There is so much to tell you about this past week. We finished up our Trompe L’oeil module and I’m so pleased to tell you I’m excited about what we learned and how we moved through this session. Michel said we did things he’s never asked of his students before. That’s thrilling for me personally. I’ve posted two more panels that I still have work on to complete. I’m happy about them both. Have never painted a face or the upper body and it was wonderful doing it and the feeling of accomplishment when I stepped back and could tell it was a she and her body was in good shape was so rewarding!!
I had dinner with a new French friend. The woman in the Chanel shoes LOL. Her name is Christine and she and I are going to have dinner together again in January the first week I return for the last module. Amazing how small the world is. When she started sharing some of her story with me, I realized we had lived somewhat parallel lives. There was definitely a kindred spirit in her with me and I’m so glad to get to know her.
Saying our Christmas goodbyes in class was bitter sweet and Michel will not be returning in January for the landscape and mural module. He had committed to a huge restoration project in a church. We enjoyed his company.
The love and care we have for each other is a bond you cannot duplicate. It’s one that’s earned and our efforts in the class to succeed and learn as much as possible without going insane is commendable LOL. Our laughter carried us many days as we progressed.
I left class on Friday evening and took the train to Paris. Took a little over four hours, but that was great, since getting to Agen from the airport took over seven hours. I arrived very early in the morning on Saturday and rested a little before my full day Saturday.
The two women I had met at the famous school in Paris came by to pick me up at 11:30 in the morning and they were two of the most fantastic tour guides I could have ever dreamed of having.
Danielle is an Administrative Assistant at the school and works with the Director who is pictured on the blog. Danielle has been taking some classes and has been smitten with art and wants to learn more.
Marielle is an experienced artisan and has worked as an assistant and apprentice with Pierre who is also pictured. She is excited about her new career move in getting to teach at the school starting in January and has been featured on TV a few times doing demonstrations of her original wall treatments. She’s so talented.
Marielle took us around in her 2 horse power Citroen. It’s a classic car and Frenchmen all over were stopping her and talking about her car. See picture. When she drove up to pick me up, I was looking at that car and thinking, “OH MY GOSH, that car is awesome” and then I saw her wave and was thrilled to be getting to ride in it. It was very small inside like our old Volkswagens and reminded me of them years ago, but so much more.
I knew once Danielle arrived and they got inside the car with me, that I was in for a full day as they started pulling out maps and things they were determined for me to see. I have to tell you that them doing this for me and not even knowing me, was one of the most precious gifts I could have received here. They were so selfless and gracious and wouldn’t allow me to even pay for the fuel we consumed. They had a full agenda of what I was going to see and experience while here in Paris LOL.
To have two women who are so into art, to know what to show me and where to take me from an artist's point of view was so incredible. I couldn't have asked for more.
We went to the Eiffel Tower first where I barely got my foot out of the car door and was approached by a young woman asking for money. Fifteen seconds later, I was approached by another one. I asked Marielle and Danielle who they were, as they looked Middle Eastern and they told me they were gypsies. The first question out of their mouths was “do you speak English?” You can tell I’m NOT French with the blonde hair.
We visited and saw so many sights, I cannot possibly remember them all, much less the names and all the history, but will try to recap some of it. We saw The Moulin Rouge. This is the red light district and some of the names of the shops I cannot publish on this blog, they were so graphic.
We saw where Napoleon was buried and some of the statues he erected displaying names of Generals who served him, as well as some of the battles fought and territories conquered.
We went through the tunnel where Princess Di died and also to the Ritz Carlton where she spent her last hours alive.
We spent some time in Reciproque’ shops. These are second hand stores where true designer labels are sold. They were great shops, but still very expensive.
We spent a lot of time in Montmartre where Patrick is approved as an artist and will probably have to wait four years to get a spot there. It was fascinating and wasn’t what I expected. This area of Paris is my favorite so far. It was like a small village environment and there was a famous church at the crest of the hill just to the right of where the artists stay all weekend.
