Livin' my life like its golden...

It started with a mushy and funny send off from Jo. We had lunch at the airport and he hilariously carried around my stuff and held my hand like I'd need flown before. He asked if I was coming back and I told him yes. Now I'm here...I wonder.

I will try to make a long story short...

I fly to Paris and discover that the young girl that lives with the 2 boys I am going to France with, father either killed himself or accidentally died in a "boating" incident a few days before. Tiger mom is worried and think its tied to some people he owned about 2 or 3 million dollars...US dollar. Maybe russian mafia...I don't know

Pictured above is where I'm writing my blog from in the main house. I think thats the Atlantic or something.

I get to Paris and Tiger mom picks me up and tells me why I was rererouted. This is probably the first time in my life that I've traveled and not looked at a map or figured out transit or anything before arriving. I have, for some reason, left it up to Tiger mom to take care of things. She seems like a Type A personality so whatever. I let perfectionist do their thing, especially if they're my benefactors.

We go to the hotel because its 9pm and STILL BRIGHT AS HELL OUT, drop off my things and go to a restaurant nearby. Apparently Parisians don't really like Paris.(or so says tiger mom to me over a glass of wine) We go to bed because I am sooooo tired from the 10 hour flight. She tells me that everything is taken care of and not to worry. We get up at 6am to pick the boys (the ones that love me and are the reason I am on this trip) from the airport. They were so excited to see me when they walked to the car. I yell 'Bonjour' and tell them "wo shi yao shuijiao" (I want to sleep)
We go to a hotel and have the most amazing breakfast. I am eating like a pig meat and ALL!!!! Perrie and Jacques look at me and tell their mother that they've never seen me eat like this. I look at tiger mom and tell her that I fear I will get fatter in France. She smiles and says "no worry, i won't let that happen" (I should worry)
Pierre is pictured below amazed at my eating ability

We go to the Paris Air Show and I understand why Tiger mom is kind of a big deal. She hands me all of these flair pins and crap for me to wear so that we can get into planes, not wait in line, sit on rooftops watching the show drinking wine, eat with millionaires (pictured below),and so on

We somehow end up spending 8 hours there and I'm so so tired. I don't remember eating just going to bed. We wake up and I have no idea whats the plan for today. Tiger mom calls my room and tells me that I should come down to breakfast. I go down and the hotel has the largest most delicious looking buffet I've ever seen. I pile everything on my plate. I'm not sure why I did that. It wasn't the last supper and I wasn't that hungry. Tiger mom leans over and quietly tells me "en france we don't mix everything. sweetie you're not in America. Enjoy your food slowly...its not going anywhere." I smiled and thought "WTF" and then immediately thought, she's right. I knew when I got all that crap I looked ridiculous. I didn't finish the food and Tiger mom informs me that instead of taking the train to London, we're going to drive through France to Toulon. "Doesn't that sound fun". I said ummm sure ok. I attempted to pay for breakfast and she wouldn't have it. She's given me cash and I've not spend one dollar on anything. I ask her when should I start classes with the boys, she replies "you're in France. Just enjoy yourself" What is going on here?!?!?So we set off on what became an 11 hour trip, stopping in 6 cities for wine and cheese and coke. We arrive at "the compound" (which is how I will refer to their summer home from now on) at 9pm. Tiger mom whips up a four course light meal for us and we watch the sun set. She apologizes for my house not being ready..."I dislike unreliable people because they're useless... Don't worry. The main house is fine for now." The compound consist of 3 separate living spaces that are small houses with 5 to 8 rooms each, and 1 main house with 15 rooms. The outside looks like something on the Florida coast with its brightly colored outside, the inside looks like a cottage from the book Jane Erye. Its not fancy, but its nice and quaint. I can't get a full picture of the compound because its position on a damn cliff surrounded by what seems to be a jungle of lavender flowers and all sorts of foliage and the ocean. Tiger mom bought it for her 50th Birthday a few years ago. I don't think she's as rich as I thought but seems to have a very powerful way of doing things.

Top pic is Tiger mom asking the Pilot how he likes flying.
Next pic is one of the helicopters she sales to different military agencies around the globe(arms and all)
The next pic is a helicopter she helped design and sells. Its a French/Chinese collaboration. Her "baby".
The last is of her after asking the owner "how much for this" and then laughs at the price.I'm not sure if it was too cheap or too expensive... she then hopped in it.


So tired now. I must nap before dinner. The eldest Jacques is cooking lasagna and vegetables. I think we're shopping in Marseille tomorrow.
I believe Tiger mom is grooming me for something by spoiling me rotten and I think I'm ok with it.

