So I more or less got my issue with that horrible landlord fixed. After filling out a main courante, my teacher was kind enough to go with me when I went to try and reclaim my deposit check. I hadn’t mentioned to Laurène (the ex-landlord) that I was bringing anyone with me, so as soon as she saw my teacher, (after being late to meet me) her expression instantly changed and she immediately just said that she would go and retrieve my check. Not gonna lie, it wasn’t exactly what I was envisioned. After the way that she had treated Alejandro and I, I had begun to imagine her seeing my bringing an actual French adult as a challenge, which would then have resulted in an exchange of verbal assaults. That didn’t happen, but it had at least been comforting to know that my teacher—as funny and good-natured as she was towards us students-seemed like the kind of typical French citizen that when provoked, was ready to defend herself in a heated argument.
Nope, she just went in, came back with the check and then I
gave her the 60 euros she had requested for ‘damages’. I could understand
replacing the stained hand towels (I’m gonna take a moment here to be selfish
and say that that, was not my doing) but a few hand towels at Monoprix don’t
cost 60 euros. She claimed damage to one of the chairs and her wooden mirror,
but what she showed me was so minimal it was ludicrous. I was tempted not to
give her the 60, but it was what was put in the main courante at the police station for exchange of the check, and
my teacher was there, so didn’t want to be seen as that (read: like Laurene) kind of person. So I gave her the 60, but
I got my check back, and that’s what counts. I was so relieved, I briefly
remember wondering if my knees were going to give out under me.
Afterwards, I profusely thanked my teacher for going out of
her way to come with me; I really couldn’t have imagined a teacher being so
helpful in that way.
So there’s that, which was last Friday. The days following
were mainly filled with packing, cooking/baking for Théo and Guillaume, while
coming to the realization that with all the hassle from moving out of Laurène’s
apartment, I was ready to leave Paris. The city itself if great, but I was
tired of the glacial attitude of the Parisians, and the crummy, rainy weather. Tired of the smell, both on and under the streets in the metro, tired of how expensive transportation and food was, and how long it had suddenly seemed to get anywhere. And not only that, but as I'd been staying at Théo's since leaving that cursed apartment, I'd begun to feel like a burden, especially since Theo was Guillaume were in the middle of their difficult final exams. Unfortunately, our combined stress-his over his studies and mine over my landlord problems-was putting a strain on our relationship. Though when it came down to it, I think a big part of it was that I was so close to leaving.
And then came my final full day in Paris. I got up early, went on a run (something I'd managed to get back into and continued even after moving to Théo's), came back and showered, ate something light, then hit the city one last time with Theo. Stopped by briefly at ISA to say my good-byes, and then basically just wandered around Saint Michel and Île de la Cité. The sun had come out for a bit, and we'd decided to grab a bottle and sit along the Seine, but as we came out of the Monoprix just of Boulevard Saint Germain, the return of a cloudy sky threatened rain, and we switched to just heading back. I made a great asian chicken dinner and prepared both banana/berry and chocolate chip/Bailey's muffins, all of which we enjoyed with a bottle of our favorite hard cider and with The Godfather movie. (Now I can say I've finally seen it!)
Well, up to the end of the movie, we were ok; had succeeded in not dwelling on my impending departure the next morning. But as soon as I got up to clear the dishes, the air quickly became weighed down with a palpable depression. It was rough, but we knew it had been coming. In the end though, we tried and succeeded to reflect instead on the good times we'd had together over the past 10 months. Sleep that night was peaceful.
Morning came at 5:45. Got up, showered, had a quick coffee and we were out the door with my luggage. Took the RER B up to the airport, and before I knew it, it was time to leave. I remember thinking how for the past 2 weeks I'd wanted nothing more than to just go home, to my safe (if crazy) and secure (if not stable) home. And then suddenly, if not terribly surprising, I was having ridiculous half thoughts about just forgoing the plane and staying. But then Théo, bless his heart, began to list off all the great things that were waiting for me at home (a list I'd actually like to post next) and that cheered me up considerably. At least, through my tear-stained face, I was able to give a semblance of a smile and a small wave as I got on the escalator that took me away from him.
