Keo's first week of French School

 

FRENCH SCHOOL.

"Yes Keo, it's all in French. Yes, I know, you don't know French very well...but you'll learn, it'll be fun...You'll be speaking French before you know it..you'll make some friends too.."

Keo Rollin starts French School. My baby. Doesn't speak much French at all and now he must sit and listen to French all day long and learn to write in cursive! The little children were very sweet. They are very affectionate...They came, hugged him, cuddled him, and pet him! They kissed him on his head and played with his cowlick.. All this in the first 15 minutes of our arrival! I thought to myself "Ok, that's sweet, being affectionate is sweet, JM is very affectionate...this is all so sweet, very touchy touchy, not very rigid, this is sweet".

Well EVERYDAY, the kids come, cuddle Keo, hug, kiss and pet him. Keo on the other hand is like "what in the world!?" It's been 5 days of hugs and lots of loving. The teacher greets Keo with a kiss and a hug everyday, and the children follow suite soon after. He's kind of getting use to it now and I think he kind of likes it. Public affection starts at a young age here! Kissy Kissy Kissy and everyone is happy!

 So what can I say? This school maternelle "Ecole La Cloche" is very SWEET! 

Wooden chairs, handmade curtains, beautiful iron balconys, tall French windows :)...

And Keo seems happy. Whats great is that school in right in town, right there not far from our house or the bakery ...the chocolate croissants!!!

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This week JM had his last round of final exams at Hopital Paul Brousse (where his surgery is going to be done). It's been a busy week for him. He is tired...

We have a house finally. We have the kids in school, we almost have a phone and internet. We are good. We are settling. How do I really know that I'm feeling settled? Let me tell you - the moment I made this list below: 

Buy: 

Salted butter 

and Unsalted Butter"

That is when I knew I was "HOME" again. Why did this simple list of butter make such a huge impact on me? Because, it's been ages since I can remember making a list that included silly things like salted butter AND unsalted butter. This means I am ready to take on other things besides packing, unpacking, hospital visits, house hunting, school searching administrative papers, and other things...this list means that I have actually gone from one place to another and made it. It means things are feeling normal again, finally.

It is time to rest now, to enjoy, to get some strength back and to get ready. I'm ready, I know I can handle this now.

Paris - all eaten up by some American boys and one pink princess

 

How hungry for Paris can you get?

 These two little monkeys walked along the Seine, passed the Eiffel tower, strolled under the Arc De Triomphe all the while talking about power rangers, race cars and who knows what else. Sightseeing? Eh, who needs it when you have a good American friend to talk to. Keo couldn't have been happier - finally, someone who could share a good American sentence with him...And Zane? Just happy to walk the streets again with his buddy (maybe not Dehart Street...but close).

Not 15 minutes into our first visit out in Paris and we lose Keo and Zane. We crossed the street all together, grabbed our cameras and started snapping away shots of the this and that all the while thinking someone else was keeping an eye on the boys. Next thing I hear in the middle of crowd is "Where is Zane? Where is Keo!!!" I see Noels face in the middle of the crowd turn white, we all dropped our cameras, realizing we were on a street corner opposite Notre Dame we had no clue what direction they had walked off in. It was utter panic. Taxis everywhere, strangers everywhere, where were the boys...JM took off in one direction, I took off in another, bumping into people left and right yelling their names. After a few good minutes and a good strong pumping of my heart I see arms waving in the distance - JM has Keo and Zane. They had taken off and didn't stop when we had stopped...JM found them at an intersection holding hands. That was NOT fun. From that moment we were glued to them at the hip. Very scary moment. 

 

and then..Pretty in Paris...

 

and then..Pouting in Paris 

--

Isn't that how it is. Paris is filled with emotions. We had an excellent weekend filled with joy and happy moments. So happy to have seen familiar faces. Another turning point in our time here.

Paris Weekend Ahead!!!

Dear Blacksburg, this is one of our many windows! Did I ever tell you how much I LOVE french windows? I love them so much it scares me. I stop, look and listen to each and every french window I see in town. Something about them that is just so inviting again.. like the way I feel about the french cursive writing..

