Merry Christmas, Happy New Years and all that jazz

To everyone who may read this I just want to say that I hope you had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope you have a magnificent New Years.
My Christmas was great. Quite traditional for the Hargrave family. I jumped in my parents bed at 6:30 in the morning to wake them up, put on a pot of coffee - Had some Bailey's in my coffee (GOOOOOD MORNING!) woke up Grumpy went out fed the dog and cat - had a smoke. Came in the house had coffee and Bailey's #2. Went down stairs to open presents - half way through presents grabbed bottle of champagne #1 - a ten year old bottle from France. Finished opening presents, finished bottle of champagne - went up stairs started making breakfast grabbed a beer, finished beer - breakfast ready bottle of champagne #2 - Played with my Marie Antoinette action figure with the ejecting head - checked out my new nano then beer, beer, beer - blur. People came over - Bobbie, Jay, Hayden, Grace, Jeremy, Jaime, Meighan, Phil - big turkey dinner more beer - Leshelle, Cameron blur, blur blur - was supposed to go out, it was 10pm but I was still in my pyjama's and was in no state to see people - so a few more beers and I fell asleep on the couch! It was quite the happy drunken Christmas as usual at the Hargrave house.
So here was my x-mas day, I hope you all had a great one too.
Happy Holidays, and to my Berlioz girls I'll see you very soon
Tara

Home for the Holidays

my title is deceiving - because this entry has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am home right now. In fact it is a telling of my last week in Nantes.
Where shall I start....
1)my gnome Gnorm got stollen from me and I received ransom notes along with pics of him. Apparently he went to the north pole to help santa. The good news is he's back. In fact Christina is babysitting him for me, he will be going to Prague with her on thursday!
2)Me and the Berlioz team - went out on thursday night and did some christmas caroling at our host families houses. It was good times. Let's just say over the course of the night our singing got a little bolder as each fam had us in for cookies and wine!
--just a side note - when christmas caroling on public transit in france, remember that there are a few people who can speak english - therefore when you start singing your own rendition of the 12 days of christmas that is rather obscene - some people may understand you! Luckily the woman was hillarious and had just got back from a little trip to canada, she had been visiting her sister who is the newest Much Music VJ! She ended up singing with us on our bus ride.
3) My newest most efficient teaching strategy has become throwing chalk at students!! I could never get away with this in Canada, but I'm in France so meh!!! My little french students like dropping in random profanities while they are speaking in class so I just throw stuff at them. It is a highly effective method of handling the little buggers.
4)My last night in Nantes was great - me and the girls did our own little x-mas party with champagne etc. it was great. We also did our secret santa. I had a blast.
Now I have to go, because Jaime is summoning me on MSN - so demanding!
love ya'll
Tara

Jaime, Jaime Jaime

You have no patience girl! Remember I don't have the internet. So I can't post every second of every day!

My weekend was amazing. Friday night I did nothing (well I watched Monty Python) Saturday morning I left for Mont Saint Michel. Let's just say that Tara almost kicked out of the Abby....OOOOOPPPPPSSSS. I said to my friend Karen: Hey look at the random ladder sticking out of the wall let's climb it and see what's up there. She said Ok. She climbed then I got scared (shut up Jaime I hate heights). Then a little anal retentive French rent a cop - historical monument security came up and starting yelling!
Number one he said that it was the second time he had to yell at Karen - so not true (he said that he caught her on top of the alter in the church - didn't happen!) Then started calling her an idiot etc.
I don't like it when people yell at my friends! Or when they falsely accuse my friends of something. So I start to argue with the anal retentive rent a cop - historical monument security guy - in English - which he understands very well.
I point out to the fact that there is no sign indicating that that it is not a continuation of the tour etc. And that if it's the fourth time he's had to yell at someone within the last hour that maybe a sign would be beneficial. -- All of a sudden like magic the anal retentive rent a cop historical monument security guy can't speak english? hmmm - so what does Tara do?
Tara starts screaming at the anal retentive, rent a cop, historical monument security guy in French!
Once he realized that there was no way in hell is was going to get anywhere with me, he walked away grumbling under his breath, while me and Karen were pissing ourselves laughing. Then the Anal retentive, rent a cop - historical monument security guy turns around so I give him a little smile and wave ------ WELL this made him a very angry little elf - he said "Come with me, let's go" of course I just said no, I hadn't done anything etc. Somehow I just argued and argued until he went away!
-After the abby we went down to the little church. Then we had absolutely nothing else to do for about 3 hours, out in the freezing cold - on a fortified rock in the middle of nowhere!

