"PEEEEEEEEETE!"

"OÙ EST-TU, PEEEEEEEETE!"
"Ici!"
"C'EST OÙ, ICI??? PEEEEEEETE! OÙ EST-TU???"

This dialogue repeated itself over and over and over again on platform 6 of the Lausanne train station this afternoon. Two grown men, playing their own little version of Marco Polo in public with the volume turned up way too high. Some people.

I was in Lausanne for an interview, and I think I did well. The problem is that now I'm not sure I want the position I interviewed for. I got an email this morning asking me if I'd do some freelance work and I said yes, so I might just stick with that instead. I'm not sure.

It's nice to have options...

Litchi

These are litchi. They're a small, red, spiny Chinese fruit with white flesh the consistency of a grape and a poisonous, nutlike center. They're also close to 2 francs per hundred grams (about $8 per pound).

I've heard a bunch of people say that they like them, so I bought four to try this week.

Ew. I don't like them.

Oh, well. It was worth a shot, right?

Ford is the best in Texas

I grew up hearing this slogan at least once a night on TV. I loved Ford commercials, even though nobody in my family ever drove one. So you can imagine my shock when I was seven years old, at my grandparents' house in Louisiana, hearing a Louisiana Ford commercial for the first time. They did not say "Ford is the best in Texas". I was so upset. Why didn't Louisiana know that Ford is the best in Texas?

Now I'm working on a translation project for my thesis. It's a book geared for a teenage audience, and there are tons of cultural references in it. And so it's my job to help the hypothetical average teenage American reader navigate through all of these references and all of the differences between French teenage life and American teenage life without feeling lost. And to help them understand that things are done a little differently in France, but that doesn't mean that they're wrong... just different.

And it's okay if they don't say that Ford is the best in Texas.

Little green men

Just a few short days ago, I made fun of my mom for being a criminal.

Well, whaddaya know. Yesterday I discovered that my bus pass has been expired for three days now. And yes, I took the bus several times during those three days.

So, who's the criminal now?

Today I braved the little green men who give tickets and took yet another illegal bus ride down to the train station to renew my pass.

Kitty: 1
Little Green Men: 0

PS. The onions in this town are strong!

Hooray!

I got one of the volunteer translation positions that I applied for... major happy dance! I'll be working with an international organization at an upcoming conference. I'm really nervous, but really excited, too.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

My mother cracks me up!

My mom is a model citizen. Conservative Southern Baptist, sings in the church choir and plays the piano for the church service. Doesn't drink, smoke or cuss. Elementary school teacher. You get the picture.

But this week she got a ticket. So on her way to defensive driving (or "driving for dummies," as she calls it) she made up this song and emailed it to me.

I'm on my way to driving school, to driving school, to driving school;
I'm on my way to driving school, tra la la la la la.

I don't want to go, to go, to go;
I don't want to go, tra la la la la la.

But I am a criminal, a criminal, a criminal;
But I am a criminal, tra la la la la la.

They'll put me in jail, in jail, in jail;
They'll put me in jail, if I don't go.

I'll be like Scarlett O'Hara, Scarlett O'Hara, Scarlett O'Hara;
I'll be like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll think about it tomorrow.

Do you want this song to end, to end, to end;
Do you want this song to end, well okay then!

I couldn't help but crack up laughing. I never thought that I'd hear my mother say (or sing) that she was a criminal.

I love my mom!

There's a first time for everything

Today was my first eye exam in French. I had to have it done to exchange my Texas "driver" license for a Swiss "driving" license. Never mind that I already had an eye exam to get my Texas license.

So, after verifying that I know my colors, numbers and shapes in French (and that my depth perception sucks) I passed my exam. Now all I have to do is keep the paper safe until Monday, when I can go turn it in to the "driving" license office. (Yes, the terms "driving" and "driver" license bother me. I'm used to thinking of it as a "driver's" license.)

I also decided to get my behind in gear and start exercising again. I haven't gone jogging in two or three weeks because of the heat, and I can tell that I've gained weight. I'm not overweight by any stretch of the imagination, but I also don't feel like becoming overweight. I managed to jog for two miles, which isn't too bad. I'd like to get up to doing three miles, but that might take awhile.