My Room

I've been living in France now for just about five months! It has taken me awhile, but I've finally taken some pictures of my apartment...well not the whole thing, just my room. I thought I would share it so you all can see. When you walk in the apartment, my room is straight across from the main entry.

When you first walk in my room this is what you see. I have a large French window, which I love (when it is nice weather). They do not have screens on their windows so when they are open you feel like you are practically outside. One of the perks of living in France is that there are practically NO bugs! You get the occasional spider, but no flies, bees, wasps, ants...I mean I'm sure they exist in France, but you don't have to be afraid of them flying into your house if the windows are open. In the picture please note the green solo cups and ping pong balls (brought by Adam in Dec so I could teach my friends American drinking games), my newly acquired French pharmacy from my recent illness, Valentine's Day cards, and Adam on skype! Also, in the corner you see a big mirror. This is actually the door to my armoir which is broken.



As you turn to the right, you can see my bed and night stand. Please notice what we refer to as the sausage pillow. This is what everyone has in this city for a pillow...it is much more common than the square. It is also much less comfortable than the square pillow. I call it the sausage pillow because when I was teaching a lesson on the house/things in the bedroom I taught them the word pillow. A little boy proceeded to raise his hand and ask, "uuuuh oww dooo you say sauccise (sausage) peelow?". It was cute and the term stuck. I do like the Gosssip Girl series, and when I first moved here I had literally nothing to put on my walls. Catherine (my roomate) and I found these posters at the grocery store and we now each have one in our room.



As you continue to turn right, you see THE USA!!! This was given to me from a teacher to use as a teaching material. When I need it, I roll it up and bring it to class, but most of the time it is just on my wall! Each state also has a few very stereotypical images on it which are quite funny. I have a little picture/card wall right by my bed so I don't get homesick. The thing at the bottom of my bed is a hot water bottle. It is a genius invention that I discovered this year.


If you continue turning right, you would now be looking at the door...I am standing by the mirror taking this picture. I have my schedules on the left of the door and a map of Aurillac on the right. I also got the handy over the door contraption at Casino, which is more or less a French Walmart or Super Target. It is the closest thing to a mall we have here which is slightly depressing.


Continuing to your right is my doorless armoir. It was a challenge to get all my clothes to fit in it. On the top is a (empty) box of cheez-its, my favorite American snack food that I came over with. I also brought an Az reusable grocery bag and the I <3 veggies one from whole foods. Not only does it remind me of home when I grocery shop and go to the market, but I have been able to use them while teaching. You can also see that I have quite a collection of shoes with me (*coughtwentyfourcough*).


I have acquired three new pairs since I've arrived, but I have thrown out two pairs as well! Anybody who knows me well knows that I love shoes. It may seem excessive, but I promise I have worn every pair except two. One of those pairs being heels (I wasn't really sure if I would have any fancy evenings) and the other being sandals (which I fully intend to wear as soon as it gets warm!). The white thing on the wall is my heater...another foreign concept to me. I'm used to centralized heat, which we rarely use, and a/c (which doesn't exist here).

Ok, well that is my room! I'm off to Corsica in the morning so I better go and pack!