Chapter 81: Half a Year

nerd blog post #86

Today marks six months since I left Canada. Kind of crazy. I thought I'd have a lot to say about it, but I don't.... It's been half a year of my life living away from most of my fave peeps.

Luckily, one of those peeps is sitting across from me riiiight now. On Monday, I returned to Rennes, joined by Paabor later that day. Paabor was on a mission to wash his clothes, catch up on writing, and have a sit down. After Paris, this is just the place for that. It has been a relaxing week.

On Monday, I found out that the school is still blockaded and that I would likely not work at all this week. And so, I was free to play Suzie Homemaker for Paabor. My fave game. We had breakie feasts every morning and hot dindins every night. He tried the famous Roly Poly and the essential spinach omelette of the Schadinger Regime.

Tuesday was spent beginning the mission outlined above. We stayed in all day. It was nice for me, too, after a long vacay. In the evening, we went to Merrill's for Tuesday Tradition and the testosterone was much higher than normal with Paabor and Benito both present. A welcomed change.

On Wednesday, Paabor and I explored Rennes. We walked along the cobblestone streets, stopping to take pictures, and finally settled at a little place for crepes and cafe.

Today, Paabor and I settled his travel plans and then I babysat for a few hours. A prof in the department asked me to and I was happy for some extra pocket money and a chance to practice my French. The little boys understand English, but I took the opportunity to speak in French. The great thing about French kids (besides being super cute and well dressed) is that they don't slow down when they talk to me, but they also don't use a complicated vocabulary. I kind of wanted to ask the three year old to do a weekly language swap with me at a local cafe.

Actually, I went over there earlier this week to meet the mama and the boys. I could tell it was one of their first times having a babysitter. Like, you don't need to show me where the light switch to the bedroom is when it's inside the room and to the left of the door frame. As they all are. But I stayed for forty-five minutes and walked through every detail. Today, she confessed I was their first babysitter and that she had been quite nervous, so was glad to see everything was okay. ie - the kids were alive and even in their pjs. I'm babysitting for them again in a couple of weeks.

Tonight, Merrill is throwing a party and Paabor and I will head over there in a few minutes. He's leaving tomorrow morning.

Without work, things are quite different in Rennes. I'm not bored, which is good, and I plan on starting a more usual routine next week, in case this goes on for awhile. I'm also getting the creative writing stories online soon. Since the class is held in the library (which is not blockaded), it still goes on. I have also moved the theatre group to a couple of afternoons a week until the strike is over so we can keep working.

I suppose that's all. Hope you are all well!

Love,
Hincks.