Alot of the artists there were doing chalk renditions of people who approached them to get their faces painted. There was alot of talent in that one spot and it was rewarding.
We had café and chocolate crepe at this wonderful crepery where a young Italian man was playing predominantly American songs and pouring his heart into them. I sat in tears at soaking in this moment and finally some American songs without the French accent to them LOL. He was great and watching his passion over doing what he loved, touched my heart. See picture.
The ambiance of this restaurant and all the small notes posted all over the walls and ceilings were touching, realizing how much history was in this one place and how many people had graced it’s doors. They are famous for their Brittany style crepes, which is where Marielle grew up in France. It is located on the northwest region of France.
We went to this famous restaurant for dinner called Au Pied de Cochon. Cochon translation in English is “pig”. When Marielle told me their signature dish is a pig’s head, I didn’t really believe it, UNTIL, the people next to me ordered such and I was revolted at looking at it LOL. The French do truly eat anything that crawls and do not waste ANY portion of the animal itself. It took us three hours to get served a simple three course meal.
One thing that I love about the French is their love for food and when they eat, it’s an event in itself. They take more than 30 minutes to an hour and a half just to bring you the bill and are in no hurry to serve your food, as they believe you are enjoying the company of each other. One thing that drives me crazy about the French is exactly what I said I love about them LOL. I haven’t fully decided which opinion will be mine ultimately.
In so many ways, Paris reminds me of Manhattan in the feel of the city, except that the buildings are far more exquisite and statuesque. This city is beautiful and has a charm Manhattan doesn’t. The architecture is something to marvel. The shops and close proximity you are when you are in the restaurants, as well as how small the shops and restaurants are, is so reminiscent of NY. Made me long for home!!!
We saw the Christmas lights of buildings and the Champs Elysses. I cannot describe for you how decorative and illustrative these Frenchman celebrate their Christmas. It truly is something that has to be experienced and is as elaborate and beautiful as the city itself.
As I got on line and was typing this, I was looking out my hotel window and watching Paris come alive with lights for the evening and saw the beauty even in the darkness.
I will tell you something, when we were working on the wood graining and marbles in the first module, I made an observation that will stay with me. The most tortured woods and marbles in nature, are in fact, the most beautiful. I hope you can see the beauty in this statement. I know something of this personally and now professionally. I am grateful!!!!!
I’m leaving in the morning and this will be my last blog entry until I return in January. Please be safe, relish the moments with your loved ones and know you are loved . . . MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
Tammy in France
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Merry Christmas from Agen
Hello Everyone!!!!
This will be my last blog in Agen for awhile. I’m leaving this Friday evening to arrive in Paris late in the evening to find my hotel and spend two full days until flying out on Monday, YEAH!!!!!! I’m so looking forward to getting home for awhile before our session starts again January 5th.
I have some great things to share with you. I've been contacted by two magazines wanting to do articles on my experiences and/or blog here and am so thankful for these opportunities. Both of these will be coming out soon. One is local in the City of Greenville and the other one is international. I'm so excited to be a part of this with them.
I cannot finish this module without telling you about the new student we had join us three weeks ago. His name is Michel and don’t even ask me how to spell his last name LOL. He’s of Spanish origin and was very shy the first week, but man, did he ever come out of his shell after the first week LOL.
He’s a lot of fun and is constantly playing around and acting like he’s tripping himself and making jokes, all of which, we have to hand motion to each other or get translation to understand them all.
He spent time with us and found out how much fun we all have, and yet, how serious we all are about our art and what we are doing and he fit in perfectly with this class. You’ll see a picture of Michel in the Picasa web album. He’s a very nice guy who is a sweetheart. I speak to him in Spanish, English and try some French. He speaks French most of the time in his every day life and lives in Toulouse with his wife, where Brigette lives. Son just graduated college with an engineering degree. Congrats!!!!