Went through security (where they took the rilettes I'd bought as gifts the day before, grrrr) and then boarded the plane a mere 10 minutes later. Was in Frankfurt about an hour or after that.
The trip as a whole was pretty uneventful, though I have to point out that my layover in Frankfurt was rather unpleasant. When I turned to the corner heading to my terminal, my nose was instantly assaulted with a foul sewer smell. Gross. And then they made me pay for my extra suitcase, which I'm not gonna lie, I'd expected to pay in Paris and was then happy when I hadn't. So it wasn't exactly the whole paying part that bothered me so much as the fact that the lady I got was wholly incompetent and had to charge my card twice because she hadn't charged me enough the first time. I got one of the aisle seats in the middle, so sleep came in sparse and never satisfying 15 minute intervals. Plus it never got dark outside, which didn't help.
Arrived in Seattle, but customs took a good 45 minutes. But getting to see Papa after that brought me right back to my childhood, and I had to force myself not to cry. (I think he did too..) Was able to retrieve my luggage fairly quickly and were out of there.
True to his word, and even though I was still pretty tired, I got my promised welcome home dinner of Sam's Sushi. Fish has never tasted so fresh to me in my life.
After that, went back to Papa's where I stayed the night. Decided that I would see Mom and Jen (and Luna, of course!) the next day.
Well, that was my arrival..still more to catch up from these last couple days, but I'll get to that soon.
It's good to be home, Seattle.
More love than ever,
Rachael
Well, up to the end of the movie, we were ok; had succeeded in not dwelling on my impending departure the next morning. But as soon as I got up to clear the dishes, the air quickly became weighed down with a palpable depression. It was rough, but we knew it had been coming. In the end though, we tried and succeeded to reflect instead on the good times we'd had together over the past 10 months. Sleep that night was peaceful.
Morning came at 5:45. Got up, showered, had a quick coffee and we were out the door with my luggage. Took the RER B up to the airport, and before I knew it, it was time to leave. I remember thinking how for the past 2 weeks I'd wanted nothing more than to just go home, to my safe (if crazy) and secure (if not stable) home. And then suddenly, if not terribly surprising, I was having ridiculous half thoughts about just forgoing the plane and staying. But then Théo, bless his heart, began to list off all the great things that were waiting for me at home (a list I'd actually like to post next) and that cheered me up considerably. At least, through my tear-stained face, I was able to give a semblance of a smile and a small wave as I got on the escalator that took me away from him.
Went through security (where they took the rilettes I'd bought as gifts the day before, grrrr) and then boarded the plane a mere 10 minutes later. Was in Frankfurt about an hour or after that.
The trip as a whole was pretty uneventful, though I have to point out that my layover in Frankfurt was rather unpleasant. When I turned to the corner heading to my terminal, my nose was instantly assaulted with a foul sewer smell. Gross. And then they made me pay for my extra suitcase, which I'm not gonna lie, I'd expected to pay in Paris and was then happy when I hadn't. So it wasn't exactly the whole paying part that bothered me so much as the fact that the lady I got was wholly incompetent and had to charge my card twice because she hadn't charged me enough the first time. I got one of the aisle seats in the middle, so sleep came in sparse and never satisfying 15 minute intervals. Plus it never got dark outside, which didn't help.
Arrived in Seattle, but customs took a good 45 minutes. But getting to see Papa after that brought me right back to my childhood, and I had to force myself not to cry. (I think he did too..) Was able to retrieve my luggage fairly quickly and were out of there.
True to his word, and even though I was still pretty tired, I got my promised welcome home dinner of Sam's Sushi. Fish has never tasted so fresh to me in my life.
After that, went back to Papa's where I stayed the night. Decided that I would see Mom and Jen (and Luna, of course!) the next day.
Well, that was my arrival..still more to catch up from these last couple days, but I'll get to that soon.
It's good to be home, Seattle.
More love than ever,
Rachael
