Week 3

I added another song to my playlist this week. I’ve always loved the opening to the Mary Tyler Moore show as she smiles and greets people on her way to work. The song popped into my head this week.

Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day
And suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well, it’s you girl and you should know it
With each and every movement you show it.

Love is all around
No need to waste it
You can never tell
Why don’t you take it?
You’re going to make it after all.

Joys of the week

• That song was often in my head when I lived in Toronto. I loved waving to people I knew as I walked through my neighbourhood. There is great value in seeing and being seen. Only three weeks into my new life and the song is back in my head. I step out of my apartment and wave at the butcher across the lane. I chat with the restaurant owner next to him and the women working in the real estate office next door to my apartment. Many mornings, I order a café allongé at my new local and try my French on the ever-patient owner. I haven’t thrown my hat in the air yet, à la MTM, but I feel my heart soaring.

• I jumped on the bus this week and went to Mèze for a few hours. In the time it used to take me to get to work – just 35 minutes – I travelled from my apartment through tree-lined streets and past vineyards to end up at the beach. I remember the first time I explored Toronto and couldn’t believe I lived in such an exciting place. That feeling is back and the exploration is only beginning!

• Tech – a four letter word that also belongs in the Joys category. How easy it is to reach out to friends and family on the other side of the world – to share a laugh or a struggle. I’m grateful to those who check in with me and look forward to video chats once my internet is sorted out. Tech = love, the other four letter word.

• I’ve checked more items off my to-do list! I successfully validated my visa and now await word of my medical appointment. And I made progress on transferring my Toronto phone number to VOIP. Not quite there yet, but the process has started.

Challenges of the week

• I wanted to be able to say that I have fibre optics at home. Unfortunately, it remains on the challenges list. Thanks to the involvement of my landlady, her partner and the president of the syndic (similar to a condo), we made progress this week. We now know that the cable needs to run from the tech closet in the hallway into my unit but, given the heritage status of the building, we need permission from the rest of the owners in the syndic as well as from the mairie (town hall). I have a temporary solution, so I’m not overly frustrated. I’m also not fussed by the bureaucracy. I appreciate the caution and care that goes into protecting these heritage buildings.

• I know it will take time to find my rhythm here but routine hasn’t set in yet. I think the challenge at this point is to learn the difference between being overwhelmed, lazy, unmotivated, tired, etc. That is, knowing when to push myself and when to just give in to inertia. I slept the better part of a 24 hour period this week and was comfortable doing so, trusting that I wouldn’t sleep forever. I have to remind myself that I am not travelling – I’m home! There is no rush to get anything done. On the other hand, I usually feel better when I push myself. I like to think I’ll find the balance at some point, but this has been a life-long struggle, so. … probably doesn’t even belong in this blog? (And yet, you’ll see it again😄)

Learnings of the week

I miss my family and friends – no surprise there. But I discovered a few other things that I really miss:

• Going out for brunch. Good old bacon, eggs, hash browns and a mimosa are not a thing here from what I can tell. I can have crepes and coffee, or a lunch of ham and cheese on a baguette, but it’s just not the same.

• Matinee movies were my guilty pleasure in Toronto on weekends or days off work. Especially when I was stressed. I loved disappearing from reality for a few hours with hot buttered popcorn and a large pop. There is one cinema in Pezenas – I don’t think it runs movies in the summer and I’m not sure it will run matinees the rest of the year. I look forward to seeing what it has to offer when it opens up again in fall, but this week I could have used a matinee movie.

• Soft fluffy towels! I have a washer but not a dryer.  I like hanging my clothes to dry but my towels feel like sandpaper. I guess I need to try fabric softener – I’m not keen on added chemicals.

À bientôt .