We have been working intensely on the panel you’ll see on the web album. The” ripped paper panel”. Talk about details!!!!! We spent a lot of time just working on putting the little fuzzies created by string. Please notice the name tag, the transparent tape holding the paper together if you can see them on the picture on the web album. You’ll laugh, this morning we varnished this piece for safe keeping to travel home with them this weekend and as I was applying the varnish, I freaked out when I went over the tape, thinking I’d ruin it. Then, I realized, it wasn’t real, I painted it on. That’s real trompe l’oeil, when I can fool myself LOL.
We are finishing up two more panels this week, one of which is the green ornate molding one you see in the web album. We are putting a very ornate "Grotesque" period ornamentation on this piece and it's going to be even more beautiful. I'm so thankful Michel is challenging us the way he is and yet, loving, looking over our shoulders watching as only he can.
I’m going to get serious for just a moment and tell you that being here for all this time, 12 weeks, to be exact. Has been sobering, enlightening, frightening, wonderful, beautiful, painful, excruciating at times, such a great experience and loving on so many levels. The friends I’ve made while here with the other students and loving Michel and Kyoko the way I do and having time with them, is one of the great benefits.
The ways I’ve personally grown in my relationships with those closest to me is one of THE most rewarding things about being here. You find out who matters and what your priorities are when you are in a position like this.
I’ve also found out about me personally and when you are away from everything you are comfortable with, don’t have the same diversions you do in your daily life and are alone, living in a country you can’t speak their language, there’s mostly you, especially at night and on the weekends to spend time with.
Having said this, seeing the “real” you, the insecurities, the fears, the things you feel deep down about life, about yourself, about others, comes forward and it’s a “bear”, let me tell you. You have to face yourself and decide how much of you will be hindered by your insecurities and how much of you will not be forced to live this way anymore.
I can say, after thinking about these things and deciding to face my fears while here and moving forward and deciding to grow, that I’m so thankful for this experience and ALL that it entails. It stretches you like a piece of canvas and you feel you are being stretched and pulled on all sides. You can’t help but either crawl into a hole and hide, or you come out and face everything and challenge those things that can hold you back in your own life and your own personal growth.
If there were one thing I could give to you, it would be this gift itself, to know you. To know what you fear, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what you want and don’t want. To feel, to need, to sacrifice, to watch the love and feel it from others at a much deeper level than you can imagine because of your heart’s desires and needs. It’s all so beautiful!!!!!
That's the one thing about finding art in my life that is fascinating. You never get it, you always feel some fear when starting a project, and yet, you just go and do. I love the fact that I cannot conquer this and that it will be a lifetime of learning!! I love learning and growing.
BLESS you all for touching me so much and I am so grateful to so many of you who have truly walked in this place with me. You know who you are, I’ve told you. What you have done for me and how you have changed me by your presence in my life is astounding and I’m so thankful for you!!!!!! So, in your own ways, you have been partaking of this personally with me on this journey. You have been here with me in France.
I’ll try to write while in Paris, this weekend before I leave, but if I miss you, please know you are loved in France, that you are in my thoughts and prayers and that I’m longing for your physical presence in my life.
Thank you again, to my dearest friend and love, Tom. Honey, you are, like I said in an E-mail this morning one in ten million. Your sacrifice, love, respect, gentleness, support, kindness and unselfishness in all of this have been the biggest gifts of all!!!!! Thank you for sharing this life with me and believing in me!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS from Tammy Goben!!!!!
This will be my last blog in Agen for awhile. I’m leaving this Friday evening to arrive in Paris late in the evening to find my hotel and spend two full days until flying out on Monday, YEAH!!!!!! I’m so looking forward to getting home for awhile before our session starts again January 5th.
I have some great things to share with you. I've been contacted by two magazines wanting to do articles on my experiences and/or blog here and am so thankful for these opportunities. Both of these will be coming out soon. One is local in the City of Greenville and the other one is international. I'm so excited to be a part of this with them.
I cannot finish this module without telling you about the new student we had join us three weeks ago. His name is Michel and don’t even ask me how to spell his last name LOL. He’s of Spanish origin and was very shy the first week, but man, did he ever come out of his shell after the first week LOL.