We've had our first week full of school, cleaning and furnishing a new house/apt. Exhausted YES! Happy? YES! And somehow a sick-to- my-stomach feeling trying to re-buy everything we basically gave/threw/sold away in Blacksburg...do you remember? what a waste!(garbage cans, toilet cleaners, supplies, wooden spoons for cooking, dish cloths)...the list goes on...Having an apt. is great, yes, having NOTHING in it is something else. It's when we went 3 days without a stove or fridge and couch and beds that I realized how "NICE" it was to live it Rosas....- oh the "things" you take for granted -...learning a lot here about life and being thankful...

 

Keo is doing great at his new school. He doesn't understand why he has to go to a French school and Kenji get's to speak English at his, but, that is just the way it is for now. He is too young to attend Kenji's international school, so full days of French it is. Will do him some good! 

So why do I call this a  house/apt?  Because this is a house, but it feels like an apartment. It looks likes it part of a house from the outside. Keo has been extremely helpful in cleaning. JM has been amazingly helpful in finding us furniture for the months ahead, and Kenji has been helpful in just growing up I guess. Do you know what? I opened the clothing boxes that we had sent overseas and you know what? Everything that I had packed for Kenji looked like it would fit Keo!!! What the??? Where and when did my kids grow out of their clothes? Seriously , Kenji's clothes fits Keo and JM's clothes fits Kenji! I'm dumbfounded when I hold up a pair of pants and think to myself " is this what I paid and packed away for Kenji for France in August?" I was hoping all the clothes I packed would last a few months..but not likely, Kenji seems to have gone through a growth spurt that I was unaware of while living in Rosa's house (JM's mom)...In any case, this just means that some shopping is in order. Fun? We will see..

 French clothes is notorious for being, well so french again and $$$! (but still fun!) And my Kenji? Growing up....

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This very fun weekend is going to be VERY FUN! Noel and David from Nuvotronics in Blacksburg, JM's work are coming for a couple weeks to visit!!!! They arrive tomorrow morning, stay the weekend in Paris with us then are off for a few days to the south, then back with us in Paris for the weekend before they leave. It makes me SO happy to think I will see familiar and loving faces. And Zoe and Zane are coming too!! Kenji and Keo are so happy!!! They arrive at 10:30 am (4am your time) and then JM and I have a fun packed weekend awaiting them, a full itinerary!: Iffel Tower, Seine boat ride, Bakeries, best restaurants, sightseeing and more more more!!!! This is another turning point in our time here...We need as much good energy coming our way as possible right now.---

JM is tired, beyond tired to be honest :( This has been just too much, all this...All this, as nice as I make it sound, it's hard, it's sad and it's tiring, but I'm trying to make the best for us, for us and for you to see that we are still doing ok. For me to see that I can still see the goodness, that I WON'T let my family down. That I won't let YOU down. If I let go, I lose. I am dragging you through all of this with me - if you like it our not. You are going to be with me this entire way- I can not let go - I won't. - YOU and Me together.

...A+

Rollins to Blacksburg: "We are out of the Red Zone!"

Repeat! "I say :We are out of the Red Zone!" Blacksburg, We are in the clear! We have landed and are home free! It's been what...2 1/2 months? Lots of suitcase living and baguette cracking going on and now we are HOME! 

Lots to share: Kenji started school, Keo started school, JM is on wait list for operation and things are moving quickly. I can't say in words how amazing it was the morning JM and I had our first morning together, alone. All alone, knowing the kids were in good hands, knowing we had done our best to get JM his medical attention this past month, and now, our house/apartment, our own space, our own room. 

We still don't have internet yet though, it'll be another week or so before phone line also, but we can receive messages on our phone from time to time. It drives us crazy. - But, we have been using the Wifi network of the neighbors when the don't know it...but there was a week or so they kinda figured out we were, closed their shutters on us, and then we had nothing for a few days (so french), but today! today we have it, don't know for how long but I can post a little note to you to say all is well!!!! 

Will write more later!

Love you all!!!

Gisa

A HOUSE! - A HOME! - I HAVE ONE!!!

 

Dear Blacksburg!!! I found a house! I found a place to live! Can you hear me?! I'm yelling to you with my words!!! --Here it is above!

