Sunny skies and beaucoup de conversation

Bonjour mes amis,

Lots sunny skies here lately, for which we are grateful. We took a city bus ride today towards the outskirts of Aix checking out some of the red clay tennis courts in the city. We found the Country Club we were looking for, with 12 nice, red clay courts and an inviting swimming pool. However, there was no one around. Perhaps the one o'clock hour was the reason. The club had been recommended by one of our conversation partners and we wanted to at least check it out.

The fifteen minute bus ride, to and from the club, exposed us to some of the legendary beauty of Provence, with the green hill sides, overflowing with trees of all sorts. We look forward in the weeks ahead to further excursions and--for sure--to seeing more of the countryside. I've yet to see one of the small French villages I've heard so much about. Patience, patience.

We spent most of Tuesday afternoon with Fabienne, one of our favorite conversation partners. Two times, now, she has picked us up by the commemorative fountain (commenorative to General Charles DeGaulle) in her "totally cool" French-made car and driven us ten minutes to her house for a time of focused study. What this means is that Fabienne (a bright and determined, cute woman in her early fifties) will be working on her English and Yvette and I will be working our French. This particular day, Fabienne was tired from a busy weekend and wasn't up for much English talk ... all the better for us as most of the conversation was in French.

These sessions are intense and tiring because you have to really focus and think and then give it your best shot at speaking. Peu a peu we say (it's "poco a poco" en Espanol and "little by little" in English). We always feel better after one of these sessions because they are "growing" experiences. We hope to see Fabienne many more times during our stay here in Aix.

Shifting gears a bit, we're trying to get a medical physical from a local doctor (referred to us by friends) in order to join the local, city tennis club. Can you believe that? In order to get the required card to join, you need two photos and this medical exam (twenty-two Euros per person). Problem is, the doctors have such limited hours we're having problems connecting.

Ah, c'est la vie, right? Talk to you soon. A bientot!