As real as it gets.

Well yesterday we bought our plane tickets back to the U.S. It was kind of a sad moment. That's because I've gotten so used to being here, and it really didn't feel as if we where actually going back until the moment we bought the tickets. But we have them and now it makes it all the more real. We are flying off Feb. 22nd from Bordeaux to Paris to Cincinnati to Cleveland. Yes that's a long day. That was officially the last week we could go, without a huge price tag. But don't let that statement fool you. The price was as much as it used to be to come here in the summer. So I'd hate to see what the prices are now in the summer. There was a guy in the place where we bought our tickets and he was complaining about the price. He had taken the same trip that he's going to be taking here soon, and he was complaining about how much more it costs. The lady was saying that the price of gas has gone up like 60% in the last year or so. From the last I remember its doubled. I'm dreading having to be back in the U.S. and be dependent on a car which I will have to pay the HUGE price of gas for. OH well. Maybe to help me get over being sad about going back, I will list a bunch of things I WON'T miss.

THINGS I WON'T MISS
Dog Poop - It seems like everyone has a dog and no one has to pick up their crap. Since we practically walk every where, its almost rare to not see any. There is so much crap on the sidewalks/walkways that there is even a guy who's job is to go around town on his little scooter with a huge vacuum on the back and pick up dog crap all day. Now there's a rewarding job, he must be desperate. But unfortunately there's only one guys, so there's always crap every where.
Shutters - Why shutters, well unlike in the US, the houses are right out on the side walks, and they swing out over them. So when your looking down for the dog crap, you get to run into the shutters, its a never ending process.
Beggers - I have to admit most French people are great at minding their own business and not bothering people they don't know. But with the good comes the bad, I don't think I can go any where without people asking me for money or cigarettes. Usually if they don't stop insisting I just start talking to them in English, and they get all freaked out, I think they deserve it.
Food - Ok, well this is an exaggeration. I actually love the food here, just wait till you see how fat I've gotten you will understand. But while being here I have tried a lot of food that I don't plan on eating back in the states. For example: escargot, bread made with anchovies. Also in the food category, I've had to go without some foods that you just take for granted in the US and can't find them at all here. Also food here is very expensive. Of course I think its expensive because in the US it would be considered Organic food. By that I mean its fresh, non-processed food. Which is probably why French people aren't as fat as American people.
Crazy People - I do believe there are a lot of crazy people here. Well maybe its just a different culture, but its probably just comes with living in a bigger city than Mount Vernon, of course there's a lot of crazy people there too. Perhaps I will never get away from them. :)