Freedom
Over the past few days, things have been fun and challenging. One thing that has struck Charlie is the absence of homeless people here. Luke is loving the freedom.
The boys have been exploring the town on their own, either cycling or walking around. It's great to see them gaining independence and enjoying their adventures. Each night, we have been going on after dinner bike rides. Our rides have lasted long enough that we ride our bikes back home in the dark. Surprisingly, even at 11 pm, there are still people out and about, walking, riding bikes, hanging out in restaurants, etc. There is so much energy. I love it
There are designated bike paths everywhere. It's not only safe but also easy to navigate. This town has so many events and activities. From traditional markets on Tuesday and Saturday mornings to night markets on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, as well as a daily fish market, concerts, petanque matches, and even a lively Sardine night, there's something for everyone here. The swell increased the past few days so we have been going on long hikes or bike rides instead of surfing. We plan to surf tomorrow as long as the waves are smaller. Fingers crossed. We hiked from Lafitenia to St Jean de Luz one day. SJL is way too touristy but it certainly is beautiful. I think that hike was over 10 km.
Although silly and amusing, I came up with this mnemonic to help me remember gauche and droite. "Grateful Dead = Gauche Droite." Thank you Bobby. Joking.
While in Bayonne, Luke and I went into a few shops. Luke was way too shy to speak so I had to do it. I tried to ask for a size 45 in French, but it just didn’t come out right. Eventually we all figured it out, and Luke tried on some styley Italian shoes. Later, in Hossegor, Luke had grease all over his hands (fixing his bike chain). Once again Luke wouldn’t ask so here I am again with my rudimentary French asking for degreaser. I think I must be the best mime ever. I'm trying my best to communicate in French, but it is not easy, especially when Luke knows how to speak French but won't help much. Despite the difficulties, I'm picking up some basic phrases and getting used to using infinitive verbs. Handling everyday tasks has been quite challenging for me. Understanding prices when I buy things and deciphering labels on products often leaves me feeling confused. Even simple tasks like locating a bathroom or recalling my phone number and reciting it in French is hard. I don't even know my own address, which is quite embarrassing. Additionally, driving is daunting, and the thought of parallel parking in a tight space stresses me out. Despite all these challenges, I'm doing my best to adapt and improve. On a positive note, we finalized the hiring of a French teacher who will start this Thursday. The boys and I will have 30-minute lessons each.The language barrier and cultural differences have been a struggle, but I'm looking forward to learning more and laughing at these challenging times in the future. Eventually, I hope to understand Euros, local products, and how to perform simple tasks effortlessly. This is such a learning experience. I've been trying to figure out why I wake up feeling so tired, and today it hit me just how draining everything has been, despite being on vacation. The boys desperately needed haircuts, so we took them to Alain Coiffeur Barbier. They ended up with really good haircuts, and it was the first time they got their hair washed at a barbershop. They looked styled, clean, and handsome afterward. I had quite an amusing and slightly awkward experience during my visit to an underwear store. I walk in, all confident, but little did I know that dealing with French sizing would be like cracking a secret code. I'm there, mixing English and basic French, pointing at stuff like I'm performing an interpretive dance. I could've used Google translate to save myself the trouble, but nope! I was on a mission to conquer this challenge without any tech help. Old school style! The best part was when the salesperson looked at me, clearly amused, and bluntly said, "This is your size, go try it on." I couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation.
I just can't wrap my head around this! Vaping seems to be all the rage these days, but what utterly flabbergasts me is witnessing moms vaping while holding their children's hands. Seriously, do they not know the potential health risks involved? They must be well aware that it's bad for their health, maybe even worse than smoking a good ol' fashioned cigarette, so why on earth would they do it?! Because they are French.
Today, we had a bank appointment in Biarritz to switch our account from a foreigner account to a resident account. The meeting with the banker lasted over an hour, and I must admit, I really pushed my brain to understand all the details. It was overwhelming. Gabe explained (after we left) that the banker was incredibly helpful in explaining the various insurance options we needed and how to set up our boys' first bank accounts.
Luke will get a card he can use anytime, anywhere, while Charlie, being under 12, gets a card for withdrawals at the bank. They even receive 50 Euros for opening their own accounts - the boys are stoked! Well, Charlie feels that it is not fair that he gets the “baby card.” After we left the bank, I couldn't help but admire the narrow street we drove down that was lined with old buildings with colorful shutters. This city is beautiful.