Next we go to Saint Malo - It was cool - but they only gave us 1 hour and 15 minutes! and there was tons to do. We ended up concentrating on the beach area.

Sunday morning I left on train to go to some x-mas shopping in Paris until tuesday morning.
I went to:
Invalides
Arc de Triomphe
Boat cruise on the Seine
Notre Dame
Pantheon
Eiffel Tower
and then shopping on the Champs d'elysse!
All in all a great weekend - and since I already have about a million pics of paris from when I went back in the day - I didn't need to do the whole touristy picture thing.
Anywho gotta go
Tara

Playing hookie on a random thursday!

Laundry day (French drying system!)

Me and my travel buddies Christina and Meghan

Carcassonne at night (I stayed in these walls!!!!)

Well I didn't quite make it to school today. But I made it to commerce to do some shopping!! I bought my return ticket from Paris for Tuesday morning, and a purse (brown, fake leather quite nice and 50% off). We had a lovely lunch at McDicks (very unhealthy I know) where I got a beer with my extra value meal!!!! I love France. Now I am sitting in my cafe having a beer and writing this blog (for the second time since the first one deleted uuuuggggghhhh!)

that's all for today. Must go more 1664 to drink!

Another 'nuit blanche'

-here's another pic from my trip

Well, Tara went on a little drunk fest Saturday night. Turns out the 2 salsa dance lessons I showed up to payed off (well not really, i'm sure I still looked like an ass). Me and a few of the girls went to a chinese buffet, then to Jackies for some pre drinks, then to a bar called the tower. Why did we go to the tower you may ask? Because the random strangers we met on the tram were going to the tower and they got us in VIP - which means no cover! Anywho, Gist of the story is Tara can't drink, because when Tara drinks she thinks she can dance.
At the end of the bar night, I said goodbye to my temporary french lover/salsa dance partner and waited until 7am to catch the tram back home. I ended up waiting in the virtually empty train station, which has toilets but pay toilets...and they were closed. I had to get the friendly security guy to get me into the bathrooms.
All in all, it was pretty entertaining.
The plan for this weekend:
Saturday - Mont St. Michel
Sunday/Monday - Paris
why? because I can. and because I don't have to teach on monday because it is a p.d. day!
Later, love ya'll
Tara

OK here's the story

1. La Rochelle:
I was very excited about La Rochelle because it is the home of my ancestors on my Peperes side. I have no idea why they left France, but I'm glad they did otherwise I wouldn't be seing it now. La Rochelle is gorgeous. Right on the water, their are two huge beautiful Towers that protect the city. I also had my best meal of the trip in Bordeaux - I had a huge plate full of seafood and then a steak - fantabulous. We took a 2 boat rides to get around the city - the view was amazing. Total 8 out of 10

2. Bordeaux:
YUCK!!!!! I'm sure if it was the first thing I saw in France it might have had more of an impact on me, but I hated Bordeaux. In all fairness I didn't see the waterfront, but I don't think it would have made much of a difference. The one good thing - I saw the church (or cathedral with flying buttresses and all) where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII (whom she later divorced to marry the future king of England Henry II). The Musee des beaux arts was extremely dissapointing, but they were doing renovations. So in total Bordeaux gets about a 4 out of 10.