He’s a lot of fun and is constantly playing around and acting like he’s tripping himself and making jokes, all of which, we have to hand motion to each other or get translation to understand them all.
He spent time with us and found out how much fun we all have, and yet, how serious we all are about our art and what we are doing and he fit in perfectly with this class. You’ll see a picture of Michel in the Picasa web album. He’s a very nice guy who is a sweetheart. I speak to him in Spanish, English and try some French. He speaks French most of the time in his every day life and lives in Toulouse with his wife, where Brigette lives. Son just graduated college with an engineering degree. Congrats!!!!
We have been working intensely on the panel you’ll see on the web album. The” ripped paper panel”. Talk about details!!!!! We spent a lot of time just working on putting the little fuzzies created by string. Please notice the name tag, the transparent tape holding the paper together if you can see them on the picture on the web album. You’ll laugh, this morning we varnished this piece for safe keeping to travel home with them this weekend and as I was applying the varnish, I freaked out when I went over the tape, thinking I’d ruin it. Then, I realized, it wasn’t real, I painted it on. That’s real trompe l’oeil, when I can fool myself LOL.
We are finishing up two more panels this week, one of which is the green ornate molding one you see in the web album. We are putting a very ornate "Grotesque" period ornamentation on this piece and it's going to be even more beautiful. I'm so thankful Michel is challenging us the way he is and yet, loving, looking over our shoulders watching as only he can.
I’m going to get serious for just a moment and tell you that being here for all this time, 12 weeks, to be exact. Has been sobering, enlightening, frightening, wonderful, beautiful, painful, excruciating at times, such a great experience and loving on so many levels. The friends I’ve made while here with the other students and loving Michel and Kyoko the way I do and having time with them, is one of the great benefits.
The ways I’ve personally grown in my relationships with those closest to me is one of THE most rewarding things about being here. You find out who matters and what your priorities are when you are in a position like this.
I’ve also found out about me personally and when you are away from everything you are comfortable with, don’t have the same diversions you do in your daily life and are alone, living in a country you can’t speak their language, there’s mostly you, especially at night and on the weekends to spend time with.
Having said this, seeing the “real” you, the insecurities, the fears, the things you feel deep down about life, about yourself, about others, comes forward and it’s a “bear”, let me tell you. You have to face yourself and decide how much of you will be hindered by your insecurities and how much of you will not be forced to live this way anymore.
I can say, after thinking about these things and deciding to face my fears while here and moving forward and deciding to grow, that I’m so thankful for this experience and ALL that it entails. It stretches you like a piece of canvas and you feel you are being stretched and pulled on all sides. You can’t help but either crawl into a hole and hide, or you come out and face everything and challenge those things that can hold you back in your own life and your own personal growth.
If there were one thing I could give to you, it would be this gift itself, to know you. To know what you fear, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what you want and don’t want. To feel, to need, to sacrifice, to watch the love and feel it from others at a much deeper level than you can imagine because of your heart’s desires and needs. It’s all so beautiful!!!!!
That's the one thing about finding art in my life that is fascinating. You never get it, you always feel some fear when starting a project, and yet, you just go and do. I love the fact that I cannot conquer this and that it will be a lifetime of learning!! I love learning and growing.
BLESS you all for touching me so much and I am so grateful to so many of you who have truly walked in this place with me. You know who you are, I’ve told you. What you have done for me and how you have changed me by your presence in my life is astounding and I’m so thankful for you!!!!!! So, in your own ways, you have been partaking of this personally with me on this journey. You have been here with me in France.
I’ll try to write while in Paris, this weekend before I leave, but if I miss you, please know you are loved in France, that you are in my thoughts and prayers and that I’m longing for your physical presence in my life.
