absolutely lovely but whose facilities lacked much to be desired. Our first room had bad water damage, the bathroom door knob came off in my hand and one of the towels was soaked through. We moved to another room which was better but the shower area had no door and was directly connected to the room and the window popped off, falling on Mom's head. It was a very Grizwold family vacation kind of place. The best thing was that they let us leave 3 days early after we found a place for me (we had originally booked for 7 days).

My friend Emma (another American assistant) and I looked at three places and ended up with this lovely apartment that I am very happy with! We moved in and the next few days were spent opening a French bank account, choosing an internet service, unpacking, making lots and lots of copies and searching for internet.

The Opera House in Toulon

Wall Mural near the Opera

View from our hotel

Another from our hotel with Mount Faron in the back!

Moules-frites (Mussels and fries) and risotto with Noix de St. Jacques (basically scallops)

Le bistrot des artistes: Mom and her huge plate of food

Art exposition in Toulon: 

More art

Port of Toulon

Mom at the port!

Place de la Liberté

A few days ago Mom and I left for a vacation before I start work October 1st! So more exciting days to come, once I get back I will write all about them!

Bisous mes amis xoxo