Well, not really, this is the Palace of Fontainebleau, but I did find a place to live and guess what? We move in tomorrow!!! I spent this whole week playing a sneaky game of "I'm interested in this and I'm interested in that" with the agencies. I played by their rules the first time and got burned (lost the apt. I really worked hard for and really wanted..) so I learned my lesson.  This time, they played by my rules, and, I got what I wanted in the end: A house, a beautiful space for us to do what we need to do while we are here. It's magnificent! It's gorgeous and it's very french! Boys have their own rooms, two bathrooms!, a cute kitchen  - with a-to-die for window, and a little living room and eating area. It's Prrrrrfect! I can't tell you how happy I am. Those two days of waking up at 5:30 and getting to Fontainebleau were exhausting and I didn't think I would be able to do it again the next week and now I don't have to! We move in tomorrow, so dear reader, I won't be able to post for maybe 10 days or so, maybe sooner if I go to a cafe, but I think I'll be busy moving in and so on. I'm so happy! 

 

And, it is with great effort and heavy heart that I post this picture of Petunia.

I do this because I feel I can today. Because I feel that the day I signed for my house she was with me. It's kinda weird maybe to say that, but, after her recent passing and this past month I was wondering at night, in bed, when I would maybe get a "sign" from her. Sounds strange I know, but I did ask for a sign during some troubled times this month. I asked her to help me find some stability, to help me get through all of this. I asked her and the universe that if there really was something out there, to show me through Petunia somehow that she was with me, like a grandma maybe, to look after me. Well dear reader, it was that early Friday morning that for the first time since her passing I ran into another Chinese Pekingese doggy. He was walking with his owner, as I was walking in town desperately looking at potential apartments we ran into each other. I was so happy at first. I stopped the owner asked if I could pet her beautiful dog. I bent down and for the first time, I felt petunia, her head, her fur, the back, the same as Petunia, it was just like Petunia would feel. I even gave it a little kiss on his forhead and then I cried a little bit. I then stood up and shared with the lady, she was kind and understood some, but not really. I gave the doggie one last little pet and said thank you. It was then dear reader that felt I parted peacefully with Petunia, only then. Was it the fact that I kinda got to say goodbye? That I got one last little hug out of her? One last kiss? I think it was maybe. I felt sad but good in my heart, but very sad again.

Moving on with my search and my day I got Kenji from his second day at school and we went to eat at the local Chinese again. It was there, again that I saw on a menu Petunia! A Pekingese soup...I didn't quite like the idea, prefer the boat cruise instead, but nevertheless there she was. So the day went on and at the end of this very long day I finally, finally found our house. I found it and signed on it. I found it the same day I "saw Petunia" For me that is something, I found meaning in that, and that is why I feel strong posting this picture,... maybe I looked for meaning and made this little story out of it, but it fits and I feel like all these happy things happened on one very sunny day in France when everything else around us seemed like they were kinda falling apart. So Hurray for this day!!! xoxoxo 

Talk soon, ..how exciting! ..I found my house!!!

Enfin! L'ecole a Kenji!

 

Here it is! Kenji had his second day of school on Friday! He was nervous, but bravely stood there before the iron gates of Ecole International Leonard De Vinci  and headed into the crowd of kids.

We woke up at 5:30am to drive to Fontainebleau, school started at 8:30am. We had a nice long drive in the car, talked about what it may be like.

I wanted to stay, to hold his hand, to keep telling him it was going to be ok. He kept a straight face knowing he had to do this, knowing it was his time move forward. I was proud of him. It was a turning point for all of us after all we have been through. - JM was unable to attend unfortunately due to hospital stay, but it was no big deal, he will be able to accompany Kenji soon enough.

 

You can see Kenji above there looking back...

Keo, looking past the gate to see Kenji go. I didn't like the sound of the gates when they closed! I felt so far away from Kenji and the sound was just so loud and harsh. I just stood there while all the other parents left, I wanted to hold the bars, poke my head in and yell "hey there, teacher, do you need some extra help in the classroom? - I.., I can speak Spanish too, I can help in the art room? , with swim class?, helloooo???"

