Giving thanks on Thanksgiving

Today is supposed to be 5 minutes of giving thanks for what I already have. I already went in to some detail about how grateful I am for work and my mom. I'm also insanely thankful for all the wonderful people that are my friends and family. I feel so lucky that they love me and are in my life. I'm thankful to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, (more than enough) food in my stomach, my health, a car to borrow from time to time. I'm thankful to be back in Austin, especially on Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday, and I missed it last year. I'm thankful for words of kindness and all the ways people and the Universe take care of me. I'm thankful for my cat. I love my Stinky Monkey. I'm thankful to be alive and for the journey that is my life.

Day 4

Ok, so today I'm supposed to write a letter of thanks for the "negative" things in my life. Honestly, this is hard for me. I'm great at recognizing how good "bad" things were in hindsight; not so good at recognizing them while they're happening. So, what I'll say is that I'm thankful to be alive, to have struggles to overcome. And I'm very thankful that they're really not so bad...if my "negatives" were compared to how hard you'd have to fight a fish, I'd be looking at reeling in a perch or small catfish rather than some folks who are up against a marlin. The difficulties of yesterday made me the woman I am today, and I'm sure the small difficulties of today will make me a stronger person in the future.

Day 3

Today I'm supposed to write about something I feel grateful for...

I've been especially thankful lately to be back at work in ISSS. I love, love, love the people I work with. Like, how many people get to go to work everyday and hang out with some of their best friends? How many people get to help others AND laugh and be ridiculous? Darcy sits next to me and alternates between whale sounds, clucking like a chicken, saying "Oh no you di'nt!", and singing songs that simultaneously make me laugh and drive me crazy. I'm really excited about the people who have come since I left too. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. In addition to the great co-workers, I see students from around the world, some of whom are doing some really interesting research. We see weird ones, normal ones, fun ones, mean ones, ones you just want to put in your pocket, ones you hope you never see again. I love it!

I'm also incredibly thankful for my mom. She is sooooo good to me. I don't know if she really knows how good she is or how much I appreciate her. She has taken such good care of me...always really, but especially since I've been home. She doesn't make me feel burdensome being home. She cooks for me. I feel comfortable here. A few different people have offered to let me stay with them or in their house while they're gone to get some "time away," but each time I think, "Why would I want to leave the comfort of my home?"

Ok, I could go on, but it's late, so I'll stop. There are still 18 more days (and of course the rest of my days after) to express my gratitude.

The ABCs of Gratitude

Gratitude Challenge Day 2

I am grateful for...

A. All the adventures I've been on

B. Breakthrough

C. Chances to cut loose on the dance floor

D. Darcy and her D&Ms

E. Emergence

F. France and all the time I've gotten to spend there

G. Gui

H. Hi-speed internet

I. Interesting coworkers

J. Juan

K. Knowledge

L. Laughter

M. Mom and dad

N. New experiences

O. Opportunities to learn and grow

P. People who surround me

Q. Quality time with friends and family

R. Ridiculous amounts of patience and giving my mom has shown

S. SoodieSood

T. Traveling

U. Unexpected acts of kindness

V. Very changing weather in Texas in the fall

W. Working in ISSS

X. Xenophiles (awesome! I just had to look up words that start with x and found one I love!)

Y. You

Z. Zen

Gratitude Challenge Day 1

Ok, I know I haven't blogged in almost 3 months and there's lots to say, but not for now. I'm starting a 21-day gratitude challenge (http://www.gratitudechallenge.com/), and today is day 1. So, the first day's assignment is to express why I'm doing this challenge. The answer is I have a couple friends who are doing it, so I thought I'd do it with them. Plus, I figure it's always good to be grateful for the things in life. I already feel like I am pretty grateful in general, but it'll be good to really concentrate on it for the next 21 days. So, here we go...

Final days in France

Well, without internet at home, I've let 2 months pass without writing a blog. I leave Rennes on Tuesday and France on the 15th. In the meantime, I'll be in Paris, Dreux, and Mons (Belgium). I think I'm finally ready to come home. I'll miss France, but the last 2 months have been off and on rough. No internet or TV at home, and all my classmates left. I also kind of quit hanging out with my new little group of friends from the beginning of the year. Some of it was me- I've not been wanting to drink like before, so I kind of quit calling as much. Part of it was them- I never get invited along anymore, and sometimes don't get return calls when I do call. Even my friend that I was closest with has kind of fallen off the map since she moved away from Rennes (in her defense, I think she's genuinely busy, but still). Honestly, it's been a little disappointing, but probably for the best, as it prepares me for the move back home.

