After an action-packed week we had a busy sunny Saturday and quiet rainy Sunday. The week was busy as the boys had plenty to do, though the pace and pressure appears to be slackening, and will (so we hear) continue easy off ‘til the end of term as the “worst” is over and the main exams are finit (for Tom). Jan has been very busy with a French class, a French conversation group, and a small group French tutorial, apart from everything else. My work is keeping me hopping, as usual. Jan also had to go through a carte de sejour (visa) full day class for new immigrants on Saturday. She had to go – no choice – as they work hard to ensure new immigrants (which we are classified as), especially women who are married to the main visa holders, are integrated into society. It was not ideal but interesting, so she said. Don’t ask why the main visa holder was not required to do the course, though…
While Jan was learning how to become a good French citizen the boys and I walked a long way from our apartment up to the Musée national d'histoire naturelle. The route took us by the main mosque in Paris (shades of Morocco). The natural history museum is huge, and amazing, especially for children.
Sunday was drizzly and slow, though this did not stop the line-up for the boulangerie-pâtisserie on our street. They have amazing breads, tartes, etc., on offer. It is the mundane day to day, too, that really makes you realize you are in another country that operates on another level than where you come from. A queue of 15-20, out the door, quietly talking, before moving into the shop for a pleasant (and not always quick) talk with the patrons of the shop. Different understandings of time and service, and the results are well worth the wait!
K