As everything quieted down Keo and I slowly walked away and headed into town, to wait for Kenji, at 11:30 for lunch.

I did though get to sneak in after him for a second and snap this picture!!! Isn't this how it is? Just look! You can almost here the commotion in the room, the chairs sliding as the kids stand up, the teacher saying "children settle down". How is Kenji feeling???

--Well, he didn't say much when I picked him up. He just wanted to go eat. It was hard getting much out of him. He was quiet. I did though find out that the whole morning was conducted in French! History in French, Math in French! 

--We then went off to lunch. Since I don't work at the moment Kenji is obliged to go home for lunch, except on Tuesdays where he eats at the "Cantine". So.. I have to get him every day at 11:30 and have lunch ready. Um..that's nice and all, but really, every day??? AND since we don't have a house at the moment we take our lunch break out in town, which is quite nice really. Chinese for lunch two days in a row, Kenji and Keo love the shrimp chips and the restaurant people love that we are "regulars" (for now..)

 That was a day indeed for all of us. First day of school down, many more to go. One kid in school, one more to go. A house to secure, and many many more things to do. We have finally moved forward. Hurray!!!

Dr. Droupy?

 

Introducing "The Hospital" - not bad looking eh?

 Kenji and Keo at the hospital waiting for papa to get out of an appointment.

Good thing things are nice to look at around here. Nothing ugly, beauty everywhere! And -those scooters are the best things I ever bought. Boys travel everywhere with them: to Paris, to the hospital, to and into museums, bakeries and soon to school!

A great way for the kids to pass them time these days.

 

Another great idea: A fun park at the hospital! Well, not a fun park, but a Carousal! Right there a minutes walk from the hospital.

To describe France with just a few C's? - simple:

1.Carousals

2.Chocolate Croissants

3. Cafes

4. Candy! 

A trip to the hospital this week to drop JM off for his pre-transplant exam and this is what I run in to in the hallway?: A Prof. S. Droupy? 
                   "Hhmm..will you be taking care of my husband... Dr. Droupy??"

 Well, we are well on our way here for..lots of things. JM's appointments and hospital stays seem to be coming right along. I had a good heart to heart with the doctors, kicked and screamed my way into getting my husband the best and quickest medical care possible ...and this is where it takes us. It's a bittersweet feeling. I want JM to get in asap...at the same time it's very scary, and it's only after all these appointments are in place, that I realize I really don't want any of this to be happening. It's only when I drive home with kids, and after dropping him off, that I really realize what the hell is going on, it's starting to sink in. Forget my apartment hunting, these mindless details of where to live...This is life. My life, My husbands life, My kids life... I hate the drive home. I hate the week ahead, but then I know he will come home soon and things will be normal again, more yummy breakfasts, more strolls, more sightseeing. This is our life back and forth..and at the end of the day, life is still very sweet for us.

This morning I took Kenji and Keo for a chocolate chaud in town. We sat there, drank our warm breakfast boissons, and talked about how Kenji will begin school tomorrow!!!
Whoo-hoo! School!!! We must rise at 6, leave at 7 and be in Fontainebleau at 8 for school at 8:30am! Then Kenji will have his lunch break and Keo and I will be eagerly waiting for him outside and take him to lunch in town! Then back to school till 3? no, 4? nooo...5? Oui! 5pm he has school, can you believe that? Keo and I will spend the day updating my Visa, walking around (taking pics of course) and oh yes I almost forgot, how could I forget, and looking for apartments...huh, can't believe that left my mind.

Catching up...

 Dear Blacksburg, I feel tired and defeated. The apartment I so had my heart set on didn't work out -and I got sick soon after, hence the no posts this week. The only apartment out of 50 apartments that I had my heart set on did not work out! This is where I say to myself "it wasn't meant to be" ...but let me tell you: I did not tell myself that this week after that bad news phone call. I told myself and everyone around me something very different if you can imagine. I locked myself in the bathroom, cried my eyes out and hung my head in the laundry basket for 2 hours. It took me a good few days to get over that. And to realize that I have to start all over again, apartment searching. So I sit here at 2am on a Tuesday night wondering what the hell I'm doing wrong in this process.