In happier news, I met some nice people while I was doing my temp job. I spoke a ton of French for the 5 weeks I was there. I finally feel like it's close to a level where I want it to be. It was good before but not good enough for me. Anywho, I was saying...nice people from work...one woman is inviting me to lunch tomorrow, and I generally liked just about everyone in the company. It was a really good experience.

I also met a really nice 80 year-old man at the library here in Rennes a few weeks ago. We've hung out a lot. I feel bad because I know he often feels very lonely, and when I leave, he'll be alone again. Apparently, in the 2 years he's lived in his apartment, I'm the only one he's invited over for dinner. Being old and alone sucks!

I had a nice trip to Perpignan to visit my old host mother. It was soooo beautiful!!! Mountains with vineyards everywhere on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. Honestly? What more could you ask for. Her adopted grandfather took me all along the coast in his little RV. It was great!

Other than Pierre (the little old man), my friends Norma, Aba, and Michelle have been great recently. I want to focuse on the positive people and experiences more than the negative. It would be silly to focus more on what's gone wrong than what's gone right...in my opinion, anyway.

What else? I didn't get the job at HSBC, which was disappointing, but I guess the Universe has other plans. Like I said, I'll miss France and am a little sad to leave, but more and more I am incredibly happy to be coming home. Still no idea where I'll end up or what I'll be doing.

At this moment, I feel kind of icky...sick to my stomach, sore throat. Hopefully a good night's sleep will clear that up.

Ok, I'm rambling, so I'm out!

Thank God Summer's Here!

The weather was still cold and kind of crappy part of last week (not as bad as in Belgium, but I'll get back to that). This week, we've had highs in the 70s and 80s, which feels really warm to me now. The sun is shining and the sky is blue. We get 16 hours from sunrise to sunset and over 17 hours of visible light. It never ceases to amaze me! The days will start getting shorter and shorter, though, and by November/December, it's ridiculous! I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

I move out of my dorm room and into my friend's apartment on Wednesday. I'm pumped about having a real apartment, though I'll be without internet or TV, and most of my friends will have left by then, which is a little frightening. I'm sure I'll figure out something to do...maybe read or something crazy. As little stuff as I have, I'm still not looking forward to moving. I think I'm going to start renting furnished apartments and have the minimum amount of books and decorations. Or just leave everything but clothes every time I move. In the last 7 1/2 years, I have done at least mini-moves (like going to Port Aransas or France) that involved a certain amount of packing and unpacking 11 times. This will be the 12th. Basta!

That being said, I found out I'm moving on to the interview stage of the job at HSBC, though I don't know when yet. I couldn't be happier. This is the job for me. Even more than the one in Rennes. As for the regular moving part of the job, that's where the only taking clothes comes in or I'll have enough money to hire movers. I want this, but at the same time, I'm trying to accept what the Universe brings me. I'm not feeling especially patient again :)

I went to Mons, Belgium last week to visit a friend, her husband, and their 5 week old baby. It was fantastic! The weather was kind of crappy; I had to wear a sweater, a fleece pullover thing, and a cardigan...in June!!!! The high on Saturday was around 60 with rain and wind. I can't get my head around it. I love all three of them though. I've known Danielle for a long time. We studied French together at UT, and it was nice to spend time with her and her super cute daughter that cries very little for a newborn. My favorite part was giving her a bath. She tried to drink the bath water! CUTE!!! Other than hanging out with the baby, we went to a couple bars (just me and her husband, Damien), to a couple restaurants (I ate ice cream that tasted like Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla!!!) to visit some of their friends, and to a going away party. Good times.

In sadder news, my grandmother died last Thursday. It was expected, and it was time. For me, I felt like I lost my grandmother last July after her stroke, so I wasn't especially sad. Mostly I felt bad for not being able to be with my mom, but my brother was there, so that reassured me. My friend's mom who has cancer is also still struggling. She needs to gain 8 pounds in the next 2 weeks to be eligible for chemo. For anyone who is reading this, please send prayers or positive thoughts or whatever you do their way. Another friend's mom is also not doing so well. More than anything, I'm concerned about how she's going to deal with it all. Positive thoughts for her are also appreciated.