3. Périgeuex: WOW.........Jaw droping amazing. I must admit it's mostly due to the fact that it was the first medieval city that I have ever seen (fortified walls don't remain, but you still have the small, narrow path ways filled with shops!) The morning we walked through the medeival part of the city (it was damn cold), we also checked out the natural history museum that housed a gigantic mammoth tusk and other crazy stuff like a mummy and a burial crown from the 1st century!!!! In the afternoon we took a guided tour of the roman city (or the remains of) it was very interesting and informative - we saw the remains of the amphitheater, a roman house that they had excavated - and housed it in a glass building - you could even see how they lived! (or at least how the wealthy lived). Then there was the Tower! with one collapsed wall - the myth states that St Etienne found and beat a dragon to protect Périgeuex and the wall collapsed. Also during our tour we met a lovely french couple Solange and Patrick who fell in love with me, Meghan and Christina and offered to have us to their summer vacation house in Arcachon near the Dune du Pila!!!!!!!! I love France people are so nice! The end of the day we took a train back to Evil Bordeaux to sleep.

4. Toulouse:
Doesn't even look or fell like your in France. They call it la ville rose for a reason. The use of red brick throughout the city offers a brighter image than the rest of France. Also it is a bilingual city French/Spanish so all the signs are in both. I ate Horse for the first time in Toulouse! Apparently i'm being adventurous with my food choices - so far - raw oysters, rabbit, duck, horse, Kangaroo - and random sea creatures that I wouldn't even think to try. In toulouse I saw the Capitole and I couldn't even tell you what it is, but it was pretty!!!! Toulouse had an amazing art gallery. I was in awe the hold time - 3 rooms were dedicated to statues from churches (the outside of) - from the 10th-12th Century I was in awe at how much detail remained and how even the smallest pieces would tell biblical stories from begining to end! Also their were some amazing paintings including some by Toulouse Letrec! We went at night, and they turned the lights off, which made us very sad but we had time to go in the morning. We also hit up a nice market and bought some food for the train ride.

5. Carcasonne:
Well for starters. They sold too many train tickets so me, Christina and Meghan had to sit in the aisle with our huge packs. But once we go to Carcasonne I thought I was in heaven. Total jaw dropping amazing!!!!! It is deffinetly my if I win the lottery I'm moving here place. When you get to Carcasonne you are in the lower part of the city - as you keep walking you see an old bridge when you look out you see the pyrenees mountains off in the distance. Then perched up on a hillside is a medieval cité protected by two fortified walls!!!! Our hostel was within this walled city. Once you walk in you see the little narrow, small streets full of shops and restaurants. and then their is the castle! absolutely amazing. We walked around the cité between the fortified walls and you look out over the rest of the city and see all the mountains in the distance. AMAZING!!!!! we ate in a little restaurant at night and had the local specialty Cassoulette, which is white beans, sausage, duck etc. all mixed and baked together in a bowl. to start we had French onion soup in France! This was the best place to just mosey around. It was great. At night, we left the city walls and climbed the paths on the hillside and checked out all the hidden little entrence ways! it was magical. The next morning we all split up and had solo time before we left. I just walk around the city and took some more pics. I think I will deffinetly have to go back before I leave this country.

The ride back to Nantes was exciting. Our train was delayed, and we thought we were going to miss our connection in Bordeaux. But we somehow made it. All in all a great trip. I can't wait until the next.
on the 18th of November I'm doing Mont st-Michel et St Malo!!!! I can't wait. Then maybe a weekend in Tours, who knows.

Until Next time
Tara

Back from a Fantabulous Trip

post to come soon. I forgot my laptop today and am having trouble loading my pics from my camera - so for all those waiting there will be something coming this week. AND NO TREVOR I WILL NOT SHOW YOU MY HOOKER BOOTS (UNTIL X-MAS) but you won't be here...maybe I'll send you a special pick....lol

The Sky is Falling - Tara bought HOOKER BOOTS!

