Chapter 21: Eel Me

nerd blog post #22

I was thinking today that it's been ages since I last wrote, but it has only been two days.. I guess they have been eventful.

After I blogged on Tuesday, I had a snooze, and thought I would just sleep an hour or so. Just before 1pm, Cynthia came into my room... She thought that maybe I was sad and refusing to get out of bed. Nope, just actually snoozing. I did get up then, and was kind of disappointed I'd wasted so much of the day.

I went to the slum motel and was happy to get everything out of there, and clean up the room. As I dragged my suitcase back to the new pad, I thought of how many times I've moved in the past five years, and all the help I needed, and how much poor Raffi had to do.. This time, I have two suitcases, and it's more than I need to live. I think the next time I move, I'ma downgrade to one. It feels great to finally and officially be out of that horrid land.

In the afternoon, I met P-A and some of the lecteurs to check out Rennes' museum. Good news? $1.50 entrance. Bad news? They're renovating until next Spring so all we saw was t Egyptian artifacts and some Italian paintings. Not bad, but small. Worse news? Even after the renovations, there will be no dinos.

In the evening, the English society, that dorky on-campus club, had a quiz night that we were invited to. It was at a bar on Thirsty Street. I thought it would be lame, but wanted to go to show support. Turned out to be really fun! Close to eighty students were there, all pumped to drink beer, eat peanuts, and answer questions (in French) about various "English" topics. Pretty funny. I had a good time. I was on a team of mostly lecteurs, so we dominated US politics (3 Americans), British music (3 Brits) and Canadian Theatre (just joking, didn't happen). I plan on attending the bi-weekly Quiz Nights. Winning is a favourite hobby, even if it's against freens.

Yesterday, I taught in the morning and then Cynthia and I went to out first Lindyhop dance class. But just like the week before, we couldn't find it! Rennes does not want us to dance.. Instead, we ended up on a two hour walk, discovering the huuuuge park in Rennes that has tons of beautiful flower gardens, miles of trails, and immaculately kept grounds. All walled in. We loved it.

Returning home, we made a good dinner and then, after much indecision, decided to switch rooms. She preferred the bigger room with the double bed, and I didn't really care, I just wanted to finally unpack for real and feel like a room (any room) was mine. So now I'm in the smaller of the two, which isn't that small, and has a balcony. I'm very happy. I rearranged the furniture to make the most of the space, and am purring in my own room. Balcony doors wide open, no doubt. Today my other roommate, Nicolas, offered me his futon. I'ma take it, since it's a double, and I prefer the double. Plus, it's better for when friends come to visit.

I haven't said much about the third roommate, so I will now. Nicolas is a French man in his mid-twenties who owns this land and rents it out to Cythia and I for an excellent price. He takes care of all the bills, and does all the handymanning around the apartment. He just started school in Saint-Malo and has an apartment there, too, so is there most of the week, and here on week-ends. He is super nice and I like him a lot. Being the more outgoing of the two of us, I bully him with endless questions whenever he is home, and now know quite a lot about him, his family, his childhood pets, etc... We're all buds now. He told us that if we ever want to go to Saint-Malo for the week-end, we could stay at his pad there. It overlooks the ocean! Today, he introduced us to France's version of craigslist, and we found bikes, and he said he'd help us get them with his car. Cynthia and I are planning to bike to Saint-Malo this October. And that's Nicolas. I think he's wonderful.

Oh, also, P-A was RIPed yesterday. I want to make my own life here - get involved in everything possible, plan my own time, play sports, Lindyhop, teach well, make friends.. And sometimes even the handsomest of French bfs can get in the way. No more tales of Thelma or adventures in the back fields and forests of Rennes.

Today was a long teaching day as Cynthia had her off-your-top medical examination and I covered more than two of her classes. It was a bit hectic, and I also have a small cold that's been annoying. Came yesterday, should be gone tomorrow.

My students were asking me if I planned on going to Thirsty Street tonight, but I said that I think I'll rest my sore throat instead. After class, a very shy young man took his time leaving, and then came up to my desk and said, "Do you want to be 'eeled?" I didn't get it. He repeated, "Do you want to be 'eeled??" OOHH HEALED! Yes, yes I do want to be healed! "You take a hot rum and 'oney, and you drink zis. You'll be 'eeled. You can horder it at Sirsty Street." Thanks. Great advice, great 'eeling advice. 'Eel me, Sirsty Street. But still, even with that perscription, I'll be staying in tonight. I'll get my room all ready to go, and practice my German before my first class tomorrow morning! And Cynthia is trusting me to cut her hair.... We'll see how long this friendship lasts.

An epic trip to Saint-Malo is in the works for Saturday, which includes an afternoon at the beach and a night box until the morning train.. Epic. I love it.

But first, time to get rid of this cold.

With love,
Hincks