More to follow soon

missing everyone and wishing you all were here with me.

love,

Anne with and 'e'

made it to paris

After an interesting send off from Joseph, another change in plans, no Russia, 1 hour delayed flight...I made it to Paris.

More details to follow. Must sleep for the air show tomorrow.

5 days to go and I'm not ready

This is what Jo's face looks like after saying "no" to me and then saying "ok fine" to whatever wonderful idea I have. Also pictured is my life o' crap in a nutshell.



I strongly dislike countowns with a passion and I do them all the time. I'm random and strange. I know. As I pack and get ready, I'm trying to get an idea of what to expect on this very strange rollercoaster I'm about to get on. I open an email a few days ago and Tiger mom has sent me mail apologizing because the trip as been altered a little. I'm thinking "ok, this was too good to be true and I need a back up plan" Turns out the plans changed to 3 to 4 days in Moscow now instead of straight to Paris. I laugh and think "oh of course we need to pop over to Russia and visit someone for something....WTF?!?!?" I look at the email and it has my new routing and flight/train itinerary update. It reads as follows: Shanghai to Moscow to Paris to Marseille to Toulon to London to Shanghai. I look at it for awhile and reply to Tiger mom "oh moscow, of course. I've never been. Guess I will need to exchange some Russian currency ahaha.(I'm not embarrased to admit that I have no idea what the money is called in Russia) Keep me updated :)
yes I did included the smiley in the reply.

Thats all I got for now.

12 days to go

Oh Diana,

What a strange time it is for me. I picked up my last salary from the private school today. I'm not sure what they told the students about "Teacher D" no longer teaching there, but I have a feeling it was along the lines of "well she died and/or ran away" or something. I walked into the school and students were looking as if they saw a ghost and shouting "Teacher D is ok". Sadly, I didn't hang around long enough to talk or chit-chat. I have apartments to look at, ugh. I think the students and teachers are use to nothing ever being consistent or organized. As I left the school grounds, I saw some parents holding that stupid brochure for the school with my ugly mug proudly advertising the schools 'internationalism'. I laughed and thought, "well they have that if they want to remember me, whatever.” On to the next thing now.
12 days to go. I have no idea what I should be doing (well yes I do, but I've turned into a lazy snail) I've called the US consulate in France, the Chinese consulate in France, spoke to a few people here at the Immigration Exit & Entrance Bureau, posted on various Q&A forums about getting a visa without going to home country...they all say it’s possible and should be ok if I fill out all the 6 pages correctly and pray. If I’ve learned anything here is that nothing is consistent, rules are made for shits and giggles, and you can be denied for any and everything for no rational reason.
So I'm looking for place now, yes with 12 days to go. My friend's place became a bit of a soap opera and you know how much I like drama...I don't. Her roommate is feeling neglected and ignore by my friend. (I'm not sure why, he has a good rotation of 5 girls in and out of his room) My friend seems deathly afraid of him, because he's suddenly become this asshole that thinks he's king of the house. I am trying to be adult about grown ass people acting like spoiled 8 year olds throwing tantrums. The guy doesn't want to confront me about whatever’s bother him. Jo seems to think that he's afraid of me. He fucking should be. I told Regina, it will take one time for him to pretend to raise his voice at me and I will be the last female in his room...kicking his ass. She doesn't want trouble or confrontation. So therefore I am trying to find an apartment, hopefully with her. I'm thinking that I've never lived with a female before and it worries me that she is a bit too shy at times like this. I'm surprised because she threatened to kill 2 women that where trying to hustle me over a Chloe bag. On the other hand, her roommate is a handsome 6'2 lean African dude that likes to yell at her when no one is around. I must remember to be diplomatic…I decided to try to just look for another place and be civil with this dude. I believe he’s not met someone he can’t smooth talk before. I’m glad to make his acquaintance and happy to be the 1st to let him know his shit does stink like everyone else’s. I promise not bloodshed, is what I told Jo. So Jo has been staying over a few times. (I not sure if its for my protect or the roommates)

Anyway, my days are filled with NPR music,news, stories, following the NBA finals (waking up at 8am) GO MAVS!!!, taking naps (you know I love my naps), yoga, blind massages, and me practicing my Chinese. I might have to bite the bullet and seriously enroll in a school. I can't believe how stupid this language is making me feel.

Ok, must make a to do list for this weekend. Time is flying here. Its been almost a year. I do not believe it!!!

love love,

Anne with an 'e'