That is correct I am the proud owner of a brqnd new pair of hooker boots that go up past my (and can be folded down under the knee). I know it's crazy, but it's true! I still haven't loaded my haircut pics to send, but I will try to soon. France is till great. I'm on my break now, but i'm not taking off until wednesday - so essays here I come! I know it sounds boring, and it is....
I gotta go - It's laudry day!
Tara

I GOT A HAIR CUT

I really did, and it's sort of pointless that i'm telling ya'll this because I can't even show it to you. So I will describe it: side bangs, layers etc. and maybe next time i'll have a pic to post, but for now I got nothing! Except for this beautiful picture of me and my host mummy. DON'T WORRY MOM SHE WILL NEVER REPLACE YOU. But she is very sweet and kind, except I look kinda SPECIAL in this pic! In fact i'm regretting having posted it, but am too lazy to do anything about it.

Anyways, all is good here in France, i'm trying to watch my carbs and stay away from cheese which is next to impossible to do in France! Last night I didn't do either, because I ate galettes and crepes on a boat! Me and the girls went for a stroll and found a little floating creperie on the river, so we thought eh, why not have an authentic french experience - so I ordered the galette Nantais (named after the city I live in) with was a form of a crepe with cheese, onions and sausage and with Muscadet the prized wine of the region. and for dessert to keep with the whole french thing, and being as cultured as I am I ordered La Canadienne - you guessed it, the canadian with maple syrup, toasted almonds etc. It was fantastic (although I am dissapointed in myself for having something I could easily get at home, or make for myself. I also had a double shot of expresso at about 8pm which kept me up half the night for my homework! Canadian coffee is going to suck when I get home.

Anyhow, enough random babbling, I have places to go, and people to do!
till we meet again,
Tara

I never get on the internet!!!

Turns out, Internet is not at all a big part of my life!!!! I thought I would want to get online everyday, but really I have been damn lazy. Too much effort to carry laptop to school....cannot do it captain, I don't have the power.
Well, I bought the bestest thing ever yesterday.....it is a French cultural dictionnaire (think encyclopedia and dictionnary all in one) in 4 volumes. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the only problem, it weighs 12.86kg, more than half the wieght I am allowed in my suitcase....OOOOPPPPSS! Besides that I have bought like 20 other new books, and still have a reading list from one of my profs that I want to buy while i'm here. I AM SCREWED.....Why do I have to be such a geek!!!
Anywho, aside from that, I had a very interesting night at the bar on saturday....Apparently Tara thinks she can dance, especially after much beer and shots....Tara even thinks she can dance well enough to hop up on little stages! I suck....The good news is, when I ran out of Euro's a lovely couple at the bar who found out I was canadian were kind enough to supply me beer, which in turn kept me dancing.
NOTE: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO SALSA DANCE WITH STRANGE FRENCH MEN - if you catch yourself in this situation DO NOT PANIC - when your dance partner decides to try and spin you - keep spinning until you find Doug - our amrican boyfriend who comes out dancing with us.
Also to note at the bar:
The bartenders here unlike in Canada will offer you volume deals on shots - so buying ten rather than six means excellent deals and more drunkeness for you!
OH YEAH - I forgot, this is a complete side note, but there are lizards here
gotta go .....ahhhh class - and no i'm not drunk right now
bissous,
Tara

This one's for you Jaime!