Thank you again, to my dearest friend and love, Tom. Honey, you are, like I said in an E-mail this morning one in ten million. Your sacrifice, love, respect, gentleness, support, kindness and unselfishness in all of this have been the biggest gifts of all!!!!! Thank you for sharing this life with me and believing in me!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS from Tammy Goben!!!!!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Grae
Just had to get on line again and let you all know what my grandson did this past Friday. He started crawling, sitting up and really moving around. He started crawling while Katie was on the phone and she was so thrilled. Today, I got to see this little tyke doing his thing.
Thank goodness, he loves the laptop and the picture on it and crawled right to me and the camera everytime they pulled him back to let me watch him. I'm SO thrilled over this news and am sad I'm not there, but will be soon.
Tyler and Katie put up their Christmas tree a week ago Friday and Grae was rolling wherever he wanted to go during that week and rolled under the tree twice and had to have a bath, because he kept getting tree sap on him ROFL.
He's the most beautiful little thing and I can tell has a very strong nature about him. I can't wait to hold him and am so thankful Tyler and Katie share him with me the way they do. How beautiful it all is!!!!!
In love with grandson - Tammy
Thank goodness, he loves the laptop and the picture on it and crawled right to me and the camera everytime they pulled him back to let me watch him. I'm SO thrilled over this news and am sad I'm not there, but will be soon.
Tyler and Katie put up their Christmas tree a week ago Friday and Grae was rolling wherever he wanted to go during that week and rolled under the tree twice and had to have a bath, because he kept getting tree sap on him ROFL.
He's the most beautiful little thing and I can tell has a very strong nature about him. I can't wait to hold him and am so thankful Tyler and Katie share him with me the way they do. How beautiful it all is!!!!!
In love with grandson - Tammy
Trompe L'Oeil Module
Welcome back to my blog!!!!
Thank you all for your kind words and Emails and Craig, honey, thanks for letting me know you were reading it. I'm so thankful for all of you and how you are participating in this with me. I'm thankful each of you take the time, even if you don't tell me, to read what is going on here in France and what my experiences are like. I hope you are enjoying the details of this while it's happening.
This past week was interesting to say the least. I visited an Osteopathic therapist for some major back pain I was experiencing and it was quite the experience.
I also found myself missing so much, just hearing English and hearing French all over the place. Was reflecting on this while in the grocery store after I'd checked out and was waiting on Michel, Kyoko and Marina to finish. That even though I'm not a nosy person, when you can't even understand what people are behind you saying, it feels like you are in a vacuum of sorts. I'm so longing to hear my language and be able to interact with people and just ask a total stranger, "how is your day going?"
I also noticed how all the students are trying their best to communicate and how difficult it is on so many levels. We are all working as diligently as we can, to interact and to get to know each other. Michel, the newest student is of a Spanish origin and I can speak more Spanish to him than any other language and I find myself, going from Spanish, to a word or two in French to a little English LOL. I can honestly say that I'm loving being with these students and there is a bond with all of us and we care deeply about each other.
I think Patrick even feels from me, this homesickness I'm REALLY starting to feel again since I know my time is limited and I'm so PAST wanting to get home. I told Tom this past week, if what I was learning wasn't so important, I'd be on that train to Paris coming home.
What we are doing in this module though and what we are learning and gleaning from this class is the LOVE of my heart when it comes to art. This is the Trompe L'oeil module and it's only four weeks. We are two weeks into this module and only have two more. I have posted some pictures of one panel that is almost complete. A green stone marble with a very ornate molding. Michel says it's not finished, so there will probably be something added inside this stonework. Also, a ripped paper panel we are currently working on, as well as one of the panels we will be doing in class in January with the landscape and mural class, but it will also have a live model we will paint and some other things added to it as well. The ripped paper panel, I had just started and it's much more complete than what this picture reflects. Please notice the penciled in part, vs. what the shadowing alone did to this piece. I'm SO excited about this particular piece. It's as ornate and detailed as the peeled off paint we did in the ATL class.
