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