Well I really don't feel like I have much to say. Today it is rainy as usual, mind you yesterday it was nice and sunny. I have class in 30min, and a presentation to prep for Friday!
I still don't feel like I have settled into a routine here (not in a bad way). Everyday is different.
Here is what I have learned so far in France:
If anyone asks you "Where is Brian?" you are to respond that he is in the kitchen.
things aren't cool here, they are hyper cool (imagine it with a french accent Heapère cooool)
I apparently have a problem with public transportation (mini anxiety!)
French bus drivers attempt to finish their route in the quickest amount of time possible so they can have a smoke before starting again!
When random boys tell you that there is a bus at 4am outside the after hours bar THEY ARE LYING!!!!! so be prepared for a long walk
If you don't specify that you want a shot of vodka, you will get a glass full of it.
French university residence are not used, nor ready for rowdy Canadians who know how to drink!
No matter how hard you try to hide it, your non smoking next door neighbour will catch you smoking in your room!
Cleaning ladies in France don't actually clean, they just sit in the hallway and smoke
It is a good idea to get fully dressed before leaving the shower, to avoid the cat calls of your french, african and spanish neighbours.
Rosé is not considered real wine
anytime you would normally say shit in english, replace it with Vache!
Always say Bonjour when walking into a shop and aurevoir, whether or not you buy anything.
Drinking is permitted everywhere: at school, on the tram, on the bus, in the shower etc. etc.
I'm sure I will have many more lessons to share with ya'll later on!
Until then, love you, miss you
Tara

le Perk!

Well I meant to post this the other day....ok i'm lying, i've been too lazy to put my pics onto my computer, so I stole this one from my facebook page!
This is about half of the group here with me in Nantes. The 6 girls in the front of the pic including me are the girls who live in my building. We all knew each other before this year since we all go to UW.
On a funny note, we are actually at a cafe called le Perk in this picture - the reason why this is funny is that the 'quote' of our trip this year so far has been "Je m'appelle Claude", "Blu, bla, ble, blu" - from friends - ok so it doesn't seem as funny written down, but those of you friends fans I know will find it funny! ANYWAYS... the cafe called le perk - relates to central perk on friends.
And here ends another one of my useless stories!

Cafe Flesselles

I have found my french cafe! I always pictured myself finding a cafe where I could become a 'regular' at least for the year, and I have found it! The waiter Loic is the nicest man ever. The first day he met us he gave us all gifts. Now I am pretty much here all the time. The added bonus: FREE WIRELESS!!!!!!!

I am happy to report that France is still fantastic. I have started my classes and they are pretty good. It is amazing how much free time we have this year. We have about 7 weeks off during the school year to do whatever we choose! I think my first week off will be spent in Corsica and I am debating going to Paris for the weekend! I can already see that it is going to be hard to remind myself that I am also here to do school! There is just so much to do and see. I could spend a whole year simply exploring this region.

Nantes is a great city - kind of like Guelph on a larger scale in that it is a city with a small town feel except for when their are fights on the tram and pervs at the bar who understand everything in english except for the word NO. (Don't worry I'm a tough girl I can handle myself!)

I must admit I thought I would get on this more often to post - but the days seem to go by so fast here! After all it is still the beginning.

I am at a crossroads right now - I don't know if I want to teach english anymore while I am here - don't get me wrong it would be a great experience ... but I now have a host family that I want to spend time with - and those 7 weeks off might come into jeapordy if I have to teach everyweek. I have a meeting today - and I guess I'll have to make my decision, but right now I think its a no.

Back to the host family - I love them! My host family is an older couple, who are retired, that have been a part of the france-canada association forever. They have been hosting students for years (since the 70's I've seen pics!) They used to live in canada, their son was born in Montreal. I am looking forward to spending time with them, we have already gone to an exposition and had it not been raining we would have gone to see one of the local castles! It also must be said that they are fabulous cooks, I had a wonderful lunch with them.

Anyway - I think at this point i'm rambling - so till next time,

Tara

Vive la France!

Well not much has happened yet so much has happened since the last time I posted.
Time seems to take on a whole new meaning here. I fell like I have been here forever, but in a good way. At home I live in the middle of nowhere and therefore I don't do much. Here is a completely different store. Everyday seems to be get up and go, go, go, and I love it.
We finally started our classes this week. Our canadian profs. classes seem pretty good, but their will be quite a bit of work to do. The french profs. seem to underestimate our level of french, and therefore we have a very easy work load.
Last night I went to Ikea to do a little bit of shopping, and you guessed it Ikea here is the same as ikea anywhere. Looks like I'll have somewhere to go if I ever get homesick! One trouble area I have noticed is that books are extremely cheap here in France, and I can't seem to stop buying them!!! My lugage was not overweight on the way over, but I can tell it will be on the way home!
Well, I don't have much more to say, so ta ta for now
Tara

IM IN NANTES!!!!!!!!!!!