I had a wonderful day here in Agen yesterday. It's been five weeks since I was able to go downtown and just walk the streets and see the sights. I took off early in the morning and went to the market and have some of those pictures posted. I also ate lunch at this crepery restaurant I've been dying to go to for lunch and had one of the best meals here in France.
One of the things I love about the French restaurants is that they have individual items and entrees, then they have special prices for two, three, four, and five course meals. You can choose typically between two different items in each category. I love this, or just ordering one thing. The meal was delicious but made me want Robyn's chicken crepes too. Their crepes are different than what we make in America, but delicious. Especially the chocolate ones with creme!!!!!
I also stopped into two hair cutting establishments and got my hair done. I'm telling you, it's quite the experience not speaking French and trying to relay what you are thinking about. Even when they say they speak a little English, this means two words maybe. SO, I revert to smiling a lot and hoping and praying they don't totally mess my hair up. I kept thinking yesterday, "okay girl, it's only hair and yours grows fast, so do this and stop worrying." When you do find someone who can speak a little, they want to tell you about where they visited while in America. I have to tell you all that everyone who has visited America has said nothing but GREAT things about where they visited and they all want to return.
One thing that I cannot get used to here, is like I said the restroom situations and I cannot get comfortable walking into a restroom with a man in it. It freaks me out everytime!!!! I also cannot get used to how the French push you in line. When you are in line at the grocery store, if you don't hurry and get your groceries up on the counter, they will literally put their things either on top of your things, or just make you loose your place and have to hold your items if you aren't fast enough. I noticed in lines yesterday paying for things I was finding in the stores, how they push up against you. I'm not used to people getting all close and personal and speaking loudly their language in my ears. If I could speak French well enough, I'd tell them to back off LOL. It's just their culture and I'm IN their land, I have to adjust and understand what they do and how they do it. There are some things though, I will not emulate. Don't want to develop these habits. Others, I love about them.
While in town yesterday, ran into Michel, Kyoko and his daughter. It was so good to see them and while sharing a cafe' or in my case, a cappuccino, Mary Rose came by. We had fun and you'll see a picture of this as well.
I also saw this beautiful lady I'd met in the elevator this past Friday morning when I admired her shoes. Some things are universal with women LOL. She spoke some English so she told me what kind of shoes they were and smiled when I kept telling her I loved them. Literally almost bumped into her in a store yesterday and she was so kind to tell me she's staying here ten days out of the month at the same place I'm staying in and wants us to go to dinner in the restaurant downstairs two weeks from now, just before I leave. I'm so tickled to meet this lady and to find someone I can speak a little English with and to have dinner with her will be a delight.
I can't tell you how beautiful some of the women are here in Agen. Sometimes, when I'm at a cafe' or just in the grocery store around town, I see this absolutely drop dead gorgeous woman next to me or walking past me and I'm amazed and just want to tell her how beautiful she is, but can't LOL. Sometimes, I'll say magnifique, which is something they do understand somewhat. I wished I could take pictures of these women for you, but they wouldn't understand why I wanted to take their photos LOL.
I'm also finding that alot of jewelry people wear around Agen and Le Passage are very minimal. I've never seen such tiny gold wedding bands the men wear. They are all commenting on my diamond and think Tom is just Mr. Awesome, which he is LOL. They are also threatening to keep my diamong ring or some of my other jewelry to make sure I come back after the Christmas holiday LOL.
The comments about Thanksgiving and enjoying that custom Americans have and how great that experience was this past Saturday evening has touched my heart this week. Comments from Nikola like "Tammy, I thought I'd be nice and put everything on my plate and taste everything and then decide what I liked and eat it. The problem was, I liked it all and ate everything". It warmed my heart that these people were so open to an American custom and having Jean tell them all about Boston and the history of the pilgrims was great as well. You could see a sparkle in their eyes as they reflected on how new our nation is and how vulnerable and courageous our forefathers were to move to a new land and develop it.
I'm looking forward to Paris in two weekends and will definitely be in town with Merielle, who so generously is going to take me around all day on Saturday. Am more looking forward to getting home and need this time with family and friends. I cannot tell you how the smallest things are missed and longed for.