1. Am I too picky? this comes to mind first. 

2. Am I so stressed out that I just can't make a normal choice?

3. Do I not want to move forward? and why...

About the picky part, I don't think I am too picky! I have to think of the kids (proximity schools, the fact Kenji comes home to eat everyday!, space for them this year) I have to think of JM and recovery. He will need space and comfort. I have to think of cost of living, this is only for 6-9 months so it can be small, or can it? Shouldn't we get something comfortable even if it means more $$$? This will be a special year with special needs. 

Living in Fontainebleau is like living in no other city. This is an old city with the Napoleon Chateau! The houses/apartments in and around town are from the 17th century and lots of people live on three levels with bathrooms on the way top and steps on the staircase that are kneehigh! That just doesn't work for me. And so why Fontainebleau? Because it has the international school for Kenji.  He just can't go into a normal public French school, Keo can, but Kenji can't. It would be way to difficult. Maybe under normal circumstances YES, but not this year. And I like Fontainebleau, a lot, I married JM right there in the town, Kenji was born there, Petunia lived there, so that's that, dust my knees off, my search must go on.

got candy? got pumpkins?

Greeting from France, the land of a very hollow Halloween...and a very bitter and biting winter wind, and  hello from our new found friends "potiron and citrouille" A hard find in France, and a bit odd shaped too...

The French enthusiasm for Halloween is non-existent. Enthusiasm I'm saying, not idea. The idea exists -and it's not a good idea. Where is the love people? Put some heart in it! I saw people trying to try...buying to try, but um, it looked very awkward, and hello people, we don't trick or treat on the 29th of October - now that is just plain scary, go home and try again, later, like on the 31st. -Or better yet, let my kids show you how it's done.

Now this is more like it! 

It's amazing what the power of culture and cumulative effort can do! I miss Halloween in the "hood" this year. I miss the days up to Halloween, the boys getting ready, the "Bwah ha ha " in the house. I declared Halloween my favorite holiday last year...  and what to do this year when practically nobody celebrates this special pumpkin season? - A...ha! Mama was thinking! I packed along some face paint in my suitcase just for the occasion!!! I-actually thought a bit ahead and it paid off BIG TIME.

and I packed away a spiderman suite for Keo, although...he wanted to be Power-Ranger instead - so we made some adjustments to his face and it worked out: Spider Ranger!

Then we hit the streets of Euro Disneyland Village (not the actual park) and...

 Kenji Breakdanced!

Now how is that for a Halloween evening?

Go Kenji go!

I have never seen Kenji on such a roll before. If we weren't going to go to party then Kenji was going to bring a party to us! He danced his little heart away to a local street group playing Michael Jackson. It was quite a sight!

And then it was time for candy...uh oh... 

I didn't have any candy.

"Mama, when can we go trick or treating?"

"Well honey, I'm not sure we can, they just don't do it here..."

"What!" ----(not what? but what!)

Then - I found this:

Cha ching!

Problem solved.

"Kids, just knock on the plastic door! and say trick or treat!"

 

I'd like to say Kenji's face looked like this when I said that...but it didn't. It looked quite the opposite, but, when mama said "Smile" ..he smiled.
Sweet boy my Kenji...

And here we are, faces painted too. 

You know what? It was so outrageous. I would be sitting on the bench at Euro Disney and people would come up and say: "Madam! Where did you get your face done? and where can I get mine done?!" 

 and I would think to myself "are they talking about this hot mess on my face? and then politely say:

"oh,.. I did it at home.." 

and then they would say:

"Oh Madam! you could be making a fortune here on the streets doing that!" 

Seriously, it was like they'd never seen a painted face before. Ehh..thanks but no thanks.

 

To wrap it up, our evening was alright. I don't think I'll ever go to Euro Disney on Halloween though again, unless you actually go in the park..that may be lots of fun. 

On the way home though we passed by an old dark "haunted" castle near JM's town. Now that would have been awesome to stop by at!  

Note to myself: Next time, while in Paris, on Halloween: take advantage of the castles and dungeons in and around town and skip out on the commercial drama of the French very Hollow Halloween.

P.S. Thank you for our very fun Halloween package with candy and cards!!!