Well actually i'm in Clisson right now writting this message. Things are great I've decided I love France, but I hate their keyboards! Today I visited the castle here in Clisson, it is amazing the town is cute. Yesterday we were swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, it's like a dream. The flight was pretty good, we had a night flight which means in theory we should have been able to sleep, but of course I couldn't. The first day was terribly long I was up for well over 35 hours straight, after about 2 weeks of hardly being able to sleep. All in all, I am extremely happy, I absolutely love it here! I haven't quite figured out the whole picture set up, once I do (some time in October) I will post some stuff.
Anyways I feel like I'm in a dream right now and I hope the whole year doesn't go by as fast as the last few days have.
Until next time,
Love Ya'll
Tara

Gotta Love Redneck Weddings!

Well last saturday was interesting to say the least. I went to my first ever redneck wedding and it was a blast.

Requirements for the wedding:
BYOB and lawnchair
no dress code - jeans preferable

The groom has the best mullet I have ever seen! The bride looked beautiful and the ceremony was great - except for the drunken guy screaming out "don't do it moose" and "now you've gotta cook me breakfast woman...I want bacon and eggs" (addressed to the bride after the vows by the same drunk)

My friends son was the ring bearer, he dropped one of the rings but found it again, then he started to shake the tent/canopy that the bride and groom were under - her daughter was the flower girl (she's 2 1/2) she decided she wanted to run the show and started screaming out "Ladies and gentlemen..." right when the justice of the peace started to talk.

The ceremony was followed by lot's of beer and Karaoke (I managed to do some dixie chicks, third eye blind and kenny rogers! while my sister sang some New Kids On the Block)
All and all it was a great wedding, I had a fantastic time and the bride and groom had a great day too (minus the screaming drunk during the ceremony).

After the ceremony I attended a lovely Keg party at my friend Joe's house followed by a 4 am drunken breakfast at the 5th wheel truckstop! all and all an eventful saturday night

This weekends agenda: Camping at North Sable Sands, should be a good time.

I'M DONE MY SUMMER COURSE - and other random happnings

I went to the Counting Crows/Goo Goo Dolls concert last night...AMAZING! Thank you Meighan for the birthday present. I never realized how many good songs the Goo Goo Dolls have written. The piece de resistance for me was definetly the Counting Crows - they have been one of my favorite bands since I was in grade 7. The only shocker was that they didn't play Mr. Jones - but they still played a bunch of their other greats: hanginaround, Mrs. Potter's lullaby, Big Yellow Taxi, Round Here etc. It was such a good show.

The ride home was eventful - I had a few drinks at the show (dont' worry I wasn't driving) - on the 401, we heard a funny sound - Meighan noticed the car was driving a little funny. Sure enough once we get out in the middle of nowhere (between Milton and Acton) we pull over and realize we have a flat. It's 2 in the morning and me and Meighan are trying to figure out how her jack works so we can change her tire - Long story short: Creepy truck drivers pulls over to help us, changes our tire and then says "you come in my truck for 10/15 minutes" I look at Meighan and Yell "get in the car and lock the damn door" - Creepy truck driver was at Meighans window and we booted out of there. One of the top ten scary/funny moments of my life.