Today, it is actually sunny and I'm loving it and am about to go around town to a park I found nearby. I also want to look at a restaurant that Nostradamus actually lived in while he stayed here years ago. I'm wanting to check this place out and it's close to the park.
The French think the sun is out when it's totally hidden behind the clouds and not visible. This is not sunshine to me LOL. I guess, when you live in an environment where it's raining most of the time in the winter, they feel that at least they can tell the sun is supposed to be out, so they think it's sunny. These things are things I miss so much. It's been an adjustment being in this winter weather here.
You all take care of yourself and know this lady in France loves you all and thinks of you often.
I read something and am borrowing it from a lady I received an E-mail from and it's the epitomy of how I feel about living. LIVE IT LOUD!!!!! Gotta love that!!
Tammy
Thank you all for your kind words and Emails and Craig, honey, thanks for letting me know you were reading it. I'm so thankful for all of you and how you are participating in this with me. I'm thankful each of you take the time, even if you don't tell me, to read what is going on here in France and what my experiences are like. I hope you are enjoying the details of this while it's happening.
This past week was interesting to say the least. I visited an Osteopathic therapist for some major back pain I was experiencing and it was quite the experience.
I also found myself missing so much, just hearing English and hearing French all over the place. Was reflecting on this while in the grocery store after I'd checked out and was waiting on Michel, Kyoko and Marina to finish. That even though I'm not a nosy person, when you can't even understand what people are behind you saying, it feels like you are in a vacuum of sorts. I'm so longing to hear my language and be able to interact with people and just ask a total stranger, "how is your day going?"
I also noticed how all the students are trying their best to communicate and how difficult it is on so many levels. We are all working as diligently as we can, to interact and to get to know each other. Michel, the newest student is of a Spanish origin and I can speak more Spanish to him than any other language and I find myself, going from Spanish, to a word or two in French to a little English LOL. I can honestly say that I'm loving being with these students and there is a bond with all of us and we care deeply about each other.
I think Patrick even feels from me, this homesickness I'm REALLY starting to feel again since I know my time is limited and I'm so PAST wanting to get home. I told Tom this past week, if what I was learning wasn't so important, I'd be on that train to Paris coming home.
What we are doing in this module though and what we are learning and gleaning from this class is the LOVE of my heart when it comes to art. This is the Trompe L'oeil module and it's only four weeks. We are two weeks into this module and only have two more. I have posted some pictures of one panel that is almost complete. A green stone marble with a very ornate molding. Michel says it's not finished, so there will probably be something added inside this stonework. Also, a ripped paper panel we are currently working on, as well as one of the panels we will be doing in class in January with the landscape and mural class, but it will also have a live model we will paint and some other things added to it as well. The ripped paper panel, I had just started and it's much more complete than what this picture reflects. Please notice the penciled in part, vs. what the shadowing alone did to this piece. I'm SO excited about this particular piece. It's as ornate and detailed as the peeled off paint we did in the ATL class.
I had a wonderful day here in Agen yesterday. It's been five weeks since I was able to go downtown and just walk the streets and see the sights. I took off early in the morning and went to the market and have some of those pictures posted. I also ate lunch at this crepery restaurant I've been dying to go to for lunch and had one of the best meals here in France.
One of the things I love about the French restaurants is that they have individual items and entrees, then they have special prices for two, three, four, and five course meals. You can choose typically between two different items in each category. I love this, or just ordering one thing. The meal was delicious but made me want Robyn's chicken crepes too. Their crepes are different than what we make in America, but delicious. Especially the chocolate ones with creme!!!!!
I also stopped into two hair cutting establishments and got my hair done. I'm telling you, it's quite the experience not speaking French and trying to relay what you are thinking about. Even when they say they speak a little English, this means two words maybe. SO, I revert to smiling a lot and hoping and praying they don't totally mess my hair up. I kept thinking yesterday, "okay girl, it's only hair and yours grows fast, so do this and stop worrying." When you do find someone who can speak a little, they want to tell you about where they visited while in America. I have to tell you all that everyone who has visited America has said nothing but GREAT things about where they visited and they all want to return.
