Who's Ready for PARRRRIIISSS?

Thursday will be my last day volunteering at the DCC until the fall semester. Friday, I leave for Boston. I think it would be an understatement to say that I'm not quite ready to be jet setting across the Atlantic for two months. I mean, I'm READY. Don't get me wrong, I want to t be there YESTERDAY. I have nothing packed and my apartment is still in shambles from my last last-minute-packing-for-NY trip. My plan for now is to have everything laid out in my living room and when I can find luggage large enough for a 2 month trip, I'll pack.

Jason is subletting from me for 2 months (thankgoodnessforhim) so I need to get this place back to a respectable standard of living. Toto is spending 2 months with his new best friend Isabelle (who incidentally has lightened up a bit having met him).

I officially leave for Paris on June 28, but I will leave Kansas on June 18 (yeah, that's three days from today). On the 19th, I'll go to a dipardo/perotti/morin family reunion in Newport RI and enjoy great food and great conversation with what might be the world's biggest family.

There really isn't much interesting going on quite yet. As far as actually being in Paris is concerned, I have been in contact with a few people. Yael, my former resident, might be adopted as my tourguide/interpreter. She doesn't know this yet. Momma Jo has a friend, Marielle, who lives in Paris and has agreed to meet up with me a few times while I'm there. I have been e-mailing the owner of the Deaf Restaurant and he has been so kind to keep me up to date on happenings in the Deaf Community, or, at least I think he is:

** Bonjour Brittany, il est clair que de savoir parler le Français aidera bien sur à comprendre la LSF. Mais la langue des signes a ceci de bien, c'est qu'elle exprime bout à bout un sens et non des mots! C'est pour cette raison que tu ne rencontras pas trop de problême pour te faire des amis Sourds. Por ta deuxième question, les fins de semaine sont plus propices aux rencontres et plus les 4èmes Vendredi de chaques mois!!.. See you soon Brittany! **

Here is my rough translation: Hello Brittany (that's me), it is clear that knowing how to speak French will help you better understand LSF (French Sign Language). But sign language is about expressing a sense and not the words. It is for this reason that you will not have a problem making Deaf friends. For the second question, the weekends are the best and also the fourth Saturday of each month!!.. See you soon Brittany! (that last part was easy).

This translation has been approved by one French speaking Yael Hirschhorn.

Soo, I'm sitting here in my freezy-cold apartment (I prefer it this way), cuddling with my cat and listening to the thunderstorm and rain.

OH ALSO!

Brittany Morin-Mezzadri
9 rue du Vertbois
75003 Paris, France