Back to buisness:
I am finally finished my essay and can say that I am done school for this term!!!!!!! That final essay violated me, I have never had so much trouble writing an essay in my life - I must have re-written the thing 8 times before deciding layout, and quotes etc. I had about 22 word documents going on for this essay and the final product was only 8 pages long!!!! I must be the worst essay writer ever!
But now that my course is finished I can start focusing on my trip. I still have so much little crap to do before I go. I bought (or I should say my parents bought) my lugage set the other day. I think I am going to have a big problem with packing. I jam packed a hockey duffle bag for my week in the Dominican, and now I am supposed to pack for my year away in France in two little suitcases!?!?!?!? I'm sure I'll figure something out. But the biggest thing I am going to miss, that I can't bring with me, is all my books!!!!! I love my little library that I have going on, and it comes in handy when I'm writing essays etc. Oh well. I guess my problem in France will be restraining myself from starting a new library while i'm there - I definetly won't be able to get everything home if I do that!

till next time

Dominican Rum = Bad!!!!

Note to self:
after drinking all day in the sun with crazy family members DO NOT feed yourself or the people around you shots of Dominican Rum.
I figured out this out the hard way by having my uncle threaten (he was really drunk!!!!) everyone (even imaginary people) around him! lol. At least we all had a really good laugh, especially the next morning when he didn't remember a thing from the night before. Once we told him what he had done he apollogized but still resented me a little for having fed him the booze in the first place.
All in all it was a good day - we were celebrating my Grandma's (Mémère's) birthday. She is just the cutest! She had on these hip pink, Hawain print shorts and a cowboy hat that said Beach Babe, so cute! She is the coolest grandma ever...I even managed to talk her and my mother into getting tattoo's with me a year ago!
Anywho - it was a nice day, but sort of sad too because I know I probably won't see many of them again before I leave...at least I'll have some really funny memories to take with me, and some great pictures too!
well, that's all I have for now
cheers

destress day

Well I decided that I wasn't going to let a little thing like the french consulate stand in the way of my drinking/fishing/camping/relaxation gettaway. So I decided to book my appointment with the consulate for the day I get back! My appointment is already going to be late anyway, so what's another day!
I went into work today for my big 3 hour shift and besides that, all I have been doing is reading!!!! I swear when i am done this essay I'm going to give myself a night out with no limits. I'll just have to pick a town Waterloo or Guelph? Acton just doesn't really cut it for the night life. I do have my bar/office here at home, but combining the two was a huge disaster because I can't disassociate the room from work! so besides the odd night cap and being able to bring the bar home with me on occasion, I have started to look at this place like it's my prison.
Well, I guess procrastination time is over. I better get back to work.
ciao
Tara

Already a bump in the road

Note to anyone and everyone who plans to go to another country for an extended period of time - DON'T PROCRASTINATE! Today I encountered my first bump in the road during my pre-departure check. I went online to book my appointment with the French consulate and the following happened:
1. they advise to book your appointment for at least 6 weeks before your departure, my departure is september 19, everything is booked up until the end of august.
2. I find the earliest possible appointment - it just happens to be right smack dab in the middle of my vacation. I'll be in Quebec and the appointment is in Toronto. Guess who get's to drive back to ontario for a 10 minute appointment and then back to Quebec!!!!!!!
My next problem lies in the fact that for some reason my long form birth certificate did not go through. So I have to hope that if I go down to the appropriate office in Toronto, and wait a million hours to get help, I can get it same day or at least faster, because I can't risk not having it before my august 22 consulate appointment!
I completely realize that this little entry is full of run on sentences, but at least you'll get the full effect of my little rant.
Although it is very stressfull (I still have the 4 jobs and an essay due!) I know that everything should pan out and that once september 19th hits i'll be on my way.
Until then I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

The countdown begins!

Well the time is fast approaching - i'm moving to France!!!!! My nerves and my excitment are constantly battling each other for supremacy, but above all I can't wait to start this new adventure. The countdown stands at 2 months and 7 days, but I feel like I'm so unprepared. I haven't even started to think about packing, I'm still waiting on very important documents and I have 4 jobs and one course to finish! No rest for the wicked, i'm sure the next couple of months will be a blur.
Until then I have an essay to finish!
Welcome to my blog...stay tuned for the travel countdown and to hear about my random adventures.