One thing that I cannot get used to here, is like I said the restroom situations and I cannot get comfortable walking into a restroom with a man in it. It freaks me out everytime!!!! I also cannot get used to how the French push you in line. When you are in line at the grocery store, if you don't hurry and get your groceries up on the counter, they will literally put their things either on top of your things, or just make you loose your place and have to hold your items if you aren't fast enough. I noticed in lines yesterday paying for things I was finding in the stores, how they push up against you. I'm not used to people getting all close and personal and speaking loudly their language in my ears. If I could speak French well enough, I'd tell them to back off LOL. It's just their culture and I'm IN their land, I have to adjust and understand what they do and how they do it. There are some things though, I will not emulate. Don't want to develop these habits. Others, I love about them.
While in town yesterday, ran into Michel, Kyoko and his daughter. It was so good to see them and while sharing a cafe' or in my case, a cappuccino, Mary Rose came by. We had fun and you'll see a picture of this as well.
I also saw this beautiful lady I'd met in the elevator this past Friday morning when I admired her shoes. Some things are universal with women LOL. She spoke some English so she told me what kind of shoes they were and smiled when I kept telling her I loved them. Literally almost bumped into her in a store yesterday and she was so kind to tell me she's staying here ten days out of the month at the same place I'm staying in and wants us to go to dinner in the restaurant downstairs two weeks from now, just before I leave. I'm so tickled to meet this lady and to find someone I can speak a little English with and to have dinner with her will be a delight.
I can't tell you how beautiful some of the women are here in Agen. Sometimes, when I'm at a cafe' or just in the grocery store around town, I see this absolutely drop dead gorgeous woman next to me or walking past me and I'm amazed and just want to tell her how beautiful she is, but can't LOL. Sometimes, I'll say magnifique, which is something they do understand somewhat. I wished I could take pictures of these women for you, but they wouldn't understand why I wanted to take their photos LOL.
I'm also finding that alot of jewelry people wear around Agen and Le Passage are very minimal. I've never seen such tiny gold wedding bands the men wear. They are all commenting on my diamond and think Tom is just Mr. Awesome, which he is LOL. They are also threatening to keep my diamong ring or some of my other jewelry to make sure I come back after the Christmas holiday LOL.
The comments about Thanksgiving and enjoying that custom Americans have and how great that experience was this past Saturday evening has touched my heart this week. Comments from Nikola like "Tammy, I thought I'd be nice and put everything on my plate and taste everything and then decide what I liked and eat it. The problem was, I liked it all and ate everything". It warmed my heart that these people were so open to an American custom and having Jean tell them all about Boston and the history of the pilgrims was great as well. You could see a sparkle in their eyes as they reflected on how new our nation is and how vulnerable and courageous our forefathers were to move to a new land and develop it.
I'm looking forward to Paris in two weekends and will definitely be in town with Merielle, who so generously is going to take me around all day on Saturday. Am more looking forward to getting home and need this time with family and friends. I cannot tell you how the smallest things are missed and longed for.
Today, it is actually sunny and I'm loving it and am about to go around town to a park I found nearby. I also want to look at a restaurant that Nostradamus actually lived in while he stayed here years ago. I'm wanting to check this place out and it's close to the park.
The French think the sun is out when it's totally hidden behind the clouds and not visible. This is not sunshine to me LOL. I guess, when you live in an environment where it's raining most of the time in the winter, they feel that at least they can tell the sun is supposed to be out, so they think it's sunny. These things are things I miss so much. It's been an adjustment being in this winter weather here.
You all take care of yourself and know this lady in France loves you all and thinks of you often.
I read something and am borrowing it from a lady I received an E-mail from and it's the epitomy of how I feel about living. LIVE IT LOUD!!!!! Gotta love that!!
Tammy
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