A Smoking Elephant, An Apartment, and...Pastries

"NO SMOKING ALLOWED"

This sign was posted on the outside of the building where I went to buy my bus pass.

It's an elephant putting out it's own cigarette.

Nice.

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Updates about getting settled:

GOOD NEWS!

I think I've found an apartment! Another american assistant (actually who will be working at the 2 elementary schools I worked at last time) and I found an amazing 2-bedroom apartment! Hooray! A roommate! Super not to be all alone in a studio (or in a room at somebody's house)

Why is it amazing?

 (Many of the following may seem "standard" in American apartments, but are NOT standard necessarily in France)

• it's furnished! and there are dishes, etc in the kitchen!  even a hot pot for tea
• there's an extra matress for visitors from afar (hint hint?)
• we will be able to entertain and have guests! (autonomy)
• there's a big table! dinner parties!
• there's a living room! (last time we just had 4 bedrooms & a tiny shared kitchen)
• there's a couch in the livingroom! and a flat-screen tv! haha
• it's in the center of town, near all the shops, not far from the bus station/cinema/grocery store/old part of town/library/etc
• there's a petit balcony, with a view of the street below
• there's a place to keep bikes in the back, ground floor (still need to find one of my own, I'm borrowing for now)
• it's on the 3rd floor! (a view of the street) NOT the "RDC" meaning bottom floor
• it's well lit (with natural sunlight) verrrrry important, in my opinion
• there's a DISHWASHER! (very rare)
• there's a WASHING MACHINE (practically unheard of)
• there's AN OVEN!!!!! wahoooo! this is a big deal. just trust me.

YAY! so should all go according to plan, somebody somewhere is whipping up a contract for us, and hopefully we'll be moving in early next week.

It is such a relief to find something great!

And more good news: everything's going great so far with introductions at my schools. I've got my work schedule pretty solidified, which is also a relief.

I'll be working all day Tues/one morning class Wed/most of the day Thurs & Fri

3 day weekend = yipee

I bought my bus pass, and I'll need to bus to both schools, so it'll be nice to have monthly unlimited. aaaaaand i swung by my gym. The teacher recognized me :) I am exicted to start up again! (my body isn't loving my mini non-exercising vacation very much)

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8 pastries to sample with friends!

5 of the assistants in Hyeres had dinner at one of the apartments and we sampled lots of yummy treats for dessert (one of the mixed drawbacks/benefits of living in France...luckily I know where the gym is) ;)

In case you're curious...(clockwise from top left)

Mille Feuille (pastry layers with cream, aka Napoleon)

Tarte au Citron (lemon custard)

Tarte au Pomme (apple tarte)

Lemon Meringue

Chocolate Eclair

(in the middle) Tarte Tropezienne (sort of creamy orangy cakey)

Raspberry w/ Pinenut filling

Cafe/Caramel layered bar

and of course...coffee close by

And my fav? I always like the ones with fresh raspberry or strawberry the best :)