Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Last day of work... last day of the long commute

Doug has two more days of work, but today is my last day. I should be excited since I am now on summer vacation (and about 3 weeks earlier than normal!), but instead I am worried. Worried since we don't have jobs lined up... worried because we don't know where we are going to live... worried that we won't find jobs. I know that God will provide... it is hard to be patient, though.

On a different note, I have a feeling that one day we will look back at this year in France and be amazed by our commute to work. It is long and tiring, but it is also good exercise and reading time.

our commute to work:
step 1: less than 5 minute bus ride or car ride to tram stop (or 15 minute walk)
step 2: 22 minute tram ride to Gare Part Dieu (the main train station in Lyon)
step 3: 35 minute train ride from Gare Part Dieu to Belleville-sur-Saône
step 4: 20-25 minute walk from the Belleville train station to the high school or middle school in Belleville.

Now you might be thinking, "oh come on, its not THAT bad," but because there is only 1 train per hour from Lyon to Belleville, we have to take the train that arrives an hour before our classes begin to allow enough time to walk from the station to the school.

Take this morning for example.
5:40AM left house
5:45 tram to Lyon Part Dieu
6:22 train to Belleville-sur-Saône
6:59 train arrived in Belleville
7:20 arrived at school
8AM first class

and because there is only one train an hour, it also works against us on the way back...

5:45PM finish teaching
6:10 arrive at train station (therefore missing the 6PM train back to Lyon)
7PM train leaves Belleville to go back to Lyon
7:35 train arrives at Lyon Part Dieu
7:40 tram to Meyzieu
8:02 tram arrives Meyzieu
8:05PM arrive back at house

Whew! I will definitely NOT miss Tuesdays!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Chorale Harmonie and Renaissance Festival

Last night the Marseilles chorus had a concert in Villeurbanne.
Although they sang mostly in French, they sang a few gospels in English, including this male-only number:

Today there was a Renaissance Festival in Vieux Lyon (old city center).
there was acting...
flag throwing...
music...
a parade...
human chess...
and sword fighting...
and BEAUTIFUL weather!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Italia!

We got back last night from our spring break trip to Italy. We had a GREAT time! Here was our itinerary:

Tues-Thurs- Cinque Terre
Fri- Pisa and Lucca
Sat- Siena
Sun- Volterra
Mon-Tues- Florence

Cinque Terre was our favorite since it was SO beautiful and the hiking was really fun. Volterra came in second because it was quiet, relaxing, and also very beautiful!

Pisa was quick (only a couple of hours), but fun to see the Tower. Lucca was nice... the highlight was biking the ramparts. Siena was a pretty city. Florence was great for the culture... we went to 4 museums on Tuesday!

Here are our Italy pics:
Today we have been catching up and relaxing. Tomorrow night the Marseilles church chorus, Chorale Harmonie, is performing in Lyon. We're hosting a couple of the members at the Hendrix house.


One more thing... tons of people told us that they would come to visit if we moved to France... only a few actually have (the Williams, the Bonnie and Bonnie, and Grant and Emily)... but, we have big new news: MISS ANNA ROSE ANDERSON IS COMING TO VISIT at the end of May! This is VERY exciting that we have a visit to look forward to.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Saturday stroll

This afternoon it was really pretty so we decided to take a walk near the Grand Large lake in Décines (the town right next to Meyzieu).
We're enjoying the sun!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Weekend en Allemagne

We spent Easter weekend in Heidelberg, Germany visiting Emily Branch. As soon as we arrived, she took us on a 2 hour hike up to the top of the mountain behind the Pepperdine house! After our hike we had schnitzel for supper. On Saturday we did all the touristy things (churches, University Library, University Prison, bridge, etc.), including the monastery with a working farm and restaurant/shop where we bought some homemade cherry-apricot jam. Saturday night we had bratwurst. Sunday we went to an Easter egg hunt at the castle, then hiked up another mountain with Emily, and went to the "Haus Church" with the other Pepperdine students Sunday night. Finally, Monday we came back through Karlsruhe, where we saw the palace, pyramid, and had lunch by the zoo. Here are pictures from the weekend...

The Hendrix garden continues to bloom... some of the flowers and colors are breathtaking!