France...the conclusion.

Of course I couldn't calmly and quietly leave Paris without just ONE more dinner party and MORE DRAMA. Hairong ask (told) Agnes to inform me that I was expected at a dinner party my last night in France.

*backstory* Hairong boasted and bragged about having a young American companion to some potential business partners earlier this summer and long story short...she couldn't lose face and say "oh that American hates me or she's dead" (I would've been fine with either of those excuses)


Agnes said that I should go and meet some interesting people, maybe get some contacts for...well you never know. Afer some coaxing I thought why not go for a nice free meal and make the best of my last night here. I'm so glad I did. Considering I was in the hole financially from Hairong's manic episode (train ticket back to Paris plus a number of other expenses that she was SUPPOSE to take care of) I thought why not go make her terribly uncomfortable and see the boys one last time. Agnes agrees to go with me so that she could see the boys too. We show up and Hairong is quiet and not very responsive. She looks visibly sad. Jacques comes to me and said that they were visiting graves all day while his mom fought with Alain on the phone. I asked him what happened and I regretted it the moment I asked. Please follow if you can...

Hairong comes to Paris and stays with her ex-fiance Stephan (don't ask me why) or at some 5 star hotel. She doesn't usually take the kids to Paris with her and leave them with Agnes or in Normandy or Toulon. I think she likes to play single, children free lady from time to time...
Hairong's ex-fiance, Stephan, got a call from Alain's ex-wife saying "my son is coming to stay with you and Hairong until its time for all of them to fly back to Shanghai." Alain didn't want to pay for a hotel for HIS son and gave HIS ex-wife Hairong ex-finace's phone number...then turned off ALL 4 of his phones. Hairong flipped out when Alain's son showed up at Stephans front door ready to be boarded and fed. Alain finally turned on one of his phones and the argument begin. Jacques said by the end of the conversation, Alain told Hairong "I'm only with you for you money". Hairong said that he needed to be gone by the time they got back to Shanghai and that he needs to take Charlotte with him. "She's your child". I asked Pierre and Jacques if they were alright, they said its whatever. Apparently Hairong and Alisha got into an argument too because Hairong didn't call to cancel dinner plans they made at some really nice restaurant and they were suppose to take all the kids to see a show. Alisha tol her "don't make plans if you can't follow through". So Pierre's ticket out of that places was burned. I mingle the rest of the night and met some really interesting people that did not JUST talk about themselves. I exchange phone numbers and they insisted that I give them a call next time I'm in France or Italy or wherever the hell they were from. I was very proud of my networking. I did not speak to Hairong once. Agnes and I left the party around midnight with one of the older gentlemen that I think might be interested in her *wink wink* he brought us home and I started to pack for my flight the next day. 2am rolls around and there is a knock at the door. Its Pierre and Jacques. Their mom dropped them off at Agnes' apt. Jacques said he was soh sorry and that thier mom had to take care of some business and didn't want to put them in a hotel. Agnes looks at them and shakes her head and goes to make a bed for them. Their flight was 10 in the morning and they had been dragged around by their mother the last 3 or 4 days. Jacques gave me a bag for my extra luggage his mother gave him and said that their mom would be by to pick them up at 9.

I look at Agnes and say "I'm sorry". She smiles and says "thats how she is and she seems to be getting worst" We all sleep and I make the boys a big breakfast of baked egg,tomato, cheese crossaint sandwiches at 7. Hairong calls Agnes and tells her to BRING the boys to Stephan's place instead, because "she has so much to deal with right now, there isn't enough time to go get the boys" Agnes hangs up and says "I knew that would happen" So all get in Agnes' car and drive over. The boys go up and come back down to tell us that thier mom isn't coming down and that she said bye. I start laughing and I give them big hugs and tell them to email IF THEY can and that I'm sorry I couldn't help them more. Agnes and I drive away and she says "she could've come down to say thank you, damn bitch" All I can do is laugh and laugh. Agnes starts laughing too saying "what ridiculous people"

I spent the day visiting the Lourve and a few other museums, walking around really seeing the city. I don't dislike it as much now for some reason. Agnes took me to the airport that night and told me with a big smile on her face "you know where the key is, come see me and all the friends you made last night again". I told her that I couldn't thank her enough and that I would most certainly come back. I have to get this bad taste/experience of France out of my mouth." We hug and I go to check my bags and find out I'm flying business first class. I laughed at this because I think Hairong forgot to change it when she got pissed off at me. Whatever. I sat next to a really pretty Chinese lady that lives in Paris and spoke an interesting British english with a french/chinese accent. We talked about yoga, government, her life and friends. How she went to Hermes to buy her friend a bag and they told her that its a year long wait for that bag. She explained asked the salesperson "you want me to pay 25,000euro to wait for a bag that will be out of season when I get it?!?! I don't think so" (i really wished she'd follow it up with a homey don't play that) She said that she bought her friend Channel for a year and that she better with happy with that. She bought up everything from the duty free cart on the plane. She told me "its easier to buy in the air, less luggage for you AND they will keep it for you so that you don't have to keep up with it" I laughed at her and agreed.

The flight seemed short and we were suddenly in Shanghai. Joe met me at the airport. He had a very big grin on his face and gave me a big hug and said "Welcome back to Shanghai, it missed you". I smiled and said I missed it too.

Anne's back in China