I am 7000 feet above sea level, ladies and gentlemen.

The other day we went for a hike in Many Glacier.

We encountered rain, sun, wind, hail, sleet, and a bit of snow. It took us 3 hours to climb the 5.7 miles up to Ptarmigan tunnel which had an altitude of over 7000 feet.

Welcome home

I've been home for a week now and it still feels surreal. In the ten months I was gone Marshall, my 14 year old brother, grew two inches taller than me. Brittney became 8 months pregnant. Adrienne started wearing makeup and the such. And Luana Jane grew the most with her new teeth, coordinated feet to run around with, and the words she has learnt.

I almost got eaten alive by the Mosquitos that swarmed me as soon as I stepped outside. I nearly got on the next plane back to Paris because I just was not use to them! Plus, the bugs seem to like my frenchy blood, which doesn't help the transition. 

I've talked so much about my trip to France, that my voice grew hoarse after the third day of being back. The common questions:

How was France? 

What did you do again?

How was the family?

How's your French now?

Have you decided what you are doing this fall?

I'm almost tempted to write down all of the answers and just hand them out when I go see people.

Goodbye Paris

Some goodbyes are harder than others, but then there are the things that I am happy to say adieu to. I won't miss being at risk for lung cancer everytime I walk outside and get bombarded by second-hand smoke. I swear I'm not going to eat pasta ever again. Baguettes are yummy... But I won't be sad to leave them.

And the metros. I will be very content if I never set another foot into chatelet-les halls, or auber, or really just any metro station in Paris. As convenient as the public transportation is, I am certain the underground stations are where zombie apocalypses start. With their ceilings covered in what looks like zombie guts and escalators smelling like urine.

Chatelet-Les Halles is the worlds largest train station, even after my ten month stay here I still am getting lost.

The trains, themselves, are a breeding ground for an epidemic, so if you are a germophobe just... Stay at home.

Paris is beautiful, but I will not miss having to watch my step so I don't walk on dog poo or step in a puddle of urine. 

I will miss Sacre Cœur, but not the sketchyness of it all. It was my favourite area in Paris. Very old and artistic, lots of character. However, scarier than the red light district in Amsterdam.

Goodbye Paris.

Mixed feelings

Three days before I leave, and my feelings have changed from excitement to sadness. I'm going to miss the Marello's, and being apart of their family. Especially Letizia and Giulia, my girls, who I've watched grow throughout the year. When I first got here Letizia was 10, and still a little girl who played with barbies and Polly pockets. Now she's 11 and taller, and she has sleep over parties and goes shopping with her friends and basically doesn't need me there. Giulia has become more active, more energetic, but for being 9, she's pretty helpful. I've seen them make new friendships, excel in school, and change levels in piano.

Last night I surprised them with a cake I made to celebrate the last day of school for them, and last day of work for me. They made me promise to come back and see them. Which I readily agreed upon.

I really couldn't have asked for a better family to have this experience with.